Elena Coe McNamara
Staff Writer
As a world champion in jiu jitsu at only 17, Mira Costa junior Jean Paul Le-Bosnoyani recently began a new form of mixed martial arts (MMA) in order to broaden his horizons as a fighter.
Le-Bosnoyani had his first MMA cage fight on January 30th in Garden Grove and came out on top, winning the fight with a hip throw and armbar.
“I believe that Jean Paul’s age is what kept him from entering a cage any earlier,” coach Evandro Nunes said. “Being around him, and seeing what a martial artist he is makes it easy to forget that he just turned seventeen a week ago.”
Le-Bosnoyani and his father, Nono Le-Bosnoyani, had been trying to enter Le-Bosnoyani in an MMA cage fight for a long time, and eventually found a venue and an opponent. The opponent was Brian Valdez, a 20 year old brown belt, the level above Le-Bosnoyani’s purple belt in jiu jitsu.
“Seeing my brother try a new type of fighting is incredible from my point of view,” Bianca Le-Bosnoyani said. “It makes me feel like a proud sister to have such a strong and diverse brother that I can looks up to as a role model.”
Le-Bosnoyani currently holds many world titles, being a seven time North American Grappling Association (NAGA) champion, a three time International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Federation (IBJJF) champion and a thirteen time Gracie nationals champion. Le-Bosnoyani’s eventual goals are to become an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter.
“By reaching out to a different kind of fighting, I’m getting closer to my ultimate goal of fighting in the UFC,” Le-Bosnoyani said. “It gives me a taste of what is coming for me and what to expect in my career.”
The main difference between MMA cage fighting and the jiu jitsu Le-Bosnoyani is used to, is that in MMA fights, you are allowed full contact whereas the jiu jitsu matches allow no striking. According to Le-Bosnoyani, he enjoyed the MMA fight because he trains in kickboxing, which made him well prepared.
“Cage fighting is great for Jean Paul because it’s another form of fighting for him to become number one in,” Bianca Le-Bosnoyani said. “He’s going to master another form of what he does, and it’s gonna give him another amazing title to live under.”
Le-Bosnoyani plans to continue regularly with more cage fights. The next cage fight he is scheduled to fight in is on February 27th in San Jose, with the California Mixed Martial Arts Organization (CAMO).
“If I continue with these MMA cage fights now, what I have coming for me later will not be such a shock,” Le-Bosnoyani said. “I won’t be hit with such a different type of fighting in the UFC because I am practicing and getting better now.”
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