Outside Source
J.P. Saint Louis wanted to make the most of his first impression with the Professional Fighters League and proceeded to do so by settling the score with an old rival.
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The 32-year-old Combat Night champion excelled in his organizational debut on Aug. 21, when he took a unanimous decision from Tyler Ray as part of the PFL 2025 World Tournament 10 undercard at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. It was Saint Louis’ fifth consecutive victory and moved him to 2-0 in his head-to-head series with Ray—an opponent he had submitted via guillotine choke under the Legacy Fighting Alliance banner in 2017. Perhaps more importantly, it provided him with additional proof that his skills continue to develop.
“One, I’m the real deal,” Saint Louis told Sherdog.com. “I used to second guess myself a lot, and it’s because I trained with killers at Roufusport. I was the new kid on the block getting beat up by a lot of good guys like Belal Muhammad, a lot of big names. I didn’t believe in myself like that back then. I felt like I could do my thing, but I was nothing compared to those guys.
“From my first fight against Ray until now, I feel like I’ve grown in a sense that I know how good I am,” he added. “I know now that I can not only compete, [but] I can dominate. A lot of fighters say they can compete, but I don’t want to compete. I want to destroy the hearts of some of the best fighters. I want to make them look human.”
Difficult days in the gym helped Saint Louis grow, but they were not the only contributing factor. He credits his wife for refusing to allow him to get down on himself. Saint Louis understands the importance of surrounding himself with the right support team.
“It took me a long time,” he said. “I had to seek out professional help, and on my personal time, I watch a lot of anime. A lot of anime is about self-growth, inner reflection and just learning how to believe in yourself, going through the trials and tribulations. All those things help you. My wife is a big reason for why I am here. She always believes in me. I’m not allowed to second guess myself in front of her. She always picks me up and reassures me of how good I am. She won’t let me disrespect myself. I don’t think that I’d be here if it wasn’t for her.”
Away from the cage, Saint Louis has built a brand as a successful content creator who showcases his cooking ability. It has helped him gain a following and given him the kind of visibility that only figures to enhance his value in mixed martial arts. Saint Louis believes he has a lot to offer the PFL.
“I’m the funniest fighter in MMA,” he said. “I have the best social media. The PFL is going to get a lot with me. The best chef, the best looking, the best content, whatever you want, I can do it. I can speak well. I can make funny videos, serious videos. I’m an all-around entertainer and a dog when I get in the cage.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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