If the flyweight contender was going to be a meticulous planner, following a rigid schedule that didn’t allow for any trips down the proverbial side streets, he might not be in Perth, waiting to fight Jussier Formiga this weekend and on the verge of making his move into the 125-pound title picture. But by following his muse – literally and figuratively – the South Dakota native turned Brisbane resident has had a more interesting journey than most.
“I feel like I’ve lived a fruitful life so far,” he said. “I left South Dakota five years ago, lived in Thailand for a year, and met my wife there. She’s Australian and she brought me to Australia and now I’m living here. So it’s been a rollercoaster ride. Then getting into the UFC after that viral video thing, it’s been a crazy last five years for me. I’ve lived my life quite full, so I’m happy where I’m at right now.”
RELATED CONTENT: UFC 221 Fantasy Preview | Preview every fight on the entire cardPatience is a virtue, but one not practiced by many in the fight game. That can be a good and bad thing, and Nguyen knows both sides. I ask him if the 25-year-old version of him would have taken a fight right after beating Elliott.
“That Ben Nguyen probably would have taken a fight the next week,” he said. “‘I’ll fight anyone right now.’ (Laughs) But it’s all about timing, and in the fight game, a lot of people make that mistake just rushing into fights that shouldn’t be taken. I believe with the way things have been going with me, we’ve been looking for the right fights and I think this is gonna help us get to what I want, which is the title shot. It’s a matter of playing it smart and sometimes just waiting it out.”
So is Brazil’s Formiga the guy that gets him to that shot?
“The last title challenger was Ray Borg, and he beat Jussier Formiga to get his shot, so why can’t it be my turn?” he said. “It can definitely be me and I feel like everyone in the top five has already fought DJ except for Jussier, so I feel like if I got into that top five, it could definitely be me and I’ve got that different style that no one really has, and that footwork and head movement and dangerous striking. I think that would be a lot more exciting than watching another grappler fight Demetrious Johnson.”
Solid points from a young man with a plan, but enough of a sense of adventure to veer from that plan if necessary in 2018.
“It’s gonna be exciting and it’s gonna be a ride,” he said. “I’m enjoying the journey itself and not just the outcomes. When I think about that, it just gives me more relief. You can’t always think about that. Think about the path and the journey. That’s what it’s all about.”
