Justin Wren hasn’t fought in more than two years, but he insisted that doesn’t mean he’s a retired fighter.
Wren (13-2 MMA, 3-0 BMMA), who last fought in March 2017, is riding a six-fight winning streak that spans nearly a decade. MMA hasn’t been his top priority for much of recent years, though, because the heavyweight has instead focused on his charity efforts with Fight for the Forgotten.
Health ailments produced by repeated trips overseas to Africa have slowed Wren’s ability to compete as well, he said. Despite that, Wren still has plans to fight.
“I’m definitely not retired,” Wren told MMA Junkie. “I have some potential dates. I had a shoulder surgery and then right I’m now I’m even kind of exhausted mentally because last week I had an endoscopy, I have some sort of parasite or bacteria so I picked that up on my last trip. The time before that it was dengue fever, three times before that it was malaria and there’s been health challenges for sure.”
Wren said he is currently in talks to fight for Bellator in December or January and is “really looking forward” to putting the gloves back on. He’s fought his past three bouts for the organization, picking up two decision wins and a submission in his most recent appearance at Bellator 174.
Although he made his MMA debut back in December 2006, Wren said he still feels there’s a lot of time left for him to make an impact in the sport. So long as his health holds up, Wren aims to become a factor in the Bellator heavyweight division.
“If I do get healthy and focused I do still have big dreams in MMA and I still have time,” Wren said. “I’m only 32, I know that time is ticking to get after it.”
