UFC lightweight Trey Ogden has taken on the responsibility of coaching several fighters and running his own gym after his mentor and head coach was banned from the sport, forcing him to rename his gym and cut ties in order to stay in the UFC while still juggling his own fighting career.
While getting ready to compete, fighters typically try to eliminate distractions. However, UFC lightweight Trey Ogden continues to take on additional responsibilities, as he recently flew around the world to corner another fighter just weeks before his own scheduled matchup at UFC Vegas 82. This was just one of several trips he made to support his fellow fighters, which may seem like a lot for someone preparing for their own fight.
The additional responsibility came about when Ogden’s longtime head coach and mentor James Krause was banned from the sport due to his alleged involvement in a betting scandal. This also led to the closure of Glory MMA and Fitness, a gym that housed numerous UFC veterans, including Ogden. Due to the ban, fighters were no longer allowed to associate with Krause in any way, and Krause shut down the gym, forcing Ogden to change the name of his gym to stay on the UFC roster.
Thankfully, Ogden already had his own gym, called Marathon MMA, and gladly opened his doors to many of the friends and teammates displaced when Glory MMA shut down. The ban also meant that Ogden had to completely cut ties with Krause or risk his own expulsion from the UFC. Despite these challenges, Ogden remains grateful for the time he had with Krause.
Ogden finds himself taking on a much bigger role as a coach, especially with a number of UFC fighters training under his umbrella. Even with the massive workload, he continues to stay focused, viewing his position as a dangerous mission that requires his full attention. Despite the dramatic changes in his life, Ogden has learned to buckle up and brace for impact, recognizing that the world won’t stop spinning just because of his own personal upheavals.