Last month, I posted a story about one of my main training partners making the jump from BJJ to Amateur MMA to Professional MMA. @zekepickleman/bjj-turns-mma-going-pro
The title scared some folks at the thought of my beautiful face getting punched but I can assure you, Jiu Jitsu tournaments are about as fighty as I want to get.
Fight Weekend
Well the weekend is upon us. Tomorrow night, Kris has his first professional MMA fight after a 3-1 record in amateur MMA. It was an interesting experience cranking up the training camp and seeing the difference in preparation between his last 4 fights and this one.
Training Camp
Yours truly possibly playing along for the fancy camera shot, and possibly getting thrown against my will.
Here is our guy signing his first professional contract. He had to go through a battery of tests and MRIs and ultrasounds and examinations in order for the doctors to pronounce him healthy and ready to fight.
This is the event poster and a couple dozen folks from the gym are making their way on a 2.5 hour drive to another town to support him.
Lots of promo pics to put a bow on the promotional package and this is his opponent.
We had him down the road training at other clubs that specialize in striking and MMA as we are a BJJ club with a boxing program. Nothing like adding sparring sessions with hungry and experienced MMA fighters, and coaching from different disciplines.
He even traveled up our nations capital (6 hour drive) for a week of training at an club full of professional MMA fighters.
fighters sleep in the ring........literally in his case!
Making Weight
Kris walks around at about 180 pounds and LOVES his comfort food. He is fighting at 155 so you can imagine the dieting, workout and weight cut at the end to make weight.
He drove to town a couple days ago to shack up in a fancy weight cutting location and drop the last 10 pounds of mostly water.
Really neat process involving water loading, a period of distilled water drinking, baths, plastic wraps, saunas and special diet.
Weigh in
This is a big moment as the fight can be off if you have not made weight. You have been on the scales and know you are there but until you actually see that 154.5 on the scale, it is not official.
He is not 180 any more! Looking slim and ready and hungry.....
.....and satisfied when he can actually eat! He had to be talked out of celebrating with a big burger or greazy breakfast before the fight and has settled upon a nice victory steak after the fight.
Headrush and fightsupply.ca are his sponsors now and it is neat seeing him decked out in new gear for his journey.
The local news paper even gave him some exposure and created a buzz this week for the local kid.
https://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/sports/local-sports/allard-set-to-make-pro-debut
I am convinced I am more nervous and excited than he is. He lives to fight and has an even keel about the whole thing. He likes to train hard so the fight is easy and is ready. It was neat playing a small part in this step of his journey. Can't wait til tomorrow night!
