UFC featherweight star Jack Jenkins knows the template for greatness. Inspired by Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya, ‘Phar’ has seen what it takes to be great in the sport. And he is on the same path as his heroes since he started his martial arts journey.

The Australian, born and raised in the mostly barren, albeit picturesque, Australian state of Victoria, started training after watching the UFC on TV as a child. Since making his MMA debut in 2016, Jenkins has made a name for himself with his devastating leg kicks and well-rounded game based around his sharp striking. In this article, we take a look at why he is nicknamed ‘Phar’.

Meaning and origins of Jack Jenkins’ nickname ‘Phar’

Jack Jenkins’ moniker is an encapsulation of his spirit as a fighter and one of his great loves in the world. His nickname is inspired by a legendary racehorse named ‘Phar Lap’. The horse is perhaps one of the most famous race horses in the sport’s history and was born in New Zealand.

Phar Lap was described as a gangly, sick-looking horse, with his face covered in warts in his early life, and had placed last in his very first fight. Like Jenkins, the horse started his career in Australia. As the story goes, his owner had bought him without seeing Phar for what they felt was a bargain. However, upon receiving the horse and seeing the condition he was in, his owner tried to sell him.

A trainer, however, took a liking to the horse and promised to train the horse for free, in exchange for two-thirds of the winnings. And the horse paid off his trainer Harry Telford’s faith in him and went on to win about twenty races between 1929-32, and is considered perhaps the greatest and most legendary race horse.

Jack Jenkins, who has a great love for horse racing, and has fond memories of going down to the tracks with his loved ones as a child, himself owns a racehorse. However, this is not a self-awarded nickname that the Australian UFC fighter gave himself, but was given to him by a coach as a child.

Does Jack Jenkins live up to his nickname in the octagon?

Like the legendary horse, Jack Jenkins didn’t stop and didn’t get tired of training as a child. This led one of his coaches to remark that he was like Phar Lap, as the legendary horse didn’t get tired either. And while not quite as accomplished as his namesake, Jenkins is also of championship pedigree.

The Aussie, after all, is a former Eternal MMA champion, and a former Rogue champion. In addition, Jenkins kicks like a horse. Literally. His most dangerous weapon is his leg kick, with which he has broken three opponents’ legs! The featherweight has an overall record of 12-3 and was on a nine-fight win streak coming into his last fight in UFC 293. However, a freak injury in that fight against Chepe Mariscal has snapped his streak.

After all, you can’t win every race you’re in, as Phar Lap has undoubtedly taught Jenkins. But the Australian is determined to do justice to his moniker and become a great UFC champion. What are your thoughts on Jack Jenkins’ nickname? Let us know in the comments below.