Schaper hyped to go pro
“My first pro fight is going to be in February next year, a once off event for a reality TV series,” Schaper explained.
Martial Fitness owner Jesse Schaper is going pro and can’t wait for this journey to take off.
“My first pro fight is going to be in February, a once-off event for a reality TV series,” Schaper explained.
“How it works is that the producers of the series find fighters from all over the African continent and host a tournament called Scuffle Search, which will last about five months.”
The fighters are shortlisted as contestants in Scuffle Search, a series being produced for Netflix by mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company Scuffle Media.
Its founder Jason van Schalkwyk has long been involved in training promising township youngsters and giving them international exposure through his affiliation to the Brave Combat Federation in Bahrain.
“This is going to be a fight of a lifetime for me,” said Schaper.
Van Schalkwyk believes that African talent would dominate MMA globally if the children could get professional coaching, and Scuffle Search is the glamorous front end of his plan to open pan-African training centres funded by international sponsorship.
Schaper loves MMA and becoming pro has been the goal for a long time.
“I just came back from an amateur fight in Zambia in October. I unfortunately lost but my opponent (Ken Nyaondo) was a brilliant fighter.
“I did feel the judging was a bit bias as all judges were Zambian, but I am very excited to be receiving my blazer and colours of which my coach is currently in contact with MMA South Africa,” he said.
“The people who hosted us were very generous. We were well looked after in all aspects. The Zambians are the most friendly people I’ve ever encountered and they really made me feel like a professional with lots of photo requests.”
The fight:
“Ken was a very tough opponent. He is a second Dan black belt in Kyokushin karate and has also competed as an amateur boxer. I’m not too sure how many fights he has under his belt but he wasn’t inexperienced at all.
“I definitely underestimated his wrestling ability and should have pushed my striking a lot more, but in the end, he deserved the victory and he proved his worth.
“The fight in itself was very humbling. It’s very different fighting internationally. From the heat to the support the local fighters received, it literally felt like everything was against me.
“Although it was the toughest fight I’ve ever had I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. And I reckon given a rematch I could definitely win.”
The event:
This was the first-ever MMA event hosted on Zambian soil.
“With the assistance of Dwain Merrideth and Ferdi Basson (EFC referee, Schapers coach and Benoni gym owner), the event was a huge success.
He said Basson also hosted a seminar that educated all the coaches and athletes who were involved.
“My goal for this event was not only to win but to prepare myself for future international events and of course earn my national colours as a martial arts athlete. If I’m honest, obtaining my national colours was my main motivation.”
Schaper hasn’t always had an easy ride, so for him, reaching the goal of finally becoming pro means so much to him.
“In 2016 I went to jail, it was my first offence and my last. I ended up getting three years of being under house arrest and 500 hours community service. I spent one year actively participating in rehab and the other two years helping rehabilitate others and giving motivational talks.
“I eventually became an ambassador for the rehab until my service had expired. A lesson well learnt let me tell you,” explained Schaper.
“I almost missed the birth of my child. Gym brought me back from depression and martial arts became my lifestyle. I have never needed to fight, I have just always wanted to.”
This former Benoni High learner opened his own MMA gym in Benoni called Martial Fitness last year and has been fighting for over 10 years. He feels that nothing comes more naturally to him than fighting.
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