Peace X Nguphane sets his goal high

Peace X Nguphane (27) is one of the country’s most promising middle-weight MMA fighters, and his career has gone from strength to strength.

The middle-weight champion trains at JP Kruger’s House of Tinkerbell and aims to turn professional soon.
Nguphane also walked away with a golden medal at the MMA South Africa Amateur Championships, which took place in April.

How did you first get into MMA?

I got into it in 2016 and the passion has grown since. At school, I played cricket, soccer and rugby, but I wasn’t really very good enough to take it to a professional level.

I first learned about MMA from watching the matches on television and I became obsessed with it during high school, but I still wasn’t sure if it was for me.

But when I came to Pretoria from Potchefstroom after high school, I decided to look for a gym to give MMA a try.
Once I started training, I could see I had a natural ability and my career started from there.

How did you get involved with JP Kruger and House of Tinkerbell?

I already knew the guys from House of Tinkerbell from seeing each other at tournaments, and we got along very well. We always spoke about how we wanted to train together, so when my club closed in 2020 it was the best place to go.

What’s the best memory from your career so far?

Winning my first title in March has been the highlight of my career. I fought against JD Botha, who is a very well-respected athlete and he had way more experience than me. I had already lost a fight against him last year, so I had extra incentive to beat him this time.

Winning that fight meant a lot to me, not just winning the title but coming back from a loss gave me a massive boost in confidence.

Is there anything you have learned since becoming an MMA fighter?

It has brought me closer to God. For a long time, I wasn’t sure what God’s plan was for me, but when I joined MMA He revealed his plan to me.

It has shown me that God definitely exists, that what the Bible says is true and that He has a plan for everyone.
I also learned I can take a few punches.

Do you have any advice for younger fighters or people thinking of taking up MMA?

I would say be honest with yourself. This sport is not for everyone and it can be extremely tough, mentally and physically. I know of very good fighters, more talented than me, who never stepped in the ring.

They only want to learn to fight, which is completely fine. Fighting in the ring is very dangerous and you can get seriously injured.

Some fights have ended people’s careers and it is very easy to get completely humiliated in the ring. Knowing whether you are up for that is the first thing you should think about before starting this career.

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