Long before Chase “Mannimal” Mann stepped into the cage for his professional mixed martial arts debut, he could be found stacking numerous plates onto a barbell at a modest gym in Arkansas. This particular period of his life laid the groundwork for all his subsequent achievements.
Mann is set to compete again at ONE Fight Night 42 on April 10, preparing to confront the unblemished Turkish welterweight Dzhabir Dzhabrailov, with the event broadcast live on Prime Video. He enters this contest boasting a perfect professional standing of 7-0, having further solidified his undefeated streak with a first-round technical knockout victory over Isi Fitikefu earlier in January.
However, the narrative underpinning that impressive track record doesn’t originate with mixed martial arts. Instead, it commenced with a fortuitous meeting at a neighborhood fitness center when he was 19 years old, having recently departed a rehabilitation facility and seeking purpose.
On that specific day, a powerlifting contest was underway. A man he didn’t know, Logan Chapman—who had achieved a personal best combined lift of 2,397.5 pounds across the squat, bench press, and deadlift, and whom Mann refers to as the most powerful individual ever from Arkansas—observed him at the bench press station and provided a piece of advice. A guiding relationship quickly formed.
“He remarked, ‘Listen, I believe if you adjust these few things, you’ll be able to bench press significantly heavier weights,’” Mann recounted. “He demonstrated a couple of techniques, and indeed, my bench press improved considerably. He informed me that I possessed talent in this area, and we pursued it further.
“At that juncture, I had recently emerged from a difficult period. Consequently, I required a constructive outlet, and as I previously mentioned, I wasn’t psychologically prepared to immerse myself in MMA at that time.”
Chase Mann Set to Confront Dzhabrailov in ONE Fight Night 42 Welterweight Matchup
In a span of merely three months, Chase Mann found himself participating in competitions. Initially, state records were broken, succeeded by the setting of national records. He dedicated himself entirely, developing an intense fixation with the weightlifting stage, an intensity that would directly carry over to mixed martial arts several years down the line.
“Within half a year, I developed an intense devotion to it, mirroring my approach to any endeavor I undertake,” Mann stated. “I must commit fully. I suspect it’s related to an ADHD trait. It’s either complete immersion or no involvement whatsoever.”
During his last powerlifting event, Mann achieved a combined lift of 1,820 pounds, comprising a 700-pound squat, a 450-pound bench press, and a 670-pound deadlift. Yet, more profound than these statistics, the act of being solitary beneath a heavily weighted barbell imparted a value that no achievement could measure.
“Approaching and positioning oneself beneath that bar, it’s solely you against the immense load, and a single misstep could result in severe injury to both knees,” he explained. “Therefore, yes, I would assert that it contributed to building my self-assurance.”
This newfound confidence accompanied him into the fighting arena. Each new sparring partner who grapples with him for the initial time perceives it instantly.
“Every facet of powerlifting has been beneficial for me. Any of my training colleagues, whenever I engage in practice with someone unfamiliar, regardless of who it is, their immediate comment is: ‘My goodness, how do you possess such immense strength?’” he relayed.
“I simply adored it. Powerlifting unearthed a certain quality within me. My ambition was to be the most powerful, and it aided me in cultivating that conviction, which has effortlessly transitioned into my mixed martial arts career.”
