Jackson Wink MMA Academy

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]

Jackson Wink MMA Academy
Est.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

History
Gaidojutsu
FocusHybrid
HardnessFull-contact
Country of originUnited States
CreatorGreg Jackson
Mike Winkeljohn
ParenthoodMuay Thai, 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[49]
  • 2011 Coach of the Year: Greg Jackson[50]
  • 2010 Coach of the Year: Greg Jackson[51]
  • 2009 Gym of the Year[52]
  • 2009 Coach of the Year: Greg Jackson[52]

See also

References
  1. Contreras, Russell. "AP Exclusive: Jackson Wink MMA Academy offers naming rights". apnews.com. AP News. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  2. Romero, Caroline (2019-08-29). "Gym Series: Jackson Wink Academy has secret recipe for creating world's best fighters". THE SCRAP. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  3. Writer, Rick Wright | Journal Staff. "MMA: Coaching team has it all covered". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  4. "Mike Winkeljohn - Jackson Wink MMA". Overtime Heroics. 16 June 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  5. "AP Exclusive: Jackson Wink MMA Academy offers naming rights". AP NEWS. 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  6. "Jackson Wink Academy to sell naming rights". ESPN.com. 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  7. "Jackson Wink MMA Academy to offer fans 'travel workouts'". AP NEWS. 2019-12-25. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  8. "Jackson Wink MMA Academy adjusts training amid COVID-19". AP News. 2020-03-13. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  9. Helwani, Ariel (2011-03-20). "Rashad Evans: I'm Done With Greg Jackson's Gym". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  10. Fowlkes, Ben. "Ben Fowlkes: Jones and Evans, once training stablemates, ready for UFC 145 showdown". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  11. Botter, Jeremy. "Rashad Evans Believes Greg Jackson Turned His Back on His Original Fighters". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  12. "UFC Fight Night 87: Bad blood brewing between Alistair Overeem, Andrei Arlovski". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  13. Cunningham, Cillian (30 August 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. 31 August 2018.
  15. "Jon Jones banned from Jackson Wink MMA in wake of domestic violence arrest". MMA Junkie. 2021-10-13. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  16. "Adlan Amagov Finds a New Home at Welterweight | UFC". www.ufc.com. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  17. "With Ali Bagautinov, Jackson-Winkeljohn camp embracing Dagestani surge into UFC". MMA Junkie. 2014-06-10. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  18. "Andrei Arlovski Has Full Support Of Jackson-Wink MMA For Overeem Fight". MMA News. 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  19. "The story of how Greg Jackson came to work with B.J. Penn, and what comes next". MMA Junkie. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  20. "Former WEC champion Carlos Condit returns to New Mexico, training at Jackson's MMA". MMA Junkie. 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  21. Newswire, MMA Fighting (2020-12-06). "Video: Flying knees, high kicks and wrestling: Claressa Shields joins Jackson Wink MMA". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  22. Guillen, Adam Jr. (2015-03-19). "See Ya! Guida Leaves Jackson's MMA". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  23. Fiedel, Michael (13 December 2019). "Jackson Wink MMA to listen to naming rights offers in sponsorship bid". thebodylockmma.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  24. "Derek Brunson plans return to Jackson-Winkeljohn camp after UFC 177 victory". MMA Junkie. 2014-08-31. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  25. "Diego Sanchez leaves Jackson-Wink MMA ahead of UFC 239: 'There was no real love'". MMA Junkie. 2019-06-25. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  26. Dundas, Chad. "Inside the Denver-area rec center that helped forge Donald Cerrone and other UFC stars". The Athletic. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  27. Writer, Geoff Grammer | Journal Staff. "'Goyito' continues to climb the ranks". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  28. Guillen, Adam Jr. (2013-04-18). "Mir: Switch To Jackson's MMA Is Permanent". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  29. Guillen, Adam Jr. (2012-11-19). "Greg Jackson Won't Watch UFC 154 Title Fight". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  30. "Randy Couture supportive of Gina Carano's trip to Jackson's MMA". MMA Junkie. 2011-04-15. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  31. "Holly Holm passionately defends against critics of Jackson Wink MMA ahead of UFC 239". MMA Junkie. 2019-07-04. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  32. "Training royalty Greg Jackson, veteran fighter Joe Stevenson assert coaching influence on TV's 'Kingdom'". MMA Junkie. 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  33. "John "The Magician" Dodson". 2012-04-23. Archived from the original on 2012-04-23. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  34. Bock, Tim. "Jon Jones Joins Greg Jackson's MMA Team: No "Bones" About It". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  35. "Jackson's Fight Team - Jackon's Fight Team". 2007-08-14. Archived from the original on 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  36. Writer, Rick Wright | Journal Staff. "Albuquerque boasts a bevy of heavyweight players". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  37. "UFC veteran Kyle Noke retires from MMA competition; social media reaction – Fight News Australia". Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  38. Writer, Rick Wright | Journal Staff. "Re-opening Acoma: Urso, Roberts team up". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  39. Sherdog.com. "Leonard Garcia, Diego Sanchez Exchange Words Over Recent Jackson-Wink Drama". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  40. "Michelle Waterson Comments On "Cowboy" Beef With Jackson-Wink". MMA News. 2018-10-02. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  41. Homistek, Hunter. "MMA: Power Ranking the Top Fighters at Jackson MMA". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  42. "Omari Akhmedov's Hard Work is Paying Off | UFC". www.ufc.com. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  43. Botter, Jeremy. "Rashad Evans Believes Greg Jackson Turned His Back on His Original Fighters". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  44. MMAmania.com (2008-05-05). "Roger Huerta to train with Greg Jackson camp". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  45. Hobson, Elton. "Sarah Kaufman on Working with Greg Jackson and the Future of Women's MMA". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  46. Noah (2018-01-02). "Tara LaRosa vs. sexist internet troll, Krystopher Zylinski | This Saturday at 7pm ET | Airing LIVE on FACEBOOK". WMMA RANKINGS. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  47. Writer, Geoff Grammer | Journal Staff. "Kennedy eager for a UFC title shot". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  48. "Yoshihiro Akiyama, Judoka & his ONE Championship journey". www.judoinside.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  49. Tucker, Bryan (2016-02-05). "World MMA Awards 2016 Results". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  50. Chiappetta, Mike (2011-11-30). "2011 World MMA Awards Results". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  51. Mrosko, Geno (2010-12-02). "2010 World MMA Awards Winners and Results". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  52. Rhodes, Stephen (2009-12-31). "2009 World MMA Awards - Official Results". Octagon Buzz. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
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