‘Trouble’ eyes MMA title shot
RISING Kiwi MMA star John ‘Trouble’ Brewin has come full circle in his pursuit of MMA glory.
Plenty of Kiwi kids grow up wanting to be pro rugby players, but few have the talent to actually get there.
Even fewer have the talent, but choose another path.
As a 1st XV star at one of Auckland’s most prestigious rugby schools, King’s College, Brewin had plenty of options when he graduated.
But as he ramps up preparations for his next clash in young MMA promotion Brave CF, the 26-year-old Aucklander has no regrets about choosing the gloves over the boots.
‘‘Playing 1XV rugby in Auckland was awesome, but honestly there’s nothing that compares to the feeling of winning a fight, for me the career choice was easy,’’ he said.
Brewin is quickly climbing the lightweight ranks in Brave CF – the biggest MMA promotion in the Middle East – and has his sights set on a match-up with fellow rising star Sam Patterson, in August.
His preparation for that fight is taking place in Auckland, where he trains at famed MMA gym City Kick-boxing (CKB).
CKB is home to the likes of UFC stars Kai Kara-France, Dan Hooker and middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
Brewin lives and breathes fighting, but hasn’t completely left the rugby world behind either.
In fact, he’s still living and working on campus at King’s – and keeps a close eye on the 1st XV side too.
‘‘It’s a bit of a funny set-up I suppose, I loved my time here as a student and it’s kind of cool to go full circle now,’’ he said.
Scrappy on the field during his playing days, Brewin was a rangy flanker who admittedly got by on effort rather than natural ability.
And that work ethic has paid off in the world of MMA. Brewin has won five of his last six fights and is closing in on potentially bringing another world title belt into CKB.
‘‘I’m super-keen to get back in there and show what I can do, against a guy the promotion clearly have pretty big raps on. It’s time to do my thing.
‘‘I’m obviously not looking past Sam Patterson at all, but I have my eyes on that title for sure and a win against him puts me right there.’’