8. Muay Thai boxing, graphic design, and visualisation with Ognjen Topic.

When is the right time to turn your passion into a profession?

In episode 8 of the B-side with James Barrow, in the house sessions, I speak to World Champion Muay Thai fighter, and award-winning graphic designer, Ognjen Topic from his home in Brooklyn New York.

Ognjen graduated from William Paterson University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He worked as a graphic designer from 2005 while fighting part-time, before quitting in 2013 to pursue his first passion, the brutally effective martial art of Muay Thai – and build a career as a full-time professional fighter.

Known throughout the world as one of the best Muay Thai practitioners ever to come out of the United States, he holds several world titles and is one of a very small, elite group of foreign fighters to compete at the sport's highest levels.

His resume includes performances at major global promotions including MAX Muay Thai, Yokkao, Lion Fight, Muay Thai Grand Prix, Triumph, and frequently travels to Thailand to fight in the sport's mecca, the prestigious Lumpinee and Rajadamnern stadiums.

We discuss his fight career, his approach to both fighting and design, and the similarities between them, along with how he's maintaining his training regime in lockdown.

Ognjen is incredibly dedicated and disciplined, attacking everything he does with 100% commitment. And he doesn't let life's setbacks phase him either. He's a fantastic fighter, an excellent designer and a humble, really nice dude too. It's a cracking episode; you're going to love it.

To follow Ognjen’s fight career visit topicfight.com and check out his awesome creative work at topiccreative