From Straws to World‑Class: Tiffany Teo’s Global Training Adventure
People say that traveling widens the mind. For a fighter, it’s more about widening the skillset. Singapore’s own strawweight sensation, Tiffany Teo, has taken that saying to heart—literally, by hopping from one gym to another around the world.
Getting her start at Juggernaut
Teo’s journey began at Juggernaut Fight Club, a place where the training is as tough as the coach’s nickname. “I switched to mixed‑martial‑arts and Juggernaut was the first gym I trained at,” she recalls. She trained under Major Overall and later Luke Adams, learning a no‑nonsense style that forged her early career.
When the sparring partners were missing
By 2017, the water under the bridge turned to fire. She found it hard to locate good folks to spar with and decided to expand her horizons. Yet change isn’t always a walk in the park.
“When you go to a brand new gym, the focus isn’t on you to start with,” Teo explains. “Your coach must be all in on your game plan, weaponizing your strengths, and keeping you on track. Suddenly the new place doesn’t know your history.”
Following the coach to Team Highlight Reel
Luckily, Coach Major Overall launched a new venture in Singapore: Team Highlight Reel. The chance to stick with a familiar face made the move feel less like stepping into the unknown and more like moving to a new home with all the right tools.
Thunder in the gym—thanks to Emily “The Honey Badger” Urrutia
Enter Emilio “The Honey Badger” Urrutia, a featherweight star who decided to play matchmaker. He introduced Teo to the legendary Tiger Muay Thai gym in Phuket, Thailand, handled all the paperwork, and kept an eye on the sparring quality. “It was nice to have him there,” Teo says.
Re‑uniting with familiar hands
After building a solid base at Tiger Muay Thai, Teo reconnected with Luke Adams, now coaching at Bangkok Fight Lab. Together, they formed a twin‑centre strategy: she trains at her local base but heads overseas when she needs fresh sparring sessions.
She’s not saying she’ll have to jump back into hot (or cold) waters anytime soon. “My camp now has a bunch of up‑and‑coming athletes,” she explains. “That means I’ve got plenty of partners right here. I don’t see myself training at another camp in the near future.”
A balanced approach to learning
Teo admits that training style is personal. “Everyone’s learning style affects how they train. Some people thrive in a new environment; others don’t. Trying something out and seeing what fits is key.”
Coming up—Heart of the Lion
She’s heading to ONE: HEART OF THE LION in Singapore this Friday (9 November) to face multiple‑world‑champion Michelle Nicolini. Teo’s next challenge will be a showcase of everything she’s learned from her detour around the globe.
