Tran Minh Nhut: 'The Romantic Lien Phong' and the fight for an unfinished dream

On May 17, the Gods of Martial Arts (GMA) tournament - Gods of Martial Arts Vietnam will officially return with the opening event of 2025. Among the martial artists entering the battle, once again the name Tran Minh Nhut, who was once known as "Lien Phong Wanderer", will appear on the fighting stage, carrying personal hope and the mission of inspiring the next generation.

No longer a stranger, Tran Minh Nhut has left his mark on Vietnamese Than Vo fans through 6 professional matches, with 3 victories over formidable opponents such as Nguyen Trung Hai or Le Van Tuan. In the 2024 season, he reached the semi-finals before stopping before champion Mui Trong Vinh, one of the brightest talents of Vietnamese MMA.

At the age of 36, while many martial artists of the same generation have retired or switched to coaching, Minh Nhut is still trying his best to find the first title of his career: "For many people, the defeat in the semi-finals last year was the end. But for me, it is a sign that I still have enough strength to compete, enough ability to compete with the younger generation. My goal this year has not changed."

On April 13, at the launch ceremony of Lien Phong Martial Arts School's new uniforms and lineup, Minh Nhut once again affirmed his central role. As a group A fighter, the main force of the team, he not only competes but also supports team leader Nguyen Hoang Thach in the role of "big brother" passing on experience to his juniors.

“Master Johnny Tri Nguyen always said that my experience will help my juniors. That is both a joy and a pressure. But for the common goal, I will give my all both on the stage and on the mat," Minh Nhut shared.

At the age of 36, Minh Nhut still plays a central role in Lien Phong Martial Arts School.

Minh Nhut's fighting style does not focus on strength like his teammate Bui Truong Sinh, nor is it as fast as Nguyen Hoang Thach. Instead, it is the flexibility and sophistication from wrestling situations, chokeholds, to unexpected flying knee strikes, creating the identity of "Lien Phong the Wanderer" over the years.

The victory over Bui Quoc Toan with precise punches to destroy the pillars, or the choke to finish Le Van Tuan at LION Championship 12, is a testament to the bravery and technique of a veteran warrior. But Minh Nhut clearly understands that the journey ahead will be even more difficult, especially when Than Vo Viet Nam is expanding its scale to Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia...

The upcoming match with “Golden Haired Lion King” Tran Trong Kim, a generational rival, is considered the highlight of the GMA event on May 17. This is not only a match between two veteran warriors, but also a competition of courage, experience and nerves of steel, where every small mistake can be paid for with defeat.

For Tran Minh Nhut, this battle is not just about victory. It is also an affirmation that age is not the end, but can be a milestone for a new chapter. Although it may be the final chapters of a journey, it opens up inspiration for a whole next generation.

Gods of Martial Arts (GMA) 2025 - Gods of Martial Arts Vietnam returns with a series of 8 main events in 2025, including 4 Gods of Martial Arts Vietnam events and 4 international Gods of Martial Arts events. Competing in the professional MMA format, the first event will take place on May 17, 2025 at GMA Arena (HCMC) with 9 matches. The highlight of this competition night is the performance of two veteran martial artists with a very flamboyant fighting style, Tran Minh Nhut of Lien Phong Martial Arts School and Tran Trong Kim of PFC Phu Quoc.

Trong Dat

Source: https://tienphong.vn/tran-minh-nhut-lang-tu-lien-phong-va-cuoc-chien-cho-giac-mo-dang-do-post1742514.tpo