With one fight left on UFC contract, Frankie Saenz thoroughly enjoying coaching life until it comes

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Fight Ready MMA pro sparring is a sight to behold. The mats are populated with UFC notables, ranging from a champion to former champions, current contenders and rising prospects.

Among the pack is a current member of the UFC roster, but his role for the session is much different than his promotional counterparts. While his competitive career is winding down, bantamweight Frankie Saenz doubles as a fighter and a coach.

“I spent my whole career at Fight Ready,” Saenz recently told MMA Junkie. “… I’ve traveled a little bit, but this has always been my home.”

In recent months, the gym exploded in popularity and notoriety as notable names flocked to the gym. UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, former UFC women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, upcoming UFC light heavyweight title challenger Jiri Prochazka, and perennial UFC contender Kelvin Gastelum have all joined the gym over the past year.

For Saenz, it’s been fun seeing the influx of talent. There have always been good fighters there, but the quantity has certainly increased. Saenz points to former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo, who he has known since Cejudo was a child, for putting Fight Ready MMA on the map.

“Henry Cejudo was the first one to come through here just as far as having success and being a champion,” Saenz said. “We’ve had other UFC fighters in here for a long time. But he has that connection with those guys. Kind of the recipe he’s come up with for getting these guys ready.”

Coaching is nothing new for Saenz. In fact, he was a coach long before he was a fighter. He coached wrestling for years before he began MMA at age 28. At age 30, he turned professional and his MMA journey began.

The start of February marks 18 months since Saenz’s most recent UFC fight, a loss to Jonathan Martinez. With one fight left on his UFC deal, Saenz is healing up some injuries while plotting his fighting future, awaiting the proper opportunity.

“When this whole pandemic thing first started, I was kind of at the end of my career, too,” Saenz said. “All I want to do is travel somewhere cool. I want to go out and fight in London. I want to go out and fight in Japan. I was going to finish my career just fighting somewhere cool. If we ever get that opportunity to go abroad and do that, that’s what I want to do.”

Saenz, 41, doesn’t know when or where his last-contracted UFC fight will be. What Saenz (13-7 MMA, 5-5 UFC) does know, however, is that until it’s time to sign the dotted line, he’s going to enjoy giving instruction to world-class fighters.

“I’m dealing with a bunch of injuries and stuff,” Saenz said. “I’ve just got to get my mental focus back into fighting. In the meantime, I love helping. I love helping these young guys. I love helping Figueiredo. I was here for every single practice for his camp, just making sure he’s doing the right things. I love that aspect. I love seeing him win a world title and accomplish his goals. I love that part.”