Given the current bad blood between champion and challenger for the co-main event of UFC 217, it's amazing to think that little more than two years ago, TJ Dillashaw was the golden child of Urijah Faber's Team Alpha Male team. The camp's first UFC champion, Dillashaw's success was the culmination of more than five years of intense training for the ex-NCAA qualifier and collegiate wrestling standout - but it didn't come without its challenges.
As with Michael Bisping and Rose Namajunas, TJ Dillashaw's UFC roots stem from the organisation's reality TV programme The Ultimate Fighter. Even more coincidentally, it would be The Count that would select the young Californian, training his for the duration of the show.
This would prove to be a strong partnership. Driven on by his unwavering confidence and competitive nature, Dillashaw ripped through his opponents to reach the finale, putting his undefeated 4-0 record on the line. It was here that he would suffer his first setback. John Dodson, now best known for his work at flyweight, completing a surprise TKO victory inside one round.
Fighters often say that they learn most from a defeat, something that is certainly shown by the response from TJ in his next few fights. Quickly establishing himself as a contender in the UFC's bantamweight division, he went 4-0 between the start of 2012 and mid-2013 before a razor-close defeat to top-ranked Raphael Assuncao.
Despite this set-back, TJ was handed a shot at the UFC bantamweight title less than nine months later, but few could have predicted the way the bout would turn out. Facing off against Brazilian Renan Barao, it looked a shoo-in. 'The Baron' had not lost in 32 fights - a run spanning more than nine years.
However, this would be the fight where the young pretender made his name. After a strong but cautious start, Dillashaw would drop Barao with a vicious overhand right in the first round, putting the Brazilian into survival mode. With no answer for the unorthodox movement and striking of TJ, Barao crumbled, being picked off almost at will by the American's jab. Despite being way ahead on the scorecards, Dillashaw refused to let up, eventually getting the finish in the final round. He would go on to better this initial display, albeit with less surprise, in his second defence. In another dominant display, the American stopped his challenger in the fourth round, with a similar head kick and punches combination.
It was during his run as UFC champion that his long relationship with Team Alpha Male began to sour. In particular, the strong bond that he had built with coach Duane Ludwig during his time in Sacramento would come back to bite the camp when Ludwig moved away. The exact details differ considerably dependent on who you talk to, which has been the basis for much of the beef between Dillashaw and Garbrandt in the run up to UFC 217, but the facts appear to be this.
As champion, and under the advice of Ludwig, TJ wanted the opportunity to train with other camps and trainers, to better round his game as he looked to build a lengthy title reign. Given the time that Team Alpha Male had already invested in their fighter, and the fact that he was the first champion to come from the camp, this did not sit too well with those at the top, who saw it as an act of treachery and disrespect. Whether you believe the rest of Garbrandt's story that TJ had said he wasn't leaving, or that he caused a serious injury to a training partner is immaterial - ultimately he left to join Ludwig's new camp in Denver, Colorado in October 2015.
But the long title reign he craved never came to fruition. The unexpected return of former bantamweight king Dominick Cruz stalled the development of Dillashaw, with their February 2016 bout resulting in a razor-close decision victory for the former champion. As he himself has said in the run-up to this fight, he has been missing his title since the day he lost it, and as a result used the experience of losing to support and re-double his training efforts. The implementation of a movement style similar to Cruz would be the first step, as well as a greater reliance on his wrestling past.
He would achieve redemption against Assuncao at UFC 200, before beating the streaking John Lineker to solidify his position as number one contender, by which point, his old nemesis Cruz had been dethroned by the rapidly rising Cody Garbrandt - an ex-training partner and a man who claims to have knocked TJ down in sparring.
TJ's UFC career would come full circle, being named as a trainer on the twenty fifth season of The Ultimate Fighter and confirming his opportunity at Garbrandt, initially scheduled for July. Given the strength of Dillashaw's desire for UFC gold, following an injury to the champion, a brief discussion was had with the UFC over a flyweight title shot, though would never materialise, forcing TJ to wait for his moment.
So at Madison Square Garden on November 4, Dillashaw gets the chance to redeem himself. By taking his belt back, he does more than simply rectify a mistake he made 18 months ago, but also confirms his position as the best bantamweight in the world and, perhaps more significantly, justifies his decision to make the move away from Team Alpha Male.
It's being touted as the real main event of the night, but what do you think will happen? Let me know either in the comments or on Twitter @TheWeighInMMA.
Saturday, 4 November 2017
Friday, 3 November 2017
UFC 217: Career Rundown - Cody Garbrandt
As the curtains opened on 2016, the bantamweight division seemed fairly secure, with much of the buzz coming around the return of Dominick Cruz to MMA action. The bookmakers seemed to agree - according to Sports Interaction, only Cruz and TJ Dillashaw had odds of less than +500 to end the year as champ. At that point, Cody Garbrandt was a relative unknown - nowhere near this list, which went down as far as Johnny Eduardo at +27500. By December 30, 'No Love' had cemented his name at the top of the division, and pulled off one of the most remarkable debut title fights of all time.
The question perhaps most relevant for Garbrandt is 'how do you follow the perfect year?' In terms of fights, No Love has certainly not been as active as 2016, but that is as much due to misfortune, injuries and a lack of legitimate challengers as anything within his control. However, having been thoroughly whitewashed by Dillashaw in an ill-tempered series of The Ultimate Fighter, Cody will be more determined than ever to save his talking for the cage.
This is largely due to the much publicised history between Garbrandt and Dillashaw, which originates before No Love had ever made it to the big leagues. As a youngster, Cody had developed somewhat of an obsession with bantamweight and featherweight pioneer Urijah Faber, and founder of respected gym Team Alpha Male. Despite having just a couple of professional bouts under his belt, Garbrandt was insistent that he wanted to train with Faber, as well as requesting a route into the UFC. Faber's promise - get to 5-0 and I'll get you a shot.
And so he did. A year after the promise was made, Garbrandt had fulfilled his side of the bargain, ruthlessly knocking out four of his five opponents in the first round. It was here that Garbrandt and Dillashaw would first come into contact, with the latter already six months into his title reign. However, the relationship would quickly sour between Dillashaw and the team, leading to the current ongoing feud. In the lead-up to this weekend, No Love has been very vocal about his previous exploits over Dillashaw in the gym - something that TJ has been quick to dismiss.
Regardless of the outside disputes, few can dispute the impact that Garbrandt has had on the bantamweight division is such a short period of time. Before the back injury that delayed his first title defence, No Love had been among the more active fighters in the UFC, racking up three fights in each of his first two years to take him to the summit.
Having blasted through the perennial gatekeeper Marcus Brimage, Henry Briones and Augusto Mendes, it was in early February 2016 where Garbrandt made his name with the majority of UFC fans. In a battle of the prospects, Garbrandt pitted his unbeaten record against the unblemished sheet of highly rated Brazilian star Thomas Almeida, who had been tipped as a future title-holder himself. Less than three minutes later, it was clear who the real prospect of the division was. Having comprehensively outboxed Almeida in the early stages of the round, No Love landed his now patented hammer of a right, sending the Brazilian crashing to the canvas, and Garbrandt into the rankings.
It would take one move fight to prove his worth of a title opportunity, but having breezed past Takeya Mizugaki in a brisk 48 seconds, No Love was handed a date with Dominick Cruz. Most MMA fans, myself included, felt that this was a step too far for the youngster. He couldn't do it. Cruz was unbeaten as a bantamweight, and in all fights in nearly a decade. How wrong we were.
What we saw on December 30th was the execution of a masterful gameplan by a fighter with no fear or pressure and full of confidence. The footwork and movement was something we had never seen from Garbrandt before, and was reminiscent of Cruz himself - but more effective! Despite the champion's jibes about Cody's intelligence in the lead-up to the fight - something that Dillashaw has again played on pre-UFC 217 - No Love was able to keep his head and thoroughly bamboozle the bantamweight legend, earning a deserved unanimous decision win.
A huge contributor to this success has been 11 year old Maddux Maple, who was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of five. From humble, and often rough, beginnings in Uhrichsville, Ohio, the pair made a pact. If Maddux promised to beat his cancer, Garbrandt would stay out of trouble and make his way into the UFC. Remarkably, both sides have held their ends of the bargain - Maddux's cancer is in remission, and Garbrandt has gone on to be one of the organisation's fastest rising stars.
At 11-0, Garbrandt is being talked about as the next Conor McGregor - but is that fair? Outside of Cruz, he has yet to be fully tested in the upper echelons in the bantamweight division. But perhaps TJ Dillashaw is the litmus test. The division certainly suffers from a lack of legitimate challengers at present, so a win over his greatest rival would solidify Garbrandt's legacy as a true champion at 135.
This is being touted - by both of the fighters involved - as the true main event. Do you agree? And how do you think the fight is going to go? Get in touch either in the comments or @TheWeighInMMA to share your thoughts.
The question perhaps most relevant for Garbrandt is 'how do you follow the perfect year?' In terms of fights, No Love has certainly not been as active as 2016, but that is as much due to misfortune, injuries and a lack of legitimate challengers as anything within his control. However, having been thoroughly whitewashed by Dillashaw in an ill-tempered series of The Ultimate Fighter, Cody will be more determined than ever to save his talking for the cage.
This is largely due to the much publicised history between Garbrandt and Dillashaw, which originates before No Love had ever made it to the big leagues. As a youngster, Cody had developed somewhat of an obsession with bantamweight and featherweight pioneer Urijah Faber, and founder of respected gym Team Alpha Male. Despite having just a couple of professional bouts under his belt, Garbrandt was insistent that he wanted to train with Faber, as well as requesting a route into the UFC. Faber's promise - get to 5-0 and I'll get you a shot.
And so he did. A year after the promise was made, Garbrandt had fulfilled his side of the bargain, ruthlessly knocking out four of his five opponents in the first round. It was here that Garbrandt and Dillashaw would first come into contact, with the latter already six months into his title reign. However, the relationship would quickly sour between Dillashaw and the team, leading to the current ongoing feud. In the lead-up to this weekend, No Love has been very vocal about his previous exploits over Dillashaw in the gym - something that TJ has been quick to dismiss.
Regardless of the outside disputes, few can dispute the impact that Garbrandt has had on the bantamweight division is such a short period of time. Before the back injury that delayed his first title defence, No Love had been among the more active fighters in the UFC, racking up three fights in each of his first two years to take him to the summit.
Having blasted through the perennial gatekeeper Marcus Brimage, Henry Briones and Augusto Mendes, it was in early February 2016 where Garbrandt made his name with the majority of UFC fans. In a battle of the prospects, Garbrandt pitted his unbeaten record against the unblemished sheet of highly rated Brazilian star Thomas Almeida, who had been tipped as a future title-holder himself. Less than three minutes later, it was clear who the real prospect of the division was. Having comprehensively outboxed Almeida in the early stages of the round, No Love landed his now patented hammer of a right, sending the Brazilian crashing to the canvas, and Garbrandt into the rankings.
It would take one move fight to prove his worth of a title opportunity, but having breezed past Takeya Mizugaki in a brisk 48 seconds, No Love was handed a date with Dominick Cruz. Most MMA fans, myself included, felt that this was a step too far for the youngster. He couldn't do it. Cruz was unbeaten as a bantamweight, and in all fights in nearly a decade. How wrong we were.
What we saw on December 30th was the execution of a masterful gameplan by a fighter with no fear or pressure and full of confidence. The footwork and movement was something we had never seen from Garbrandt before, and was reminiscent of Cruz himself - but more effective! Despite the champion's jibes about Cody's intelligence in the lead-up to the fight - something that Dillashaw has again played on pre-UFC 217 - No Love was able to keep his head and thoroughly bamboozle the bantamweight legend, earning a deserved unanimous decision win.
A huge contributor to this success has been 11 year old Maddux Maple, who was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of five. From humble, and often rough, beginnings in Uhrichsville, Ohio, the pair made a pact. If Maddux promised to beat his cancer, Garbrandt would stay out of trouble and make his way into the UFC. Remarkably, both sides have held their ends of the bargain - Maddux's cancer is in remission, and Garbrandt has gone on to be one of the organisation's fastest rising stars.
At 11-0, Garbrandt is being talked about as the next Conor McGregor - but is that fair? Outside of Cruz, he has yet to be fully tested in the upper echelons in the bantamweight division. But perhaps TJ Dillashaw is the litmus test. The division certainly suffers from a lack of legitimate challengers at present, so a win over his greatest rival would solidify Garbrandt's legacy as a true champion at 135.
This is being touted - by both of the fighters involved - as the true main event. Do you agree? And how do you think the fight is going to go? Get in touch either in the comments or @TheWeighInMMA to share your thoughts.
Wednesday, 1 November 2017
UFC 217: Career Rundown - Rose Namajunas
One of the greatest nicknames is on show this weekend at UFC 217, as 'Thug' Rose Namajunas finally gets her second opportunity to compete for the UFC strawweight belt - and the first on pay-per-view.
For many a casual fan, you could be forgiven for not being overly familiar with the Milwaukee native. Whether by design or misfortune, Namajunas has often slipped under the radar, and given her quality, it is perhaps surprising that it has taken her nearly three years to secure a second shot at UFC gold.
A Taekwondo practitioner from the age of five, Rose began honing her trade early. By nine, she had added in karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, making the move to Duke Roufus' much vaunted camp at just 16 years old. Having racked up a more than impressive 4-0 amateur MMA record, she was called up to the premier womens' MMA organisation Invicta for her first professional bout.
Perhaps interestingly, despite all of her striking skills, it is her brown belt in BJJ that has been most utilised during her MMA career so far. Five of her six wins have come by way of submission, including significant wins over Paige VanZant and Angela Hill.
Unlike the champion, Namajunas was selected to be a contestant on the UFC's reality series The Ultimate Fighter, as it looked to crown the champion of a new womens' division. Coming in with a record of 2-1, Rose was hardly seen as a strong contender, best illustrated by being picked fourth by coach Gilbert Melendez. It would be Hill, Tecia Torres and Emily Kagan that would be picked ahead of Namajunas - having already beaten Kagan, Rose would go on to beat the other two later in her so far fledgling career.
This low ranking would have little impact on the self-proclaimed 'Thug'. Coming through her qualifying round with a first round submission of Alex Chambers, she would complete further tap out victories over fellow UFC veterans Joanne Calderwood and Randa Markos. However, the run would end in the UFC's first strawweight title bout, where Namajunas would suffer a submission defeat of her own to Carla Esparza.
It does surprise me that for all of the contenders for Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Namajunas' name has never really been in the picture, despite her stellar wins both in the Ultimate Fighter and the UFC. She has perhaps been the victim of poor timing, with her initial title defeat preventing her from immediately challenging, while her loss to Karolina Kowalkiewicz cost her the opportunity for the shot at UFC 205.
Having been a recognisable name since the inception of the UFC's strawweight division, it's easy to forget that Namajunas is only 25 years old. As a result, UFC 217 will not be the defining moment for her, whether she wins or loses, and she can go into the Octagon in New York City with no pressure on her shoulders. Despite her strong striking background, there can be little doubt that the champion holds a distinct advantage in the stand-up, but take the fight to the ground, and it becomes an entirely different ball game.
Understandably the odds going into the fight are considerably in the champion's favour, but how do you see the fight going? Get in touch either in the comments or @TheWeighInMMA.
For many a casual fan, you could be forgiven for not being overly familiar with the Milwaukee native. Whether by design or misfortune, Namajunas has often slipped under the radar, and given her quality, it is perhaps surprising that it has taken her nearly three years to secure a second shot at UFC gold.
A Taekwondo practitioner from the age of five, Rose began honing her trade early. By nine, she had added in karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, making the move to Duke Roufus' much vaunted camp at just 16 years old. Having racked up a more than impressive 4-0 amateur MMA record, she was called up to the premier womens' MMA organisation Invicta for her first professional bout.
Perhaps interestingly, despite all of her striking skills, it is her brown belt in BJJ that has been most utilised during her MMA career so far. Five of her six wins have come by way of submission, including significant wins over Paige VanZant and Angela Hill.
Unlike the champion, Namajunas was selected to be a contestant on the UFC's reality series The Ultimate Fighter, as it looked to crown the champion of a new womens' division. Coming in with a record of 2-1, Rose was hardly seen as a strong contender, best illustrated by being picked fourth by coach Gilbert Melendez. It would be Hill, Tecia Torres and Emily Kagan that would be picked ahead of Namajunas - having already beaten Kagan, Rose would go on to beat the other two later in her so far fledgling career.
This low ranking would have little impact on the self-proclaimed 'Thug'. Coming through her qualifying round with a first round submission of Alex Chambers, she would complete further tap out victories over fellow UFC veterans Joanne Calderwood and Randa Markos. However, the run would end in the UFC's first strawweight title bout, where Namajunas would suffer a submission defeat of her own to Carla Esparza.
It does surprise me that for all of the contenders for Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Namajunas' name has never really been in the picture, despite her stellar wins both in the Ultimate Fighter and the UFC. She has perhaps been the victim of poor timing, with her initial title defeat preventing her from immediately challenging, while her loss to Karolina Kowalkiewicz cost her the opportunity for the shot at UFC 205.
Having been a recognisable name since the inception of the UFC's strawweight division, it's easy to forget that Namajunas is only 25 years old. As a result, UFC 217 will not be the defining moment for her, whether she wins or loses, and she can go into the Octagon in New York City with no pressure on her shoulders. Despite her strong striking background, there can be little doubt that the champion holds a distinct advantage in the stand-up, but take the fight to the ground, and it becomes an entirely different ball game.
Understandably the odds going into the fight are considerably in the champion's favour, but how do you see the fight going? Get in touch either in the comments or @TheWeighInMMA.
Monday, 30 October 2017
UFC 217: Career Rundown - Joanna Jedrzejczyk
While it is occasionally seen in boxing, going unbeaten in MMA is practically impossible, thanks largely to the wide variety of styles that can be utilised to win. However, every once in a while, a fighter comes along that displays an aura of invincibility. Joanna Jedrzejczyk is such a fighter.
Born in Olsztyn, Poland, Joanna was comparatively late to the martial arts, picking up Muay Thai kickboxing during her teenage years. However, it became pretty evident that she had natural ability. By the time she was 23, she was already a double world champion in Muay Thai, and a world champion in kickboxing. She would add three further world Muay Thai titles by the time she took up MMA professionally, underlining her striking pedigree.
It's worth putting Joanna's rise in the context of the rapidly growing women's mixed martial arts divisions in the UFC. Thanks largely to the popularity and appeal of Ronda Rousey at bantamweight, Dana White's frosty approach to womens' MMA had thawed, with a series of The Ultimate Fighter designed to create a new strawweight division and name a new champion. While the series came too soon for the Polish striker, it would not take her too long to make her mark.
Her breakthrough moment would come against perhaps her greatest rival to date - the Brazilian Claudia Gadelha. Having come through her UFC debut relatively unscathed against Juliana Lima, the Pole was pushed to the limit in her bout against Gadelha, emerging a narrow victor by split decision. While she has since defended her belt successfully against the Brazilian in a far more dominant performance, this was certainly the fight that gave her the greatest difficulty.
After a challenge, the greatest fighters go back to the drawing board to hone their skills, and Jedrzejczyk certainly did that. Undoubtedly one of the most decorated strikers in the UFC, she has continued to work to ensure that she is applying her experience in Muay Thai and kickboxing to better her MMA striking. And this improvement has been continuous and stark.
Just look at her dissection of Jessica Penne in her first defence. For the length of the fight, she landed crisp, clean combinations, playing with her opponent until she became a bloody mess and had no defence to her striking. However, it is perhaps her striking defence that has become most noticeable in recent bouts. Other than a brief knockdown in her second fight against Gadelha, and a more significant period of pressure against Karolina Kowalkiewicz in her last fight at MSG, her UFC career has been a masterclass of defensive fighting.
Nothing says this more than her most recent title defence against Jessica Andrade at UFC 211. The ex-bantamweight was identified as a vicious power striker with a significant advantage in the strength and grappling stakes. However, when it came to fight night, the champion simply shut that down. Working behind her jab effectively, she outlanded the Brazilian by 230 to 94 - the highest significant strike differential in UFC title history. It's probably worth mentioning that she also holds the rest of the top four, as well as the top two in most significant strikes landed!
Such has been her success in recent years, she enters into UFC 217 looking to tie Ronda Rousey's record of six successive title defences in womens' MMA. As I mentioned earlier, there is that veil of invincibility around Joanna Champion at present, but as we have seen with Rousey, that can be taken away in an instant. In fact, you could argue it's simply a case of when and not if. Look at the greatest martial artists of all time - GSP, Hughes, Liddell, Ortiz, Couture, Silva - all of which looked invincible at some point, but all came a cropper at some point.
As the women's strawweight division continues to gain talent and awareness, the quality of challenger will increase accordingly - but is November 4 the day that unbeaten record goes? Let me know your thoughts on this, and the success of Joanna Champion either in the comments or @TheWeighInMMA on Twitter.
Monday, 16 October 2017
UFC: Top 10 All Time Mixed Martial Artists
After his emphatic victory last weekend, Demetrious 'Mighty Mouse' Johnson staked his claim to being the greatest ever mixed martial artist. And when it comes to considering the question, he's got a point. Not only did he break Anderson Silva's all-time title defences record, as well as maintain a virtually unprecedented UFC win streak of 13, but he has single-handedly destroyed the best of the flyweight division, from Benavidez to Cejudo to Borg.
That got me thinking. To me, to be the best mixed martial artist of all time, the first word is imperative: mixed. While there are countless fighters that are excellent at one, perhaps even two of the skill-sets that make up MMA, there are rarely competitors that satisfy all three components.
So after much consideration, here are my thoughts on the Top 10 UFC Mixed Martial Artists of all time.
Matt Hughes - Welterweight (45-9)
While for many, the term 'dominant welterweight champion' will generate images of a certain French-Canadian, it originated as a description of Illinois-born and bred fighter Matt Hughes. A much celebrated collegiate wrestler, Hughes quickly demonstrated his capabilities with all three of the core techniques of MMA, finishing fights both by submission and strikes.
Amidst iconic rivalries with the likes of Georges St Pierre, BJ Penn, and Frank Trigg, Hughes solidified himself as a true great of the sport, with combined titles reigns lasting more than four years during the 00s. However, perhaps the best indication of his mastery of the various arts is his record, with his 45 wins split evenly between KOs (17), submissions (18) and decisions (10).
Jose Aldo - Featherweight (26-3)
Those who choose to characterise Jose Aldo's career by the 13 seconds that he was inside the Octagon with Conor McGregor are beyond naive, they are ignorant and disrespectful. What this man has done for the lower weight classes is, in my opinion, at least as significant as the likes of Urijah Faber, demonstrating the speed and technique that we are now so familiar with.
Despite his background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Aldo is most well known for his striking proficiency, as well as using the environment to his advantage. From his leg-kicking clinic against Faber to beating Mark Hominick so badly his head swelled to twice its size, Aldo is not afraid to make use of all his limbs. His wrestling and clinch work also supports this, perhaps best demonstrated by his dramatic knee knockout of Chad Mendes in 2012.
A ten year undefeated record cannot be ignored, and his abilities both on the ground and on the feet are unquestionable. It's just a shame that he will likely only be remembered for one moment.
Chuck Liddell - Light-Heavyweight (21-8)
With a strong background in wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the heavy-handed Iceman was a phenom when he broke onto the scene in the late 90s, and his battles with Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture are now legendary. He was a central part of the growth of the UFC in the 2000s, perhaps just as important as the now iconic TUF 1 Finale fight between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar.
Having lost his light-heavyweight title at the hands of Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, a reign that had lasted four defences in nearly two years, the Iceman's career melted. Liddell would go on to lose four of his next five fights, including two of the best brutal knockouts in the company's history.
BJ Penn - Lightweight/Welterweight (16-11-2)
Having burst onto the UFC scene at the tender age of 21, the Hawaiian was fresh off becoming the first American gold medallist at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. However, it was his striking that initially helped him shine above the rest, knocking out the likes of Din Thomas and Caol Uno.
As Penn continued to rise, he returned to his basics to gain success, choking out legends including Hughes, Gomi and Pulver, and is one of three fighters to hold belts across two different weight classes. He remains the longest reigning lightweight champion of all time, being undefeated at the class for more than eight years.
The reason that Penn appears so far down the list despite his many accolades is his insistence at fighting way past his prime. In total, the Hawaiian has lost all five of his most recent bouts, stretching back to 2011. While he has consistently fought top 10 lightweights, his powers are fading and he should call it a career before he does more damage.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - Heavyweight (34-10-1)
One of the most iconic PRIDE fighters of all time, who reached the UFC perhaps a few years too late. 'Big Nog' made his name in Japan, fighting everyone from 186lb Jeremy Horn to a steroid-ridden 329lb Bob Sapp. However, Nogueira would become one of the first heavyweights to make use of jiu-jitsu, claiming wins by way of armbar, triangle, anaconda choke, americana and rear naked choke.
Over the coming years Nogueira would fight a who's who of MMA and kickboxing royalty, including Dan Henderson, Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko Cro Cop, Semmy Schilt, Sergei Kharitonov and Fabricio Werdum, before claiming the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship from Tim Sylvia in 2008.
Sadly, having compiled a record of 29-4-1 prior to entering the UFC, he never hit the heights of his previous form.
Randy Couture - Light-Heavyweight/Heavyweight (19-11)
The only man who has earned a bow of respect from the legendary announcer Bruce Buffer, Randy 'The Natural' Couture, was one of the original UFC legends, and has been credited will some of the growth in the sport's popularity in the 2000s. Switching seamlessly between heavyweight and light-heavyweight, the collegiate wrestler and ex-US military boxer earned a reputation for his dirty boxing approach.
Having already won, lost and vacated the UFC Heavyweight Championship between 1997 and 2002, Couture would become the first man to hold titles across two different weight divisions. He would start an iconic trilogy with fellow Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell, as well as fights with legends like Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfort, in total winning five separate championships.
Anderson Silva - Middleweight (34-8)
Widely considered by many to be the greatest of all time, 'The Spider' makes only number four on my list. This is for three reasons. Firstly, in his waning years, Silva has lost some of the invincibility that he had between 2006 and 2012. Consecutive losses to Chris Weidman, as well as defeats at the hands of Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier removed that psychological edge to Silva's game.
Secondly, as a complete mixed martial artist, Anderson has shown he has holes in his game. While he is practically unparalleled on the feet, he has shown a deficiency when it comes to the ground. For four and a half rounds, Silva was completely dominated by Chael Sonnen, before a mistake by the American handed him the opportunity to retain his title.
Finally, Silva has also been the making of his own downfall. Following his unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz, the Brazilian tested positive for an anabolic steroid, ruling him out for a year and calling all past achievements into contention. Is it a coincidence that he has been a shadow of his former self in the fights since? A victory over Kelvin Gastelum would certainly go some way to righting some of the wrongs, but it is unclear, whether his reputation will ever fully heal.
Georges St-Pierre - Welterweight/Middleweight (25-2)
One of the four dominant champions in the early 2010s alongside Rousey, Jones and Silva, GSP has shown himself to be adept across all of the aspects of mixed martial arts throughout his career. Whether that's the headkick TKO of Matt Hughes to claim his first UFC title, or his ability to utterly shut down the attack of some of the world's greatest strikers - Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit and Johny Hendricks among the challengers pushed back.
The French-Canadian has amassed the largest number of title bout wins in the history of the UFC, as well as the second-longest combined time as champion. His legacy as one of the greatest is secure, but a successful return at UFC 217 could see him enter the conversation as the best fighter to step foot into the Octagon.
Jon Jones - Light-Heavyweight (22-1, 1 NC)
While the aftermath of UFC 214 may have called his previous successes into question, his talent inside the Octagon cannot be questioned. There are few that have been able to innovate in the way that Jon Jones has, and even fewer that have been able to dominate fights both on the feet and the ground.
Think back to his successful spinning elbows on both Stephan Bonnar and Alexander Gustafsson, or his outrageous standing guillotine that sent Lyoto Machida to sleep. Was there always a hint of controversy, either through an eye-poke or personal indiscretion? Sure. But if there was one thing you could guarantee with a Jones fight, it was going to be a spectacle.
While his latest failed drug test could keep him away from the cage for up to four years, there can be no denying that 'Bones' has played a key role in the difficult adolescent period for the sport of mixed martial arts, demonstrating both what and what not to do to the next generation.
Demetrious Johnson - Flyweight (27-2-1)
By head and shoulders the greatest complete technical fighter we have ever seen, particularly following the indiscretions that have hit both Jones and Silva. Over the last five years, the UFC's only flyweight world champion has cleared out his division, with 11 consecutive title defences as part of a 13 fight win streak since a bantamweight world championship defeat to Dominick Cruz.
His win last weekend was perhaps his most impressive to date, utterly dominating a helpless Ray Borg, with the strike count hopelessly one sided. He has also shown his propensity to innovate even under threat, with his picture perfect suplex to armbar combination a shoo-in for Submission of the Year.
For all of Jones' and Silva's style and flair, the basis of Mighty Mouse's success has been pure technique whether on the feet, in the scrambles or on the ground, and as has been proven by the past five years, he truly is unrivalled.
Do you agree with the list? Are there any I've missed? If you want to discuss this, or any of the topics I've discussed, feel free to contact me on Twitter @TheWeighInMMA.
That got me thinking. To me, to be the best mixed martial artist of all time, the first word is imperative: mixed. While there are countless fighters that are excellent at one, perhaps even two of the skill-sets that make up MMA, there are rarely competitors that satisfy all three components.
So after much consideration, here are my thoughts on the Top 10 UFC Mixed Martial Artists of all time.
Matt Hughes - Welterweight (45-9)
While for many, the term 'dominant welterweight champion' will generate images of a certain French-Canadian, it originated as a description of Illinois-born and bred fighter Matt Hughes. A much celebrated collegiate wrestler, Hughes quickly demonstrated his capabilities with all three of the core techniques of MMA, finishing fights both by submission and strikes.
Amidst iconic rivalries with the likes of Georges St Pierre, BJ Penn, and Frank Trigg, Hughes solidified himself as a true great of the sport, with combined titles reigns lasting more than four years during the 00s. However, perhaps the best indication of his mastery of the various arts is his record, with his 45 wins split evenly between KOs (17), submissions (18) and decisions (10).
Jose Aldo - Featherweight (26-3)
Those who choose to characterise Jose Aldo's career by the 13 seconds that he was inside the Octagon with Conor McGregor are beyond naive, they are ignorant and disrespectful. What this man has done for the lower weight classes is, in my opinion, at least as significant as the likes of Urijah Faber, demonstrating the speed and technique that we are now so familiar with.
Despite his background in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Aldo is most well known for his striking proficiency, as well as using the environment to his advantage. From his leg-kicking clinic against Faber to beating Mark Hominick so badly his head swelled to twice its size, Aldo is not afraid to make use of all his limbs. His wrestling and clinch work also supports this, perhaps best demonstrated by his dramatic knee knockout of Chad Mendes in 2012.
A ten year undefeated record cannot be ignored, and his abilities both on the ground and on the feet are unquestionable. It's just a shame that he will likely only be remembered for one moment.
Chuck Liddell - Light-Heavyweight (21-8)
With a strong background in wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the heavy-handed Iceman was a phenom when he broke onto the scene in the late 90s, and his battles with Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture are now legendary. He was a central part of the growth of the UFC in the 2000s, perhaps just as important as the now iconic TUF 1 Finale fight between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar.
Having lost his light-heavyweight title at the hands of Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, a reign that had lasted four defences in nearly two years, the Iceman's career melted. Liddell would go on to lose four of his next five fights, including two of the best brutal knockouts in the company's history.
BJ Penn - Lightweight/Welterweight (16-11-2)
Having burst onto the UFC scene at the tender age of 21, the Hawaiian was fresh off becoming the first American gold medallist at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. However, it was his striking that initially helped him shine above the rest, knocking out the likes of Din Thomas and Caol Uno.
As Penn continued to rise, he returned to his basics to gain success, choking out legends including Hughes, Gomi and Pulver, and is one of three fighters to hold belts across two different weight classes. He remains the longest reigning lightweight champion of all time, being undefeated at the class for more than eight years.
The reason that Penn appears so far down the list despite his many accolades is his insistence at fighting way past his prime. In total, the Hawaiian has lost all five of his most recent bouts, stretching back to 2011. While he has consistently fought top 10 lightweights, his powers are fading and he should call it a career before he does more damage.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - Heavyweight (34-10-1)
One of the most iconic PRIDE fighters of all time, who reached the UFC perhaps a few years too late. 'Big Nog' made his name in Japan, fighting everyone from 186lb Jeremy Horn to a steroid-ridden 329lb Bob Sapp. However, Nogueira would become one of the first heavyweights to make use of jiu-jitsu, claiming wins by way of armbar, triangle, anaconda choke, americana and rear naked choke.
Over the coming years Nogueira would fight a who's who of MMA and kickboxing royalty, including Dan Henderson, Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko Cro Cop, Semmy Schilt, Sergei Kharitonov and Fabricio Werdum, before claiming the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship from Tim Sylvia in 2008.
Sadly, having compiled a record of 29-4-1 prior to entering the UFC, he never hit the heights of his previous form.
Randy Couture - Light-Heavyweight/Heavyweight (19-11)
The only man who has earned a bow of respect from the legendary announcer Bruce Buffer, Randy 'The Natural' Couture, was one of the original UFC legends, and has been credited will some of the growth in the sport's popularity in the 2000s. Switching seamlessly between heavyweight and light-heavyweight, the collegiate wrestler and ex-US military boxer earned a reputation for his dirty boxing approach.
Having already won, lost and vacated the UFC Heavyweight Championship between 1997 and 2002, Couture would become the first man to hold titles across two different weight divisions. He would start an iconic trilogy with fellow Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell, as well as fights with legends like Tito Ortiz and Vitor Belfort, in total winning five separate championships.
Anderson Silva - Middleweight (34-8)
Widely considered by many to be the greatest of all time, 'The Spider' makes only number four on my list. This is for three reasons. Firstly, in his waning years, Silva has lost some of the invincibility that he had between 2006 and 2012. Consecutive losses to Chris Weidman, as well as defeats at the hands of Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier removed that psychological edge to Silva's game.
Secondly, as a complete mixed martial artist, Anderson has shown he has holes in his game. While he is practically unparalleled on the feet, he has shown a deficiency when it comes to the ground. For four and a half rounds, Silva was completely dominated by Chael Sonnen, before a mistake by the American handed him the opportunity to retain his title.
Finally, Silva has also been the making of his own downfall. Following his unanimous decision victory over Nick Diaz, the Brazilian tested positive for an anabolic steroid, ruling him out for a year and calling all past achievements into contention. Is it a coincidence that he has been a shadow of his former self in the fights since? A victory over Kelvin Gastelum would certainly go some way to righting some of the wrongs, but it is unclear, whether his reputation will ever fully heal.
Georges St-Pierre - Welterweight/Middleweight (25-2)
One of the four dominant champions in the early 2010s alongside Rousey, Jones and Silva, GSP has shown himself to be adept across all of the aspects of mixed martial arts throughout his career. Whether that's the headkick TKO of Matt Hughes to claim his first UFC title, or his ability to utterly shut down the attack of some of the world's greatest strikers - Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit and Johny Hendricks among the challengers pushed back.
The French-Canadian has amassed the largest number of title bout wins in the history of the UFC, as well as the second-longest combined time as champion. His legacy as one of the greatest is secure, but a successful return at UFC 217 could see him enter the conversation as the best fighter to step foot into the Octagon.
Jon Jones - Light-Heavyweight (22-1, 1 NC)
While the aftermath of UFC 214 may have called his previous successes into question, his talent inside the Octagon cannot be questioned. There are few that have been able to innovate in the way that Jon Jones has, and even fewer that have been able to dominate fights both on the feet and the ground.
Think back to his successful spinning elbows on both Stephan Bonnar and Alexander Gustafsson, or his outrageous standing guillotine that sent Lyoto Machida to sleep. Was there always a hint of controversy, either through an eye-poke or personal indiscretion? Sure. But if there was one thing you could guarantee with a Jones fight, it was going to be a spectacle.
While his latest failed drug test could keep him away from the cage for up to four years, there can be no denying that 'Bones' has played a key role in the difficult adolescent period for the sport of mixed martial arts, demonstrating both what and what not to do to the next generation.
Demetrious Johnson - Flyweight (27-2-1)
By head and shoulders the greatest complete technical fighter we have ever seen, particularly following the indiscretions that have hit both Jones and Silva. Over the last five years, the UFC's only flyweight world champion has cleared out his division, with 11 consecutive title defences as part of a 13 fight win streak since a bantamweight world championship defeat to Dominick Cruz.
His win last weekend was perhaps his most impressive to date, utterly dominating a helpless Ray Borg, with the strike count hopelessly one sided. He has also shown his propensity to innovate even under threat, with his picture perfect suplex to armbar combination a shoo-in for Submission of the Year.
For all of Jones' and Silva's style and flair, the basis of Mighty Mouse's success has been pure technique whether on the feet, in the scrambles or on the ground, and as has been proven by the past five years, he truly is unrivalled.
Do you agree with the list? Are there any I've missed? If you want to discuss this, or any of the topics I've discussed, feel free to contact me on Twitter @TheWeighInMMA.
Wednesday, 23 August 2017
The 'Anderson Silva Effect': What A Second Drug Suspension Means For Jon Jones
Jon Jones should be in a soap opera. Regardless of how euphoric a moment is for the current UFC light-heavyweight champion, he always finds a way to add a bit of drama to proceedings.
The most naturally talented martial artist of all time, but one of the most mentally immature. An ex-champion with one of the most successive title defences of all time, but stripped of his belt following a hit-and-run attack on a pregnant woman. And when it looked like Jones was set to get the opportunity to get his life back at the marquee UFC 200, he was flagged for a doping offence by USADA, followed by a further one year ban from competition.
However, nowhere is that soap opera bi-polarism better illustrated by this morning's news. Having brutally knocked out main rival Daniel Cormier with a left high kick in the main event of UFC 214 to reclaim the title he never lost in the Octagon, Jones seemed to have achieved the ultimate redemption.
But, almost inevitably, the story was not finished. This morning, Jones was again flagged for a potential doping violation by USADA, taken from his sample provided at the weigh-ins the day before the UFC 214 bout.
Initial reports suggest that the substance found was Turinabol, an anabolic steroid based on a derivation of testosterone. This isn't the first time that USADA has encountered the substance, with ex-UFC heavyweight Frank Mir testing positive for the drug last year. Should the use of Turinabol in the Jones case be confirmed, it would appear to be more conclusive and damning than the failed test before UFC 200, which was for an oestrogen blocker. I think Jon would struggle to suggest that "dick pills" were full of steroids - unless he's really looking to boost performance!
The impact on Jon Jones' career is potentially significant if found guilty. As this is his second offence, a four year ban from competition could be the penalty, and comes at the worst possible time. Having just entered his thirties, Jones is now in the prime of his career, and a four-year layoff would be difficult, if not impossible, to come back from. Dana White himself, reacting to today's news, said as much, suggesting that the UFC 214 victory could be the last time that we see Jones inside the Octagon if found guilty.
There's no doubt that even being associated with another doping scandal will affect Jones' career. Certainly the super fight with ex-UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar is off the cards for the medium-term, while White also claimed that a title fight with current heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic was in the works for UFC 218. I think it's safe to say that there is more than a little doubt in that now!
Jones has made it clear in press conferences since the Cormier fight that he, like so many others in the UFC at present, are chasing the money fights over the traditional legitimacy of the competition. With both Lesnar and Miocic likely to provide huge cheques, Jon's set to lose more than a little cash! However, regardless of the result of the investigation, this has the potential to affect Jones' future earnings. Dana White was already concerned at the prospect of offering a headline spot at UFC 214 after his previous failed test - can you honestly say that this, whether he is found innocent or not, will slow that school of thought?
Most damaging of all for Jones, however, are the questions that are now likely to be asked of all of his previous accomplishments. Also known as the 'Anderson Silva effect', the failed drug test has the potential to ruin the legacy of the greatest of all time. Would he have had the stamina to beat Daniel Cormier at UFC 182? Would he have had the heart to overcome the challenge of Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165? Even worse, would he even have had the speed and athleticism to defeat Shogun Rua to claim the belt initially at UFC 128? It's entirely possible that the answer to all of these questions is 'yes', but the truth is we'll never know, casting doubt on his true ability.
Before we start to completely dismiss his career as drug-enhanced, it is worth considering the current defence being put forward by his team. Far from the farcical "dick pills" excuse mentioned earlier, the Jackson Winklejohn team have made the argument that Jones repeatedly tested negative throughout camp, and suggested that there would be no benefit of taking steroids the day before the fight, with the chemicals taking weeks to build up in a fighter's system and take effect.
I'm not naive enough to take this kind of thing at face value, and there is every chance that this is another cover up, but logically something doesn't add up. According to USADA's website, Jones has been tested 17 times since the agency was introduced in 2015, and bear in mind that he was out for a full year between July 2016 and July 2017 for his past indiscretion. Assuming Jones had been tested in the final few weeks ahead of the fight, there would have been no opportunity for the drug to make a difference, and with Jones already knowing the potential repercussions of a failed test first-hand, I struggle to see the pros for taking a steroid - particularly one that has also been proven to be picked up in USADA tests in the past!
Irrespective of this, the person I feel for most is Daniel Cormier, who was defeated so emphatically at UFC 214, and left unconscious and disconnected for some time afterwards. Should Jones be found guilty, he will have been severely damaged by a man who entered the Octagon having cheated to make himself more dangerous, something that could have had long-lasting effects for the remainder of his life. He's in a no-win situation, as stripping Jones of the title and returning it to Cormier would again put him in the position of being questioned as champion, having not won the belt in the Octagon.
Despite this, the statement released by DC in the hours following this news was admirable. Far from the point-scoring and trash-talking seen ahead of the fight, his reaction was perfectly reasonable and understanding. Rather than jumping to a conclusion, he made it clear that he felt that Jones was the better man on the night, and elected to hold off commenting further until the details were revealed.
After the euphoria of UFC 214, not all soap opera stories end happily, and short of something unusual, I can only realistically see one outcome to this one. In Jon Jones, the UFC had reclaimed a real draw, having lost the likes of Lesnar, Rousey and even McGregor in recent years, and in one moment, Jon Jones may have cost the UFC a legitimate PPV draw, and himself his entire career.
The most naturally talented martial artist of all time, but one of the most mentally immature. An ex-champion with one of the most successive title defences of all time, but stripped of his belt following a hit-and-run attack on a pregnant woman. And when it looked like Jones was set to get the opportunity to get his life back at the marquee UFC 200, he was flagged for a doping offence by USADA, followed by a further one year ban from competition.
However, nowhere is that soap opera bi-polarism better illustrated by this morning's news. Having brutally knocked out main rival Daniel Cormier with a left high kick in the main event of UFC 214 to reclaim the title he never lost in the Octagon, Jones seemed to have achieved the ultimate redemption.
But, almost inevitably, the story was not finished. This morning, Jones was again flagged for a potential doping violation by USADA, taken from his sample provided at the weigh-ins the day before the UFC 214 bout.
Initial reports suggest that the substance found was Turinabol, an anabolic steroid based on a derivation of testosterone. This isn't the first time that USADA has encountered the substance, with ex-UFC heavyweight Frank Mir testing positive for the drug last year. Should the use of Turinabol in the Jones case be confirmed, it would appear to be more conclusive and damning than the failed test before UFC 200, which was for an oestrogen blocker. I think Jon would struggle to suggest that "dick pills" were full of steroids - unless he's really looking to boost performance!
The impact on Jon Jones' career is potentially significant if found guilty. As this is his second offence, a four year ban from competition could be the penalty, and comes at the worst possible time. Having just entered his thirties, Jones is now in the prime of his career, and a four-year layoff would be difficult, if not impossible, to come back from. Dana White himself, reacting to today's news, said as much, suggesting that the UFC 214 victory could be the last time that we see Jones inside the Octagon if found guilty.
There's no doubt that even being associated with another doping scandal will affect Jones' career. Certainly the super fight with ex-UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar is off the cards for the medium-term, while White also claimed that a title fight with current heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic was in the works for UFC 218. I think it's safe to say that there is more than a little doubt in that now!
Jones has made it clear in press conferences since the Cormier fight that he, like so many others in the UFC at present, are chasing the money fights over the traditional legitimacy of the competition. With both Lesnar and Miocic likely to provide huge cheques, Jon's set to lose more than a little cash! However, regardless of the result of the investigation, this has the potential to affect Jones' future earnings. Dana White was already concerned at the prospect of offering a headline spot at UFC 214 after his previous failed test - can you honestly say that this, whether he is found innocent or not, will slow that school of thought?
Most damaging of all for Jones, however, are the questions that are now likely to be asked of all of his previous accomplishments. Also known as the 'Anderson Silva effect', the failed drug test has the potential to ruin the legacy of the greatest of all time. Would he have had the stamina to beat Daniel Cormier at UFC 182? Would he have had the heart to overcome the challenge of Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165? Even worse, would he even have had the speed and athleticism to defeat Shogun Rua to claim the belt initially at UFC 128? It's entirely possible that the answer to all of these questions is 'yes', but the truth is we'll never know, casting doubt on his true ability.
Before we start to completely dismiss his career as drug-enhanced, it is worth considering the current defence being put forward by his team. Far from the farcical "dick pills" excuse mentioned earlier, the Jackson Winklejohn team have made the argument that Jones repeatedly tested negative throughout camp, and suggested that there would be no benefit of taking steroids the day before the fight, with the chemicals taking weeks to build up in a fighter's system and take effect.
I'm not naive enough to take this kind of thing at face value, and there is every chance that this is another cover up, but logically something doesn't add up. According to USADA's website, Jones has been tested 17 times since the agency was introduced in 2015, and bear in mind that he was out for a full year between July 2016 and July 2017 for his past indiscretion. Assuming Jones had been tested in the final few weeks ahead of the fight, there would have been no opportunity for the drug to make a difference, and with Jones already knowing the potential repercussions of a failed test first-hand, I struggle to see the pros for taking a steroid - particularly one that has also been proven to be picked up in USADA tests in the past!
Irrespective of this, the person I feel for most is Daniel Cormier, who was defeated so emphatically at UFC 214, and left unconscious and disconnected for some time afterwards. Should Jones be found guilty, he will have been severely damaged by a man who entered the Octagon having cheated to make himself more dangerous, something that could have had long-lasting effects for the remainder of his life. He's in a no-win situation, as stripping Jones of the title and returning it to Cormier would again put him in the position of being questioned as champion, having not won the belt in the Octagon.
Despite this, the statement released by DC in the hours following this news was admirable. Far from the point-scoring and trash-talking seen ahead of the fight, his reaction was perfectly reasonable and understanding. Rather than jumping to a conclusion, he made it clear that he felt that Jones was the better man on the night, and elected to hold off commenting further until the details were revealed.
After the euphoria of UFC 214, not all soap opera stories end happily, and short of something unusual, I can only realistically see one outcome to this one. In Jon Jones, the UFC had reclaimed a real draw, having lost the likes of Lesnar, Rousey and even McGregor in recent years, and in one moment, Jon Jones may have cost the UFC a legitimate PPV draw, and himself his entire career.
Sunday, 13 August 2017
The Rise and Fall of AKA
It's June 2015. Cain Velasquez, having seen off the challenges of a brutal trilogy with Junior dos Santos, as well as Bigfoot Silva, is legitimately the 'baddest man on the planet'. Daniel Cormier, following the highly publicised implosion of Jon Jones, is fresh off the back of a euphoric light-heavyweight title victory over Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson, while Luke Rockhold awaits the date for his own title fight, at middleweight, against Chris Weidman.
This was the head of the roster at the esteemed American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. Opened in 1995 by former world kickboxing champion Javier Mendez, the gym has seen a raft of UFC fighters as the sport of MMA progressed, including the likes of pioneers such as Frank Shamrock and BJ Penn. As the gym continued to garner praise and high profile fighters, expansion came naturally. Having opened its Sunnyvale facility in 2008, as well as refurbising its original site in 2011, Mendez made the ambitious move into Asia with the launch of its Thai gym in Phuket. This inevitably drew in a rapidly expanding market, with high profile competitors such as Cung Le, Takanori Gomi, Akihiro Gono and Kid Yamamoto all making the move to the facility.
As the name suggests, it's not just mixed martial artists that come through the doors. The gym has been synonymous with some of the most accomplished names in combat sports, including 2004 Olympic gold medallist in freestyle wrestling, Khadzhimurat Gatsalov and current Glory Heavyweight kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven, with a record of 51-10-1.
Fast forward two and a bit years from that June 2015 nadir, however, and the story is very different. Velasquez, far from being the heavyweight destroyer of his reign, lost the title to Fabricio Werdum and is now struggling to make it into the Octagon after an injury-ridden period, while Rockhold, having defeated Weidman at UFC 194, swiftly dropped the belt in ignominious fashion to a late-notice Michael Bisping at UFC 199.
There was even time for the gym to win and lose its first female UFC championship, with the much maligned Germaine de Randamie using every one of the 25 minutes (and a few seconds more) to defeat Holly Holm for the inaugural featherweight crown at UFC 208, before using every trick and excuse to worm her way out of fighting Cris Cyborg. This led to a public stripping of the title, with the Dutchwoman stating that her main focus was on returning to 135 pounds.
And so that brings us to UFC 214. In the revival of one of the biggest grudge match in MMA history, Daniel Cormier faced off against a returning Jon Jones. Cormier had been unfairly branded a 'fake champion' since he ascended to the throne following Jones' indiscretions, ignoring successful title defences against dangerous opponents in Anthony Johnson and Alexander Gustafsson and the opening to the fight highlighted his frustrations. Indeed, Cormier was perhaps ahead on the scorecards going through the first two rounds, and then one instinctive mistake ended it all.
Cormier's tendency to dip his head to the left brought him perfectly into position for Jones to land a devastating head-kick, with the subsequent ground and pound leaving the ex-Olympian unconscious against the cage. This provided the brutal exclamation point on the near-four year rivalry, establishing Jones as the greatest light-heavyweight of all time, and removing the final championship from AKA's grasp.
Big John McCarthy stepping in to protect Cormier marked the first moment that the gym was not home to a champion since December 2012. So where do they go now, and how do they stack up against some of the other premium establishments?
As we look at the current UFC champions, we see an interesting pattern. Despite the wealth of experienced and reputable gyms available to MMA fighters across the world, 40 per cent of UFC champions do not directly associate themselves with the recognised organisations, electing instead to predominantly organise their own training and coaches, often in a location close to them.
Of those that are aligned to a gym, American Top Team is by far the most successful, with three current title holders on their books. Both Amanda Nunes and Joanna Jedrzejczyk are full time members, while Tyron Woodley splits his time between ATT and Duke Roufus' camp in Milwaukee.
For those of you interested about the rest, Jones is a Jackson Winklejohn product, Cody Garbrandt has been brought through the system at Urijah Faber's Alpha Male gym, while Conor McGregor is a long time student of the Straight Blast Gym in Ireland under the tutelage of John Kavanagh.
So if we're seeing more fighters tailor their own training and employ their own coaches, will we ever see organisations like AKA frequently hold a stable of champions? While it seems unlikely that Cormier will be champion again any time soon, the prospects certainly remain for both Velasquez, who is apparently being targeted for a title shot later this year, and Rockhold, who is yet to return from a long layoff with an injury. Outside of that, Khabib Nurmagomedov seems just one fight from a shot at McGregor, while in Bellator, AKA Thailand product Anastasia Yankova appears to be being primed for an inaugural flyweight title bout.
Certainly, Javier Mendez will be hoping that this is simply a quick interlude before another series of champions are crowned at AKA, but we could be in the next evolution of a UFC fighter, moving away from the traditional gym approach. With the rise of the media, as well as fights among teammates becoming more common, the need to make your training as private as possible is gaining traction. Indeed, such is the perceived advantage of the element of surprise, Jon Jones refused to attend the open workouts for UFC 214 to avoid giving away too many clues.
With this in mind, loyalty to a single gym is less likely to have the same appeal to UFC fighters. We have seen the likes of TJ Dillashaw come on leaps and bounds as a result of training across numerous camps, much to the disgust of Urijah Faber, and this is expected to become increasingly popular in the future. While gyms such as AKA may be able to lay at least partial claim to some of the titles in future, I doubt very much that we will see many examples of three full time trainees at a single camp.
This was the head of the roster at the esteemed American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. Opened in 1995 by former world kickboxing champion Javier Mendez, the gym has seen a raft of UFC fighters as the sport of MMA progressed, including the likes of pioneers such as Frank Shamrock and BJ Penn. As the gym continued to garner praise and high profile fighters, expansion came naturally. Having opened its Sunnyvale facility in 2008, as well as refurbising its original site in 2011, Mendez made the ambitious move into Asia with the launch of its Thai gym in Phuket. This inevitably drew in a rapidly expanding market, with high profile competitors such as Cung Le, Takanori Gomi, Akihiro Gono and Kid Yamamoto all making the move to the facility.
As the name suggests, it's not just mixed martial artists that come through the doors. The gym has been synonymous with some of the most accomplished names in combat sports, including 2004 Olympic gold medallist in freestyle wrestling, Khadzhimurat Gatsalov and current Glory Heavyweight kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven, with a record of 51-10-1.
Fast forward two and a bit years from that June 2015 nadir, however, and the story is very different. Velasquez, far from being the heavyweight destroyer of his reign, lost the title to Fabricio Werdum and is now struggling to make it into the Octagon after an injury-ridden period, while Rockhold, having defeated Weidman at UFC 194, swiftly dropped the belt in ignominious fashion to a late-notice Michael Bisping at UFC 199.
There was even time for the gym to win and lose its first female UFC championship, with the much maligned Germaine de Randamie using every one of the 25 minutes (and a few seconds more) to defeat Holly Holm for the inaugural featherweight crown at UFC 208, before using every trick and excuse to worm her way out of fighting Cris Cyborg. This led to a public stripping of the title, with the Dutchwoman stating that her main focus was on returning to 135 pounds.
And so that brings us to UFC 214. In the revival of one of the biggest grudge match in MMA history, Daniel Cormier faced off against a returning Jon Jones. Cormier had been unfairly branded a 'fake champion' since he ascended to the throne following Jones' indiscretions, ignoring successful title defences against dangerous opponents in Anthony Johnson and Alexander Gustafsson and the opening to the fight highlighted his frustrations. Indeed, Cormier was perhaps ahead on the scorecards going through the first two rounds, and then one instinctive mistake ended it all.
Cormier's tendency to dip his head to the left brought him perfectly into position for Jones to land a devastating head-kick, with the subsequent ground and pound leaving the ex-Olympian unconscious against the cage. This provided the brutal exclamation point on the near-four year rivalry, establishing Jones as the greatest light-heavyweight of all time, and removing the final championship from AKA's grasp.
Big John McCarthy stepping in to protect Cormier marked the first moment that the gym was not home to a champion since December 2012. So where do they go now, and how do they stack up against some of the other premium establishments?
As we look at the current UFC champions, we see an interesting pattern. Despite the wealth of experienced and reputable gyms available to MMA fighters across the world, 40 per cent of UFC champions do not directly associate themselves with the recognised organisations, electing instead to predominantly organise their own training and coaches, often in a location close to them.
Of those that are aligned to a gym, American Top Team is by far the most successful, with three current title holders on their books. Both Amanda Nunes and Joanna Jedrzejczyk are full time members, while Tyron Woodley splits his time between ATT and Duke Roufus' camp in Milwaukee.
For those of you interested about the rest, Jones is a Jackson Winklejohn product, Cody Garbrandt has been brought through the system at Urijah Faber's Alpha Male gym, while Conor McGregor is a long time student of the Straight Blast Gym in Ireland under the tutelage of John Kavanagh.
So if we're seeing more fighters tailor their own training and employ their own coaches, will we ever see organisations like AKA frequently hold a stable of champions? While it seems unlikely that Cormier will be champion again any time soon, the prospects certainly remain for both Velasquez, who is apparently being targeted for a title shot later this year, and Rockhold, who is yet to return from a long layoff with an injury. Outside of that, Khabib Nurmagomedov seems just one fight from a shot at McGregor, while in Bellator, AKA Thailand product Anastasia Yankova appears to be being primed for an inaugural flyweight title bout.
Certainly, Javier Mendez will be hoping that this is simply a quick interlude before another series of champions are crowned at AKA, but we could be in the next evolution of a UFC fighter, moving away from the traditional gym approach. With the rise of the media, as well as fights among teammates becoming more common, the need to make your training as private as possible is gaining traction. Indeed, such is the perceived advantage of the element of surprise, Jon Jones refused to attend the open workouts for UFC 214 to avoid giving away too many clues.
With this in mind, loyalty to a single gym is less likely to have the same appeal to UFC fighters. We have seen the likes of TJ Dillashaw come on leaps and bounds as a result of training across numerous camps, much to the disgust of Urijah Faber, and this is expected to become increasingly popular in the future. While gyms such as AKA may be able to lay at least partial claim to some of the titles in future, I doubt very much that we will see many examples of three full time trainees at a single camp.
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