Chase Mann’s background in powerlifting shouldn’t be the everyday origin story of a profitable MMA fighter, however on the subject of the “Mannimal,” surpassing expectations has been a life-long journey. In an unique interview with M&F, the undefeated fight star explains how he’s transitioned from benching barbells to our bodies, and why he’s excited to struggle Isi Fitikefu in his ONE Championship debut on January 23.
Proving that your begin in life doesn’t should dictate your end result, Chase Mann is undoubtedly an inspiration. Hailing from Paragould, Arkansas, Mann’s mother and father have been eager for his or her three youngsters to play sports activities however have been sadly much less in a position to take care of them. They fell into the grip of substance abuse, and this resulted in a rebellious childhood that noticed Mann arrested at simply ten years of age. Whereas he was later despatched to a faith-based therapy facility known as Lord’s Ranch, this turned out to be an abusive setting, and he was crushed so badly that on one event there was a handprint left round Mann’s throat.
Luckily, his mother and father found out what was happening, they usually managed to tug him out of there, however the household would subsequently be rocked by guilt and trauma. Arrests have been finally made on the ranchhowever the harm had already been carried out, leaving Mann to return to phrases with an comprehensible rage. Luckily, nevertheless, the love this household had for one another stored them collectively, and regardless of the challenges, positivity was on the horizon.
With Mann’s mother and father working exhausting to beat their addictions, and his personal burgeoning household proving to be a salvation, Mann says that after his daughter was born, his complete notion modified. Nowadays, he’s a rising drive in MMA, with an undefeated professional streak of 6-0-0. He’s additionally simply days out from his greatest struggle but, towards Isi Fitikefu for ONE Championshiphowever he won’t ever forego his powerlifting roots.
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Chase Mann Turned Champion Powerlifter Earlier than Transferring into MMA
“I used to be about 19 years outdated once I walked into a neighborhood health club,” Mann tells M&F. “The primary day I signed up at this new health club, they have been doing an influence lifting competitors there. It was like a storage health club, old-fashioned, the storage doorways have been all open. Everyone’s in there lifting loopy weight and I’m like, ‘whoa!’, I’ve by no means seen something prefer it.”
As Mann practiced lifting, an observer named Logan would show to be an essential good friend and mentor, educating him about kind and method, and inspiring the younger athlete to enter powerlifting meets. Logan’s instincts, and Mann’s potential to hear and be taught, would show to be nice mixture. He gained a number of tournaments, together with the Junior’s Southern States championship and the Little Rock Traditional.
When it comes to MMA, Mann says that he all the time needed to get into the game however knew that his mindset wasn’t proper throughout his turbulent teenage years. “Actually, I needed to develop up just a little bit mentally,” he shares. His first newbie bout got here in 2021 the place he defeated his opponent in 90 seconds utilizing a rear bare choke maintain. By 2023, the fighter had turned professional and proper now holds an undefeated document of 6-0-0. “Getting contained in the cage and combating someone, it’s one of many scariest issues I’ve ever carried out,” he displays, evaluating the variations between battling barbells and the our bodies of his MMA opponents.
Chase Mann Makes use of his powerlifting background for MMA success
Mann performed soccer as a child and is aware of in regards to the physicality that comes when two our bodies collide, however whereas powerlifting is a a lot totally different self-discipline to fight, there are benefits of being a cushty weightlifter that the Mannimal can carry to the cage. “The best way I struggle, powerlifting has a hundred percent helped me in MMA,” he explains. “I like to make use of my power and my aggression. I come ahead. I prefer to get my fingers on folks.”
Following his victories, the welterweight is commonly advised by opponents that they have been shocked by how sturdy he’s. “I like them to really feel that energy,” explains Mann, noting that there are occasions when he actually benches a physique off of him, identical to he would with a barbell. After all, there’s an enormous distinction between lifting a static barbell with a considerably predictable path, in contrast with the randomness of his opponents’ actions. “I’ve needed to make adjustments to my coaching, and it’s been trial and error, however I’ve tried to include and hold as a lot of that energy in every thing I do,” explains Mann. “I need to have a powerful base, and I believe lots of fighters neglect that space. I believe lots of fighters simply do an excessive amount of operating and never sufficient constructing of a powerful base and core.”
Powerlifting has offered Mann with a stable basis and has additionally honed different attributed comparable to stability and coordination, offering explosive energy throughout MMA bouts, however there are parts of the powerlifting way of life that he’s needed to dial again. “At first, once I began doing MMA, proper once I was moving into it, I attempted to maintain coaching the identical means, hold doing all of the powerlifting,” he shares. “And I simply came upon; you’ll get injured. In powerlifting, it’s about coaching to carry one thing one time, the heaviest weight potential. However for MMA, I have to carry for quarter-hour, carry the man’s physique weight. I’d to that 30 instances.”
Mann tells M&F that he nonetheless lifts in the direction of percentages of his one rep max. “I nonetheless do a compound motion day by day,” he explains, however notes that in contrast to throughout his powerlifting profession, Mann now completes common full physique exercises. There’s additionally a selected train that’s now a part of this fighter’s routine, that ticks the bins of constructing explosive energy whereas additionally serving to to keep away from damage.
Chase Mann incorporates smith machine barbell throws
With a comparatively gentle weight, Mann masses up the smith machine for his barbell throws, mendacity on the bench and launching the bar skywards, letting go, after which catching the bar to manage its descent. “I do it for time, so it’s an explosive second that’s combined with energy,” he explains. This can be a wise transfer, as a result of the smith machine forces the barbell to comply with a set path, and is much less more likely to trigger strains.
When it comes to the scariness of MMA, Mann tells M&F that he’s discovered that concern can be utilized as gas. “You understand, I do higher below strain,” he displays. That’s simply as nicely, as a result of on January 23, 2026, the Mannimal makes his debut for ONE Championship at Battle Night time 39 in Bangkok, Thailand, towards former rugby participant, Isi Fitikefu. “It’s nonetheless surreal to me,” says Mann. “The primary time I noticed my face on that struggle poster, once they introduced our struggle, I’m not going to lie, I obtained teary-eyed.”
Nonetheless, this inspirational determine is all enterprise. “I’d say we have now related kinds on the subject of how we struggle,” notes Mann of Fitikefu. “He likes to return ahead and wrestle and he’s clearly a really massive bodily man. He performed rugby, I grew up taking part in soccer. I believe it’s going to be two sturdy guys assembly within the center and yeah, we’ll see who can come out on prime!”
ONE Battle Night time 39 takes place on January 23 with a begin time of 6pm PST / 9pm EST. Due the time distinction, the present will air on January 24 at 2am within the UK. Along with Mann vs Fitikefu, a packed card boasts a stellar essential occasion when Thailand’s personal Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon lastly locking horns with Russian knockout artist Abdulla “Smash Boy” Dayakaev.
