- Black Belt Magazine
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
More than a decade ago, Chase Mann was a troubled youth who got in serious trouble for petty vandalism. But today, he is a completely different person.
The 29-year-old Arkansas native holds an unblemished 6-0 professional MMA record, and he’s preparing for the biggest moment of his career – his ONE Championship debut against Australia's Isi Fitikefu at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 23, in Bangkok, Thailand.
The distance between those two versions of Mann isn't measured in miles or years, but in the transformation that happens when a young man finds purpose through fatherhood, redemption through faith, and direction through martial arts.
Mann's childhood was marked by a complexity that many struggle to understand – parents who loved deeply but battled demons they couldn't overcome. Growing up in Paragould, Arkansas, with an older sibling, he experienced firsthand how addiction can co-exist with genuine love and encouragement.
"I don't like saying I was a bad kid ‘cause I don't like to put that label on me. But I made a lot of bad choices. My parents were both addicts. They were always very loving, always really encouraging, but they just had an addiction," Mann reflected, his words capturing the nuanced reality of growing up in a household where love and struggle existed side by side.
For a teenager who was already navigating the chaos of a home affected by drug addiction, Mann's brushes with the law represented a dangerous trajectory – a young man headed toward becoming another statistic, another wasted life in a system that often fails to save those who need it the most.
Then came the moment that changed everything – a moment that arrives for many young men who have been drifting through life without direction or purpose. When the Paragould resident was just 19 years old, his daughter was born.
Suddenly, the stakes of his choices became crystal clear.
"Once my daughter was born, it kind of just woke up something inside of me. God kept me grounded. God saved my life, and I can say that for sure," Mann shared, describing the awakening that transformed him from a troubled teenager into a young father determined to break the cycles that had defined his childhood.
Having a child forced Mann to confront the reality that his choices would either perpetuate the patterns of his upbringing or break them completely. Faith became his anchor during this transformation, providing the spiritual foundation that allowed him to rebuild his life with purpose and direction.
Two years after his daughter's birth, at 21 years old, Mann finally started chasing a dream he was always scared to pursue: mixed martial arts.
The Arkansas native had been a lifelong fan of the sport and yearned to compete in the cage, but he was always consumed by fear – the fear of losing in front of his friends and family, living on the wrong side of highlight reels for all eternity, and simply not being good enough.
Mann knew the clock was ticking, however. It was now or never, and with that, he went to The LC in nearby Lake County to begin his training. What began as a new activity evolved into a true calling – the vehicle through which he could channel his energy, discipline his mind, and build the kind of life he wanted his daughter to witness.
The results speak to the completeness of his transformation. Mann has built a perfect 6-0 professional record, showcasing his versatility with victories via both knockout and submission.
But for Mann, his ONE Championship debut represents something beyond personal achievement. He's carrying a message that extends far beyond the ring, a mission that gives every win deeper meaning.
"I'm trying to build something here. I'm trying to show these kids who come from nothing, like I did, that you can do anything. If you believe in yourself with God on your side, just with the right mentality, anything's possible. I want to leave a legacy," Mann said, revealing the true purpose driving his career.
For the kids watching who find themselves in similar situations, Mann is living proof that you're not defined by your parents' struggles, your own mistakes, or the labels others place on you. You're defined by what you do with your second chance.
