#UFCPhoenix couldn’t have gone any better! @IanEnty_ @Phukettopteam @ufc @theug

UFC finally came to Phoenix!  Phoenix has been a mecca for MMA for sometime, with Rage In The Cage being one of the longest, must successful MMA promotions in all of the world.  Many stars have lived, trained, in Arizona–going all the way back to Dan Severn, Don Frye, and getting as recent as Dominick Cruz, and Cain Velasquez.

I was fortunate enough to be involved with UFC Phoenix as a coach, working with Phuket Top Team Ian Entwistle who faced Anthony Birchak.  This poor guy’s week started out rough!  By the time I had arrived in Arizona, he had already been picked pocketed by a girl on the streets, had his baggage lost by the airlines, and been given room ‘666’–by the front desk at his hotel (…bad omens anyone)?!—it was clear I was there to help in the mental capacity, to do my best to keep him focused and calm on the tasks at hand.

Working Ian Enty’s corner for UFC Phoenix, the major concern was going to be making weight.  After his unsuccessful debut in the UFC at Featherweight, Ian had decided to drop to Bantamweight, a division he had never fought in before.  Arriving in Phoenix from California, I met Ian on Wednesday, and he was still 152lbs, leading into a Friday afternoon weight in at 135lbs..

Those of you who have ever fought, know there is only one way to do that…which is to ‘cut weight’—errrr..or lose the water via sweating it out.

Salt Rubbing Alcohol bath to cut weight for UFC

We did his major cut Thursday night, getting him down to 142 lbs when we woke up friday morning.  with the weigh ins at 3, we used the sauna at LA Fitness on 7thave and Camelback to sweat out what we thought were the final pounds, only to get back to the hotel and realize the scale at LA fitness was off 2 pounds, and that we only had an hour to get the water out.

Running to the local shop I picked up some iodine salt and rubbing alcohol before putting Ian in a scorching bath and letting the water soak out of his body.

–all the suffering worked, as Ian made 136.4lbs, which is the exact allowance they give you for scale calibrations in the Bantamweight division.

Following the weigh in, the most important part is the recovery.  We immediately brought him back to the fighters hotel, the Hyatt in Downtown Phoenix, where I was able to get him I.V.’d thanks to Sonny Diaz of Siege MMA, and Cristiane Justino.  Drinking his water and pedialite we then took Ian to the Spaghetti Factory for his Carb fueled post weigh in meal.  Andrew Gardineer of De Boa Jiu Jitsu helped with both the weight cut and the recovery–meeting me the next day at the hotel to take Ian to the fight.

Ray Elbe corners Ian Entswistle UFC Phoenix SOTN winner.

Ian face Tucson local Anthony Birchak who was 11-1 and from a wrestling pedigree.  Ian was able to use his signature techniques and at just over a minute in the first round got the submission of the night bonus!!—a 50,000$ bonus on top of his contracted fight purse!!!

Ray Elbe with UFC Phoenix 50,000% Performance Bonus winner Ian Entwistle

It was a great opportunity for Ian, and he really seized the day in front of the home crowd.  I was glad to see him make the adjustments and get the win in his bantamweight debut.

Special thanks to Drew Jitsu for all his help this weekend as well!

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