Serra-Longo Fight Team

Serra-Longo Fight Team is a mixed martial arts team based on Long Island, New York that was formed by Matt Serra and Ray Longo. The team has two gyms operating under it, Serra BJJ Academy and Longo-Weidman MMA. It has produced three former UFC champions, Matt Serra (former UFC Welterweight Champion, Chris Weidman (former UFC Middleweight Champion), and Aljamain Sterling (former UFC Bantamweight Champion)

Serra-Longo Fight Team
Founded byMatt Serra
Ray Longo
Primary ownersMatt Serra
Ray Longo
Primary trainersMatt Serra
Ray Longo
Chris Weidman
Past titleholdersMatt Serra
Chris Weidman
Aljamain Sterling
Training facilitiesLong Island, New York, U.S.
WebsiteSerra BJJ Academy
Longo-Weidman MMA

Overview

When Matt Serra was 17, he met Ray Longo at Oishi Judo gym in New York City and the two became friends. Longo was an accountant who owned a gym and would train fighters at night. The two formed a team where Serra was an MMA fighter and Longo would act as the coach where he organized and provided all the resources needed to help Serra win his fights.[1][2][3] The crowning achievement of the team was in 2007 where Serra defeated Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69 in one of the biggest upsets to become UFC Welterweight Champion.[1][2][3]

The team has expanded in size and currently operates two gyms, Serra BJJ Academy and Longo-Weidman MMA.

Serra BJJ is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym founded by Matt Serra in 2001 and is currently based in Huntington, New York.[4][5] Serra acts as the head instructor sharing his experience as the first American to be awarded a Black Belt by Renzo Gracie and a 2001 ADCC Silver Medalist.[6]

Longo-Weidman MMA (LAW MMA) is a mixed martial arts gym based in Garden City, New York and is currently owned by Ray Longo and Chris Weidman. Previously named Ray Longo's International Martial Arts Academy, it was originally founded in 1990[7] by Longo. Longo is the head instructor. He is a certified instructor of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kun Do Concepts[8] and focuses mainly on the striking aspect. Chris Weidman is a Former UFC Middleweight Champion who was also coached by Longo to defeat Anderson Silva in an upset at UFC 162 in 2013.[9]

Notable fighters

See also

References

  1. "LI's Ray Longo is the ultimate trainer". Newsday. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  2. ago, Matthew Wells 1 year (2019-08-08). "Top 20 MMA coaches of all time". FanSided. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  3. "Matt Serra reflects on Hall of Fame career, life after fighting". ESPN.com. 2018-06-26. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  4. "Contact Us". Serra BJJ Academy. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  5. "Matt Serra's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Moves to Levittown". East Meadow, NY Patch. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  6. Says, Myself. "Matt Serra | BJJ Heroes". Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  7. "Find MMA Gyms - Ray Longo's International Mixed Martial Arts Academy (IMMA)". Find MMA Gyms. 2009-03-13. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  8. Thomas, Luke (2014-01-12). "Technique Talk: Longo, leg kicks & 'Destructions'". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  9. "Ray Longo: Architect of Destruction | UFC". www.ufc.com. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  10. Sherdog.com. "Sherdog Prospect Watch: Chris Weidman". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  11. "How the 'Dog Pound' helped Aljo prepare for UFC 250". Newsday. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  12. "Al Iaquinta: More Dangerous Than Ever | UFC". www.ufc.com. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  13. "Itsuki Hirata Discusses Preparations For Lin Heqin". Combat Press. August 15, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  14. ""I drive myself and be limitless too" - Itsuki Hirata gets boost after training in New York". Sportskeeda. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  15. Pearson, Andrew (2017-07-22). "Cummins Splits Villante On LI, But His Face Pays The Price". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  16. "Merab Dvalishvili brings his country's fighting spirit to ROC 58 | Lou Neglia's Ring of Combat | Next Generation of Mixed Martial Arts!". Merab Dvalishvili brings his country’s fighting spirit to ROC 58 | Lou Neglia's Ring of Combat | Next Generation of Mixed Martial Arts!. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  17. "LI's Frevola looks to make most of UFC opportunity". Newsday. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  18. "Buzukja, fresh off pro debut, fighting again at ROC 66". Newsday. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  19. "LI's Gordon thanks Serra-Longo for success". Newsday. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  20. "Fight Coach: Pete "Drago" Sell". NewYorkFighting.com. 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  21. "Mizuki Inoue hopes her decision to move to New York will pay off at UFC on ESPN 15 | Asian MMA". AsianMMA. 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2021-01-29.
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