If you passed Jim Relleno on the street, you’d never suspect he’s Australia’s #14 amateur featherweight. At 27, the unassuming physical education and science teacher carries himself with a quiet humility, a far cry from the image of a typical cage fighter. He’s the kind of guy who looks like he could just as easily be helping a student with their homework as stepping into the cage, undefeated, to knock someone out. But beneath that calm exterior lies a fighter with an unrelenting drive, born out of a single, life-changing moment.
“In late 2019, I was in a street fight,” Relleno begins, his voice steady but reflective. “I was out celebrating with my friends and ended up in a 2v8 brawl in Fremantle. I didn’t care about getting hit. What stuck with me was that my girlfriend was there, my friends got hurt, and I couldn’t do anything about it. I lost all my confidence.” That night stayed with him, a constant reminder of what it felt like to be helpless. “After swinging for the fences and not landing, as I didn’t know how to fight back then, I thought, ‘Never again.’ That’s when I knew I needed to do something about it.”
A friend pointed him toward Wilkes MMA, and from the moment Relleno stepped through the gym doors, he knew he had found his place. “Coach Dave (Wilkes) runs a tight ship,” Relleno says, a small smile playing on his face. “No egos. Everyone’s there to work hard and support each other.” But it wasn’t just the atmosphere that drew him in; it was the people. UFC title contender Steve Erceg became a key figure in Relleno’s development. “Steve’s the tip of the spear,” he says, his admiration clear. “He’s the team captain, and he sets the bar so high. You look at him and think, ‘If I want to be great, I have to match that.’ He pushes you just by being in the room.”
It’s not just Erceg who pushes Relleno to his limits. His rounds with Louis Christopherson, one of the best amateur bantamweights in the country, have been equally transformative. “Louis and I push each other every day,
” Relleno says. “Like Steve [Erceg], he wants to be a world champion, and it’s a privilege to train with someone as talented and driven as him.”
Life ultimately delayed Relleno’s debut. Between university and work, it wasn’t until 2022 that he finally stepped into the ring for his first Muay Thai fight. Head Coach David Wilkes remembers it vividly. “Jim was so nervous,” Wilkes says, claiming the moment as one of his fondest in combat sports. “But when they called his name, he sprinted to the ring like he’d been waiting for this his whole life. And then, man, he just unloaded. Three rounds of relentless pressure. He left everything out there.”
Relleno laughs when reminded of that fight.
“Yeah, I was like, ‘This is it. This is what I’ve been waiting for.’ It felt incredible to finally compete.” But his first MMA fight brought a whole new level of intensity. “I remember standing in the cage, thinking, ‘Holy shit, this is real.’ My opponent had been in my dreams for weeks. I thought he was going to bash me, going to kill me. But when the bell rang, all that fear turned into focus. I knocked him out in the first round. It was the best feeling in the world.”
Then there’s the nickname. Heartbreak. No, not the Heartbreak Kid. “People hear the nickname and start calling me Shawn Michaels,” Relleno says, grinning. “Let’s clear that up, I’m no Heartbreak Kid. I’m not coming out with the tights and the pose. But yeah, Heartbreak’s been floating around for a while, and I’m sticking with it. Just Heartbreak. It’s got a bit of personality, and I like it.”
Despite his striking prowess, Relleno has worked hard to round out his game, especially on the ground. Under the guidance of Matt Erceg, Steve’s father, he’s added submission victories to his resume and recently earned his blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. “People thought I was screaming for a championship belt after my two last wins,” Relleno says, grinning. “But I was just yelling for my blue belt. My corner knew that. That was huge for me.”
Martial arts have been a part of Relleno’s life long before Wilkes MMA. His father, a 6th-degree black belt in karate, laid the foundation for his journey. “Dad used to train us in the backyard after school,” he recalls. “But as a teenager, I thought basketball and rugby league were cooler, so I quit. When I came back to martial arts, you could see how proud he was. He’s been to every fight. I carry our family name into the cage, and I think I’m doing a good job of not letting him down.”
Relleno isn’t afraid to reflect on what he sees as missed opportunities.
“I regret not sticking with karate when I was younger. That’s time on the mat I’ll never get back. But I’ve learned there’s no point in beating myself up over it. All I can do now is make the most of the time I have.”
Coach Wilkes knew there was more to Relleno than he initially let on.
“You could tell he had some traditional martial arts background, But Jimboy downplays it. That’s just who he is. No ego, just a guy who loves to work hard.”
Relleno’s love for martial arts extends beyond his gym. He’s a devoted fan of the sport, with one fighter in particular standing out as an inspiration. “Max Holloway, he’s my favourite fighter,” Relleno says, lighting up. “The guy’s a volume puncher with relentless cardio. He doesn’t just fight to win; he fights to break you. But outside of the cage, he’s just so down to earth. That’s what I respect. He’s authentic, and he’s got this tenacity I try to replicate.”
Then there’s Wilkes’ own Shannon Staples, a fighter whose fearless approach to competition has left a lasting impression. “Shannon’s fearless,” Relleno says, with a mix of admiration and respect. “He’s the unofficial vice-captain to Steve, and he’s always willing to take on anyone, anytime. For better or worse, he’s game, and that’s something I try to carry with me. You learn a lot from someone like Shannon.”
But it’s not just fighters who inspire him. Relleno finds balance in life beyond the gym. “When I’m in camp, it’s work, training, sleep, repeat,” he says. “But I realised I needed another outlet, something to clear my head. That’s when I got into motorbike riding with my dad. There’s nothing like riding down to Waroona Dam. It’s therapeutic.”
As Domination MMA 9 approaches, Relleno is set to face Joseph Bird from Scrappy MMA, a well-rounded fighter with a strong grappling game. “Joe’s got experience,” Relleno acknowledges. “Four Muay Thai fights, four MMA fights. He’s seasoned, and he comes from a solid gym. But I’m ready. If he keeps it standing, that’s my world. If he shoots, one mistake and I’m catching a submission.”
David Wilkes offers his own perspective. “Joe’s good at controlling the cage. He’ll look to wrestle, make it dirty against the fence. That’s fine; we’ve prepared for that. This is the kind of fight that I hope brings out the best in Jim. He’s been waiting for a test like this.”
On the same card, Relleno’s teammate Louis Christopherson will take on Jesse Wynne in what’s being hailed as one of the biggest amateur bantamweight matchups in the country. “Louis is the best amateur bantamweight in Australia,” Relleno says confidently. “Jesse’s slick, no doubt, but Louis has the skills, the mindset. He’ll get it done.”
David Wilkes shares the excitement. “The buzz around this fight is unreal. Both of these boys are going places, but I’ve been training Louis since he was seven. He’s homegrown, and he’s locked in. He’s going to show everyone why he’s the best.”
For Relleno, Christopherson, Foomani and Woods, Domination MMA 9 is more than just another fight night; it’s a showcase of the hard work and camaraderie that defines Wilkes MMA. “Every fight is another checkpoint,” Relleno says. “Maybe I won’t be a world champion. Maybe I won’t even go pro. But I’m going to push as far as I can. And if one day Dave or Matt tells me I’m ready, I’ll be ready.”
Wilkes MMA thrives on authenticity and mutual respect. “No egos, no bullshit,” Wilkes says.
“We’re a family. We push each other, we celebrate each other’s wins, and we grow together.” Relleno nods. “I’m unapologetically myself,” he says. “Inside the cage and out, I’m just me. And I’m proud of that.”
Reflecting on that night in Fremantle nearly five years ago, Relleno reveals his unfiltered thoughts. "I dream of that. I dream of that moment. Come and see me now," he says, his tone calm but resolute. "One of them was like, ‘I’m the state champion Muay Thai fighter.’ Now? I don’t care. Come and see me now. Honestly, I wish them nothing but the best, they’re below me."
