South African Ruan Potts has always understood the need to protect his teeth.
As a young man growing up in Cape Town, he butted heads with players on the field while playing rugby. He also participated in Judo, twice winning national competitions.
He would eventually take up MMA while living in the U.K. and train alongside future UFC fighters John Hathaway in Brighton. He then found his way to the Wolfslair gym in Liverpool after striking up a friendship with Cheick Kongo.