Head Coach | Boxing & Striking | MMA

Brett MacPhail didn’t come up the easy way.

Raised in Glace Bay, Cape Breton, Brett fought his way up out of what many know as the gutter of Cape Breton. From a very young age, he learned that nothing was going to be handed to him. That environment forged discipline, resilience, and a pressure-tested mindset—one built on earning everything through hard work. Every lesson he teaches today comes from that reality.

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With 16 years of boxing experience and nearly five years of Muay Thai experience, Brett’s style is rooted in deceptive movement, and composure under fire. He emphasizes fluid, floating movement and footwork—staying wide, light, and mobile, only planting with intention when it’s time to strike. His approach prioritizes efficiency and intelligence over reckless exchanges, and staying efficiently protected even while being offensive.

Beyond experience, Brett teaches knowledge that has been passed down through generations of the MacPhail family—subtle habits, timing cues, and small details that aren’t found in drills or online tutorials. These are lessons earned through years of real training, real pressure, and real fights.

Brett is a Level 1 NCCP Certified Boxing Coach and has been coaching for several years, serving as Head Coach for over a year. His coaching philosophy is direct: teach fighters how to think clearly, move efficiently, and stay calm when things get uncomfortable. Whether working with beginners or competitors, the focus is always on building athletes who can perform under pressure. Coach MacPhail teaches fighters how to move smarter, stay composed, and fight with purpose.

As a competitor, Brett holds a perfect competitive record and is currently preparing to build a refined amateur career through 2026–2027, with a clear plan to transition into the professional ranks. His coaching stays current because he stays current—training, competing, and evolving alongside the fighters he leads.

Brett has coached and prepared athletes competing in Boxing, Kickboxing, K-1, Muay Thai, and Mixed Martial Arts, including fighters performing in Fight League Atlantic, the highest level of MMA competition in Atlantic Canada. He understands what it takes to develop fighters from the ground up and guide them toward real competition.

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​Beyond coaching, Brett is widely known for his work as a tattoo artist and entrepreneur. After moving to the mainland, he built Elsewhere Tattoo Studio in Antigonish into a respected, high-traffic shop through elite-level work and sharp business execution. That same drive led to the creation of a professional-grade recording studio and creative projects operating at a national level, proving his ability to build serious infrastructure from the ground up. The discipline, structure, and standards behind those ventures carried directly into Mainland MMA — where everything is built with intent, pressure, and long-term vision. Brett carries that true Cape Breton grit into everything he builds. Mainland MMA is a direct reflection of his journey.