Lee Mein coaches his Jiu Jistsu class on Monday Oct. 3, 2016.
The Young Gun is officially on his way back to the UFC.
Jordan “Young Gun” Mein retired in August of last year but he’s making his way back to the octagon.
The Lethbridge born fighter was highly regarded and his retirement came as a bit of a shock to the mixed martial arts community.
He’s only 26-years-old with a 29-10 record in pro fights.
But after some time off, Lee Mein, Jordan’s dad and long-time trainer, says he’s ready to see his son fight again as long as that’s what he wants to do.
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“As long as he’s happy, enjoying the training and what goes along with the sport,” Mein says on Jordan’s return.
The younger Mein has been retired for over a year but got the itch to get back into it.
During his time off, Jordan still trained and was teaching at the Canadian Martial Arts Centre (CMAC) in Lethbridge.
“He was just on a physical and mental break,” said Mein. “It was just a chance to reset and see what he wanted to do.”
The senior Mein doesn’t really care who Jordan faces in his first bout back from retirement but says they will be prepared no matter what the challenge.
The comeback is not only huge for Mein, but for the MMA community in Lethbridge.
Training out of the CMAC has a benefit for not only Mein but for the entire group of trainers.
Friend and training partner Aaron Anctil says he’s excited to see what the future holds for Mein.
“It’s really exciting to watch him train and I can’t wait to see him back out there,” Anctil said.
The short lived retirement was spent coaching and training at the CMAC and it will have a prolonged effect on those who continue to train there.
“Having a professional UFC fighter train in the same gym is a huge confidence boost,” says Antcil.
The Lethbridge MMA scene has benefited from having Jordan Mein for the past year but now they’re more than happy to see him move back into professional fighting.
One of his oldest friends at the CMAC, Wyatt Yake, doesn’t think success could have happened to a better person.
“He’s the nicest guy, a real gem of a human being,” said Yake.
Now Mein aims to fight in UFC 206 on Dec. 10.
