Fight for Peace is delighted to announce former member and professional MMA athlete Jawany Scott as our new Athlete Ambassador. As one of the stars of Cage Warriors, Europe’s longest-running mixed martial arts promotion, Jawany’s journey from our Academy in Newham to the professional MMA stage is a striking example of what young people can achieve with the right support, guidance, and belief—not just as athletes, but as individuals. 

As an Athlete Ambassador for Fight for Peace, Jawany will be a public champion of our work, working closely with the young people at our Academy and inspiring the next generation to reach their full potential. He recently sat down with Fight for Peace’s Partnerships Manager, Harry Parkyn, to reflect on what Fight for Peace means to him, his ambitions, and his message to our members.

HP: Jawany, welcome back to Fight for Peace. What motivated you to return and take on this role?

JS: I wanted to come back to Fight for Peace because I feel like this is the place where I started, so it feels like home. Anytime I come back and I see the next generation of athletes coming through, it actually feels good and it makes you feel like, you know what? I was at this stage at one point and I always dreamed of being where I am now. So if I could be that inspiration for the next ones coming through, there’s no better feeling than that.

HP: What’s your first memory of coming to Fight for Peace?

JS: I was 15, so it was probably like 2012 or 2013. Honestly, the first thing I remember was the atmosphere and the people. The atmosphere was just crazy because everyone was working hard, pushing themselves—and as well as that, you also felt welcomed by everybody. From the moment you walk in here, anybody is welcome. It just felt natural for me to be here. It felt good. It felt like a place where you’re safe. And if you can make young people feel safe, they’re gonna come back. I feel like that’s one of the reasons why I did keep coming back, as well as the coaching being really good.

HP: Can you think back to a time where someone inspired you?

JS: To be honest, I can’t even pick one time because it was almost like every time I came here, I was surrounded by the same training partners and the same coaches that were inspiring me. Obviously, at the time you may not be thinking these things, but subconsciously, these are the reasons why you keep coming back and these are the reasons why you keep improving. And now I’m older enough to think about it, I could definitely see these are the people that inspired me. Growing up, I never felt inspired by people I didn’t know—like TV personalities or celebrities. It was always the people I saw working hard, putting in the time and effort to improve, who really motivated me. I’d rather be inspired by those I can see striving to be better every single day.

HP: What excites you most about taking on the role of Athlete Ambassador for Fight for Peace?

JS: First and foremost it’s spending more time here and spending more time with the young people. When you’re a young athlete, you don’t always get the time to reflect on how you’re doing, how you’re progressing. So maybe I could be there for them and be like, oh, you know what? I was in your shoes once. If this is their first interclub or home show, I can talk them through it, I can help them plan for the next one. I see myself in these young people, you know what I mean?

HP: What’s next for you in your career?

JS: I’m still training with GB Top Team, and I’ve re-signed with Cage Warriors. I’ve got my next fight in about three weeks against another experienced opponent. After that, I want to go for the belt again. The main goal is, next summer I want my shot at Dana White’s Contender Series. That’s the aim, but obviously leading up to that, keep training, keep developing and keep performing on Cage Warriors. It’s great to fight on Cage Warriors as I’m always fighting in front of my home crowd. I always get such good support—my family and friends come and support me and the atmosphere in the arena is so good.

HP: What’s your ultimate goal—not just in MMA, but in life? 

JS: I want to be an inspiration for whoever is coming up behind me. A lot of the time, I don’t even realise that I inspire people. I’m just an ordinary guy, bro. I’m just someone that’s doing what I love to do. I believe anybody could do what I’m doing—if you commit yourself, anybody can be where I am or be further than I am. In terms of future goals, it’s definitely to get into the UFC and get to a stage where I can provide for my family and also give back to my community. When you’re chasing your dream, you have to think about the fact that it’s not just about you anymore, you know what I mean? If you know that your coach is invested in you, your mum’s made sacrifices for you, or you’ve got kids that rely on you, you realise that your dreams are bigger than just you. You need something bigger than yourself that’s going to keep you on the path to chasing and achieving those dreams.

HP: Final question, Jawany—what would be your message to Fight for Peace members? 

JS: If you’ve got a dream that you want to chase, keep chasing it. Don’t worry about what anybody else says. Just keep believing in yourself, believe that you can attain those dreams. Even on days where it’s tough—get up and go again. That’s what I think Fight for Peace, as well as martial arts in general, has instilled in me. It’s that discipline to push through when things get hard, knowing that’s what will bring the results you want.

Jawany Scott takes on Michelangelo Lupoli at Cage Warriors 196 London on Saturday, November 15th. Tickets on sale now!