This week, UFC welterweight ‘The Celtic Kid’ Jake Matthews shared the room with Australian striking royalty.
The 10-time Muay Thai champion ‘The Gunslinger’ John Wayne Parr has long been regarded as our greatest export in the world of 8 limbed combat. The 47yr old has one fight shy of 150 Boxing & Muay Thai fights, taking home the chocolates in 110 of them. He fell just short of his goal of 100 Muay Thai wins in a very Don Bradman-esque fashion, on 99.
Unfortunately falling the final 4 tries, all post the age of 40. Wayne Parr even picked up an impressive late career victory over one of the greatest pure boxers this country has ever produced in Anthony ‘The Man’ Mundine.
The ’The Gunslinger’ might be physically out of bullets, but the mind is as sharp as those elbows once were.
That’s why a barely primed 29yr old Jake Matthews, who joined an exclusive club, being one of the only few fighter signed at just 19 years old to the UFC, would seek out Wayne Parr’s experience… Jake Matthews, at just 18, went undefeated on the regional circuit, all the way up until his call up to the big show where he would continue his winning ways before suffering his first career loss at the hands of James Vick. He would remaster and go on to amass a 12-7 record in the UFC over a 9 year period.
Among the ups and downs, one thing has stayed clear for ‘The Celtic Kid’, doing what it takes to win. He’s changed weight classes, managers and even religions along his journey, But he’s never stopped on the quest to learn. Seeing legends of the sport give back is one of the great things about martial arts. What the average punter wouldn’t give to be a fly on the way and watch the wisdom of those two guys.
In an instagram post, John Wayne Parr said about the experience:
“Been such a fun week getting to train with [Jake Matthews] in the gym.
Twice a day we run, play spar, pads sharing different ideas on training.
I'm pretty sure I've nailed the ground and pound at the end.”
For more visit: John Wayne Parr or Jake Matthews
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