Collado fights for health and purpose beyond the cage

At age 29, Army veteran Warren Collado has climbed into the MMA ring. He’s a new fighter with a little over a year of training and two fights under his belt at 1-1. But he’s not just looking for wins in the ring — he’s hoping to inspire Pacific Islanders in the fight for health, both mental and physical.

He spoke to the Journal from his 1995 Toyota Tacoma on a Friday evening in Lacey, Wash. His dog, Klaus, was in the passenger seat. He had just finished a workout at the Local Boy MMA and Academy of Brian Johnson.

Collado called just as he was folding his 5-foot-10-inch form into the driver’s seat. He has an easy smile and the laid-back attitude you’d expect of an island boy. His hair, still in braids, looked the same as the night he walked into the Angel of the Winds Casino Resort in Arlington, Wash. in March for the second fight of his career. He won that fight by a KO in about one minute. He thanked his coaches Ollie Tiglao and Brian Johnson, and their whole team, as well as sponsors Nesian Built and his family and friends.

His mother is Soebeni Berel of Melekeok and Ngchesar but she lives in Ngerbodel, Koror, where he spent much of his youth.

Born in Palau, Collado attended George B. Harris Elementary School and spent some time at Mindszenty High School before leaving for Guam in 2009. He graduated from Okkodo High School in Dededo, and eventually enlisted in the Army in 2017. When he got out in 2021, he continued to work out “but it just wasn’t filling the void,” Collado said.

“I was exposed to a lot of stress growing up,” he said, sharing what he had learned while going to therapy. “Basically, I need to be in a high-stress environment for my baseline. Other people have lower baselines because they weren’t exposed to trauma. I have to be in a stressed environment — that’s when I feel normal. When nothing is going on … I dip into a depressed state.”

He's grateful for the therapy he’s received that has helped him maintain mental health.

“I know in Palau people who go to see a therapist or whatever are seen in a negative way … like ng mla obached (fallen apart),” he said. On the contrary, he said therapy sessions have helped him. They were safe spaces where he was allowed to either vent or quietly share stories.

He acknowledged that in the U.S. there are more therapists to choose from, and the general attitude is one of support of people who want to see a psychiatrist or counselor.

Nevertheless, he hoped that by sharing his experience, more Palauans and more islanders will feel comfortable taking care of their mental health.

In working through his own personal trauma and what he felt was required to help his mental health, a regular workout wasn’t enough. He considered extreme sports like motorcycle racing for the adrenaline rush but he also reasoned it wasn’t a safe environment for the outlet he was seeking.

“I started going to Academy of Brian Johnson and I just felt at home,” he said. “The people were very welcoming; the coaches and the people there were giving me advice. It’s a nice community where they care about you and about your well-being. It gave me that camaraderie that is like the military, but in the civilian world.”

He started with kickboxing and jiujitsu. The coaches noticed his consistency and work ethic and eventually asked if he was interested in fighting and competing, to which he said yes.
“I don’t want to be older and look back and think what if? So, I just jumped right in.”

The first thing they worked on was his technique. In his first jiujitsu class, they paired him with a female athlete who, despite weighing 130 pounds compared to his roughly 150 pounds, was able to fend him off.

He continued training, and in November 2024, he had his first fight at the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn, Washington. He lost that bout after nine rounds.

“I was tired … he was a good wrestler so we would spend a good minute on our feet, and then we would get down and he was good at staying on top,” he said. The final score was 30-28 based on control time and takedowns.

Collado was crushed. He apologized to his coach, sponsors, and friends.

The coaches encouraged him, saying that while they can teach him better defense techniques or how to free himself from the bottom position better, what they can’t do is “teach heart,” which Collado showed even when it became apparent he was getting outmatched.

“It taught me a lot,” he said. “It's not what happens to you; it’s what you do to move forward from those things to be a healthier and happier person — that’s what defines you.”

The first fight “left a very bad taste in my mouth,” Collado said, but his coaches and team also saw where he needed to improve.  They incorporated more jiujitsu techniques as well as defensive strategies while doubling down on cardio training and strengthening his hand strikes.

“After the first fight, I wanted to prove to myself that I’m capable — that anything is possible with hard work,” he said.

The training paid off when Collado won his fight on March 15 against Francisco Ramirez by a knockout.

The win isn’t something he takes for granted — it’s also something he doesn’t call his own.

“Yeah, it’s me that goes out there and showcases it but it’s my coaches, my teammates, my family that believe in me — and that plays a big part of what I do,” Collado said.
Nesian Built  has remained his sponsor since the beginning.

AJ Allen of Saipan and Mark Mafnas of Guam are co-founders of Nesian Built athletic wear brand headquartered in Washington state — a young company focused on becoming "the Nike representing Pacific Islanders."

Collado said he believes in their cause: encouraging islanders toward healthier lifestyles.

“Why are our people ranked number four in obesity worldwide?” Collado asked. "Why not change trajectory positively?"

The Lancet medical journal published a study of Pacific Island countries, accounting for nine out of 10 of the top countries worldwide with the highest prevalence of obesity among men and women aged 20 years or older.

Allen and Mafnas started Nesian Built Run Club — a group including athletes such as jiujitsu practitioners alongside marathon runners and Ironman competitors, while also welcoming beginners training for their first 5K run. (See “Nesian built: empowering islanders through fitness” on mbjguam.com)

“We just want to show that we can do these different types of sports,” Collado said. “We’re trying to open the minds of people that we can do anything, but we also need to be healthy.”

Collado said he wasn’t anticipating his journey in MMA would have included this, but he’s grateful for the opportunity to help encourage other islanders. 

Looking ahead, Collado said he and his team are looking at a match this summer. In the meantime, he’ll continue his training.

As to the joining the MMA, his advice is to take any dream and pursue it, even through pitfalls.

“Believe in yourself and surround yourself with people who believe in you as well.” mbj