More than two years have passed since Wolfgang Janssen of Red Deer last stepped inside the cage, but his long wait could soon come to an end.
The 26-year-old last took part in a bout on September 25, 2015, when a TKO defeat against Craig Shintani at Hard Knocks 45 halted his run. Yet Janssen says the lengthy gap since that bout was nothing short of injuries.
According to him, most of those setbacks hit during the final stretches—or sometimes mid-camp—of his preparation, a reality that proved incredibly aggravating.
"Suffering an injury just before you're about to compete after going through nearly an entire camp is devastating," Janssen told reporters. "It's brutal. You pour so much into this sport, and the business itself is tough—you're constantly pushing your body and mind to the limit."
Janssen (5-2) reports that he's currently healthier than ever and holds firm confidence that he'll be back in the cage sometime in 2018.
"I truly believe everything is starting to fall into place this year," he said. "I'll finally be able to complete a clean, healthy training camp with my body feeling strong, and then I can return to the form I had three years ago."
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Training Without Stop
Even though he hasn't been able to fight since his last outing, Janssen said he's maintained a rigorous schedule of training, every single day.
In 2016, he dedicated eight weeks to training at Phuket Top Team in Thailand. By the conclusion of that stint, he received an offer for a year-long contract to compete in MMA across China. Regrettably, injuries kept him from competing throughout that entire year.
Janssen emphasized that despite the competitive hiatus, he feels his overall skill set has grown significantly thanks to the unbroken training effort—including achieving his brown belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu while abroad. He also participated in two BJJ tournaments overseas, capturing gold in each one.
"At my core, I'm a martial artist, and I genuinely love to train," Janssen shared. "Fighting isn't even required for me to stay sharp—I'm always working out, conditioning myself, and searching for ways to improve."
Through His Coach's Lens
Back in Red Deer, Janssen trains mainly at Arashi Do under the guidance of his coach, Gary Vig.
As 2018 approaches, Vig observes Janssen in excellent shape across every dimension, though he notes that his upgraded jiu jitsu has been particularly impressive.
"His grappling game has become much more precise," Vig remarked. "He already possessed a solid, foundational jiu jitsu background, and now it's significantly sharper."
Vig added that beyond Janssen's physical readiness, his mental condition is equally sound. The psychological pressure of being a pro fighter is substantial, yet Vig claims he sees none of that stress in Janssen at the moment.
He described Janssen as notably calm and at ease, seeming to truly enjoy his workouts—"something that's encouraging to witness."
Janssen anticipates stepping into a match in China during March or April, and has also held discussions with Havoc FC about appearing on their September card.
Given the lengthy competitive drought, Vig expects major things from Janssen upon his comeback.
"He's consistently handled his preparation correctly," Vig stated.
"If he stays focused and genuinely commits, I believe he'll be absolutely dominant."
