From computer desk to octagon
Victoria MMA fighter Ryan Janes shines in Las Vegas bout
Victoria’s Ryan Janes, a mildmannered provincial government internet geek by day and mixed martial arts fighter by night, is being singled out for a momentous comeback during The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale on Friday night in Las Vegas.
Janes was fighting in the middleweight division on the undercard of an event that was the culmination The Ultimate Fighter 26, a reality television series produced by the UFC.
He was the underdog against Andrew Sanchez and was knocked down twice in the first round.
To most, it seemed like the end, but not to Janes. He got back on his feet to pummel Sanchez in Round 2 and earned a technical knockout in Round 3. Those covering the fight called his comeback “inspirational.”
But his comeback really started more than a decade ago when an overweight 25-year-old Janes, who had never played sports, was dealing with body issues as well as anxiety.
“I was afraid to go to the gym,” he said.
At about 250 pounds, he knew he had to work out “because it was the right thing to do” but didn’t want to do something that public and be seen at the gym.
“I had to do something,” said Janes. “I thought to myself, if it scares you, you just gotta face it and get over it.”
He tried working out in the gym but didn’t find it physically or mentally stimulating. Given his mindset, one might figure an ad for Thai boxing — which requires being shirtless in a boxing ring — might send the web designer running the other way.
Instead, he signed up, lost weight, and started training with a friend who helped convince him he had a natural talent and determination essential for competition.
“I remember the first time I competed in front of people in a local show in Nanaimo,” said Janes. “Talk about anxiety and even body issues. I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m probably going to get beat up in front of everybody and I have to take my shirt off in front of everybody, too.”
Fast forward and now Janes is 36, has fought for a decade — “I won and lost and got to the UFC” — and is expecting a baby in March with partner and school teacher Rhayna Archer.
His payout for Friday’s fight was $24,000 US, which included a $12,000 bonus for winning. Sanchez received $28,000 US.
Janes said his recent success has provoked questions about his future and whether he would gamble to make big bucks fighting more regularly in Las Vegas. Janes shakes his head. As a boy originally from St. John’s, N.L., who saw the cod fishery collapse and what it did to families reliant on it, Janes said his focus is on keeping his secure government job and help provide for his family.
“Ultimately, if I had to choose, I’d choose my family — plus I’m old,” said Janes.
The extra money he does earn now allows him to help pay bills while his partner is on maternity leave.
“And there’s a good chance it will allow me to have my debt paid off and pay for my kid’s education,” said Janes. “That’s what this fighting will allow me to do — that and buy more comic books and board games.”
During the fight, commentators commented on Janes’ physical ability but he says it’s his mental strength and determination and desire to think positively that is his secret weapon.
“Everybody has setbacks in life, but you pick yourself up and you go forward, and try to be true to yourself and push,” said Janes. “It’s just kind of what I do.
“Everybody talks about me having good physical cardio but I also have good mental cardio and mental strength where I don’t care how tired I am. I am going to fight through it and push through it. It’s how I approach a lot of things in my life. Bad things happen, you can’t change it, so you just have to improve it and move forward positively. I’m a pretty happy guy despite it all.”
Today, Janes returns to his job, where he manages the B.C. government’s website infrastructure where the only thing he punches are computer keys.