Ex-football player Paul Cheng continues to find MMA footing at ONE FC 13

ONE FC heavyweight Paul Cheng got his start in competitive MMA much later than the average fighter. Not to say Cheng is unfamiliar with professional sports, but up until the past few years, the Canadian was seen duking it out on the gridiron in the Canadian Football League.

A little more than two years into his MMA career, though, and Cheng is truly beginning to adapt to his new profession and feels his time as an athlete has helped him transition to his new sport better than most.

“This is not the first time I’ve been a professional athlete,” Cheng told MMAjunkie. “I’ve participated in many sports and since I’ve come to MMA I’ve been happy with my development, especially in the past year since I’ve had a lot of time to train different aspects of the game.”

For several years, Cheng played as a defensive tackle for CFL team the BC Lions. Tipping the scale at nearly 300 pounds at the end of his professional football run, Cheng searched for a new sport in which to participate. When he found MMA, the decision to compete was any easy one, but more than anything, the grueling training transformed his body into a condition he never anticipated.

“I’ve [physically] improved a lot,” Cheng said. “Physically I’ve gotten a lot leaner, and you’re going to see the best Paul Cheng.”

As MMA has grown in popularity over the years, athletes have crossed over from sports of all kinds to test their combat skills. Others who enter the sport may be motivated by money, fame or pure enjoyment. But for Cheng, he views his young career in the same serious light as his previous jobs.

“I learned how to be a professional,” Cheng said of his CFL career. “I learned how to treat sports as a real profession, as a job and also dealing with pressures of playing in front of lots of people.

“I’ve played in stadiums in front of 50,000 people, and it’s not the first time I’ll be in that situation, so I’ll be able to handle the pressure when I’m in it.”

While Cheng has been victorious in three of his four MMA contests thus far, the 35-year-old has yet to determine where his ceiling stands in the sport. With so few fights against mildly experienced opponents, Cheng is still learning the intricacies of striking, grappling and everything else needed to be a success fighter.

That’s why when he thinks about his future, Cheng refuses to look too far ahead and keeps focused on each fight as they come.

“I’m just taking it one step at a time,” Cheng said of his MMA career. “I’ve had a later start to the sport than most and I’m just going to take it one fight at a time and I’m just going to do the best I can.”

The next fight for Cheng (3-1) comes against Alain Ngalani (1-0) at ONE FC 13 this Friday in Manila, Philippines. The event will be available for purchase via online pay-per-view services.

Ngalani is another fighter with minimal experience in MMA but had a successful career in other sports, primarily kickboxing. The fighter from Cameroon stuck fear into the heavyweight division when he scored a 31-second highlight reel knockout in his ONE FC debut in September.

Even before stepping in the cage, Cheng feels it will prove to be his most difficult test to date. Cheng saw Ngalani’s knockout win, and while he was admittedly impressed, the short fight only gave him further knowledge of what he needs to do to win.

“He’s a fantastic striker,” Cheng said. “I’ve seen him lots, he’s got great leg kicks and great kickboxing. I’m not sure about his ground skills, but I’m confident in my overall game.”

Traveling to the Philippines from his current home of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for the fight, Cheng is motivated to win and has no interest in taking the long flight home empty handed. The most significant fight of Cheng’s career has arrived, and while it’s undoubtedly a big moment, his previous life experiences put him in the football mindset, and all he sees is the minutes winding down to just another game.

“I’m going out there to get that ‘W,’” Cheng said. “I’m not predicting anything. There are many different ways to win and lose, but I’m ready to go.”

For more on ONE FC 13, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.