UFC is putting a lot of resources into scouting and discovering new talent all across the world. One of the most popular methods is through two popular shows — Dana White Contender Series (DWCS) and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). But what is the difference between these two shows?

“Dana White Contender Series” is a non-UFC promotion in which fighters compete to be scouted by Dana White. The Ultimate Fighter, on the other hand, is a UFC-produced reality TV series in which fighters compete for UFC contracts.

Read this article to learn more about how these two popular shows differ from one another.

What is Dana White Contender Series (DWCS)?

DWCS show is a platform where top prospects from different parts of the world compete under one roof, vying for a spot on the UFC roster. Instead of UFC scouts traveling worldwide to seek out top prospects, Dana White created DWCS as a recruitment system for new talent right in Vegas.

Although the face of the DWCS is the UFC president, Dana White, the DWCS show is not a UFC brand. Instead, it is licensed separately from the biggest MMA promotion. In fact, Dana White needed to obtain a promoter’s license to run the contender series.

It was stated ahead of the license being approved that “this is not the UFC, this is not the UFC brand,” but instead a promotion that will allow up and coming fighters the chance to showcase their talents in hopes that one day they may compete in the UFC.

Dana White receives promoter’s license for new contender series separate from UFC

DWCS hosts one season every year, and each season consists of around ten different events, and each of these events hosts about 5 MMA fights. The season is aired usually by the end of July and lasts around two months by the end of September or mid-November. All DWCS seasons are hosted in the UFC Apex Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The show focuses on giving talented young fighters a chance to prove their worth directly in front of Dana White and UFC matchmakers. However, not every winner is guaranteed a spot on the UFC roster. You have to show dominance, and aggression, fight at a high pace, and in most cases, finish the match to earn a spot.

On average, more than 30 MMA fighters earn a contract per season or per year. The show is aired on ESPN+, but you can also watch it on UFC Fight Pass.

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What is The Ultimate Fighter show (TUF)?

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) is a reality television show produced by the UFC’s sister company, Zuffa LLC. The first episode aired on January 17, 2005, and since then, the UFC has been consistently airing one season every year.

The show’s main goal is to discover new MMA talents and attract new audiences through the reality television format. In 2005, the UFC struggled to break into the mainstream. However, after years of struggling, their breakthrough moment finally came when they created The Ultimate Fighter reality show, which became an instant hit. The show brought new audiences to the sport and helped the new fans understand the game better.

The way TUF works is straightforward. Two famous UFC fighters coach two separate teams pitted against each other. At the show’s beginning, there will be 16 fighters on the show who come from diverse backgrounds, and each coach picks eight fighters to form their team. Throughout the show, fighters from team A compete against the fighters from team B.

In addition, all fighters from both teams get to reside in the same TUF house in Las Vegas for the duration of the show. With that, the fighters’ daily life is filmed and shown on TV throughout the show. They eat, sleep, drink, and party together despite pitting against each other on the show. This makes the show dynamic and dramatic as viewers learn more about fighters’ personalities and their drama interacting with other fighters on the show.

Participants of the show compete in a form of elimination tournament where there are:

• Preliminary Round
• Quarter-Finals
• Semi-Finals
• Finale

The winners of the show, as well as runner-ups and other members who left a strong impression, would earn a contract with the UFC. But the winners are the only ones who get a three-year contract worth six figures.

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What is the key difference between DWCS and TUF?

The key differences are the format of the show and the way athletes earn contracts with the UFC.

Production and goals

TUF is a reality television show designed to attract the mainstream audience. It gives the fans an insight into fighters’ everyday life, how they prepare for matches, their struggles, anxiety, fears, and ups and downs on their journey. The main goal of the show is to:

• Find new talented fighters
• Introduce new fighters to the existing fan base
• Attract new audiences
• Improve the image of the sport
• Strengthen the UFC brand

The TUF show, in essence, educate fans and laymen to learn the sport. The show’s objective is to attract new audiences to learn more about UFC throughout the episodes, who may later become fans to purchase PPV events.

DWCS is slightly different because the show’s primary focus is finding new talents. It serves as a recruiting platform where top prospects can showcase their skills and get scouted by Dana White to earn a spot on the UFC roster.

The DWCS show gives you a basic background of every fighter. The core value of the show is exciting fights and giving fighters a media spotlight to introduce themselves to the large UFC audience.

Simply put, DWCS is a show that promotes newly signed mid-or lower-tier fighters who are often ignored by the media and their ascension to the top.

Competition format

TUF is a reality show produced by the UFC where fighters compete in a tournament format. The show includes two teams with 16 fighters competing in an elimination format.

DWCS is an MMA promotion that hosts around ten events per season in which athletes compete in front of UFC matchmakers who evaluate their talents. Fighters usually sign a one-fight deal to showcase their skills. However, they may get an opportunity to sign a UFC contract backstage if they win a spectacular fashion. The events are similar to the UFC’s preliminary cards, where low/mid-tier fighters compete.

Who became the most famous fighter from DWCS?

The most famous fighter who came out of the DWCS is Sean O’Malley thus far. He earned his UFC contract in the very first season with a win over Alfred Khashakyan. Following is a list of other popular UFC fighters produced by DWCS.

However, remember that the show is still relatively new and has yet to produce global UFC superstars or champions.

• Geoff Neal — earned a contract with the TKO win over Chase Waldon in season 3. 
• Sodiq Yusuff — got his contract with a dominant decision win over Mike Davis at DWCS series 14.
• Maycee Barber — earned a contract with a win against Jamie Collen at DWCS Series 13. 
• Johnny Walker — got his contract after winning a unanimous decision at DWCS Brazil 2. 
• Marina Rodriguez — secured her contract with a stoppage win over Maria de Oliveira Neta at DWCS Brazil 2
• Jamahal Hill — the UFC’s light heavyweight contender secured his shot in the UFC with the finish over Alexander Poppeck at DWCS Series 21

Who became the most famous fighter from TUF?

The most famous TUF winner has to be the welterweight champ, Kamaru Usman, who won the TUF 21 show in 2014 with a submission win over Hayder Hassan. Later as a UFC fighter, he went on to win the UFC 170-pound title in 2019 and defend it five times in the next two years before losing it to Leon Edwards.

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Since 2005, The Ultimate Fighter show has produced many top-level UFC fighters, such as:

• Rose Namajunas — joined the TUF 20 season from Invicta FC. Although she lost to Carla Esparza in the finals, Namajunas became a two-time UFC strawweight champion.
• Nate Diaz — is an MMA superstar who earned his UFC contract by winning the TUF 5 season by beating Manvel Gamburyan in the finals in 2007.
• Diego Sanchez — is the winner of the very first season of the TUF show aired in 2005. Sanchez went on to compete for the UFC for 15 years before retiring in 2020.
• Tony Ferguson — is the former UFC Interim lightweight champion who won the TUF 13 season by beating Ramsey Nijem in the finals.
• Michael Bisping — is the UFC hall of fame and the former Middleweight champion. He earned his contract by winning the TUF season 3 show in 2003.

How do you get into the Dana White Contender series (DWCS)?

You can secure a spot in the DWCS show in two ways. The first is through the manager, and the second is by contacting the UFC directly through their online portal.

The first and most obvious requirement is that an athlete has a winning record against decent opponents. Being a champ in some smaller promotions and having an exciting fighting style is also a huge plus. Fighters with many finishes on their records are more likely to get an opportunity than the ones whose matches often go to distance.

One of the key figures that may help you get on the show is a sports agent or manager. Most modern MMA fighters have agents running their careers, booking fights, negotiating contracts, and creating opportunities. Agents with good reputations have strong connections in the industry, which they may use to secure you a spot on the show.

The other way is to use the UFC online portal to reach out to the UFC matchmakers. For example, the UFC is cooperating with talentbid.com, where you can create your fighter profile and directly apply to be a UFC fighter.

If you fit their profile, the matchmakers might call you to take part in DWCS, TUF show, or maybe jump on the short notice opportunity to make a UFC debut.

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How do you get into the TUF show?

Each year, the UFC announces the new season of TUF by publishing the application procedures for any athlete interested in participating in the TUF show. In that case, they must fill out the application and wait for the response.

If selected, the UFC will call you to participate in the final casting process to secure a place in the show. Around 50 athletes will be invited to tryouts. They might participate in a grappling and striking session in front of Dana White and UFC matchmakers to be evaluated. They also do interviews where they need to showcase their personalities.

Each TUF season has different requirements, notably regarding weight classes. For example:

• The season might be open only for bantamweights and middleweights.
• Athletes must be between 21 and 34 years old.
• Athletes must have a winning record and at least three professional fights.

One important thing to note is that athletes who compete in TUF shows are not paid regularly. However, they may receive bonuses for winning certain challenges, and the UFC covers all their expenses during the show. Still, they do not receive any fight purses.

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Which show should I sign up for to be a UFC fighter?

Which one works better for you depends on many factors as each of the shows has pros and cons. On one side, DWCS is great because it allows you to come to the event, show a bit of personality, spectacularly finish the fight, and instantly you earn a UFC contract after the show. However, you won’t get a big media spotlight, and the contract you sign is not as lucrative as the one you can get on a TUF show. Fighters out of DWCS usually get a one-fight deal for a minimum purse.

TUF is a bit different because it is a reality show. You will get a lot of media coverage to showcase your personality, get viewers’ attention and build a fan base. You also compete multiple times in a short span of time, allowing you to make a name for yourself quickly if you succeed.

But the TUF’s biggest advantage over DWCS is the contract you get. If you manage to win the show, you will sign a six-figure contract with a guaranteed first year. Each year consists of three fights where in the first year, you get a $12,000 guaranteed purse + 12,000 if you win. For the second year, you get a $16,000 guaranteed purse per fight + $16,000 for a win. And in the third year, you will get $22,000 per fight + $22,000 if you win.

TUF vs. DWCS – Which is better to watch?

Which one is more entertaining comes down to your personal preference. But the majority of fight fans watch both.

TUF is a reality television show where you can get familiar with the fighters and their stories and maybe become a fan through the episodes. There is more drama, interactions between the fighters and coaches, rivalries, and a better narrative you can relate to.

DWCS production is very similar to UFC preliminary cards. Although the events only include yet-to-be UFC fighters, the match quality and skill level are still high. Most matches are packed with high-pace action as featured fighters are very eager to earn spots on the UFC rosters.

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What is Dana White lookin’ for a fight show?

“Dana White Lookin’ for a Fight” is a show produced by the UFC. The UFC president, Dana White, and his two best friends, former UFC champ Matt Serra and Din Thomas, travel across the U.S. in search of new MMA talents.

The show is not just about MMA fighting, as the production highlights the funny personalities of all three hosts. They will try local food and activities related to the local culture whenever they visit a particular state or town with a rich history. For example, they might ride the bulls, go paddle boarding in sub-freezing temperatures in Alaska, swim with the dolphins, etc.

You can often hear coaches and experts saying that “iron shapes iron” and how crucial it is for athletes to train in the best MMA gyms to maximize their potential. If you look at the most successful UFC champions, they all train in large facilities under one of the best coaches.

Following is a list of what we consider the top 16 best MMA gyms in the U.S. The success of these gyms is based on the quality of coaching staff, and the number of top fighters and champions they have produced over the years.

We will analyze their coaching staff, expertise in teaching, quality of fighters, reputation, and what makes them so good. You should definitely check out one of these MMA gyms we’ll be showing you if you are lucky enough to live nearby. So let’s dive right into it.

American Top Team

Location: Coconut Creek, Florida, U.S.

American Top Team (ATT) is among the most popular MMA training facilities. Founded in 2001 by Dan Lambert, ATT is the most successful MMA gym and home to the best fighters. On top of that, ATT is a very strong brand, and there are over 40 ATT affiliates worldwide.

The main academy, located in Coconut Creek, Florida, is a training facility of 50,000 square feet of space. It hosts hundreds of pro-fighters, state-of-the-art equipment, various training programs, and of course, great coaches.

It also includes a dorm where fighters can lodge while preparing for a match. This makes ATT a top-rated destination for foreign fighters who are looking to improve their game by training under the best coaches and best training partners.

ATT’s strength is turning its fighters into the best all-around MMA fighters. When you look at ATT-trained fighters, they are some of the world’s most well-rounded MMA fighters. They know how to strike and defend against wrestlers and are well versed in fighting on the ground if needed.

The main instructors like Mike Brown, Conan Silveira, and Steve Mocco have worked with some of the most successful UFC fighters such as:

• Tyron Woodley
• Joanna Jedrzejczyk
• Jorge Masvidal
• Dustin Poirier
• Amanda Nunes
• Robbie Lawler

American Kickboxing Academy (AKA)

Location: San Jose, California, U.S.

Not only is American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) among the best MMA gyms in the U.S., but it is also one of the very few that have managed to stay on top for a couple of decades now. AKA is one of the longest-running MMA gyms. It was founded by the former kickboxing world champion, Javier Mendez, in 1985.

Over the years, AKA has become a very popular gym for all fighters, notably those with a strong base in wrestling seeking to develop their striking skills for MMA fighting. It is a popular destination for fighters from Dagestan and many collegiate wrestlers who seek to transition to MMA.

AKA consists of world-class striking and grappling coaches such as Javier Mendez and BJJ legend, Leandro Vieira. The gym does a really good job of helping fighters develop an all-around game.

It enables grappling-based fighters to improve their striking skills and elevate their MMA grappling skills to another level by training with the best wrestlers in MMA. The gym roster consists of the finest strikers and grapplers who are helping each other improve all the weak areas in their game.

AKA’s most well-known fighters:

• Daniel Cormier
• Khabib Nurmagomedov
• Islam Makhachev
• Cain Valasquez 
• Luke Rockhold

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Kill Cliff FC (formerly known as Sandford MMA)

Location: Deerfield Beach, Florida

The story of Sanford MMA began in 2017 when two coaches, Henry Hooft and Greg Jones, founded “Combat Club.” They later changed the name to “Hard Knocks 365”, then to “Sanford MMA” before re-branding once again to “Kill Cliff FC.”

Hooft and Jones have a strong reputation and are among the best coaches in MMA. The two managed to build a strong roster of UFC fighters quickly, and the gym was an instant success in terms of the results.

The Kill Cliff FC training facility consists of over 40 world-class athletes who compete in the biggest promotions all around the world.

Apart from a high-quality coaching staff and advanced methods of teaching, the gym also includes an advanced support clinic. A place where experts help fighters recover from hard training and injuries, get nutrition advice, and enjoy many other benefits.

Over the years, the gym has produced champions such as:

• Kamaru Usman
• Gilbert Burns
• Leon Edwards 

Kings MMA

Location: Huntington Beach, California, U.S.

The owner of Kings MMA and head coach, Rafael Cordeiro, is among the most respected MMA coaches in history. Cordeiro used to be a coach in the famous “Chute Boxe” gym in Brazil before he decided to move to the U.S. and focus on producing his own champions. And he did, a lot of them.

Cordeiro won “the coach of the year” awards two times in 2012 and 2016. What sets him above the rest is not only the experience he has gained over the years and the ability to pass down knowledge but also the ability to evolve and improve the concept of training methods.

Cordeiro is known for turning elite grapplers into elite strikers, which is what he did with Fabricio Werdum and Raphael Dos Anjos, for instance. Some of the other fighters he worked with over the years are:

• Wanderlei Silva
• Lyoto Machida
• Marvin Vettori
• Kelvin Gastelum

Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

Location: Pleasant Hill, California, U.S.

Founded in the early 2000s, Cesar Gracie jiu-jitsu is one of the most recognized MMA gyms in the world. It became a really popular place to train during the glory days of Strikeforce promotion, where champions in three of five weight divisions came from this gym.

As one would assume, Cesar Gracie academy has a strong reputation for being the place where you can develop the best BJJ skills for MMA. The primary grappling coaches are Cesar Gracie, Ismael Mota, Nick and Nate Diaz, and Jake Shields. All world-class BJJ athletes.

Though known for grappling, the quality of striking classes does not fall behind at all. The famous boxing coach Richard Perez is responsible for turning some great grapplers like the Diaz brothers and Gilbert Melendez into decorated strikers.

Famous Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu fighter:

• Nick and Nate Diaz
• Gilbert Melendez
• Jake Shields
• Joe Schilling

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Roufusport Academy

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.

Founded in 2006 by the kickboxing legend Duke Roufus, “Roufusport” is widely regarded as a top MMA gym specializing in teaching top-level striking skills. In 2012, Duke Roufus partnered with the UFC fighter at the time, Anthony Pettis, a gym co-owner.

Roufusport Academy embraces hard methods of training and a lot of intense sparring. Unfortunately, between 2012 and 2014, Roufusport academy was mired in controversy, as some members spoke out against Rofusport’s training methods.

Despite all the criticism, the gym remains an elite powerhouse for MMA fighters such as:

• Tyron Woodley
• Rose Namajunas
• Ben Askren
• Anthony Pettis

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Serra-Longo Fight Team

Location: Long Island, New York, U.S.

The structure of the Serra-Longo Fight Team may seem confusing at first glance. Two separate teams are working united as one MMA team: Serra BJJ Academy and Longo-Weidman MMA.

Matt Serra is the former UFC champion and a BJJ legend responsible for teaching fighters top-level BJJ skills. Conversely, Ray Longo and Weidman focus more on the striking aspect (Longo) and wrestling (Weidman) and how to incorporate these two segments for MMA. Though it may sound a bit confusing, the system works well in practice.

Serra-Longo Fight Team’s most famous fighters:

• Chris Weidman
• Aljamain Sterling
• Al Iaquinta
• Merab Dvalishvili

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Jackson-Wink MMA

Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.

Jackson-Wink MMA has been around since the early 2000s and is considered one of the best MMA gyms in the world. This gym is operated by two close friends, Mike Winkeljohn and Greg Jackson, who both stand for true masterminds of the fighting game.

Over the years, the two coaches have received many “coach of the year” awards. One of the core competencies of their work is the ability to adapt an individual training plan to each athlete who trains under their roof. They are masters in creating strategies and game plans to the slightest detail, which is just one of the reasons why they have produced so many UFC champions.

Jackson-Wink MMA training facility is enormous, which includes housing for in-house fighters. They will get the most out of your talent and potential if you have what it takes to be a fighter.

Jackson-Wink MMA produced the following fighters:

• Jon Jones
• Holly Holm
• Rashad Evans
• Diego Sanchez
• Donald Cerrone
• Carlos Condit

Elevation Fight Team

Location: Denver, Colorado

Elevation Fight Team has grown into one of the strongest MMA teams in the world. The unique thing about Elevation Fight Team is that each co-owner has their own gyms specialized in different fields of MMA.

According to head grappling coach, Cody Donovan, this business concept takes a lot of pressure away. So apart from training in the main facility, each fighter is enabled to train in a wide variety of other gyms such as:

• Eason’s MMA
• Vital Strength and Fitness
• Pound 4 pound fitness
• High Altitude MMA

What also attracts the athletes is the location of the gym. Denver sits at 5,280 ft. or one mile above sea level, where the air is much thinner. Training at this altitude boost endurance and overall aerobic capacity.

The following fighters are associated with the Elevation Fight Team:

• Cory Sandhagen
• Alistair Overeem
• Neil Magny
• Curtis Blayde

Xtreme Couture

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

Founded by the former UFC champ, Randy Couture, “Xtreme Couture” is one of the largest training facilities. It covers approximately 24,000 square feet. For the general public interested in learning about MMA, Xtreme Couture has become a popular destination. It also attracts many seasoned MMA fighters who want to enhance their fighting skills and fitness to another level and achieve their combat sports goals.
The gym has a very knowledgeable coaching staff that has been working together for a long time. Next, the facility is equipped with the latest gear. Overall, it provides an athlete with everything they need to succeed.

The gym offers BJJ, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Wrestling classes as well as programs to improve functional fitness. Some of the most famous MMA fighters that came out of Xtreme Couture have been:

• Francis Ngannou
• Randy Couture
• Vitor Belfort
• Ryan Bader
• Alistair Overeem

Alliance MMA Gym

Location: Chula Vista, California, U.S.

Founded in 2007 by the former UFC heavyweight contender Brandon Vera and Lloyd Irvin, Alliance MMA Gym has been a powerhouse for top-level MMA fighters for a long time now. The gym came into the spotlight with the rise of the former UFC champ, Dominick Cruz, who deserves a lot of credit for putting the Alliance MMA Gyms on the map.

According to Cruz, the gym is attracting fighters from all over the country and worldwide, especially those looking to improve their BJJ game. Though the BJJ culture is really strong, Alliance is specialized in other fields of MMA like Boxing, kickboxing, and wrestling.

Some of the most popular fighters who came out of Alliance MMA gym are:

• Dominick Cruz
• Brendon Vera
• Alexander Gustafsson (* also part of Allstars Training Center )

Team Alpha Male

Location: Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, California, U.S.

Founded by the former UFC title contender Uriah Faber, Team Alpha Male stands for one of the top MMA facilities on the West Coast. Though the gym covers all aspects of MMA, the main focus is on wrestling, submission grappling, and Muay Thai.

The majority of UFC fighters and champions that came out of this camp have top wrestling skills and sharp striking. The likes of Cody Garbrant and TJ Dillashaw and how advanced these two fighters are in all aspects of MMA are great representations of the Team Alpha Male.

Though the gym accepts athletes from all weight classes, it is actually very popular among fighters who compete in the lower weight divisions.

Team Alpha Male fighters are:

• Cody Garbrandt
• TJ Dillashaw
• Deiveson Figueiredo

Fortis MMA

Location: Dallas, Texas U.S.

Founded by former NBA star Deron Williams in 2017, Fortis MMA is one of Texas’s most prominent MMA gyms. The head coach, Sayif Saud, has built a powerhouse team of talented fighters. In his words, he wanted to surround each athlete with the coaches he trusts and provide them with all the equipment to succeed.

Fortis facility includes a 7,000 sq. ft. training area, separate rooms for BJJ classes, cage-covered wall, cardio equipment, locker rooms, and even a kitchen and weight room. Over 50 fighters train at Fortis every day, and initially, their roster consisted of talented up-and-coming fighters.

But over the years, most of these athletes have reached the highest levels of the UFC. Some of the notable fighters are:

• Ryan Spann
• Alonzo Menifield
• Mohammed Usman

Factory X

Location: Santa Fe Cir, Englewood, Colorado U.S.

Factory X is one of those MMA gyms that is working hard and building a strong roster of fighters under the radar. It was founded in 2009 as a Muay Thai school. But over the years, they added grappling classes, and Factory X diversified their business model towards MMA.

The training facility spreads around 10,000 sq. ft. and offers Muay Thai, BJJ, and MMA classes. However, the core expertise of the school is striking, and the key figure is head coach Marc Montoya, who is a true mastermind of the fighting game, producing more UFC fighters than anyone else.

Notable fighters:

• Anthony Smith
• Dustin Jacoby
• Brandon Royval

MMA Lab

Location: Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.

MMA lab stands for the #1 training facility in Arizona. It was founded in 2007 and has produced many UFC and Bellator fighters. But the biggest structural change came in 2018 when the former UFC champ, Ben Henderson, partnered with the owner and head coach of MMA Lab, John Crouch.

The training center is enormous and consists of three separate training rooms for BJJ and MMA, a striking room equipped with punching bags and a boxing ring, and a children’s training room fully matted from floor to wall. There is also a separate room for strength and conditioning and a childcare room where the Infant CPR certified workers would take care of your child while you are training.

Notable fighters:

• Benson Henderson
• Jared Cannonier 
• Sean O’Malley
• Alex Caceres

AMC Pankration

Location: Woodinville, WA, U.S.

Though not as popular as others on this list, AMC Pankration is among the oldest MMA gyms. It started operating in 1988 when the founder, Matt Hume, started a Pankration Club that would later re-brand to “AMC Pankration” in 1991. This was long before the UFC got launched in 1993. Apart from martial arts classes, the gym also hosted MMA events from 1999 to 2008.

The gym is best known for Demetrious Johnson, former UFC flyweight champ and one of the best fighters in history. But there are also other successful fighters such as Bibiano Fernandes.

One common sight in mixed martial arts, especially in recent years, is the increasing rise of Dagestani fighters. Former UFC lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov is a big reason for this, as he is undoubtedly the biggest superstar from Dagestan, with everyone associating just about every Dagestani fighter with him. Consequently, when a fan sees a fighter from Dagestan, they expect them to maul and smash their opponents on the ground.

So the question is, what makes Dagestan fighters so uniquely dominant in the UFC? Here’s a quick answer to that question:

Dagestan fighters are dominant in the UFC because they are expert wrestlers who use their wrestling effectively to neutralize their opponent’s ability to fight back. As a result, Dagestan fighters have a high winning rate of 89% in the UFC.

This article will dive deeper into the matter and explain everything you need to know about how Dagestan produces many dominant UFC fighters.

Where is Dagestan?

Dagestan is a republic of Russia located in the North Caucasus, with the majority of its population of around 3 million people being Sunni Muslims. In addition, most of the region is extremely mountainous, with higher altitudes and harsh, brutal winters. The unemployment rate is about 25%, with highlanders making up the bulk. Furthermore, a staggering 73% of people live in poverty, and 16% are just above it.

Dagestan 🤲 pic.twitter.com/kwWWb8zAfx

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 12, 2020

Why are Dagestan UFC fighters so dominant?

Dagestan fighters dominate the UFC because they are exceptionally skilled at wrestling, which has proven to be a highly effective combat skill in MMA fighting. Simply put, the sport of wrestling transitions well into mixed martial arts. So, how does being a good wrestler relate to being a dominant UFC fighter?

Dagestan fighters are expert wrestlers who are good at taking down their opponents on the ground, putting them on their backs, and controlling their opponents’ movements from the top position.
This position disadvantages their opponent by limiting their ability to strike back, resulting in an 89% win rate for Dagestan fighters in the UFC.

So you might ask why Dagestani fighters are so good at wrestling, right? The simple answer to why Dagestani fighters are so good at wrestling is that’s all they did growing up.

Wrestling is essentially, but not officially, the national sport of Dagestan. As such, kids from seven to eight are raised to be wrestlers, almost like a modern-day Sparta. And unlike in America, where you can train in martial arts for a few hours before going on with your day, youngsters from Dagestan do it all day long with extreme discipline.

Here’s a short video that shows how intensely Dagestani children train in wrestling:

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Why Do So Many Dagestani Men Train in Wrestling?

Societal expectations may play a role in enticing Dagestani men to train in wrestling. For example, the Dagestani mindset is that you should be wrestling if you’re a healthy male, as wrestling is woven into the fabric of Dagestani culture.

A Vice documentary revealed that Dagestani fighters in a wrestling program wake up early in the morning, run across harsh terrain in the mountains, do pad work, eat, nap, and then hike before wrestling. They also start wrestling at a very young age as mentioned, as evidenced by that famous footage of young Khabib Nurmagomedov grappling with a bear cub. And there’s no partying or socializing; most of the day is spent training. All this, coupled with the harsh conditions they are training in, contributes to Dagestani fighters being not only powerful wrestlers and tough but also mentally.

It’s now even more the case given the popularity of the UFC and Khabib Nurmagomedov, one of the wealthiest athletes to have emerged from the sport.

Who are the best UFC fighters from Dagestan?

Eight to ten years ago, you’d be lucky to see a handful of Dagestani fighters in the UFC. But nowadays, you will not only see Dagestani fighters in just about every UFC weight class but multiple Dagestanis in one division. As a result, Dagestan produces one of the world’s largest numbers of MMA fighters today.

Khabib Nurmagomedov:

The most popular Dagestani fighter, without a doubt, is former UFC lightweight champion Nurmagomedov. He was a lightweight competitor who made waves with his dominant wrestling, ground and pound, and his famous rivalry with Conor McGregor.

Nurmagomedov is regarded as the best Dagestani fighter of all time and the best lightweight in UFC history. Many MMA fans consider him a contender for the greatest fighter of all time, owing to his undefeated record when he retired.

Islam Makhachev:

Islam Makhachev is regarded as the next Khabib Nurmagomedov as he emulates Khabib’s fighting style, which puts maximum pressure on his opponent by relentlessly taking them down during the fight. Some even claim that Makhachev is better than Khabib was, as Makhachev has easily smashed through his opponents so far.

Magomed Ankalaev:

Ankalaev is a UFC light heavyweight fighter who is rising to the top of the competitive light heavyweight division without drawing much attention. Ankalaev trained in Greco-Roman wrestling. Ankalaeve holds the second longest win streak in UFC light heavyweight history.

Zabit Magomedsharipov:

Magomedshripov is a 145-pound featherweight fighter who started freestyle wrestling training when he was ten. He’s a well-versed fighter who can strike on his feet and can grapple with anyone on the ground. Unfortunately, he announced his retirement in June 2022 from MMA fighting after suffering health issues.

Askar Askarov:

Askarov is a flyweight 125 lb fighter who was born deaf. Despite his physical challenge, Askarov started training in wrestling. He became a national Russian deaf wrestling team member and won gold in the 2017 Deaflympics. He’s fast becoming one of the top contenders in the UFC flyweight division.

Umar Nurmagomedov:

Umar Nurmagomedov is a UFC bantamweight (135 lbs) fighter, and Khabib Nurmagomedov is his cousin. He won the gold medal in Combat Sambo at 19 under the WCSF organization. He has a younger brother, Usman Nurmagomedov, a Bellator fighter.

Why are there so many UFC fighters from Dagestan?

There are many UFC fighters from Dagestan because they are excellent MMA fighters who are highly sought after by the UFC.

Wrestling has long been regarded as the best foundation for MMA. For this reason, with so many elite wrestlers in Dagestan, many of them transition to mixed martial arts and turn into unstoppable fighters. Ultimately, these fighters end up signing contracts with the UFC, which always seeks to recruit the best fighters in the world.

More importantly, there are still very few professional venues for amateur wrestlers, and almost none of them pay as well as MMA. As a result, becoming an MMA fighter is a natural progression for many of these Dagestani wrestlers.

Who are the best Dagestani fighters outside the UFC?

While the UFC undoubtedly has a majority of the best Dagestani fighters, there’s plenty of talent in other promotions.

Usman Nurmagomedov is a promising and undefeated lightweight who competes in Bellator.

Saygid Izagakhmaev is another talented fighter competing in the ONE Championship’s welterweight division.

Let’s also not forget the number of talented Dagestani fighters currently competing in promotions back home, such as Eagle FC, Gorilla Fighting Championship, and much more. Whether they all eventually make it to the UFC remains to be seen, but it wouldn’t be a surprise either.

Do all Dagestani fighters use a wrestling style?

More often than not, you will see Dagestani fighters take the fight to the ground and look to out-grapple, TKO, or submit their opponents from there. But that’s not to say all Dagestani fighters use a wrestling or grappling-heavy style.

A former UFC fighter, Zabit Magomedsharipov, is known for his striking and is one of the flashiest strikers in the UFC. He has a wrestling background and is well-versed on the ground but prefers to stand with his opponents. This comes at a cost, as his flashy style often leads him to run out of gas later in the rounds.

Others, like Magomed Ankalaev and Nassourdine Imavov, are also great on the ground but prefer to strike. The main point is that just because someone is from Dagestan, don’t expect the fight to always go to the ground.

Are all Dagestani fighters good at MMA?

If you see a Dagestani fighter in the UFC, make no mistake about it. They more than likely have elite-level grappling, sambo and wrestling.

With that said, there are levels to the game, and not every fighter from Dagestan will perform like Khabib Nurmagomedov or remain undefeated like him. You will see Dagestani fighters who not only will likely remain unranked, but will also suffer defeats by way of finish. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin Abubakar Nurmagomedov notably has three defeats, with one being a huge upset submission loss to David Zawada.

That’s not to say a couple of losses mean a fighter is bad. At the same time, it doesn’t mean Dagestani fighters are invincible. Some will lose and some won’t look so dominant because this is mixed martial arts. You can’t just rely on your grappling; you have to mix up all facets of MMA and be well-rounded in just about everything to emulate what Khabib Nurmagomedov did.

Conclusion

Dagestani fighters in MMA have a very high winning percentage overall, and while they are not unbeatable for the most part, their wrestling style and upbringing make them a tough task for any fighter. One thing is for sure — expect the number of Dagestani MMA fighters to only increase in the near future.