“And the winner by split decision, Zak ‘The Barbarian’ Ottow!” UFC announcer Bruce Buffer roared to the crowd in Portland, Oregon, this past weekend. The debuting fighter had just narrowly defeated Josh Burkman on the main card of UFC Fight Night 96.
How did Ottow’s call-up to the big leagues come about? How did he go from being booked for a regional fight to stepping up on short notice against a respected veteran who’s been in the game for over a decade?
Well, it’s actually quite the story.
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Zak Ottow, Rick Glenn, Jake Klipp and Jeremy Luchau were sitting around a table at Olive Garden in Hidalgo, Texas. It was a warm Tuesday afternoon, just hours after the four of them arrived to the city that would host UFC Fight Night 94 in four days’ time.
Ottow and coach Klipp were on corner duty for Glenn, who was set to make his UFC debut that weekend. Luchau, manager to both Ottow and Glenn, was also there for the ride — and to do paperwork and everything else a manager typically handles.
It was Glenn’s first time fighting for the UFC, and Ottow had never cornered a fighter at the highest level before. It was a new experience for essentially everyone (besides Luchau, who manages plenty of other UFC fighters).
After a long day filled with travel and initial fight week preparations, including meeting event staff, receiving Reebok gear, going through the fight week schedule, and signing posters, chowing down on Italian was a good way to relax — and fill four empty stomachs, of course.
Glenn was the one in the spotlight. He was the one fighting in four days. The attention was on him.
But that changed, for a few hours, at least, thanks to one phone call.
On the drive back to the hotel after lunch, Luchau’s ringtone sounded. It was Jason House, his business partner. Bobby Green, another client of theirs, had pulled out of his fight on Oct. 1 opposite Burkman, and a replacement was being sought.
At first, Ottow didn’t make much of the conversation.
“I couldn’t really make out what was being said through the phone. All I heard was something about Bobby Green being out of the fight,” Ottow told BloodyElbow.com’s The MMA Circus. “I knew that Bobby Green was a lightweight, so I didn’t really pay much attention to the phone call.”
But then, the moment Ottow had been waiting for for his entire career finally came, in very, very unexpected circumstances.
Luchau put his phone down. “Would you be interested in fighting in Portland for the UFC in two weeks?” he asked Ottow, who was already booked to fight at Legacy FC 60 on Oct. 7.
“Hell yeah, let’s do it,” Ottow replied without hesitation. He didn’t even know who his opponent was going to be.
After Ottow quickly verbally agreed to the fight, House called Joe Silva and revealed that Ottow was willing to take the fight. Within a couple of hours, it was set. Ottow was in to fight Burkman, a veteran of the sport, on short notice. It was time to call Legacy FC officials and let them know that he wouldn’t be making it.
Four days later, the crew was headed back to Milwaukee. Glenn came up short but gained new fans in the process. Evan Dunham defeated him rather handily, but he put up a showing that earned him a Fight of the Night post-fight bonus. It was a good learning experience for Glenn. And also for Ottow, who had his first taste of being part of a UFC show. A taste he’d have again in a couple of weeks time, and possibly for years to come.
After two and a half hours in the air, their plane landed. Home.
It was time to prepare for Ottow’s debut.