When a video of a young man in a pink tank top knocking out a security guard went viral in Malaysia, netizens were stunned by the precision and composure of the punch.
That man was Tony Lim, a 22-year-old jiujitsu and MMA coach.
In our initial WeirdKaya exclusive, Tony explained that the altercation wasn’t random. Days before the viral incident, the security guard had assaulted an elderly resident at the condominium.
Tony, who witnessed the scene, recorded it. The video was later posted online by someone else, but the guard wrongly assumed Tony was behind the upload.
What followed was a series of provocations that ultimately led to the now-infamous confrontation. Both men were later brought to the police station and agreed to resolve the matter peacefully. The guard has since been dismissed.
Now, in a follow-up video interview with WeirdKaya, Tony opens up about what happened after the clip went viral including how his family reacted, how martial arts shaped his mindset, and the unexpected journey that led him into the ring.
“They thought I was the bully”
The viral video made its way into homes, group chats, and comment sections across the country.
But one of the most unexpected responses came from those closest to Tony, his own family.
They said, ‘Eh, why you bullied people ah?’” he recalled with a laugh.
To them, the clip painted him as the aggressor. But Tony quickly explained that what the public saw was only part of the story.
I told them, ‘Not me, I got bullied. I just defended myself.’”
What was meant to be self-defence was easily misread without context, something Tony had to clarify not just online, but at home.
Going viral overnight
While Tony expected some neighbourhood gossip, he didn’t expect nationwide virality.
The moment the clip hit social media, it spread like wildfire and Tony found himself at the centre of attention.
“At first I was shocked about the incident as it went viral,” he said.
“I was quite amazed by the comments from the netizens.”
Praise, memes, support and a wave of questions followed. But through it all, Tony remained calm. That level-headedness, he said, didn’t come from luck.
A fighter trained to withstand pressure
Behind the viral moment was a man trained to handle chaos. Tony explained that his years of sparring had toughened not just his body, but his ability to stay composed especially when provoked.
“This one I will have to thank my teammates. Especially Ta Yi Xiang and the other teammates,” he said.
They always provoke me in training. Compared to the street fight, the things I face in training are much more worse.”
Those high-pressure drills became mental preparation. In a way, the real fight had already happened in the gym long before the camera ever started rolling.
Survival over strength
For Tony, that night wasn’t about showing power, it was about avoiding harm.
“A life lesson that I learned is that self-defence is very important,” he said.
If I don’t know how to defend myself in this situation, maybe I’m the one who fell to the ground. I would’ve been the one bleeding.”
In his view, martial arts isn’t about attacking first, it’s about having the tools to walk away safely when you’re pushed into a corner.
A psychology graduate and tuition teacher
Away from the gym and spotlight, Tony leads a double life, one that’s far more academic and low-key than people might expect.
Actually I studied for psychology. I would say social science or counselling during my diploma.”
To support himself, Tony also works as a part-time tuition tutor, teaching Form 1 to Form 3 students, all subjects except Chinese.
And yes, his students recognised him from the video too.
“Some of the students say, ‘Teacher, you fight outside ah? Why are you like that?’”
From a badminton court to the cage
Tony’s path into martial arts wasn’t born from inspiration, it started with a challenge. What was meant to be a casual badminton session turned into a defining moment.
“One time I was going to play badminton and that friend said, ‘Why you play badminton?
Why don’t you streetfight, I can finish you in 5 or 10 minutes.’”
Tony accepted. They fought no gloves, no referee. And surprisingly, something clicked.
“During that time we just fight each other, no rules, no nothing. But at the end, I loved it.”
That moment ignited what would eventually become his career. Today, Tony holds a belt in the Malaysia Fight League, and is the reigning MMA Featherweight Champion.
Martial arts isn’t what you think
Although many might associate martial arts with violence especially after watching a knockout, Tony wants people to understand the deeper philosophy behind it.
Martial arts is not about violence. It’s about controlling yourself and falling in love with the arts; the jiujitsu, the boxing, the MMA.”
He admitted that he’s still working on managing his reactions, and humbly added that others might have handled things even better.
“Most of the fighters have good anger management. Not for me maybe.
Other martial artists in this situation could’ve controlled it well. Maybe much more better than me.”
Beyond the punch
While the world knows Tony Lim for one viral punch, those who know him and now, those who’ve heard his story will realise he’s more than just that moment.
He’s a fighter, yes. But also a teacher, a psychology grad, and a young man learning how to navigate life when the spotlight shows up uninvited.
Self-defence is very important. That’s the main thing I learned.”
Watch the full interview here:
