1 Min Read
Samuel Laurian’s Road to ANZA MMA 007
Summary
Former rugby player Samuel Laurian moved from the team pitch to the cage to find a sport where his own hard work was enough to win.
After fighting for years while working odd jobs in Diani, he moved to Nairobi to become a full-time coach and fighter at Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy.
Now training daily, his focus is on staying calm and reading his opponent to win the co-main event at ANZA MMA 007 on March 26.
On March 26, Samuel Laurian will step into the cage for the co-main event at ANZA MMA 007 against Bryan Ray.
For Laurian, a coach at Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy, this featherweight fight is the result of a long, difficult journey from the coast to the capital.
It is a story of a man who spent years balancing bills and training just for a chance to fight on the big stage.
Leaving the Rugby Pitch
Samuel Laurian’s sports life started with rugby in 2016.
He played for the South Coast Pirates, but eventually, he felt like he didn't belong in the team environment.
He wanted a sport where his own work and mental grit determined the outcome.
He started training in Muay Thai while still playing rugby, but balancing both was nearly impossible.
He eventually chose combat sports because it allowed him to focus entirely on his own growth.
However, life in Mombasa was a struggle.
To pay his bills, he worked late nights and trained during the day, often showing up to the gym exhausted from sales jobs and long shifts.
An Answered Prayer
The turning point came during his second ANZA MMA fight.
Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy saw Laurian’s potential and invited him to train at the world-class facility.
Laurian had to make a hard choice: stay with his family and friends in Diani or move to a new city for a life he couldn't yet see.
He chose Nairobi, calling the move an "answered prayer."
Today, he no longer has to balance unrelated work with his passion.
He spends his days at Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy coaching others and sharpening his own skills as a three-stripe white belt.
Mind Over Muscle
As he prepares for the March 26 fight, Laurian isn't just focusing on how hard he can hit.
He believes the fight is won in the mind.
His goal is to stay calm, read where his opponent is weak, and strike at the right moment.
While he is currently an amateur with a 4-0-1 record, Laurian has big plans for the future.
He wants to compete in every event possible this year before turning professional next year.
For him, the ultimate goal is to reach the global stage of the PFL or UFC.
On March 26, he takes the next step toward that dream.
