Iron sharpens iron, so the saying goes.
This year saw plenty of ferrous material rubbing up against each other producing steel-forged warriors from the major MMA factories across the world.
The competition among these fight factories, or gyms, is fierce, as MMA athletes continue to move between teams like mercenaries looking for the best coaches and best training partners.
There are a handful of gyms, however, that have become renowned in the sport for consistently turning out champions and taking novice fighters to the top of the game.
This slideshow contains a list of camps that have pushed the sport of MMA further along its rocky road. It consists of names such as Rafael Cordeiro, Javier Mendez, Firas Zahabi and, of course, Greg Jackson, who have become as familiar at MMA events as some of the fighters themselves.
However, not all of them can look back at 2012 as having been their best year. Some lost fighters through internal squabbles, others were beset by injuries, while others saw their big stars toppled by complete unknowns.
It was a year full of politics and intrigue, which sucked in all the coaches and gyms, but one which showcased the talent of some trainers to consistently churn out the best fighters. And here they are…