Jackson Wink MMA Academy (formerly known as Jackson's Submission Fighting) is a

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...

gym based in

Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...

. The gym has been featured in several sports documentaries and has been called one of the best MMA gyms in the world by various MMA magazines.

History

In 1992, after graduating from

Rio Grande High School Rio Grande High School is a public high school located in the south valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Albuquerque Public Schools system. Athletics RGHS competes in the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA), ...

, Greg Jackson founded his own martial art, Gaidojutsu, which combines rudimentary techniques from

catch wrestling Catch wrestling (also known as catch-as-catch-can) is an English wrestling style where wrestlers aim to win by Pin (sport wrestling), pinning or Submission (combat sports), submitting their opponent using any legal holds or techniques. It emph ...

and

Muay Thai Muay Thai or Muaythai (, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs or the Science of Eight Limbs, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinch fighting, cl ...

with basic

judo is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, combat sport, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyc ...

locks. His school officially turned into an MMA school in 2000. The gym started gaining notoriety when

Diego Sanchez Diego Sanchez (born December 31, 1981) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes on the Super Lightweight division of Eagle Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2002, Sanchez is most known for his ...

won the first Ultimate Fighter in 2005. In 2007 Jackson teamed up with long time friend and collaborator, and fellow martial artist, Mike Winkeljohn to create the academy as it stands today. Winkeljohn is former professional kickboxer with a record of 25–7–2 who captured two

International Sport Karate Association The ISKA (originally International Sport Karate Association, later also called the International Sport Kickboxing Association) is international bodies regulating sport karate and kickboxing matches. It is based in the United States. It was es ...

Championships and one

world title. In December 2019, Jackson and Winklejohn announced they would begin entertaining naming rights offers for their training facility Albuquerque, New Mexico however a price wasn't given. Jackson also announced they will begin offering mixed martial arts fans a chance to travel to Albuquerque, New Mexico and train like his gym's fighters. He said prices for personalized MMA packages would vary and stays could last a week to two weeks at a time. Due to

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

, in March 2020, Jackson Wink MMA Academy announced it would be adjusting its training. This includes moving to "more striking-based training" to curtail contact among fighters as well as preventing anyone who was sick or may have had exposure to COVID-19 from training at the facility.

Incidents

Fighters

Due to the large size of the gym, there have been occasions where fighters would be booked to fight against each other professionally. This has caused internal conflicts within the gym. In March 2011,

Rashad Evans Rashad Evans (born September 25, 1979) is an American retired mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who competed in the Light Heavyweight (MMA), Light Heavyweight division. Evans started his professional MMA career in 2003, and was the Heavyw ...

announced that he was done training at Jackson-Wink MMA Academy. Originally, Evans was slated to fight

Maurício Rua Maurício Milani Rua (; born 25 November 1981), also known as Shogun, is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist. He competed in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Light H ...

for the UFC Light Heavyweight title at

UFC 128 ''UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones'' was a mixed martial arts pay-per-view event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 19, 2011, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Background This event was expected to take place in Abu Dhab ...

. However Evans injured his knee during training and was replaced by

Jon Jones Jonathan Dwight Jones (born July 19, 1987) is an American professional mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight (MMA), Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the ...

, who was from the same gym and would eventually go on to defeat Rua to win the title. When Evans and Jones were slated to fight, the gym decided to side with Jones and corner him at

UFC 145 ''UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It was the 9th UFC event of the year, and took place on April 21, 2012 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. Background The event was init ...

. Evans considered this as the gym turning its back on its older fighters in favor of younger ones. Evans would eventually move to the

Blackzilians The Blackzilians was a professional team of fighters in mixed martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, amateur wrestling and catch wrestling located in South Florida. The team had included former UFC champions Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, Eddie Alvarez ...

. In August 2018,

Donald Cerrone Donald Anthony Cerrone (born March 29, 1983), known professionally by his nickname "Cowboy", is an American former professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and actor. He competed in the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions of the Ultima ...

left Jackson-Wink MMA Academy to open his own training center on his ranch. It all came after Cerrone was signed to fight his fellow welterweight, Mike Perry, who was a newcomer to the same gym. Cerrone requested that his coaches solely focus on him due to his long-standing status as a Jackson-Wink fighter. However, according to Cerrone on The

Joe Rogan Experience ''The Joe Rogan Experience'' is a podcast hosted by American comedian, presenter, and UFC color commentator Joe Rogan. It was initiated on December 24, 2009, on YouTube by Rogan and comedian Brian Redban, who was its sole co-host and producer ...

podcast, Winklejohn told him the gym decided to side with Perry which angered Cerrone. Cerrone went on to criticize the modern-day Jackson-Wink MMA Academy, citing problems he has with the day-to-day running of the gym as one of the reasons behind his decision to open his own training center on his ranch – something he also feels caused increased tension. Other examples include

Georges St-Pierre Georges St-Pierre (; born May 19, 1981), also known by his initials GSP, is a Canadian former professional mixed martial artist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA) history. St-Pierre was a two-divi ...

defending his title against

Carlos Condit Carlos Joseph Condit (born April 26, 1984) is an American former professional mixed martial artist. He previously competed in the Welterweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Interim UFC Welterweight Ch ...

, as well as

Andrei Arlovski Andrei Arlovski (, born 4 February 1979) is a Belarusian-American professional mixed martial artist and actor. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion, he competed in the heavyweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and holds th ...

being booked to fight against

Alistair Overeem Alistair Cees Overeem (born 17 May 1980) is a Dutch former professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is a former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and was the first fight ...

. In October 2021, Jon Jones was banned from the Jackson Wink MMA Academy as a result of his arrest stemming from domestic violence against his fiancée.

Notable fighters

(Bold denotes current and past UFC champions) *

Adlan Amagov Adlan Mairbekovich Amagov (; born 30 October 1986) is a Russian former mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist and kickboxing, kickboxer who most recently competed in the Welterweight (MMA), welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Champ ...

(UFC) *

Ali Bagautinov Ali Shamilevich Bagautinov (; born June 10, 1985) is a Russian former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who competed in the Flyweight (MMA), Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Combat Sambo caree ...

(UFC) - Former UFC Flyweight Title Challenger *

(UFC) - Former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, 2010 K-1 Grand Prix Champion *

(UFC) - Former UFC 2-Time Heavyweight Champion * B.J. Penn (UFC)- Former UFC Lightweight Champion and UFC Welterweight Champion *

(UFC) - Former Welterweight Title Contender and Challenger, Former UFC Interim Welterweight Champion, Former WEC Welterweight Champion *

Claressa Shields Claressa Maria Shields (born March 17, 1995) is an American professional boxer and former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. She has held multiple world championships in Quintuple champion#Boxing, five weight classes, includi ...

(PFL) - Two time Olympic Boxing Gold Medalist, undisputed boxing female middleweight champion from 2019 to September 2020 *

Clay Guida Clayton Charles Guida (; born December 8, 1981) is an American professional mixed martial artist, who competed in the UFC in the Lightweight division. A professional since 2003, Guida also formerly competed for Strikeforce, the WEC, King of the ...

(UFC) - Former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion *

Cub Swanson Kevin Luke "Cub" Swanson (born November 2, 1983) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight (MMA), Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2004, S ...

(UFC) *

Derek Brunson Derek T. Brunson (born January 4, 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Light heavyweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). He is most notable for his 21 fight tenure in the Ultimate Fightin ...

(UFC) *

(UFC) - UFC Lightweight Title Challenger, TUF 1 Middleweight Winner *

(UFC) - Former WEC Lightweight Title Challenger * Erik Perez (UFC) *

Frank Mir Francisco Santos Miranda III (; born May 24, 1979), is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division. He competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for sixteen years, and Bellator MMA. A former UFC Heavywe ...

(UFC)- Former UFC Heavyweight Champion *

(UFC) - Former UFC Welterweight and Middleweight Champion, 10 title defenses *

Gina Carano Gina Joy Carano (born April 16, 1982) is an American actress and former Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. She competed in Elite Xtreme Combat and Strikeforce (mixed martial arts), Strikeforce from 2006 to 2009, where she compiled a 7– ...

(Strikeforce) *

Holly Holm Holly Rene Holm (born October 17, 1981) is an American professional boxer and former mixed martial artist. She previously competed in the women's Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is a former Women's ...

(UFC) - Former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion *

Joe Stevenson Joseph Christopher Stevenson (born June 15, 1982) is a retired American mixed martial artist fighting out of Hesperia, California. Coached by (UFC Hall of Famer) Matt Hughes, Stevenson rose to prominence by becoming The Ultimate Fighter 2 Welt ...

(RFA) - Former UFC Lightweight Title Challenger, TUF 2 Welterweight Winner * John Dodson (UFC) - Former UFC Flyweight Title Challenger, TUF 14 Bantamweight Winner *

(UFC) 2 Time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and current UFC Heavyweight Champion *

Julie Kedzie Julie Kedzie (born March 18, 1981) is an American retired mixed martial artist. She is a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and specializes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Kedzie was Greg Jackson's personal assistant at Jackson's Mixed Martial Arts. ...

(Retired) *

Keith Jardine Keith Jardine (born October 31, 1975) is an American actor and retired mixed martial artist who most notably competed in the UFC and Strikeforce. Background Jardine was born in Butte, Montana, moved to Oregon, and finally settled in Los Angele ...

(UFC) - Former Strikeforce Middleweight Title Challenger *

Kyle Noke Kyle Noke (born 18 March 1980) is an Australian retired mixed martial artist who competed as a Welterweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2002, Noke has also fought for EliteXC. Background Noke, origina ...

(UFC) *

Lando Vannata Landon Anthony Vannata (born March 14, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2012, he has formerly comp ...

(UFC) *

Leonard Garcia Leonard Garcia (born July 14, 1979) is an American former mixed martial artist and professional boxer who last competed in the Featherweight division of the Legacy Fighting Championship, and is the former Legacy FC Featherweight Champion. After ...

(Retired) - Former WEC Featherweight Title Challenger *

Michelle Waterson Michelle Eileen Waterson-Gomez (born January 6, 1986) is an American former mixed martial artist, actress, stuntwoman, and model who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She is the former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion. Betwe ...

(UFC) - Former Invicta Atomweight Champion *

Nate Marquardt Nathan Joel Marquardt (born April 20, 1979) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the middleweight and welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 1999, he is a former Strikeforce W ...

(UFC) - Former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion, Former UFC Middleweight Title Challenger, Former Pancrase Middleweight Champion *

Omari Akhmedov Omari Sirazhudinovich Akhmedov (born October 12, 1987) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division. He previously fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Professional Fighters ...

(UFC) *

(UFC) - Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, The Ultimate Fighter season 2 winner *

Ray Borg Ray Borg (born August 4, 1993), is an American former professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Flyweight and Bantamweight divisions. A professional MMA competitor until 2023, Borg is best known for his 12–fight tenure in the Ultima ...

(UFC) *

Roger Huerta Roger Huerta (born May 20, 1983) is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting in the lightweight division. He initially gained exposure by competing in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Bellator Fighting Ch ...

(One FC) *

Rustam Khabilov Rustam Mikailovich Khabilov (born 4 November 1986) is a Russian mixed martial artist, who last competed in the Welterweight division. He is a Combat Sambo World Champion and a former member of the Legion Sport Club fight team in Rostov-on-Don ...

(UFC) * Sarah Kaufman (UFC) - Former Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight Champion * Tara LaRosa * Hamza Hamry (BYB EXTREME) * Tim Kennedy (UFC) - (Retired) Former Strikeforce Middleweight Title Challenger *

Tim Means Tim Means (born February 20, 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2004, Means has also formerly competed ...

(UFC) *

Tony Ferguson Anthony Armand Ferguson Padilla (born February 12, 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist where he is a former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion. A professional since 2008, and was signed to the UFC from his '' The Ultimate Fi ...

(UFC) - Former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion *

Vitaly Minakov Vitaly Viktorovich Minakov (; born February 6, 1985) is a Russian mixed martial artist, sambist and judoka who competed in the heavyweight division. A professional competitor from 2010 till 2021, he competed for Bellator MMA, where he is the fo ...

(Bellator MMA) - Former Bellator Heavyweight Champion, 4-Time World Sambo Champion +100 kg *

Yoshihiro Akiyama , also known as and by his nickname Sexyama, is a Japanese mixed martial artist and judoka who won the gold medal at the 2001 Asian Championships for South Korea and for Japan at the 2002 Asian Games. He is the former K-1 HERO's Light Heavyw ...

(UFC)

Awards

World MMA Awards The World MMA Awards are awards presented by ''Fighters Only'' magazine to honor exceptional performance in various aspects of mixed martial arts. Winners are presented with the ''Fighters Only silver statuette''. The World MMA Awards are divided ...

* 2015 Gym of the Year * 2011 Coach of the Year: Greg Jackson * 2010 Coach of the Year: Greg Jackson * 2009 Gym of the Year * 2009 Coach of the Year: Greg Jackson

References

External links

Official website
{{MMA Team List Mixed martial arts training facilities Sports in Albuquerque, New Mexico

History

Incidents

Fighters

Notable fighters

Awards

See also

References

External links