Numerous UFC fighters boast extraordinary stories of rising from humble beginnings, and among them is Jai Herbert, a teammate of the reigning UFC welterweight champion, Leon Edwards. Starting his MMA journey at the age of 24, Herbert embarked on a path that many might consider later than usual in the highly competitive world of mixed martial arts.

However, the most shocking aspect of Herbert’s story is that for an astonishing 14 years, he managed to juggle a demanding day job as a scaffolder while tirelessly pursuing his passion for fighting. However, this Wolverhampton native was undeterred by the odds stacked against him and remained focused on his dream of becoming an MMA champion. In a recent reflection on his journey, Herbert opened up about the pivotal moment when he decided to make the switch to being a full-time MMA fighter.

Jai Herbert worked his way up in the UFC

The 35-year-old’s unwavering determination bore fruit when he achieved a significant milestone by capturing the Cage Warriors lightweight title in June 2019. Speaking with talkSPORT, ‘The Black Country Banger’ revealed the transformative moment in his career when he made the bold decision to fully commit to MMA.

“Since I joined the UFC, I’ve quit my job. I just went full-time in MMA. I mean, it was really hard. When I look back now, I think to myself, ‘I don’t know how I did it some of the time,'” he expressed candidly.

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Reflecting on his journey, he added with pride, “I mean, looking back at it, it was pretty f**king impressive. I’m not blowing my own trumpet, but it was hard work.”

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“I’m a bit stubborn like that. I just thought, ‘I know I can get there, and I will.’ I hope people can look at that and see that you can still follow your dreams and you can do it how I did it,” he said. And today, he is competing in the UFC’s lightweight division.

Herbert’s UFC run so far

Jai Herbert’s UFC run[2-3-1: UFC; 12-4-1: MMA] has been filled with intense matchups, leading to both victories and defeats. In his most recent bout against Ludovit Klein at UFC 286, the fight ended in a draw, leaving it undecided. He entered that fight with a win against Kyle Nelson at UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Aspinall. He also showcased his striking skills in a knockout victory over Khama Worthy at UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori.

On the other hand, he faced tough losses in matches against Ilia Topuria at UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall, Renato Moicano at UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov, and Francisco Trinaldo at UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Till. As he continues to gain experience, fans can expect even greater performances from him in the future as he strives to reach greatness in the sport.

Next up, he’s taking on Fares Ziam at UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura. The fight will take place at O2 Arena in London on 22 July. Do you think Herbert can bounce back from the draw in his hometown this weekend? Let us know in the comments.

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