If you’re involved in the sport of MMA, then you know the name Greg Jackson. Whether you’re a novice fan or a die hard supporter, there is always one coach that stands alone.
After watching the debut of Bellator’s new reality show, Fight Master, it got me thinking how good of a coach Jackson really is and how a fighter under his tutelage could really drive forward. Some fighters have that edge but never get the right teachers to help, while others have it but need the guidance and wisdom from a great coach.
Jackson has had a plethora of top fighters under his wing. He has made champs out of GSP, Jon Jones, and Nate Marquardt (Strikeforce). He has also made warriors out of Carlos Condit, Donald Cerrone, Diego Brandao and has top guys like Rory MacDonald and Erik Perez on the rise.
Jackson is the best coach out there, but some guys went their own direction at one point in time, and those fighters were never the same. Even the best coach, can’t make you the best figher. A coach is there to help you, they are not there to fight for you. If you don’t listen to your coach, then a loss could be slowly approaching your record. Let’s talk about the fighters that should have stayed with Jackson.
~ Brian Stann ~
Brian Stann (12-6 MMA) is a kickboxer with dangerous striking. In his 6 losses, only two of them have been by way of submission. Some feel that is Stann’s weakness. When you become a one dimensional fighter like Stann, that’s when fighters are able to use your strengths against you.
Stann got knocked out in his last fight against Wanderlei Silva because he didn’t listen to his coaches and follow the gameplan. Instead, Stann just stood in front of one of the most dangerous strikers in all mma and got put to sleep.
I understand he wanted to put on a show for the fans, but standing in the pocket with “The Ax Murderer” wasn’t the smartest thing to do. I guarantee that is not what Jackson and company trained Stann to do. Stann trains in all aspects of the sport, so maybe he should use what he learned at Jackson’s camp.
~ Shane Carwin ~
Shane Carwin (12-2 MMA) at one point was hyped up to be “the next big thing.” The problem with Carwin was his injuries and his cardio. He was a dangerous striker that could and did end all his fights early. His coaches always told him to not be so aggressive in the beginning in case he had to go into deep waters.
Carwin was 12-0 with 12 first round finishes. His last two fights were losses that made it out of the 1st round. Carwin was so close at becoming the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion in a fight with Brock Lesnar, but didn’t listen to his coaches. He had the champ hurt, and as his coaches were yelling to slow down, he continued to pummel on Lesnar resulting in all the blood running down his arms.
He would then get choked out by Lesnar in the second round. Your coaches are in your corner for a reason.
~ Clay Guida ~
Guida (30-13 MMA) is a warrior and always follows his game-plan to the tee. That is exactly why he has made this list. Sometimes only listening to your coaches can be a bad thing, you need to fight as well. Guida always brings the fight to you and puts on the pressure.
I have no idea why the game-plan against Gray Maynard displayed the exact opposite Guida came in to that fight and literally ran away for every minute of every round.
It is called a fight, not a dance competition. Guida lost a split decision, and then left the lightweight division in general. Do what you do and fight, running gets you nowhere in the octagon, whether it was your choice or your coaches.
~ Rashad Evans ~
Evans (18-3-1 MMA) at one point in time was one of Jackson’s best fighters. Evans showed his true colors when he told Jones to take his title shot, then betrayed him and his camp in an interview. Evans is one of the biggest two-faced fighters in the UFC, and he is all about himself.
Jackson’s camp taught him a lot and made him a dangerous fighter. The problem was, they couldn’t teach him loyalty because he never had it to begin with. A camp is just that, a camp. I understand that you need to look out for your best interests, but Evans wanted all the coaches focused on him and no one else.
“When you get to a certain point, you really need a lot of time (with the coaches)… make sure you get the one-on-one, and you just need different things. After being at Jackson’s for a while, with so many people at the gym, it just got harder and harder for me to get that time,” said Evans in an interview.
Since Evans departure, he hasn’t looked like the “Suga” that entered Jackson’s camp.
~ Melvin Guillard ~
When Guillard (30-12-2) first showed up on the scene, he was known as a very dangerous striker with a cocky attitude. Fighters disliked him as well as the fans. Guillard would then later join the Jackson’s camp and it seemed like a new fighter was being born.
His attitude was different, his game-plan was changed for the better, and he looked more focused. He actually looked like a future champion. Guillard won 5 straight fights and looked to have his submission defense under control.
He would then choose to go another direction resulting in him losing 4 of his last 5 fights, two of them via first round submission. If Guillard would have stayed with Jackson’s camp, he could have beaten guys like Joe Lauzon and Jim Miller. Jackson doesn’t make the man, but he does help mold him into a champion.
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