90 Day Fiancé star Jon J Walters talks about “lowest point” and how he nearly lost his life

A former reality TV star has traded ratings for right hooks - by taking to the cage for an MMA fight. Jon J Walters was a contestant in hit reality show 90 Day Fiancé - but said the glare of the celebrity spotlight took him to a near-fatal mental health crisis.

Now, in a bid to highlight the issue and raise awareness of the charity that "brought him back to the living", he is set to fight in Bristol on April 18. Jon's MMA debut will support Welsh charity, BloomSpace, which supports people through mental health challenges.

Despite previously playing American football at a high level, Jon has never fought in MMA before, but has teamed up with renowned fighter Mario Saeed ahead of his debut, in partnership with Ultra MMA. His journey to the ring is also being documented to create a film of resilience, recovery, and athletic transformation.

The move came after Jon was thrust into the international spotlight following his appearances on 90 Day Fiancé and subjected to a misguided smear campaign following the show’s conclusion, which led to severe depression, chronic insomnia, body dysmorphia, and an eating disorder - with suicide never far from his mind.

"The pressure of being thrust into the spotlight and then having a smear campaign distort who you are is something people don’t see," Jon said. "Behind the headlines, I was fighting battles I didn’t know how to win. There was a point where I nearly lost my life."

Now in the process of rebuilding, Jon says he owes his recovery to the team at BloomSpace. "They brought me back to the living," he said. "They stood by me at the lowest point of my life and gave me the tools to start again."

Although English, Jon has Welsh grandparents and said he has long felt an affinity with Wales and the Welsh culture, crediting friendships formed in South Wales as instrumental in his recovery and rebuilding his sense of identity outside of public perception.

"The Welsh Valleys have some of the highest suicide rates in the UK and are the most underfunded," he said. "By choosing a small charity, I know the money is going directly to the people who need it the most. That feels right. That feels like giving back where it truly matters."

BloomSpace was previously part of the wider MIND federation and last year made the move to operate independently in a bid to reduce bureaucracy and increase innovation.

The reality star is training primarily at Trojan Free Fighters in Bristol under Mario, while also traveling to Nails MMA in Port Talbot, Wales, to train with friends he credits with supporting his recovery and rebuilding his sense of community.

"Training for a fight demands honesty," Jon said. "You can’t hide from yourself in that cage. For me, this is about proving that survival is strength."

He hopes his efforts in and out of the ring will help reduce the stigma around men and boys’ mental health, with funds raised through the fight going directly to BloomSpace to expand access to counselling and crisis support across Wales and beyond. Ultra MMA will document Jon’s entire journey — from training in both Bristol and Wales to fight night — offering a behind-the-scenes view of his struggle, resilience, and the transformative power of sport and support.

"This isn’t about revenge on the past," Jon added. "It’s about gratitude. Wales gave me community. BloomSpace gave me my life back. Now I want to give something back in return."

For more information, and to donate to Jon's fundraiser, visit The BloomSpace website.