Looking back to the days of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Lennox Lewis, it appeared that boxing’s stranglehold on combat sports would never cease. However, thanks to the UFC and Dana White, the organization is often heralded as creating events and fights that capture the public imagination – with plenty of PPVs surpassing boxing.
Boxing hasn’t helped itself due to poor matchups and promoter’s ego trips stopping them from making the best fights. As the monolith and pilot of the UFC’s destiny and direction, Dana White has created a colossal company that generates over $1 billion annually. Dana’s drive, determination, and relentless work ethic have spearheaded their crossover into the mainstream.
It would be unfair to say all he does is work. He has been known to enjoy his downtime, especially considering he’s a big blackjack fan. Dana has probably frequented every Las Vegas casino and is no stranger to an online casino or two. However, like many great dynasties, empires, or corporations, the parts are often more significant than the one individual.
Without academies like Jackson Wink providing a conveyer belt of top cage fighting talent, Dana may not have found the level of success he enjoys with his organization. Today we will examine how many champions have emerged from the Jackson Wink Academy and why it is such a proven and reputable name in combat sports.
The Origins of Jackson Wink Academy & Rise to Fame
When Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn started their Academy over thirty years ago in Albuquerque, New Mexico, it acted as a base for mixed martial artists interested in combining wrestling, Muay Thai, and Judo to improve their health, well-being, and self-defense skills.
Following the success of homegrown champion Diego Sanchez in 2005, other fighters wanted to learn the formula and train in a gym that created UFC champions. Following on from this initial success, Jackson now has multiple trainer and gym of the year awards in his cabinet thanks to the phenomenal success of his Academy. Over 30 professional fighters have used the gym – including boxers such as legendary female world champion and 2x Olympic gold medallist Claressa Shields.
Jon Bon Jones & Georges St-Pierre
Several world champions and notable stars of UFC have trained at the Jackson Wink MMA Academy. Jon Jones, the current pound-for-pound number one in the UFC, is the most notable inclusion. Jones is a legendary fighter but has multiple issues outside the cage, culminating in a ban from the Academy and a strained relationship with his former coach.
Despite his behavior outside of the Octagon, nobody can doubt his achievements inside of it. He is one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time. Many believe he is the greatest to step foot in the cage, period. Although some believe Georges St-Pierre, the Canadian who also trained at the Academy, is the greatest of all time, the fact that two fighters from the same gym are both in contention shows the level of excellence the legendary Albuquerque gym exudes.
Other World Champions
Jackson Wink MMA Academy played a significant role in creating Jon Jones and GSP’s legacies. While they are the biggest and most successful UFC names that have passed through the gym doors, they are not the only two. Other huge names won UFC titles, too, including
- Carlos Conduit
- BJ Penn
- Andrei Arlovski
- Rashad Evans
- Holly Holm
- Frank Mir
With such a distinguished list of elite-level athletes, it’s no surprise that Jackson Wink is often cited as the premium gym for fighters. However, few gyms in the world can hold a candle to the continued success of the Jackson Wink Academy, which fighters unanimously agree on.
There are a few criticisms leveled at the gym. The most notable and high-profile was from an emotional and disappointed Jon Jones following his exclusion. However, another negative that some fighters and analysts have highlighted is that because of the number of high-quality fighters that train at the gym, there has been a crossover in fighters facing each other in the professional ranks.
Although the gym often puts plans in place to mitigate these types of altercations and clashes due to its depth and range of talent, many instances have caused friction amongst UFC stars.
The Bottom Line
With over two dozen notable combat athletes using the Jackson Wink MMA Academy services, the overall legacy of the base has helped project Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn to international fame. Their hard work and dedication continue to inspire combat athletes worldwide, and the facts speak for themselves.
Seven UFC champions, even more, world-title challengers, and a handful of fighters who enter the conversation as the greatest in the sport’s history. That’s one of the best examples of a success story you’ll likely find anywhere in international combat sports.
