Jackson Wink MMA Academy

Jackson Wink MMA Academy
Est.1992; 32 years ago (1992)
Founded byGreg Jackson
Primary ownersGreg Jackson
Mike Winkeljohn
Primary trainersGreg Jackson
Israel Martinez
Mike Winkeljohn
Roberto Alencar
Past titleholdersAndrei Arlovski
B.J. Penn
Carlos Condit
Frank Mir
Georges St-Pierre
Holly Holm
Jon Jones
Rashad Evans
Training facilitiesAlbuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
WebsiteOfficial website

Jackson Wink MMA Academy (formerly known as Jackson's Submission Fighting) is a mixed martial arts gym based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The gym has been featured in several sports documentaries and has been called one of the best MMA gyms in the world by various MMA magazines.[1]

History

Gaidojutsu
FocusHybrid
HardnessFull-contact
Country of originUnited States
CreatorGreg Jackson
Mike Winkeljohn
ParenthoodMuay Thai, Kickboxing, Catch Wrestling, Judo
Olympic sportNo

In 1992, after graduating from Rio Grande High School, Greg Jackson founded his own martial art, Gaidojutsu, which combines rudimentary techniques from catch wrestling and Muay Thai with basic judo locks.[2] His school officially turned into an MMA school in 2000. The gym started gaining notoriety when Diego Sanchez won the first Ultimate Fighter in 2005.[2]

In 2007 Jackson teamed up with long time friend and collaborator, and fellow martial artist, Mike Winkeljohn to create the academy as it stands today.[3] Winkeljohn is former professional kickboxer with a record of 25–7–2 who captured two International Sport Karate Association Championships and one Muay Thai world title.[4]

In December 2019, Jackson and Winklejohn announced they would begin entertaining naming rights offers for their training facility Albuquerque, New Mexico however a price wasn't given.[5][6] Jackson also announced they will begin offering mixed martial arts fans a chance to travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico and train like his gym's fighters. He said prices for personalized MMA packages would vary and stays could last a week to two weeks at a time.[7]

Due to COVID-19, in March 2020, Jackson Wink MMA Academy announced it would be adjusting its training. This includes moving to "more striking-based training" to curtail contact among fighters as well as preventing anyone who was sick or may have had exposure to COVID-19 from training at the facility.[8]

Incidents

Fighters

Due to the large size of the gym, there have been occasions where fighters would be booked to fight against each other professionally. This has caused internal conflicts within the gym.

In March 2011, Rashad Evans announced that he was done training at Jackson-Wink MMA Academy.[9] Originally, Evans was slated to fight Maurício Rua for the UFC Light Heavyweight title at UFC 128. However Evans injured his knee during training and was replaced by Jon Jones, who was from the same gym and would eventually go on to defeat Rua to win the title. When Evans and Jones were slated to fight, the gym decided to side with Jones and corner him at UFC 145. Evans considered this as the gym turning its back on its older fighters in favor of younger ones.[10][11][12] Evans would eventually move to the Blackzilians.

In August 2018, Donald Cerrone left Jackson-Wink MMA Academy to open his own training center on his ranch. It all came after Cerrone was signed to fight his fellow welterweight, Mike Perry, who was a newcomer to the same gym. Cerrone requested that his coaches solely focus on him due to his long-standing status as a Jackson-Wink fighter. However, according to Cerrone on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Winklejohn told him the gym decided to side with Perry which angered Cerrone. Cerrone went on to criticize the modern-day Jackson-Wink MMA Academy, citing problems he has with the day-to-day running of the gym as one of the reasons behind his decision to open his own training center on his ranch – something he also feels caused increased tension.[13][14]

Other examples include Georges St-Pierre defending his title against Carlos Condit, as well as Andrei Arlovski being booked to fight against Alistair Overeem.

In October 2021, Jon Jones was banned from the Jackson Wink MMA Academy as a result of his arrest stemming from domestic violence against his fiancée.[15]

Notable fighters

(Bold denotes current and past UFC champions)

Awards

  • World MMA Awards
  • 2015 Gym of the Year[50]
  • 2011 Coach of the Year: Greg Jackson[51]
  • 2010 Coach of the Year: Greg Jackson[52]
  • 2009 Gym of the Year[53]
  • 2009 Coach of the Year: Greg Jackson[53]

See also

References

  1. ^ Contreras, Russell (December 12, 2019). "AP Exclusive: Jackson Wink MMA Academy offers naming rights". apnews.com. AP News. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Romero, Caroline (August 29, 2019). "Gym Series: Jackson Wink Academy has secret recipe for creating world's best fighters". THE SCRAP. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  3. ^ Writer, Rick Wright | Journal Staff. "MMA: Coaching team has it all covered". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "Mike Winkeljohn - Jackson Wink MMA". Overtime Heroics. June 16, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  5. ^ "AP Exclusive: Jackson Wink MMA Academy offers naming rights". AP NEWS. December 12, 2019. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "Jackson Wink Academy to sell naming rights". ESPN.com. December 12, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  7. ^ "Jackson Wink MMA Academy to offer fans 'travel workouts'". AP NEWS. December 25, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  8. ^ "Jackson Wink MMA Academy adjusts training amid COVID-19". AP News. March 13, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  9. ^ Helwani, Ariel (March 20, 2011). "Rashad Evans: I'm Done With Greg Jackson's Gym". MMA Fighting. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  10. ^ Fowlkes, Ben (April 4, 2012). "Ben Fowlkes: Jones and Evans, once training stablemates, ready for UFC 145 showdown". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  11. ^ Botter, Jeremy. "Rashad Evans Believes Greg Jackson Turned His Back on His Original Fighters". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  12. ^ "UFC Fight Night 87: Bad blood brewing between Alistair Overeem, Andrei Arlovski". www.sportingnews.com. May 8, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  13. ^ Cunningham, Cillian (August 30, 2018). "Donald Cerrone Blasts Longtime Gym Jackson-Wink MMA". Pundit Arena.
  14. ^ "Donald Cerrone's departure from Jackson-Wink indicates turning point in career". FanSided. August 31, 2018.
  15. ^ "Jon Jones banned from Jackson Wink MMA in wake of domestic violence arrest". MMA Junkie. October 13, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021.
  16. ^ "Adlan Amagov Finds a New Home at Welterweight | UFC". www.ufc.com. September 14, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  17. ^ "With Ali Bagautinov, Jackson-Winkeljohn camp embracing Dagestani surge into UFC". MMA Junkie. June 10, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Andrei Arlovski Has Full Support Of Jackson-Wink MMA For Overeem Fight". MMA News. May 5, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  19. ^ "The story of how Greg Jackson came to work with B.J. Penn, and what comes next". MMA Junkie. January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
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  23. ^ Fiedel, Michael (December 13, 2019). "Jackson Wink MMA to listen to naming rights offers in sponsorship bid". thebodylockmma.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  24. ^ "Derek Brunson plans return to Jackson-Winkeljohn camp after UFC 177 victory". MMA Junkie. August 31, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  25. ^ "Diego Sanchez leaves Jackson-Wink MMA ahead of UFC 239: 'There was no real love'". MMA Junkie. June 25, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  26. ^ Dundas, Chad (February 8, 2019). "Inside the Denver-area rec center that helped forge Donald Cerrone and other UFC stars". The Athletic. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  27. ^ Writer, Geoff Grammer | Journal Staff. "'Goyito' continues to climb the ranks". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  28. ^ Guillen, Adam Jr. (April 18, 2013). "Mir: Switch To Jackson's MMA Is Permanent". MMAmania.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  29. ^ Guillen, Adam Jr. (November 19, 2012). "Greg Jackson Won't Watch UFC 154 Title Fight". MMAmania.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  30. ^ "Randy Couture supportive of Gina Carano's trip to Jackson's MMA". MMA Junkie. April 15, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  31. ^ "Holly Holm passionately defends against critics of Jackson Wink MMA ahead of UFC 239". MMA Junkie. July 4, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  32. ^ "Training royalty Greg Jackson, veteran fighter Joe Stevenson assert coaching influence on TV's 'Kingdom'". MMA Junkie. June 1, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  33. ^ "John "The Magician" Dodson". April 23, 2012. Archived from the original on April 23, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
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  35. ^ "Jackson's Fight Team - Jackon's Fight Team". August 14, 2007. Archived from the original on August 14, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  36. ^ a b c Writer, Rick Wright | Journal Staff. "Albuquerque boasts a bevy of heavyweight players". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  37. ^ "UFC veteran Kyle Noke retires from MMA competition; social media reaction – Fight News Australia". November 28, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  38. ^ Writer, Rick Wright | Journal Staff. "Re-opening Acoma: Urso, Roberts team up". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
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  44. ^ MMAmania.com (May 5, 2008). "Roger Huerta to train with Greg Jackson camp". MMAmania.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  45. ^ Hobson, Elton. "Sarah Kaufman on Working with Greg Jackson and the Future of Women's MMA". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  46. ^ Noah (January 2, 2018). "Tara LaRosa vs. sexist internet troll, Krystopher Zylinski | This Saturday at 7 pm ET | Airing LIVE on FACEBOOK". WMMA RANKINGS. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  47. ^ "for the first time, a Tunisian joins Jackson Wink MMA". www.archysport.com. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  48. ^ Writer, Geoff Grammer | Journal Staff. "Kennedy eager for a UFC title shot". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  49. ^ "Yoshihiro Akiyama, Judoka & his ONE Championship journey". www.judoinside.com. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  50. ^ Tucker, Bryan (February 5, 2016). "World MMA Awards 2016 Results". MMA Fighting. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  51. ^ Chiappetta, Mike (November 30, 2011). "2011 World MMA Awards Results". MMA Fighting. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  52. ^ Mrosko, Geno (December 2, 2010). "2010 World MMA Awards Winners and Results". MMAmania.com. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  53. ^ a b Rhodes, Stephen (December 31, 2009). "2009 World MMA Awards - Official Results". Octagon Buzz. Archived from the original on February 17, 2020. Retrieved January 23, 2021.