Alex Enlund and the ‘second coming’ at ACB 70

Imagine this – you’re on a seven-fight win streak, a pristine European champion, reach the bona-fide proving ground in the UFC, only to have your largest accolade taken before you can even debut. This is the recent tale of Alex Enlund (14-2).

In the past year, Alex’s life has been on one hell of a roller-coaster ride. After a suspected brain lesion left him on the sidelines, Enlund’s quest to compete again was shut down, leaving him devastated with so much left to achieve.

Enlund, stubborn as all hell, did not give up and continued to battle tooth-and-nail for clearance to compete again. Out of all the bouts in his professional career, this one may have just been the toughest and whilst fighting to get the nod from doctors to return to action, Alex also set his mind on developing his abilities to tutor the younger prospects in the South Shields region.

“It was extremely devastating,” Alex expressed. “I’ve always coached. It’s not something new to me. It’s something I’ve done and enjoyed for a long time.

“What I actually did do was spend a lot of time improving our program and developing other coaches as part of the team at SBG South Shields. I no longer need to do one to ones, so it’s way easier to recover after training. 95% of fighters, maybe 99%, don’t make a living from fighting MMA.

“I’ve manufactured an environment where I can make a living from my passion and I’m fully immersed in combat sports. I’m now working approximately two hours per day coaching and the rest of the time is for training, studying and recovering.”

Just as Alex hit a new milestone of signing with the UFC, it was never given chance to manifest into reality. Just after being slated to compete on a Hamburg card in the final quarter of 2016, the lesion was suspected and Alex was pulled.

Through tumultuous waters and medical issues alike, Alex’s UFC contract was cut short and was released with the strong likelihood of never competing again. Now that the former Cage Warriors featherweight champion is back in good health and ready to take on all comers, his goals aren’t primarily focused one specific routes.

“I’ll no longer set goals that are not fully within my control,” Enlund revealed. “My job is to be the best fighter I can be. I know I was ready for the UFC then and I’ll be more than ready when they come back in. If not, I’ll continue to take fights in the UK and around the world as I’m doing this for the love of testing myself.”

In what will be his first bout since June 2016, the submission artist finds himself set for action at ACB 70 in Sheffield on September 23rd in his new division of 155-pounds. Standing adjacent him will be Kane Mousah.

“I was a huge featherweight and the cuts where brutal at times,” the thirty-year-old stated. “I’d turn up on fight day weighing more that guys who weighed in at 155. With the time off competition and making weight I’ve grown a fair bit and I feel like a cut to feather would be too extreme.”

Mousah has challenged many a high level battler and hasn’t shied away from those whom have favoured grappling. On paper, Alex’s experience, accolades and new-found strength at lightweight do have him held in high regard by many, however Enlund will not be expecting to breeze through ‘The Danger.’

“I’m very confident in my ability and my resume speaks for itself,” asserted the SBG South Shields coach. “I’ve consistently faced dangerous, high-level fighters for the past few years. I never walk into a fight taking anything for granted. I know my level and the training partners I have are world class. Like always, I’ll be more than ready.

“I’m a world class MMA fighter. I think often the completeness of my game is overlooked because of how good my jiu jitsu is. I watched the Monarch fight and I felt like Lewis was very offensive in that fight; the same with Myles Price, but neither got the nod from the judges.”

For Alex, this whirlwind year has put plenty into perspective. Getting a second chance in this game comes few and far between. The distance travelled within a year of what seemed impossible to then be in his grasp is a remarkable story that Enlund, like a true martial artist, intends to capitalise on.

“It’s like a second coming,” Alex beamed. “What I’ve experienced has made me a stronger person. It’s also made it easier to not be distracted by what’s not important, as at times I was thinking I was going to die and realised how much time I wasted not doing what I love. I guarantee I’m on a whole new level. I never stopped training, thinking about or working in combat sports. This is my life and it’s going to show.”