On a two-win streak, Nick Kepu is undefeated in the last two years.

In his last fight on the 9th of March, Kepu dropped opponent Alfred Stoddart with a strong hook, before delivering an ensemble of quickfire punches that forced the referee’s definitive intervention after only just over a minute in the octagon.

On “The Coconut Wireless Podcast” Episode 44, he reflects on the event with a playful confidence. “He did reach, but in that time and place I did teach,” Kepu said.

The most interesting insight from the podcast, though, is how much more there is to him than his fiery fists.

Nick Kepu is a man of many remarkably marketable talents. He has a background playing semi-professional Rugby Union, and until recently taking a break to focus on MMA, made money singing at gigs on weekends.

He started MMA late, at the age of 21, when watching a UFC match piqued his interest.

“I thought “I’ll give this a crack” and then walked down to my local gym,” Kepu said.

Now 30 years old, he trains full-time, making extra money through coaching at the gym he trains at, whilst developing his own skill and knowledge of the sport.

A guy like this leaves the rest of the world to wonder how he got so lucky in the genetic lottery, but in reality, luck is only one small piece of the puzzle.

The bigger picture is one of razor sharp focus.

“We train Monday to Saturday and I do about four hours a day at MMA and everything to do with striking,” Kepu said. “On top of that, it’s a bit more with strength and conditioning and other stuff.”

That focus makes him a formidable foe for any opponent, even bleeding into his fight philosophy.

“You stay locked on to the target,” Kepu said. “You don’t let anything distract you from going forward.”

His philosophy outside of the ring, however, reveals his inner showman.

“You’ve got to give the people what they want, and I definitely transfer that over to fighting,” Kepu said. “At the end of the day, if you can’t put bums on seats, you’re not going to excel.”

Whether the stage he’s on has speakers and a microphone, or punches flying and heads hitting the canvas, Kepu is clearly a natural performer.  

He’s using this to perfect his craft as a fighter both in terms of fighting efficiency and style, even hitting a celebratory “Mounty Bop” (if you don’t know what that dance move is, you can find out by watching a OneFour music video) in his last victory.

For his next dance, Kepu is looking forward to a confirmed upcoming bout on the 22nd of June against Blair Bretag at Eternal MMA 86.

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Big thanks to the Coconut Wireless Podcast! Listen to the full episode below...