SAIFUL 'The Vampire' Merican may be a well-established veteran in ONE Championship, but during his childhood, his original ambitions were not in the martial arts.

Truth be told, he wanted to serve his country by joining the Malaysian Army.

As a little boy, he always got excited whenever a military aircraft ripped through the skies or whenever he saw the army at the National Day Parade.

“I’m the oldest of three boys, and I’ve always had this dream to be a soldier to protect my country,” he confessed.

“Whenever I saw them on television, I’d always tell my parents how I wanted to become one someday.”

Saiful came close to pursuing his ambition, but just months before he stepped foot in the military camp, his ambition underwent an unfortunate change of events.

His dad tragically passed away, and that caused him to hit the pause button.

“I was only 19 at that time, and I had already made up my mind on joining the army,” the athlete continued.

“But after my father’s death, everything fell apart. I stopped practicing Muay Thai and everything else that made me happy because I felt lost.”

It took him close to six months to realize that his depression wasn’t going to help the situation.

Saiful used his agony to great strengths, however, as he practiced ‘the art of eight limbs’ even more seriously.

“I was the only hope to take care of my mother and siblings,” he explained. “It was hard, but I channeled every negative thought I had at the gym.”

The rest is history and today, Saiful is proud of how martial arts eventually turned out to be his career and source of income.

In addition to competing in ONE Championship, he also owns and operates Merican Muay Thai Gym in Kuala Lumpur.

“Things happen for a reason, so I’m still proud of what I’ve achieved so far,” the 30-year-old said.

“Life is about coming out accomplished every day, and it’s taken me so far that I’ve been in this field of (martial arts) for almost a decade now.”

Saiful, who has been sidelined with an injury, hopes to make a return to the cage sometime this year.