HOMEGROWN WARRIOR

The first and only Singaporean to be signed by the Ultimate Fighting Championship, mixed martial artist CFC (NS) Royston Wee packs a serious punch.

Standing at 170cm tall and weighing in at 61kg, Corporal First Class (CFC) (NS) Wee is one of Singapore's most talented mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters. At 29 years old, he has already fought twice for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the largest MMA promotion company in the world.

Boasting a record of 4-1-0 (4 wins, 1 loss, 0 draws), it might come as a surprise that CFC (NS) Wee only started his martial arts career when he was 21 years old, after graduating from polytechnic.

Humble beginnings

This top Bantamweight (weight class of about 57 to 61kg) contender was not always the powerhouse that he is today - after all, even the great have to start somewhere.

"I began learning MMA for a few months before enlisting for National Service (NS)," he recalled. "During the first few months while I was in Basic Military Training (BMT), it was a bit difficult for me to continue. I tried to train as much as I could in Tekong, and I would head down to the gym on weekends."

The Transport Operator from 6th and 9th Divisional Air Defence Artillery Battalions still has fond memories of his NS days. "Going from BMT and then to unit, I've met new people and some of them have become my good friends," he said. "More importantly, when you go through NS, you become more independent.

"From being assigned tasks or waking up for exercises at 3am, it teaches you one very important thing - responsibility."

These qualities would come in handy for CFC (NS) Wee. After NS, he continued his martial arts journey by becoming an instructor at Impact MMA.

"I started competing in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu around that time," said CFC (NS) Wee. "My first competition was an inter-house. Even though I was only a white belt then, I won all the fights and got gold for that competition."

Pinnacle achievement

It was only in 2011 that CFC (NS) Wee started fighting in MMA, chalking up his first two MMA victories in the Malaysian Fighting Championships in November and December that year.

He then left to further his studies in Australia, but after returning to Singapore, he got his big break in 2013 - being selected for the UFC.

"It was a bit overwhelming at first," he reminisced. "UFC is (a competition) of the highest standard in the world Everybody wants to be in the UFC."

His debut UFC fight, held at Marina Bay Sands on 4 Jan 2014, also marked the very first time a UFC fight was held in Singapore. Winning the fight via a unanimous decision after dominating his opponent in all three rounds, CFC (NS) Wee would then go on to win his second fight, this time held in the 15,000-seat Cotai Arena in Macau in August last year.

"It was a bit overwhelming at first UFC is (a competition) of the highest standard in the world Everybody wants to be in the UFC."

- CFC (NS) Wee on being the first Singaporean to be signed to the UFC

The key to winning

"When you're further away from the fight, it's 90 percent physical and 10 percent mental," explained CFC (NS) Wee as he talked about how he prepares for a fight. "Nearing the fight, it's the other way around."

On 16 May, he will be pitted against China's Ning Guangyou for UFC Fight Night 66 in the Philippines. CFC (NS) Wee's dedication shone through as he talked about how he trains two to three times daily for six days a week, and ensures that he is in tip top condition physically and mentally before a fight.

While he still feels some adrenaline and uncertainty - sometimes asking himself, "What on earth am I doing here?" - before stepping into the ring, CFC (NS) Wee hasn't let his nerves affect his performance.

Adaptability is his winning formula in becoming a formidable opponent in MMA fights.

"Previously in MMA, it was common for a certain martial art to be used more than the rest," said CFC (NS) Wee as he explained his fighting strategy.

"Slowly, people have started learning and integrating, taking the best movements from each of the constituent martial arts... At the end of the day, whoever mixes it well, wins."