The path that led Izaak Michell to ONE Fight Night 21: “A search for meaning”

Izaak Michell is gearing up to make an impact in ONE Championship.

Australia’s rising star in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu makes his promotional debut at ONE Fight Night 21 on Prime Video. This U.S. primetime event unfolds at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on April 5.

In a quest for glory, he challenges Tye Ruotolo for the ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Title.

The journey that brought him to this pivotal moment is a tale of unexpected passion and relentless pursuit. Growing up, he never envisioned himself as a combat sports athlete.

At first, Michell practiced Australian football during his younger years. He found himself drawn to the intensity and roughness of the sport.

Seeking a new competitive outlet, he ventured into Muay Thai and kickboxing before stumbling upon a jiu-jitsu class at sixteen.

Little did he know, this encounter would shape his destiny, turning “the gentle art” into his bread and butter.

“That just kind of came to me more naturally and I felt like, ‘Oh, this is something I really enjoy, something I’m naturally good at,’ and I kind of just started enjoying it so much,” he said.

Under the guidance of coaches such as Leo Arruda, John Danaher, and Craig Jones, the 25-year-old won a gold medal at the IBJJF World No-Gi Championship in 2022 as a brown belt.

For Michell, the elation he gets from jiu-jitsu extends far beyond podium finishes. It’s about discovering life’s zest in every aspect of his endeavors.

“Not only has it been a career and a way for me to make a living, but it’s also been a big spiritual journey, or just a search for meaning. I think that’s a big thing in jiu-jitsu, a reason why people stick around and really make it a lifestyle,” he said.

Izaak Michell determined to leave indelible impression

With a wealth of experience, Izaak Michell is eager to showcase his skills to a much wider audience at ONE Fight Night 21 on Prime Video.

“This would mean everything. I think it’s definitely perfect timing with the alignment of where I’m at on my journey,” he said.

“I think it’s going to really set me up for my future and be a huge thing.”

The opportunity to vie for 26 pounds of gold on a stage as grand as this is not lost on Michell. He acknowledges the promotion’s reputation on the submission grappling scene.

“I believe that ONE Championship is the biggest one because they’re bringing in the best guys, and they’re definitely giving us better opportunities to look after ourselves as well,” he said.

“So, I think it’s definitely up there and highly regarded truly as big as anything else in the grappling world.”