James Wilks

James Wilks is an English former professional mixed martial artist (MMA) who, during his career, competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He won The Ultimate Fighter UK vs US in 2009, and holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He is also a combative trainer for government agencies such as the US Marines and Navy Seals.

However, these days he is best known as the face of the 2018 documentary, The Game Changers, produced by James Cameron. Since featuring in the Netflix hit, James has appeared on many podcasts, including two of the biggest: The Joe Rogan Experience and The Rich Roll Podcast. He is always pleased to share the plant-power message. James also served as Executive Producer for the 2021 documentary Eating Our Way to Extinction.

Why James Wilks is vegan

James WIlks is vegan for health.

James Wilks became vegan in 2011 after an injury prompted him to scrutinise his diet.¹vegsource.com. 2012. MMA Ultimate Fighter – James “Lighting” Wilks – Is Vegan (VIDEO). Available: https://web.archive.org/web/20201026194611/http://www.vegsource.com/news/2012/12/mma-ultimate-fighter—james-lighting-wilks—is-vegan-video.html [Accessed 16 September 2026]. After noticing immediate improvements in his athletic performance, he was a vegan convert.

In 2018, Wilks became the face and narrator of the hit documentary The Game Changers, which advocated for a plant-based diet for optimal health and performance. Since then, he has continued to spread the benefits of a plant-based diet and debunk the long-standing myths about veganism and fitness. In 2023, Wilks launched a sustainable protein powder company called FȲTA.²Yu, D. 2023. ‘The Game Changers’ Producer James Wilks Launches Sports Nutrition Company FȲTA Made With Upcycled Ingredients. Forbes. Available: https://www.forbes.com/sites/douglasyu/2023/06/22/the-game-changers-producer-james-wilks-launches-upcycled-sports-nutrition-company-fyta-ahead-of-vegan-documentarys-2025-sequel/ [Accessed 16 September 2026].

“It wasn’t until I got injured early last year, training for a fight, that I actually had some time to sit back and really analyse what I was eating. And I realised that I hadn’t applied the same scrutiny to my diet as I had to the martial arts training […] So, last year I spent over a thousand hours looking at peer-reviewed medical science and realised that a plant-based diet was superior and optimal for health and athletic performance. So I switched. And when I switched I lifted more weight than I’d ever lifted in my life in the gym, and my endurance improved so I’m a true believer in a plant-based diet.”³vegsource.com. 2012. MMA Ultimate Fighter – James “Lighting” Wilks – Is Vegan (VIDEO). Available: https://web.archive.org/web/20201026194611/http://www.vegsource.com/news/2012/12/mma-ultimate-fighter—james-lighting-wilks—is-vegan-video.html [Accessed 16 September 2026].

Watch The Game Changers official trailer