Sayif Saud- Fortis MMA
Buildiling an empire down in Dallas, Texas is former Bodybuilder & former Jacksonwink MMA Coach Sayif Saud. In my opinion one of the most underrated Head Coaches today.
2013, 2022 Fortis MMA won gym of the year while Sayif Saud has several Coach of the Year nominations. Currently coaching more than twenty UFC fighters leading several of his students to top 15 rankings.
Coaching fighters to have that “Go for the KILL” fight for finishes style. Lead to one of his top fighters Geoff Neal becoming #10 UFC Welterweight and recent student Brandon Moreno winning UFC Flyweight title in 2022.
“People want to see violence, they want to see finishes, they want to see explosiveness and that’s it. So that’s just how we train, that’s how we prepare and that’s our mindset. Go forward kill, kill, kill and win. That’s it.” Sayif Saud https://www.ufcespanol.com/news/secret-fortis-mmas-success?language_content_entity=en
With recent success of Fortis MMA talented athletes from the Southwest region began training here such as All-American wrestlers Kyle Crutchmer, Nick Piccininni, Jacobe Smith leading 3rd generation of future UFC/PFL top fighters.
- Brandon Moreno
- Geoff Neal
- Diego Ferreira
- Alex Morono
- Alonzo Menifield
Christian Allen- Elevation Fight Team
Down in the beautiful city of Aurora, Colorado is home to a bunch of elite killers at Elevation Fight Team. Coaching the world class fighters is former MMA fighter turned Head Coach Christian Allen.
Work goes unnoticed as he built a 17 year old innocent looking former Basketball player into future UFC Bantamweight Champion. Transformed Cory Sandhagen to complete killer watching the mindset change post Sterling loss. Coaching the “Sandman” to psychedelic experience performance against Marlon Vera than turning into wrestler against Rob Font. Christian Allen done fantastic job.
Christian Allen coaches also Heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes coming off great win against grappler Jailton Almeida, Blaydes is just one or two fights away finally fighting for Heavyweight title. Coaches former top 15 Welterweight Neil Magny, former top 15 Lightweight Drew Dober.
Key fighters in next group of Elevation Fight Team fighters is rising Lightweight prospect Chepe Mariscal undefeated 3-0 UFC record & Muhammad Naimov 3-0 UFC record.
Any talented Denver Mountain region wrestler, High School athlete with MMA goals or Combat sport champion recommend traveling down to Elevation Fight Team Cory Sandhagen
- Cory Sandhagen
- Curtis Blaydes
- Neil Magny
- Chepe Mariscal
- Rafa Garcia
John Crouch- MMA LAB
My opinion one of the most underrated MMA Head Coaches in the world runs MMA Lab down in Glendale, Arizona. John Crouch owner/Head Coach been in the coaching game since 2007.
Coached Benson Henderson to greatness becoming WEC/UFC Lightweight Champion and well-rounded fighter from the superb Taekwondo, great submission and wrestling ability. Just like John Crouch, Benson Henderson one of the most underrated MMA fighters.
“From being a band nerd to teaching the toughest guys in the world, but I think it’s all a part of the same thing. I found something that I really liked to do and I invested my time and my heart in it and it has turned out really well.” John Crouch https://www.ufc.com/news/john-crouch-band-nerd-black-belt?language_content_entity=en
Benson Henderson the main face of MMA Lab but there are many other high caliber fighters like Jared Cannonier who vastly improved from slimming down to Middleweight become UFC Middleweight Title Challenger defeating Sean Strickland & Marvin Vettori. Credit to Coach Crouch from building Cannonier from this “tough” Heavyweight to become
Deep stable of Bantamweight talent from future title contenders Mario Bautista and Kyler Phillips as both looked excellent lately especially Kyler Phillips, his incredible striking performance win against Pedro Munhoz was his coming out party. I remember Kyler from Ultimate Fighter and tough fighter but I was so impressed with the clear improvements in his game.
- Jared Cannonier
- Mario Bautista
- Kyler Phillips
- Drakkar Klose
John Marquez- Marquez MMA
Down in the blue collar gritty tough city of Philadelphia home of the Eagles, 76ers and winning MMA gym Marquez MMA. John Marquez and co-owner Daniel Gracie leads the team to promise as he’s been jumping on the coaching radar for the last few years.
Help of rising Welterweight talent Sean Brady and future Middleweight star Joe Pyfer gave Marquez MMA boost in notoriety. Both of them are future title Challengers.
Coach John Marquez created a great positive hard working environment in this “small” gym in Philly. Building fighters that are ready for the UFC because of the hard training and tough match-ups in the regional scene.
Sean Brady dealt with tough loss against Belal Muhammad but credit to John Marquez and his great coaching staff for building his confidence back up. Great bounce back win against Kelvin Gastelum in master submission grappling performance. On the other hand Joe Pyfer dealt with decision loss against veteran Jack Hermansson. However because of Pyfer’s mindset and gym culture he’ll be ready for Marc Andre-Barriault.
Any tough minded blue collar athlete with aspirations of becoming MMA fighter, College wrestler in Pennyslvania or Philly area or combat sport athlete sign up for classes at Marquez MMA.
- Sean Brady
- Joe Pyfer
- Pat Sabatini
- Andre Petroski
Diego Lima- Chute Boxe Diego Lima
Chute Boxe during it’s prime was one of the best gyms in the world with Wanderlei Silva, Shogun Rua, Murilo Rua, Gabriel Gonzaga, Anderson Silva till 2003. Everyone went there separate ways starting there own gyms but now Chute Boxe is having a rebirth under Diego Lima.
Current version of Wanderlei Silva in another form is Charles Oliviera. Craziest turn around of all- time from being this “Gatekeeper” fighter, claims of quitting to transform into Brazilian assassin. Becoming UFC Lightweight Champion. Started with leaving Macaco Gold Team in 2018 and heading over to Chute Boxe Diego Lima.
- Charles Oliviera
- Ian Garry
- Allan Nascimento
- Elves Brener
- Felipe Efrain
- Felipe Dos Santos
Besides one of the best fighters in Charles Oliviera there’s former Kill Cliff FC fighter Ian Garry traveling down to Chute Boxe Diego Lima might be decision he’ll ever make in his MMA career, moving away from the noise and completely focusing on his UFC career. Ian Garry has all the talent to become Welterweight Champion but Diego Lima can help fine tune his fighting skills and mentality.
“He’s a role model of a man, his family is wonderful. He’s welcomed us really well. He has a gigantic heart. Ian Garry is a family man and you see the love he has for his wife and son. It’s beautiful to see.” said Coach Diego Lima https://www.mmafighting.com/2024/2/17/24074737/coach-diego-lima-ian-machado-garry-ufc-298-champion
One of Coach Lima’s students is UFC Prospect to Watch Elves Brener. Undefeated 2023 season put his name on the map defeating respectable Lightweight opponents & being the main training partner of Charles Oliviera. Watch out for Brener to rise through Lightweight rankings and finish the year in the top 15.
New era of Brazil MMA right now as few years ago the talent was in dissaray with champions from Russia, Eastern Europe, Oceania but now will see Brazilian gyms like Chute Boxe start breeding champions…
Missed the cut
- Andreas Michael – Khamzat Chimaev, Josefine Knutsson (Allstars Training Center)
- Dave Lovell – Leon Edwards, Fabian Edwards (Team Renegade)
- Yves Edwards – Raufeon Stots, Adrian Yanez, Paris Moran, Cameron Smotherman (Heritage Muay Thai)
- Mike Valle – Belal Muhammad, Yair Rodriguez, Juliana Pena (Valle Flow Striking)
- Jake Shields – Patchy Mix, Basharat Brothers, Cobey Fehr (Xtreme Couture)
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