Justin Wren: MMA Legend

Humanitarian and resilience keynote speaker Justin Wren empowers audiences with transformative lessons on purpose, healing, and impact drawn from his journey.

Quick Facts:

  • Highlights:
    • Founder and CEO of Fight for the Forgotten serving the Mbuti and Batwa Pygmy communities
    • Bestselling author of Fight for the Forgotten (Simon & Schuster)
    • UFC veteran with a 15–2 MMA record
    • 10-time State Champion, 5-time All American, 2-time National Champion Wrestler
  • Formats: Resilience, Purpose, and Humanitarian Impact Keynote Speaker
  • Audiences: Corporate teams, leadership groups, nonprofit organizations, schools, conferences, and communities seeking renewed purpose, resilience, and actionable impact.
  • Outcomes:
    1. Tools for transforming adversity into purpose-driven action and long-term resilience.
    2. A deeper understanding of service, empathy, and meaningful impact at work and in life.
    3. Renewed motivation to ignite inner potential and uplift others through courageous action.
Reading time: 2 min
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: Austin, TX
  • **Fee range: On Request

Talent Services

Keynote Topics:

ustin’s breakout keynote, ‘PURPOSE – PERFORMANCE – IMPACT’ shares his remarkable personal story from humble beginnings in rural Texas and a childhood shaped by relentless bullying.

He eventually rose to mixed martial arts stardom, fighting in front of thousands in person and millions around the world, only to lose it all to drugs and depression.

But he fought back again, first on behalf of other victims of bullying, and later, through an almost unbelievable turn of events, on behalf of the Pygmy people of the Congo and Uganda.

A three-time survivor of malaria, Justin has fought opponents both large and small throughout his life and along the way he has evolved into astonishing force for good in the world…and a remarkable keynote speaker.

A FIGHTER’S HEART GOAL SETTING, HIGH PERFORMANCE, AND “PEAK WEEK.”

To the untrained eye or casual fan, it is often believed that it’s the fighter with the strongest muscles or best physique who will win an MMA fight. But in actuality, the one who wins in the cage is the fighter with the deepest purpose and strongest reasons. 

Learning to strengthen and stack your WHYs is a skill, and one that sets apart a winning fighter from the rest. Reminding yourself of why you are fighting and who you are fighting for is how the bar of high performance gets raised during a fighter’s “peak week”– that crucial time period before a fight, as you let yourself heal from a grueling ‘fight camp’ of training. 

We are all fighting for something. At home, at work, with our teams, for our personal goals, or for our community. Learning these insights and tapping into both a fighter’s mind and a fighter’s heart, and applying it to life, will help anyone achieve peak performance and find that flow state while in hot pursuit of any goals and give you a new game plan– and a new edge– for victory. 

Opportunity is greater than charity. While charity certainly has its place, opportunity is proven to be better: it’s the difference between a hand out and a hand up, or Band-Aids and stitches. 

The shocking truth is that the band-aid of charity has turned into a toxicity that has caused the good intentions of charity to actually hurt. 

Learn the how and why of this from Justin’s own founding of Fight for the Forgotten, and how contribution meets collaboration, and helps people build their own ladder to climb out of poverty, oppression, insecurity and injustice. There is always a better way for communities to move forward and toward wholeness.

Leading from the front has long been the most inspirational and most effective way of leadership. But someone who has been there before, has a deep well of knowledge from the experience of having been there before, or currently is within the team, has been proven to be more trusted, effective, and impactful. 

Someone who has been, can be, and is always willing to jump back in the trenches or hold space for the frontline workers who are currently there will have open lines of communication and will have the opportunity for their team to have ears that hear. Open ears, open minds, open hearts to receive direction, feedback, and leadership advice and instruction. 

Learn how to further lead from service through Justin’s own story, combining head knowledge and heart knowledge. Get the real game plan for victory: care not only about the bottom line, but the through line of the people involved making the performance possible.

Leaders are being blindsided today external circumstances cheapshotting our internal condition without our permission. Think: mental health issues, compassion fatigue, and burnout. 

The antidote to burnout is tending to the internal fire. We will always be vulnerable to external circumstances depleting our energy, detouring our performance, and have our purpose circling the drain if we neglect our internal condition. 

This talk will share Justin’s Overcomer story and his story of recovery and ultimately, thriving, and how to maintain this as a leader and a true Overcomer.

Talent Short Bio

Justin “The Big Pygmy” Wren is a globally recognized humanitarian, bestselling author, MMA veteran, and keynote speaker whose powerful story of struggle, healing, and service has inspired millions. After battling depression, addiction, and suicidal ideation, Justin’s life changed profoundly during a journey to live among the Mbuti Pygmy people of the Congo Basin Rainforest. Immersed in their community, he experienced a sense of belonging and purpose that ignited a deep commitment to fight alongside them for dignity, basic resources, and opportunity.

Upon returning home, Justin founded Fight for the Forgotten, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering the Mbuti in the Congo and the Batwa Pygmies of Uganda. Through sustainable water projects, land security efforts, community development, and long-term partnership, the organization continues to transform lives. Justin’s belief in the inherent worth and fire within every person fuels his mission to bring hope, healing, and possibility to audiences around the world.

 

After battling depression, suicide, and drug addiction, Justin Wren experienced a life-changing journey living with the Mbuti Pygmy people of the Congo Basin Rainforest.

When he returned he founded Fight For The Forgotten, to knockout the world water crisis, which today has expanded its impact to serve the Batwa Pygmies of Uganda. Justin has a deep-seated belief & ability to empower people to stoke the fire that is within us all.

Justin “The Big Pygmy” Wren is a 10 time State Champion, 5 time All American, and 2 time National Champion Wrestler, UFC veteran,and has been inducted into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame.

As a humanitarian Justin Wren is the the Founder and CEO of the non-profit Fight for the Forgotten, also authoring a bestselling book with the same name through Simon & Schuster publishing.

Justin’s transformative storytelling Ignites a fire In the human soul that inspires and empowers us to take action that leads deeper purpose, high performance, and long lasting change and impact.

Before dedicating his life to humanitarian work, Justin rose to prominence as a 10-time State Champion, 5-time All American, 2-time National Champion Wrestler, UFC veteran, and inductee into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame. His MMA record of 15–2 reflects his competitive excellence and discipline, but his journey beyond the cage demonstrates even greater strength.

As a speaker, Justin is known for his raw honesty, profound compassion, and ability to ignite purpose-driven action. His story has been featured on the Joe Rogan Experience, Mike Tyson’s Hotboxin’, the Ed Mylett Show, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, TEDx, and major networks including NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX. He also hosts the popular podcast Overcome with Justin Wren, continuing his mission to elevate stories of hope and resilience.

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Talent Videos

Justin Wren Speaking Reel: Overcome, Empower, and Ignite Purpose

A powerful highlight reel showcasing Justin Wren’s transformational message of overcoming adversity, empowering communities, and discovering purpose through service and resilience.

This four-minute speaking reel captures the heart of Justin Wren’s mission: to help individuals recognize their inner strength, overcome adversity, and pursue meaningful impact. The video opens with a compelling invitation to consider what would be possible if one truly believed in their potential. Justin frames the idea that a person’s deepest pain can become the birthplace of their greatest purpose and most meaningful victories, setting the emotional tone for the reel.

Testimonials reinforce his credibility and character, including praise about his rare leadership qualities and his commitment to channeling every part of his life toward doing good. Justin transitions to speaking directly to audiences about his goal: to provide tools, tactics, and techniques for expanding beliefs about what is possible and winning “the fight called life.”

Drawing from his MMA career, including main-event fights in Las Vegas and appearances before millions, Justin shares a pivotal realization: personal achievement alone does not create fulfillment. This revelation leads him to introduce Fight for the Forgotten, the humanitarian movement he founded to combat bullying and empower communities in need.

The reel then shifts to the story of Nimoli, the first person Justin met who was born into slavery. Through this emotional narrative, Justin highlights the global issue of modern slavery, emphasizing that an estimated 27 million people remain enslaved today. He explains that the communities he works with do not want charity, but opportunity. They seek tools, education, and empowerment to build a better life.

Key Moments

  • 00:31 Justin introduces his mission to share tools for overcoming adversity.
  • 00:55 Reflection on MMA success and the search for deeper meaning.
  • 01:15 Introduction to Fight for the Forgotten and its mission to fight bullying and serve vulnerable communities.
  • 01:32 Story of Nimoli and the reality of modern slavery.
  • 02:05 Communities express desire for opportunity, not charity; Justin explains empowerment-based development.

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