Diminutive chemist Isabella Truong must survive vicious cage fight to win Wimp 2 Warrior finale

By Yourwellness Last updated Jun 19, 2014 12

Isabella Truong works at a Sydney pharmacy and is a self-confessed nerd.

But away from the office she is a warrior and soon to be cage fighter.

For the past six months, the 31-year-old Sydneysider has put herself through rigorous training for the second series of the reality web TV show Wimp 2 Warrior.

The show takes everyday people, including geologists, PhD students, financial advisers, and company directors, trains them in mixed martial arts and turns them into cage fighting warriors.

“My personal trainer is one of the fight coaches and invited me to the finale night for Wimp 2 Warrior season one and after seeing the fights, I wanted to be part of season two,” Ms Truong said.

Inspired by the bright lights and thrilling fights, for Ms Truong the experience has been one of reinventing herself.

But the desire to get fit was also a reaction to a diagnosis of being insulin resistant, and as a pharmacist working in the health industry, she knew she needed to change her lifestyle.

Diabetes runs in Ms Truong’s family and this was a real fear for her, having ballooned out to 86kg while standing at only 158cm tall.

Now, the new warrior version will enter the cage on Saturday night and do battle with another former wimp.

“I definitely hope to win come June 21 at Luna Park,” she said.

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“I’ve had such great advice andcoaching so I hope to put it all into place on the night and take it home.

“But, as the coaches have said, it’s not about winning or losing on the night and to step onto that stage and fight, we’re all winners.”

Wimp 2 Warrior contestants, like Ms Truong, train four times a week, learning strength and conditioning, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai to prepare them for battle.

Out of 400 applicants and drop outs for the event, Ms Truong is now one of 40 contestants competing in the final of theis unique event.

“It’s the journey and making it till the end is what counts,” Ms Truong said.

“So I have to hold on to that close to my heart because it’s definitely been a very challenging and rewarding journey so far.

“I only look forward to the end result where it will all come to fruition and completion and after our fight we can eat and enjoy a beer with my team.”

Wimp 2 Warrior sees regular people thrown into a six-month professional MMA fight camp. At the end of the camp, the top newly formed fighters step into the cage to fight. Expressions of interest are being taken online for the third Australian series. If you consider yourself a wimp, visit wimp2warrior.com.au.