From East Auckland Street violence and not expecting to make it past 21 to building Bali’s toughest fight club.

Mike Ikilei, founder of Soma Fight Club, opens up about growing up comfortable with violence, the moment a gym pulled him back from the edge, and how Soma became a global destination for fighters and more family than a facility.

He talks about fatherhood, community, the ANZAC toughness that shaped him, and why titles are just byproducts of giving everything.

If you’ve ever felt pulled toward chaos, struggled with direction, or wanted more from yourself, this conversation shows what happens when violence is turned into purpose.

Mike shares the mindset behind Soma, the standards he lives by, and the code that built one of the world’s most respected fight communities.

We break down the story behind the Soma name, the mission driving the movement, and what comes next.

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👇 Chapters:00:00 Intro

00:01:41 Did Soma Become What Mike Originally Envisioned?

00:04:09 Growing Up in East Auckland

00:09:08 The Gym That Changed Mike’s Life

00:14:01 Moving to Bali and Taking the Risk

00:29:09 Building Soma Fight Club From Scratch

00:31:26 How Soma Built a Global Fight Community

00:33:07 The Biggest Challenge Facing New Gyms

00:38:41 Building the Soma Brand

00:43:03 The Story Behind the Name Soma

00:46:32 Protecting the Culture Inside Soma

00:51:40 Coaching India’s First UFC Fighter

01:02:34 Outro

🥋 Stay in the fkn Fight