Issue 046
February 2009
Most prefer to stay out of the spotlight, allowing their fighters to soak up the adulation and applause, but the coach is an extremely important figure and of the many out there, a handful stand out as truly remarkable. We profile seven of the leading figures from behind the scenes.
Mark Dellagrotte
Boston, Massachusetts
IN BRIEF: The flat-capped fight trainer is as notable for his spectacles and Boston twang as he is for his game plans.
BACKGROUND: A former Thai-boxer, DellaGrotte lived in Thailand and learnt the language before coming back to the US to found Sityodtong.
THE GOODS: Masterful knowledge of Muay Thai, one of the best coaches for striking in MMA.
NOTABLE FIGHTERS: Kenny Florian, Marcus Davis, Jorge Rivera, Patrick Cote, Stephan Bonnar, and more.
CHAMPIONS PRODUCED: No major titles belong to Sityodtong just yet, but many feel that Florian is closest to BJ Penn’s UFC lightweight title.
Pat Miletich
Bettendorf, Iowa
IN BRIEF: A grizzly veteran known for the tough-as-nails competitors who fight for him. Lends his name to the world-famous Miletich Fighting Systems (MFS).
BACKGROUND: A wrestler and kickboxer before entering MMA, he was the first UFC lightweight champion and is also a former UFC Welterweight champ.
THE GOODS: You name it, he’s done it. His fighters have complete trust in what he tells them as they know it’s battle-tested.
NOTABLE FIGHTERS: Tim Sylvia, Matt Hughes, Jens Pulver, Jeremy Horn, Spencer Fisher, Ben Rothwell.
CHAMPIONS PRODUCED: MFS are among the real powerhouses in the sport. They’ve held four of the five UFC belts at one time or another.
Greg Jackson
Albuquerque, New Mexico
IN BRIEF: A self-taught martial artist-turned-guru to many MMA fighters. Nicknamed ‘Yoda’ by his charges.
BACKGROUND: Coming from a family of wrestlers, Jackson was a street fighter who found his own system of martial arts worked well for MMA.
THE GOODS: An uncanny ability to devise game plans that work, Jackson is a cerebral coach who trains fighters holistically.
NOTABLE FIGHTERS: Georges St Pierre, Rashad Evans, Keith Jardine, Nate Marquardt, Joey Villasenor, Julie Kedzie.
CHAMPIONS PRODUCED: GSP holds the UFC welterweight strap, while Evans will have fought Forrest for the 205lb title.
Shawn Tompkins
Las Vegas, Nevada
IN BRIEF: A world-class kickboxer-turned-MMA coach, Tompkins is extremely sought after and works out of Xtreme Couture.
BACKGROUND: An excellent striker, Tompkins tried his hand in MMA in 2000 and 2001, but found success as a trainer instead.
THE GOODS: He provides strategy advice before fights, has sharpened up the hands and feet of top MMA fighters (including Wanderlei Silva), and is an excellent cornerman.
NOTABLE FIGHTERS: List almost any Xtreme Couture fighter and he’s cornered them. Worked from the off-set with fighters such as Horodecki, Hominick, and Sam Stout.
CHAMPIONS PRODUCED: Tompkins’s fighters have picked up numerous titles in smaller promotions, but major awards elude him so far.
Matt Hume
Seattle, Washington
IN BRIEF: An authority on the sport in more ways than one, Hume is a legendary coach to many MMA fighters.
BACKGROUND: Active in MMA since the early 1990s, Hume fought in events such as Pancrase before becoming Pride’s technical director and official coach.
THE GOODS: An encyclopaedic knowledge of techniques in every range, Hume even coined the term Pankration to describe his style, paying homage to the ancient Greek game.
NOTABLE FIGHTERS: Hume has worked with everyone from Rich Franklin to Hayato Sakurai, and from Chris Leben to Josh Barnett.
CHAMPIONS PRODUCED: Hume took Josh Barnett from a 300lb kid, who had never done any sport, to the UFC heavyweight champion of the world.
Greg Nelson
Minnesota
IN BRIEF: The trainer to visit if you’re a freestyle wrestler looking to make it big in MMA.
BACKGROUND: Former NCAA Division 1 wrestler, he imparts the teachings and philosophies of traditional martial arts, with an emphasis on real fighting ability and conditioning.
THE GOODS: Is able to shape those under him into awesome fighting machines thanks to his blend of extreme physical conditioning.
NOTABLE FIGHTERS: Most notably, Nelson was responsible for making Sean Sherk and Brock Lesnar into the wrecking machines they are.
CHAMPIONS PRODUCED: Lesnar (UFC heavyweight champ) and Sherk (former UFC lightweight champ).
Dave Jackson
Warrington, England
IN BRIEF: A Muay Thai coach recruited by the Wolfslair to train their fighters in the ‘Science of the Eight Limbs’.
BACKGROUND: With 30 years of Muay Thai under his belt, Jackson produced champions in the sport before entering the world of MMA.
THE GOODS: An excellent coach on the finer points of kicking, he claims he can double any fighter’s kicking power in mere hours.
NOTABLE FIGHTERS: Michael Bisping, Cheick Kongo, and Quinton Jackson have all sought his services as a padman and coach.
CHAMPIONS PRODUCED: His fighters are performing well in the Octagon, but none have won any major belts – yet!
