From Canvas to Chakras: Ognjen Topic’s Artistic Round‑Trip
Early Brushstrokes
When Ognjen Topic moved from Serbia to the U.S. at nine, he didn’t just trade snow for sun—he traded paint for a passport to adventure. The 32‑year‑old, who’s now a breakthrough in ONE Super Series Muay Thai, once dreamed of capturing sunsets on canvas.
- High school art program sparked a love for oil.
- Financial realities forced a pivot to design.
- Even now, a pencil and sketchpad still tug at his fingers.
School of Design
After high school, he enrolled at William Paterson University in New Jersey to study graphic art and design. The transition wasn’t instant—his first years felt like walking a tightrope between paint swirls and pixel grids.
Quote: “I had to learn the fundamentals of design. The hardest part? Sticking to them and making something that actually looks good.”
Secret Sparring
While crayons were his first friends, Ognjen’s passion soon turned into punch. He started Muay Thai in college, balancing the roar of the ring with the quiet of a studio. He kept this hidden until a YouTube video leaked the truth, prompting a four‑month pause with his father.
Despite the familial friction, he persisted. “It was the only thing that made me feel alive,” he says, “everything else just melts away.”
Design Meets Knock‑Out
He swears the minimalist ethos of design translates directly onto his fighting style. “Every move should be clean, simple, and to the point—just like a good layout.” His coach even draws a parallel: Muay Thai is like painting, but the canvas is a ring.
Artistic Touches
Ognjen still sneaks in time for art—every now and then he’ll set up a sketchbook and paint a quick portrait. But when it’s time for gloves, nothing else fills his heart the way a round of punches does.
World Title Ahead
Now, Ognjen is gearing up for a showdown against Thai legend Tukkatatong Petpayathai at ONE: BEYOND THE HORIZON on Saturday, 8 September in Shanghai, China. He aims to create a masterpiece in the ring—one that will echo throughout the world’s martial arts circles.
Stay tuned to see whether this Serbian‑American warrior will turn his next bout into another “piece of art” worth studying.
