UFC/Mixed Martial Artist Champion Born in Gloucester, Mark Weirs’ sporting career began in his teen years when aged 15 he was briefly introduced to the world of boxing. A few bouts in the ring showed he had great sporting potential, which gained interest from boxing scouts from Bristol and Birmingham. But medical concerns voiced by his mother, about the sport, led to Mark abandoning boxing at aged 17 for the Korean martial art of Tae Kwon-Do - a combination of boxing and kicking.
At the time, in the late 1980’s, the sport was the fastest growing Martial art in the world – hence its introduction into the Olympics at the same time. A disciplined training regime that saw Mark waking-up at 5.30am daily to work-out for 2-hours led to Mark becoming the youngest Tae Kwon-Do light/heavyweight champion in 1988 – within 3-years of entering the sport. Mark went on to beat challengers to his crown up until the mid-1990’s. He has also travelled extensively across the globe taking part in tournaments, often giving demonstrations and workshops, where he revealed new techniques that he’d pioneered for the sport.
At the time, Mark set up The Mark Weir School of Tae Kwon Do across the South-West and Central England with the biggest schools being in the counties of Gloucestershire and Avon. He later developed the art of self-defence, that specialised 50% on kick-boxing and 50% on wrestling/ground fighting. Hence, his launch of his ‘Range Fighting School’ - the ability to fight in any distance or position. This business has spurned a small merchandising operation of sport-related clothing, videos and a security firm all endorsed and controlled by Mark.
Mark’s profile was raised nationally when Channel 5 commissioned a documentary looking at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) phenomena, a US and Japanese sport, that was gaining ground in Britain.
Mark describes himself as ONE of the greatest sportsmen that is yet to be discovered. This was most recently witnessed in his ‘world-class’ performance both on and off stage, at his last international UFC fight at London’s Royal Albert Hall in July 2002. Televised live on Sky Sport, Mark was the only fighter to ‘knock-out’ his US opponent in just under 10-seconds, a man who is one of the sports top veterans. Unfortunately, this left Mark with the age old gripe of not getting enough experience, because of his record of quickly ‘disabling’ or ‘knocking-out’ his opponents.
Before this fight Mark received extensive national media coverage. Alongside interviews/features in quality broadsheets, such as the Guardian and Independent, Mark was also put forward (over reigning established champions) to go head-to-head with opponents of the UFC sports in radio debates and television interviews. This included Channel 5 News, BBC News 24/America, LWT’s This Week, Channel 4 (RI:SE), and ITV’s London Tonight – to name but a few.
The controversy centred around this so-called ‘Roman Gladiators’ fight, being more along the lines of ‘human cock-fighting’. Once again Mark held his corner well during these ‘verbal’ spats!
As a result of his performance in the ring, Mark is one of the top British fighter to be invited to take part in both the UFC and Japans Pride showcase, the biggest Martial Arts Events in the world. The UFC and Pride draws huge audiences and a more lucrative pay-deal for the fighters in America and Japan. Its also supported by high profile entertainment industry stars, including, musicians Wyclef Jean, Eric Clapton, model Elle MacPherson and (Mr Madonna)Guy Ritchie (who both attended the Royal Albert hall event), as well as (model/actress) Carmen Electra, sportsman Dennis Rodman and businessman Donald Trump.
Mark has now raised his profile nationally and internationally. Mark has been a martial artist for over two decades and has mastered the sport and now wishes to fully benefit from his over 20-years of passion and dedication.
As a father, ultimately he would like to use his talents to form a foundation with other successful people to turn the tide of rising despondency amongst young men and women. Mark believes ‘through them channelling their energies into the sport, they can master themselves and the world’. However, like most sportsmen financial security is a necessary stabilising force in his life, which would allow Mark to fully concentrate his energies on his sport.
Mark’s ambition now is to have his top students profiles raised whilst securing sponsorship, so that they can gain the recognition they desire from his world class sporting accomplishments and experience.
Interview at UFC 38