The Celis name is in capable hands.
Steeped in a lineage of combat athletes, Lorenzo Celis, 24, has thrown his full weight behind making mixed martial arts his profession.
According to Celis, having relatives so deeply entrenched in the world of fighting provides invaluable support and enables him to dedicate every facet of his life to the craft needed to thrive.
"The backing I've received is honestly remarkable," shared Celis.
"My father has dedicated most of his energy to my journey, investing heavily so I can train full-time."
Even though he has been practicing MMA for just half a decade, Celis has been training and competing in taekwondo since the age of five.
Through his father, Washington, and his uncle, Boris—both head instructors at Celis Taekwondo Academy in Regina, SK—Celis has cultivated a world-class taekwondo foundation over countless hours of dedication.
"My first competition happened when I was six. From then on, I was in a tournament every couple of months," recalled Celis.
"I've competed across Canada, visited the United States several times, and traveled to Puerto Rico twice."
MMA-Bound
After turning 18, Celis started exploring different martial disciplines under the guidance of Sean Quinn, shaping himself into a complete MMA competitor.
He credited growing up watching the UFC as a major motivation for switching to MMA, alongside wanting to emulate one of his greatest heroes.
"Anderson Silva was among my biggest inspirations—he quickly became one of my favorite fighters. I've followed him since I was around nine or ten," reflected Celis.
"At some point, I made up my mind that I wanted to do the same thing and chase that dream."
Under a month prior, Celis achieved the greatest milestone of his fledgling career, claiming the XFFC amateur middleweight championship at XFFC 21 by stopping Jordan Noseworthy in the second round via TKO.
He explained that securing that belt carried deeper meaning than most realize, particularly following a difficult 2018.
"I shut my eyes, drew a long breath, and simply thought 'at last.'
"2018 was incredibly frustrating for me. Fight after fight got canceled. The bout against Jordan brought tremendous relief, and I finally had the chance to showcase what I could do for the fans."
Celis' attention now shifts toward the 2019 National Amateur Championships, which kick off April 10 in Lethbridge, Alta.
Though he normally competes in the middleweight division, Celis will step into the light heavyweight bracket for the tournament given the same-day weigh-in schedule.
Even though the gold and silver medalists in each weight class earn a place on Team Canada for the IMMAF World Championships, Celis stated he would decline that invitation if selected, preferring instead to advance directly to the professional ranks.
"My objective is to become a two-division champion. Now that I hold the middleweight belt, I aim to capture the light heavyweight championship as well and conclude my amateur run on a high note," noted Celis.
"I'm not getting any younger, so I want to accomplish this and move forward into my pro career."
Representing Celis Academy
Beyond his personal training, Celis also instructs part-time alongside his father, Washington, at Celis Taekwondo Academy.
Washington remarked that his son has emerged as a powerful figure for younger students, continually earning strong backing from the entire Celis Academy community whenever he enters the octagon.
"Whenever Lorenzo secures a win, the parents, students, kids, and adults alike feel immense pride in him—and that strengthens my academy as well," said Washington.
"It's excellent publicity for the academy when the instructor is victorious."
When Celis initially discussed pursuing MMA professionally with his father, he was in the midst of finishing his university degree.
Earning his engineering degree, Washington—who hails from Chile—admitted he was initially hesitant to support his son's choice to leave academia and pursue a fighting career.
"When I arrived in Canada, my sole escape from hardship was education—to build something beyond being a martial artist. So when Lorenzo approached me, I wasn't particularly enthusiastic," Washington explained.
"But once he framed it around his limited window of opportunity and his fear of missing out, I told him we should try."
Now sitting at four amateur bouts with a 3-0-1 record, Washington said he wholeheartedly supports his son's MMA ambitions and aspirations.
Having spent his entire life surrounded by martial arts, Washington believes his son possesses everything required to excel in MMA.
"In martial arts, two qualities matter most: ambition and self-discipline. Lorenzo has both in abundance," Washington noted.
"He doesn't merely aspire to match Anderson Silva or Conor McGregor—he aims to surpass them both."
