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How Martyn Ford Went From Skinny Cricketer To 6 Ft 8 Beast Dubbed 'The Nightmare'

How Martyn Ford Went From Skinny Cricketer To 6 Ft 8 Beast Dubbed 'The Nightmare'

He also has advice for Conor McGregor, as he gets ready for his own assault on MMA

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

You may know actor and bodybuilder Martyn 'The Nightmare' Ford as the 18.9st, 6ft 8 beast recently added to the 2019 line-up for Polish MMA organisation Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki.

Instagram

But Ford wasn't always the absolute tank we see today - far from it, in fact.

Once a tall but slight aspiring cricketer, Martyn saw his original dreams of being a sportsman crushed when an injury and glandular fever left him out of the game.

Unable to pursue a life in cricket, Ford took to the gym - desperate to channel his frustration into something more positive.

Writing on Instagram recently, Ford explained: "I was lost when I finished playing cricket. I was convinced I would turn pro and that would be my life set out. With injuries, bad luck and just losing love for the game that never happened. But the void was never filled. I knew deep down I needed to succeed at something, that I had an ability to shine in some way.

"I have always been so focused and committed with a crazy ambition to win. Fast forward to today, I'm travelling the world with fitness, made two films with three more already lined up. Not to mention three businesses to my name."

Since then, he's not only beefed up - a lot - but also become an Instagram star, an actor and, most recently, an MMA fighter.

Martyn Ford/Instagram
Instagram

Speaking to LADbible, he explained the transition to MMA was a natural one for him, after being presented with an opportunity came up that was 'too good to turn down'.

"I've just always been very competitive and I like challenging myself," he explained, adding: "I'm just a bit stupid really, aren't I?!"

But for Ford, entering the octagon is all about the sport - he's not interested in any of drama like we've seen recently with Conor McGregor and his rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.

"For me personally, I always try and carry myself as professionally as possible, and look down the line that you've got a lot of young people looking up to you," Ford said.

"The behaviour from the last couple of weeks just disappointed me. I understand it, but at the same time when you're in a role of influence like that, there should be a cutting off point."

Instagram

He added: "I think [McGregor] is a fantastic fighter, and sometimes you get caught up in the drama, but when you are in that much of the limelight, I just believe you should have a bit more responsibility for your actions."

And as a true test of his strength, we asked if he thought he could legitimately fight a bear. Or what about wrestling a shark?

"Yes, absolutely," he said. "I reckon I could do both at the same time actually."

Are you going to tell him he can't?

Featured Image Credit: Instagram

Topics: SPORT, Conor Mcgregor, Entertainment, Martyn Ford, Fitness, MMA