MIAMI — At just 15 years old, South Florida MMA fighter Isaiah Triana has already traveled the world, collected championship titles and inspired a short film that is headed to an international film festival.
Known as “The Natural,” Triana has been training in combat sports for nearly his entire life.
“It’s like I also got super strength. I’m really strong. I punch like an adult,” Triana said. “I never go down without a fight. I never quit.”
That confidence is backed by a growing list of accomplishments.
Triana said he became a world grappling champion in Munich, Germany, in 2023 and this year became the first six-time national youth MMA champion. He also has a 7-4 kickboxing record with three knockouts.
“I’m top of the world right now for my age,” he said.
A passion that started at age 2
Triana’s journey into the sport began before he was old enough to remember much else.
“Well, I first started when I was 2 years old. I was still sucking on a binky. I still had my blanket,” he said. “We got into the gym. I faced a kid who was 6 years old.”
By the time he was about 5, Triana said he knew fighting would be a major part of his life.
“Kids would cry when they went to the gym. I would cry when I had to leave the gym,” he said. “That’s how much I loved it.”
That childhood passion has since turned into an intense training schedule.
Triana trains six days a week, often two or three times a day and sometimes for six or seven hours.
He credits his father, Eduardo Triana, with helping him develop the discipline needed to compete at such a high level.
“I always see him as motivation,” Isaiah said. “He pushes me to my limits.”
Eduardo, who is also a fighter and coach, said watching his son take their sport around the world has been an unforgettable experience.
“It’s never a dull moment and I can’t stop pinching myself,” he said. “You never get used to it.”
His journey heads to the big screen
Now, Isaiah’s story is reaching an audience beyond the MMA world.
He is the focus of a new short film called “Fight Kid,” which follows his journey and one of his title fights.
The film is scheduled to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 12. His family also plans to host a red-carpet event in South Florida.
Even with a film being made about his accomplishments at just 15, Isaiah is already focused on what comes next.
“What I see in the future is for me to be UFC world champion. And I feel like I’m gonna do that,” he said. “Also, a dream of mine is to be UFC BJJ champion.”
Before pursuing those professional ambitions, Isaiah said he wants to wrestle in college. He’s also interested in a career in sports medicine or physical therapy.
For a teenager who has been competing almost as long as he has been walking, the titles and film premiere are milestones — but Isaiah believes his biggest accomplishments are still ahead.
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