Two Marq sales agents will participate in their first sanctioned cage fight this weekend after completing an inspiring six-month personal fitness and wellbeing journey.

Sam McGregor and Sam Taylor will take part in ‘fight night’ at Gulson showroom in Fyshwick on Saturday after completing rigorous 26-week mixed martial arts (MMA) training program, Wimp 2 Warrior with Synergy Self Defence and Fitness.

Marq has sponsored two of the three fight cards for the event.

Wimp 2 Warrior, now known as ALTA, is a global MMA training course that focuses on physical benefits as well as mental toughness.

Participants are put through their paces in training sessions five mornings a week, learning a range of mixed martial arts skills, including kickboxing, wrestling and jujitsu.

Sam McGregor said the program was unique because it was a longer term challenge that did not solely focus on weight loss, but improved, holistic wellbeing and personal development.

“The idea behind martial arts for thousands of years has been that it is fitness centred, but it’s also about physical and mental confidence,” he said.

“I would say Wimp 2 Warrior is a mental transformation program more than anything else and the physical side of it is a clear and definitive by-product of that.”

It was during the COVID lockdowns last year that Sam decided to embark on a fitness and personal wellbeing challenge to reinvigorate himself and in turn his real estate business.

“Like everyone, I was stuck at home that was a really tough time, especially for someone like myself who had just made a transition into real estate. I’ve been in real estate for two years now and at that time my business had good traction,” he said.

“I knew off the back off the lockdown it was going to be like starting a brand new business so while I was at home, I decided to do something that would give me structure back in my life as well as benefit business and life in general.”

Sam said he was eager for Saturday’s event.

“I’m super excited. I trust in the training that I’ve done and really, really worked hard at over the last six months. I feel amazing, I feel fit and healthy and strong and focussed leading into Saturday and I’m excited for that.”

Sam Taylor said he signed up to the challenge as a means of regaining his fitness after COVID lockdowns and a knee reconstruction.

He said he had seen incredible improvements to his physical and mental wellbeing during the 26-week program.

“It’s a super beneficial program, not only for physical fitness but mental fitness too,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to Saturday. It’s a culmination of all the hard work from the last six months and I’m really excited, but more excited to see the comrades I’ve been training so hard with to see how they go as well.”

“Continuing to train is something that’s on my mind. The reason I did the program was after lockdown and I was actually coming off a knee reconstruction so I hadn’t been active for a while. It’s been a good pathway to get my fitness back to playing basketball again.”

Organiser Bronnie Bath, co-owner of Synergy Self Defence and Fitness, said she had seen lifechanging transformations in participants of the program, which was now in its ninth season at the gym.

“We love martial arts. When we teach people, they learn self defence and they build fitness and confidence,” Bronnie said.

“We’ve seen some incredible and inspiring results from members of these programs. We have had quite a few females who have either suffered physical abuse or sexual abuse and it’s been about them building confidence through technique and how to throw a punch or a kick, and defend themselves effectively.”

She said Synergy was grateful to have Marq as a major sponsor for Saturday’s event.