When you picture an EFC champion, you probably imagine someone intimidating. Someone who enjoys conflict all the time, walks around looking for trouble, and has the confidence to take on anyone who crosses their path. Then you meet Faeez “Troublemaker” Jacobs. He may be the scariest person to be in the cage with, but there is a deeper layer to him outside of that. Behind the EFC bantamweight champion is a man whose greatest fight was never inside the cage.
Growing up in the Cape Flats, Jacobs was surrounded by an environment where gangs and drugs were a reality for many young people. He explains that for many boys, gangs become more than just crime – they become identity. “People gravitate towards what they think respect looks like,” he reveals. Looking back, he admits it would have been easy to fall into that lifestyle. Instead, he credits his family, especially his grandmother, for keeping him on the right path. “When the light bulbs went on, I’d better be home,” he laughed. “My granny was a ninja with a plakkie.” Those strict rules, which probably felt frustrating at the time, became one of the biggest reasons he avoided influences that could have changed the trajectory of his life forever.
Ironically, the man who now steps into a cage for a living was once terrified of confrontation. Jacobs speaks openly about being bullied throughout school and never quite knowing how to stand up for himself. Every day, he would promise himself that the next time someone picked on him, he would fight back. Every day, fear got the better of him. “I was fighting battles I didn’t even know I was fighting,” he said. Trying to overcome that fear eventually led him down a rebellious path. He was suspended from school multiple times before eventually being expelled. It was during this period that the nickname “Troublemaker” was born. It was bestowed upon him by his headmaster, not because he wanted to become one, but because he was desperately trying to become someone who was not afraid anymore.
Eventually, that search for confidence led him to mixed martial arts. His first backyard fight changed everything. Unlike the confrontations he had feared growing up, there was no anger, no resentment, and no bullying. It was simply two people testing themselves against one another. For the first time in his life, he felt completely present. “I was so locked into the moment,” he said. “Nothing had ever put me in that level of presence before.” Many athletes describe discovering their sport by accident. Jacobs did not.
“I didn’t get into the sport as a hobby,” he said. “I got into the sport because this is what I wanted to do with my life.” That mindset shaped everything that followed. Long before championship belts, television interviews, and sold-out arenas, Jacobs was already preparing himself for success. While still fighting as an amateur, he deliberately put himself in front of cameras, practised speaking publicly, and visualised himself becoming a champion.
To him, becoming an EFC champion was never an “if”. It was simply a matter of “when”. Breaking into the EFC was the first major step towards that dream. Years of amateur competition and relentless training earned him his opportunity, but staying there required something entirely different. The bright lights, television cameras, and growing crowds never intimidated him because, in his mind, he had already rehearsed those moments hundreds of times. “I had modelled myself around champions since I was a teenager,” he said.
That mentality carried him through victories, but more importantly, through defeat. One of the biggest turning points in his career came while fighting overseas in Abu Dhabi. Accepting a fight on just two weeks’ notice, Jacobs travelled to one of the biggest arenas in the world – an arena previously headlined by some of the sport’s biggest names. He won the fight by first round stoppage.
Returning overseas for more bouts exposed him to another level of competition. Although he suffered losses, those defeats ultimately became some of the most valuable experiences of his career. “A win makes you feel good,” he reflected. “A loss corrects you thoroughly.” Rather than breaking his confidence, those losses forced him to completely rethink how he trained, recovered, and approached competition. Soon afterwards, he opened Troublemakers Gym and rebuilt his career from the ground up.
The comeback was remarkable. Within two fights, he had reclaimed EFC gold.
Today, Jacobs is not only an EFC champion. He is also a businessman, coach, and mentor. Running Troublemakers Gym means juggling multiple roles every single day. Between coaching aspiring fighters, managing a business, and preparing for championship fights, his schedule is relentless.
Fortunately, he does not carry it alone. His wife, Lucile, plays one of the biggest roles in his success. Far more than simply supporting him from the sidelines, Jacobs describes her as his biggest source of accountability. “She makes sure I don’t take shortcuts,” he said with a laugh. Alongside Lucile, his students and fellow coaches have become an extension of his family, helping him manage the gym while allowing him to focus on preparing for fights. Listening to him speak, it is clear that although mixed martial arts is an individual sport, becoming a champion is never an individual journey.
Like many athletes around the world, Jacobs faced one of the toughest periods of his career during COVID-19. With competitions paused, he suddenly lost the identity he had spent years building. “I lost my identity,” he admitted. Without fighting, he was forced to ask himself why he was chasing championships in the first place.
The answer changed everything. Instead of fighting purely for personal success, he realised that he wanted to use his experiences to help other people. Today, the mission behind Troublemakers Gym is not simply to produce champions. It is to build confident people. He wants every person who walks through his doors to leave believing that they are capable of more than they ever imagined.
As the conversation continued, one thing became increasingly obvious. Faeez Jacobs talks about mindset far more than he talks about fighting. He speaks about purpose, growth, community, faith, and becoming better. Winning almost feels like a by-product.
When asked what advice he would give young people chasing their own dreams, his answer extended far beyond sport. “Don’t fear the judgement of others,” he said. “Trust yourself.” If he could speak to the younger version of himself, his message would be just as powerful. “You have everything. You always had everything. Move towards the thing that scares you the most.”
Earlier this year, Jacobs experienced what he describes as one of the most memorable moments of his career when the EFC returned to Cape Town for the first time in several years. Having made his EFC debut in the city in front of a nearly empty arena, returning as the bantamweight champion to a packed venue was a full-circle moment. Surrounded by supporters wearing “Troublemaker” t-shirts, Jacobs said the atmosphere was unlike anything he had experienced before as the crowd grew louder with every strike. One moment that stood out came when South African radio legend Darren “Wackhead” Simpson stopped to ask for a photograph with him, something Jacobs admitted was surreal. Facing an opponent with more than double his professional fight experience, he successfully defended his title in what he considers one of the toughest, yet most rewarding victories of his career.
Heading into the title defence on 2 July, Jacobs carried the quiet confidence of a champion who had done the work long before the fight. Rather than focusing on the pressure of defending his belt, his attention remained fixed on execution. “I feel dangerous,” he said ahead of the bout. “I feel like I’m going to execute.” Having described his previous title defence in Cape Town as a tougher challenge, Jacobs believed that this fight would remind people exactly why he wears the belt. Confident that the contest would not make it beyond the third round, he approached the fight with the same mindset that has defined his career: complete belief in his preparation, trust in his abilities, and an unwavering determination to prove himself once again.
Talk is cheap, unless, of course, it is backed up inside the cage. After joking before the fight, “Where are you sitting? I’ll send his jaw your way.”, Jacobs spoke with complete confidence about the challenge that lay ahead. A few rounds later, he had done exactly what he promised, successfully defending his EFC bantamweight championship and adding another chapter to an already remarkable journey. And, of course, he sent his opponent’s jaw across the arena.
Recovery after a fight looks a little different for Jacobs than most might expect. Before stepping into the cage, he adopts a mindset of complete commitment, explaining that he prepares himself to “walk to the end of this road and beyond,” placing his full focus on the challenge ahead rather than what comes afterwards. While cuts, bruises, and the occasional visit to the doctor are accepted as part of the job, Jacobs says the biggest recovery is often mental. After weeks of intense preparation and the adrenaline of fight night, returning to everyday life can take several weeks. To unwind, he and his wife often spend a few days in nature, grounding themselves after the emotional high of competition.
For all of the seriousness that comes with being a professional fighter, Jacobs also has a surprisingly relatable side. Ask him what he is looking forward to after fight camp, and he does not mention big celebrations or luxury holidays. He lights up talking about seafood. Specifically, a seafood boil. Apparently nowhere in South Africa gets it exactly right, so he is already planning to make one himself, complete with crayfish, prawns, and every side dish he can think of after weeks of strict dieting. It is such a simple answer, but somehow, it sums him up perfectly.
Behind the championship belt is a husband looking forward to a good meal, a business owner investing in his community, a coach helping young fighters chase their dreams, and a man who still believes his biggest purpose lies in helping others discover what they are capable of.
Towards the end of the interview, he answered one final question: what do you want people to know about Faeez Jacobs outside of the cage? He did not mention championship belts, rankings, or future opponents. Instead, he simply said, “I struggle with everyday things, and I find a way. If you believe in or are inspired by anything I’ve done, then you can do it too.” Perhaps that is why so many people connect with his story. Yes, Faeez Jacobs is an EFC champion, but more importantly, he is proof that champions are not born overnight. They are built through setbacks, sacrifices, support from the people around them, and the courage to keep moving towards the things that scare them most.
As the conversation came to a close, Jacobs took a moment to thank PDBY for sharing his story and expressed his gratitude to everyone reading. His final message was simple, but fitting: “Keep believing. Keep pushing. Champion everybody around you.” For a man whose journey has been shaped by resilience, community, and an unwavering belief in growth, there could hardly be a more appropriate way to sign off.
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