Just a year ago, Troy “Pretty Boy” Worthen stood at a crossroads.
He had to decide which career path he would take – one that would lead him to financial security or one as a professional mixed martial artist. Worthen wisely bet on himself and chose the latter.
Ahead of his bout against Mark “Tyson” Fairtex Abelardo at ONE: KING OF THE JUNGLE on Friday, 28 February, find out how Worthen’s fateful decision set him on the course to become one of the fastest rising stars in mixed martial arts.
As a member of the UCF Knights, “Pretty Boy” had a stellar collegiate wrestling career. He earned NCWA All-American honors and the Southeastern Conference Wrestling Championship before transitioning to mixed martial arts.
Although the Florida native pieced together an undefeated run in the local circuit, the encouraging start to his pro career was short-lived.
“I was having a hard time getting consistent fights back in the US,” Worthen said. “There were also a number of injuries I was dealing with at the time.”
Fortunately for Worthen, who graduated with a degree in sports and exercise science, other opportunities arose.
“I started to get a bunch of job offers in strength and conditioning,” he said.
“These were big openings where I could take over programs and start my own gym, and they were pulling me away from mixed martial arts.”
Not long after, “Pretty Boy” came across an advertisement for Evolve’s global tryouts, but initially, he thought his chances of making the team were slim.
“What are the odds that they actually take some American kid to join the Evolve team and compete in ONE Championship,” he said.
However, before Worthen could dismiss the idea completely, his friends and training partners offered some life-changing advice.
“They told me that I had nothing to lose. If it happens, it happens,” he recalled.
“I know I love this sport and they said that I should give myself the benefit of the doubt to try it out. I knew if I got selected, I would have a chance to prove myself out here.”
But at the same time, the lucrative possibilities of a career in strength and conditioning were beginning to grow on Worthen as he contemplated life outside of mixed martial arts.
“I was trying to decide, ‘Do I do this one last run, or do I step back into a more financially safe role?’”
After much deliberation, Worthen decided to follow his passion for mixed martial arts. He sent an email application to Evolve, and the rest was history.
The American athlete became the first man selected among the finalists to earn a spot on the Evolve Fight Team.
He moved to Singapore full-time and won his ONE Championship debut in July 2019, defeating Rui Chen by TKO in round two at ONE: MASTERS OF DESTINY.
In November of the same year, he then stopped “Rock Man” Chen Lei at ONE: EDGE OF GREATNESS in round two, once again by TKO.
Now that he has fully embraced life in “The Lion City,” can “Pretty Boy” continue his run of success in his adopted country?
Find out when The Home Of Martial Arts returns to action next Friday, 28 February for ONE: KING OF THE JUNGLE at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The lead card starts on meWATCH at 5:30pm Singapore Standard Time (SGT).
To watch the main card, tune-in to meWATCH at 8:30pm SGT.
Also, Channel 5 will air the main card on a delay at 12:00am SGT on Saturday, 29 February.
Download the ONE Super App to catch all the action live and for free.
Read More From ONE Championship:
Radeem Rahman Has Never Given Up On His Martial Arts Dream
Troy Worthen Expects A War And Another Knockout In Singapore
Finally Healthy, Tiffany Teo Has No Fear Of Ayaka Miura’s Ground Game
