From Pupil to Protege: Brandon Gibson Adding to the Arsenal in Albuquerque

When set against the back drop of the rough and tumble outpost of Albuquerque, N.M., and the hard-nosed champion factory of the Jackson/Winkeljohn fight gym; Brandon Gibson is a contrast to his surroundings.
While he is Texas born and New Mexico bred, …

When set against the back drop of the rough and tumble outpost of Albuquerque, N.M., and the hard-nosed champion factory of the Jackson/Winkeljohn fight gym; Brandon Gibson is a contrast to his surroundings.

While he is Texas born and New Mexico bred, the 30-year-old’s presentation and laid back demeanor would lead one to believe he’s of the Southern California variety. Everything inside the doors of the world renown facility on Acoma Street is all business, but it is rare to see Gibson break from his steady composure even when some of the most talented strikers in the fight game are throwing punches and kicks in his direction with thunderous intentions.

The punches crack off his mitts and shin bones slam into his chest guard just as Gibson shuffles his feet and returns the exchange with a wry smile of encouragement. And when it comes to that smile that hangs ever present on his face these days, it is a sentiment he’s certainly earned the right to display.

Gibson’s initial path through martial arts began on the other side of the ropes as trained in traditional disciplines and had his sights set in the avenues of boxing and kickboxing. Unfortunately, an injury brought that chapter of his life to a close.

Yet, with his ability to absorb the technical aspects of the craft and his appreciation for ways proven and tested moves that could be expanded with a fighters’ personal creativity, Gibson saw a potential path in the coaching realm begin to materialize.

He had already been training under striking guru Mike Winkeljohn for years and decided to change his role from pupil to apprentice, as he set out to start a new chapter for himself in combat sports.

“I met Coach Winkeljohn when I was 21 years old, and I had already been boxing and kickboxing for some time,” Gibson told Bleacher Report. “My coach at the time had encouraged me to go to Winkeljohn‘s pro sparring class to test out my skills and see what I really had, and I love everything about him from the start. I loved his teaching style. I loved his discipline. To have him as a coach and teacher, then to add someone like Greg Jackson into the mix, I couldn’t have asked for two better mentors or role models.” 

After a few years working under the tutelage of the storied team of Jackson and Winkeljohn, “Six Gun” has become one of the most promising young coaches to hit the scene in recent memory.

While the team in Albuquerque work in a realm of open communication, Gibson has played a crucial role in the development and rise of some of the most prominent names currently residing on the UFC roster.

Of that collective, there is none bigger than light heavyweight phenom Jon Jones. The 26-year-old champion has experienced a meteoric rise since making his Octagon debut back in 2008, as he’s decimated a list of former champions and future Hall of Fame fighters en route to not only becoming the youngest champion in UFC history but the most dominant one as well.

“Bones” will be looking add another notch on his record-setting run of title defenses when he faces Glover Teixeira this weekend at UFC 172.

His fight with the Brazilian powerhouse will ultimately be one more high-profile showcase in what has already been a young career spent under the brightest lights the UFC has to offer, and he appreciates having Gibson by his side throughout his journey.

“I consider him my Bundini Brown,” Jones said. “Bundini was Muhammad Ali’s cornerman and right-hand man. He knew Ali best. That is what Brandon is for me in my career. He’s a phenomenal coach….a phenomenal friend. He has a great spirit towards martial arts and life in general. He’s a great example for me for his work ethic and the way he is as a father and husband. Brandon is an all-around great example, and I’m really glad to have him in my life and with me in my career.”

 

Where the New York native used a blend of his wrestling pedigree, athleticism and creative tendencies to launch his trajectory under the UFC banner, it has been the unorthodox attacks in his striking game that has made him one of the most difficult puzzles in MMA.

The pound-for-pound great has shown improvement at such a rate that the ceiling for his skill set is yet to reach a projected plateau. Gibson has had a front seat to Jones’ rise and is constantly inspired by the way the champion sharpens his weapons and adds to his arsenal.

“The creative element is such an amazing part of the process for me,” Gibson said. “During some of our sessions where we are working on basic technical moves over and over again, something will happen where Jon will have a spark, or I’ll have a spark and something unique will come out of it. A big part of that is knowing all the fighter’s personal styles, where a move one guy comes up with may also fit another fighter’s style. For instance, Jon may come up with this amazing follow up elbow that ends up being a perfect fit for John Dodson and Carlos Condit’s striking games as well. I will walk out of those sessions inspired then try to keep that rolling and inspire the rest of the team.”

When it comes to fighters who push the boundaries of conventional striking in the current era of MMA, Cub Swanson is certainly a card carrying member of the club.

The SoCal representative has consistently displayed a willingness to execute high risk/high reward techniques in the heat of battle, as “Killer Cub” has risen to become one of the most dominant finishers in the highly competitive ranks of the featherweight division.

The 30-year-old contender has been honing his craft in Albuquerque for years and is one of the fighters who is quick to tout the benefits Gibson brings to the table. Swanson has been around the fight game for nearly a decade, and he’s certainly no stranger to the tensions that can arise when egos clash inside the gym.

With that being said, the humility in Gibson’s open-minded approach is one Swanson certainly appreciates and believes it is perhaps the striking coach’s greatest asset.

 

“Brandon is the guy who will show up to work and push all ego aside,” Swanson said. “He’s so eager to learn, and he’s working under these great coaches that he will be open to whatever you want to do and he’ll jump right into it. Coach Wink will have me working on certain things one day, then when it’s time to switch it up or there is something I really want to work on, I’ll grab him and we’ll work that to death. 

“We’ll vibe on things for sure when we are working together. He’ll throw in his two cents, then we’ll examine the situation and see if it is working or if there is something we need to be doing better. We just feed off communication from there, and it’s a pretty cool thing. Having the guys you are working with being open to listen to you is very important. 

“At the end of the day, we look at the entire process to see what worked, what didn’t and why those things were or weren’t effective. There isn’t a whole lot of ego involved, and that is the biggest thing. We are a team, and that’s huge.”

The word “team” can be a subjective term in MMA, but the traditional meaning holds firm inside the gym at Jackson/Winkeljohn. Although every fighter ultimately competes on his own, it takes a solid effort by a group of motivated individuals to properly prepare them for the challenges ahead.

While the lion’s share of the recognition for consistently producing the stream of elite-level talent that comes out of Albuquerque rightfully falls on the shoulders of the two veteran coaches, an upstart group—of which Gibson is a member—is currently aiming to groom the next generation of fighters to emerge from the storied locale.

Mike Valle brought his signature combination-based attack to the table, while Israel “Izzy” Martinez has instituted his wrestling program that has the fighters at Jackson/Winkeljohn grappling at an entirely new level.

When all of the talent in the coaching staff is combined, it creates one of the most unique “think tanks” to be found anywhere in the sport.

With that being said, all the knowledge in the world wouldn’t matter if communication wasn’t front and center, and that aspect is something Gibson and the rest of the fighters training in the gym have grown a deep appreciation for. 

“We are always sharing ideas on our team,” Gibson said. “Whether it be between the coaches or the fighters; we are always communicating with one another. We also pay attention to what other fighters are doing across the sport. Jose Aldo may use a certain kick in one of his fights that was incredibly effective and efficient, and we will work to incorporate that where it would fit with our fighters. It is almost as if there is a live science project going on every weekend in the UFC. We get to see what is working and what isn’t, even if it isn’t necessarily our guys out there fighting inside the Octagon.”

Much the same as the fighters he works side by side with into the late night hours, Gibson’s primary goal is to progress his skills and talents in the fight game.

Where the athletes inside the cage are on a constant push to progress their skills and evolve into a slicker, stronger version of the fighter they were in their previous showing, many of the same things apply for Gibson on the coaching side.

With just a handful of years under his belt in a coaching role, Gibson is certainly aware of how much room there is for personal growth. In fact, the quest for progression and development is something he downright cherishes, and it is a pursuit where a lack of motivation is never a challenge.

Nevertheless, every man or woman who has ever dedicated their lives to combat sports is eager to leave their mark. Where Gibson once believed that would come from his ability to string together combinations, cut angles and use his footwork to set up the highlight reel shot, he now understands his greatest talent is showing another passionate combatant how to work in rhythms most never come to understand.

 

When everything comes together in a perfect moment and a fighter like Tim Kennedy turns out a scrappy Brazilian’s lights with an impeccably timed left hook they had been drilling for weeks on end, the possibilities Gibson has only recently come to imagine all appear there for the taking.

Yet, where the glory of victory elevate those involved to great heights, the shocking moments filled with setback and despair are also a painfully realistic part of the hurt business.

In Gibson’s mind, he’ll take every part of the process to heart because he legitimately cares for his teammates chasing down their dreams inside of the cage. He wants them to reach their full potential and knows the collective push will force him to reach his own.

Gibson wouldn’t have it any other way and has confidence the process of reaching his goals will put him in a place to usher the next wave of Albuquerque-based talent to greatness.

“I just want to keep developing my craft and helping the fighters on our team,” Gibson said. “Every week and each month we have a new goal, and I want to keep helping in any way I can. In the long term, I really want to fully develop a style of my own. I believe I’m really hitting my stride where MMA striking, ranges and transitions are concerned. Working under Coach Wink and Greg, I think I can help make sure Albuquerque continues to breed champions for another two decades.” 

 

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Friday Links: How Cub Swanson Keeps Winning, Jon Jones Pushes for More Drug Testing, Celebrity Gender-Reversals + More


(Here’s Gary Goodridge with Giant Silva [left] and the Great Khali [right]. Obviously, the two pro-wrestlers are wearing fanny-packs. / Props: Gary’s Facebook page)

Cub Swanson: Winning Without Moving Forward (Fightland/JackSlack)

Profanity-Laced Twitter War Erupts Between Josh Burkman, Vinny Magalhaes, and WSOF Boss Ali Abdel-Aziz (MMAMania)

Grudge Match Between Conor McGregor and Cole Miller Targeted for Ireland on July 19 (MMAWeekly)

Jon Jones Is MMA’s Latest Anti-PED Crusader (FOXSports)

GSP’s Dark Side Revealed: ‘Nick Diaz Is a Motherf****r, I’ll F*** Him Up’ (BleacherReport)

The Top Ten Responses You’ll Have To The News That Dave Letterman Is Retiring (Crushable)

Paulina Gretzky’s Golf Digest Cover Draws Hate From Lady-Golfers (HolyTaco)

Board Games We Should Make Into Movies Before Hollywood Ruins Them (EveryJoe)

Man’s Best Friend: Dogs For Dudes (DoubleViking)

VIDEO: Bikini Girl Gets Tasered for Charity (DrunkenStepfather)

No-Win Situation: The Troubled History of Firefall, Part 1 (GameFront)

The 10 Worst Kids Hairstyles Ever (PopHangover)

Game of Thrones Abridged, Season Three: Sexy Dungeon Safety is No Laughing Matter (EscapistMagazine)

The 50 Funniest Celebrity Gender Reversal Pictures Ever (WorldWideInterweb)

The 7 Best iPhone 5 Battery Cases (HiConsumption)

Which Ex-Presidents Would You Want to Go on a Bender With? (Ranker)


(Here’s Gary Goodridge with Giant Silva [left] and the Great Khali [right]. Obviously, the two pro-wrestlers are wearing fanny-packs. / Props: Gary’s Facebook page)

Cub Swanson: Winning Without Moving Forward (Fightland/JackSlack)

Profanity-Laced Twitter War Erupts Between Josh Burkman, Vinny Magalhaes, and WSOF Boss Ali Abdel-Aziz (MMAMania)

Grudge Match Between Conor McGregor and Cole Miller Targeted for Ireland on July 19 (MMAWeekly)

Jon Jones Is MMA’s Latest Anti-PED Crusader (FOXSports)

GSP’s Dark Side Revealed: ‘Nick Diaz Is a Motherf****r, I’ll F*** Him Up’ (BleacherReport)

The Top Ten Responses You’ll Have To The News That Dave Letterman Is Retiring (Crushable)

Paulina Gretzky’s Golf Digest Cover Draws Hate From Lady-Golfers (HolyTaco)

Board Games We Should Make Into Movies Before Hollywood Ruins Them (EveryJoe)

Man’s Best Friend: Dogs For Dudes (DoubleViking)

VIDEO: Bikini Girl Gets Tasered for Charity (DrunkenStepfather)

No-Win Situation: The Troubled History of Firefall, Part 1 (GameFront)

The 10 Worst Kids Hairstyles Ever (PopHangover)

Game of Thrones Abridged, Season Three: Sexy Dungeon Safety is No Laughing Matter (EscapistMagazine)

The 50 Funniest Celebrity Gender Reversal Pictures Ever (WorldWideInterweb)

The 7 Best iPhone 5 Battery Cases (HiConsumption)

Which Ex-Presidents Would You Want to Go on a Bender With? (Ranker)

Barnburner Alert: Cub Swanson vs. Jeremy Stephens to Headline ‘Fight Night Something or Other’ on June 28th


(Stephens puts the stamp on TUF Brazil winner Ronny Jason, while Kenny Florian does his best Joe Silva impersonation in the background. Photo via Getty.)

Jeremy Stephens is a perfect example of a fighter who all but saved his career by dropping a weight class. While Stephens was a staple of the UFC’s lightweight division for some five years, his last three appearances all resulted in losses — a pair of one-sided decisions to Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone and a first round KO (the first of his career) at the hands of Yves Edwards.

Since making the cut to featherweight, however, “Lil Heathen” has been a man reborn (also, acquitted). With decision victories over Estevan Payan and Darren Elkins and a brutal KO over TUF Brazil winner Rony Jason (who did not take the loss well), Stephens has gone from a perennial gatekeeper to a fighter ranked just outside the top 10 on the UFC’s totally unbiased rankings system.

And now, Stephens will be given arguably the biggest fight of his career when he faces off against #4 ranked Cub Swanson in the main event of a Fight Night card scheduled for June 28th in San Antonio. The likelihood of the winner receiving a title shot? Kinda sorta maybe. The likelihood that this fight turns into a slugfest the likes of Lawler vs. Hendricks? Definitely maybe.

Swanson, on the other hand, has strung together five straight wins since dropping his UFC debut to Ricardo Lamas, including stoppage victories over Ross Pearson, Charles Oliveira, and Dennis Siver. He also has some pretty funny-lookin’ tattoos, if you ask me.

Who you like, Nation?

J. Jones


(Stephens puts the stamp on TUF Brazil winner Ronny Jason, while Kenny Florian does his best Joe Silva impersonation in the background. Photo via Getty.)

Jeremy Stephens is a perfect example of a fighter who all but saved his career by dropping a weight class. While Stephens was a staple of the UFC’s lightweight division for some five years, his last three appearances all resulted in losses — a pair of one-sided decisions to Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone and a first round KO (the first of his career) at the hands of Yves Edwards.

Since making the cut to featherweight, however, “Lil Heathen” has been a man reborn (also, acquitted). With decision victories over Estevan Payan and Darren Elkins and a brutal KO over TUF Brazil winner Rony Jason (who did not take the loss well), Stephens has gone from a perennial gatekeeper to a fighter ranked just outside the top 10 on the UFC’s totally unbiased rankings system.

And now, Stephens will be given arguably the biggest fight of his career when he faces off against #4 ranked Cub Swanson in the main event of a Fight Night card scheduled for June 28th in San Antonio. The likelihood of the winner receiving a title shot? Kinda sorta maybe. The likelihood that this fight turns into a slugfest the likes of Lawler vs. Hendricks? Definitely maybe.

Swanson, on the other hand, has strung together five straight wins since dropping his UFC debut to Ricardo Lamas, including stoppage victories over Ross Pearson, Charles Oliveira, and Dennis Siver. He also has some pretty funny-lookin’ tattoos, if you ask me.

Who you like, Nation?

J. Jones

Cub Swanson vs. Jeremy Stephens Announced for June 28 UFC Fight Night Main Event

Cub Swanson and Jeremy Stephens will fight in the main event at the June 28 UFC Fight Night event in San Antonio, Texas. 
The UFC on Fox Twitter account announced the fight Wednesday afternoon, tweeting: 

The two top-15 featherweights are pr…

Cub Swanson and Jeremy Stephens will fight in the main event at the June 28 UFC Fight Night event in San Antonio, Texas. 

The UFC on Fox Twitter account announced the fight Wednesday afternoon, tweeting: 

The two top-15 featherweights are primarily stand-up fighters, and each man possesses big-time knockout power, a fact which will please fans across the globe as the two throw down June 28. 

Making the bout even better, both men have found their groove inside the Octagon of late. 

Swanson has won five straight since January 2012, with four of those wins coming via knockout or technical knockout. His latest victory—a third-round TKO of Dennis Siver—showcased his entire arsenal, as he overcame early adversity to out-grapple and out-strike the German kickboxer late, snagging the crucial victory. 

Stephens, on the other hand, has enjoyed a career resurgence since dropping to featherweight after a three-fight skid at lightweight. 

Since being knocked out by Yves Edwards at UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz, Stephens made the cut to 145 pounds and rattled off three dominant victories, his latest a one-sided unanimous-decision victory over former top-10 featherweight Darren Elkins. 

In that fight, Stephens successfully defended all nine of Elkins’ takedown attempts and scored one of his own. On top of that, Stephens out-struck Elkins every round, securing the clear-cut win. 

Now, Stephens finds himself at No. 11 in the official UFC rankings. A win over Swanson will certainly catapult him into the top 10 and line up a big-time fight moving forward. 

Swanson, though, will certainly be favored in this bout, as he has proven his worth as a top-10 145 pounder over the course of his latest winning streak. A win over Stephens may launch him into title contention; the same, I do not think, can be said for Stephens. 

Who do you favor in the bout? Will Swanson take care of business, or will Stephens pull off the upset? 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Chad Mendes vs. Cub Swanson Is the Right Decision for Featherweight Title Bout

Jose Aldo successfully defended his UFC featherweight championship against Ricardo Lamas at UFC 169, and talk at the post-fight press conference immediately shifted to a potential lightweight title fight against Anthony Pettis.
That fight is not set in…

Jose Aldo successfully defended his UFC featherweight championship against Ricardo Lamas at UFC 169, and talk at the post-fight press conference immediately shifted to a potential lightweight title fight against Anthony Pettis.

That fight is not set in stone, but if it does happen, UFC President Dana White says Chad Mendes vs. Cub Swanson makes the most sense, and I agree.

Chad Mendes is the No. 1 ranked contender in the division, and he is next in line regardless of if Aldo moves up or not. That makes his appearance in the hypothetical fight for the vacant belt a no brainer. Mendes has done everything to earn another shot at the gold.

Frankie Edgar is scheduled to coach the next season of The Ultimate Fighter alongside BJ Penn. That takes him out of the running due to scheduling conflicts, but it could make their featherweight encounter a potential title eliminator.

That leaves Ricardo Lamas, Swanson and Chan Sung Jung as the likely candidates for the second slot.

Lamas and The Korean Zombie are both coming off losses in title bouts.

Lamas has never been able to excite the MMA fans enough for him to leapfrog anyone, and after his loss at UFC 169, he will need a few wins before getting another shot at the featherweight title. The Korean Zombie, on the other hand, has shown the ability to get the crowd behind him.

However, with his time away from the cage—and coming off a loss—it is not the best for business for the UFC to select him to go opposite Mendes.

Swanson is the right choice.

The Jackson’s MMA featherweight is on a five-fight win streak with four TKO/KO finishes in that run. Moreover, Swanson is a charismatic personality that can connect with the fans better than his competition for this spot.

Also, Mendes and Swanson are the only two contenders ranked in the top five on winning streaks.

A Mendes vs. Swanson fight would be a rematch of a meeting between the two in 2010 during their WEC tenure. Mendes took that fight by unanimous decision, but that fight is in the distant past now.

The two featherweight title contenders are vastly improved since that time. They have continued to develop their MMA skills, and they have shown a propensity to finish fights in recent times. It makes the rematch an exciting matchup.

This is the best fight the UFC could promote for a vacant title with Edgar tied up with other duties.

Of the top-five ranked fighters, these are the only two who make sense in the current landscape of the UFC. Mendes vs. Swanson is the right choice, and should Aldo make the move to lightweight, the UFC should jump to finalize this title bout.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Cub Swanson Wants Jose Aldo to Move Up and Challenge Himself at Lightweight

Anthony Pettis and Jose Aldo were scheduled to fight at featherweight last year, but an injury to Pettis forced the bout to be cancelled. He made a quick return and won the UFC Lightweight Championship, while Aldo continued to defend his featherweight …

Anthony Pettis and Jose Aldo were scheduled to fight at featherweight last year, but an injury to Pettis forced the bout to be cancelled. He made a quick return and won the UFC Lightweight Championship, while Aldo continued to defend his featherweight title.

Now, after Aldo’s latest successful title defense, we might be getting the fight we all very much wanted to see last summer. Or, at least we thought we were. Aldo claimed he wanted Pettis after beating Ricardo Lamas at UFC 169. Pettis accepted, and Dana White moved quickly to make it happen.

But then things started unraveling. Aldo’s coach said they wanted the fight at a catchweight of 150 pounds, according to Globo (h/t MMA Fighting). Pettis’ management responded by telling Fox Sports that wasn’t an option and that Aldo would have to do as White said he would: Give up the featherweight title and move to lightweight.

And now we find ourselves in limbo, hoping we’ll see a fight that has the potential to cement Aldo as one of the greatest fighters of all time.

But we aren’t the only ones in limbo. Featherweight contenders Cub Swanson and Chad Mendes await Aldo’s decision; if he vacates the belt, there’s a pretty good chance they’ll square off to determine the new champion. In the meantime, they’re in a holding pattern, and it’s something Swanson would like to see concluded swiftly.

Here’s what he told Steph Daniels from Bloody Elbow:

I was pretty…I don’t want to say irritated, but they kept telling me after this fight they’d have an answer. Now, with all this superfight talk, it’s all on Aldo and it’s kind of frustrating. I’d like some answers. If he’s going to stay or go, just do it already, so the rest of us can figure this out.

If I was him, I’d just go. We’re all guys that want to challenge ourselves and be the best in the world. That’s why people love Randy Couture and B.J. Penn; they sought challenges in different weight classes to be the best in the world. Dominating one weight class makes you a badass in the sport, but if you want to be a legend, you have to go to different weight classes and be dominant there, too.

I agree with Swanson. Aldo cannot have his cake and eat it, too. If he wants the challenge of facing the lightweight champ, he’ll have to sacrifice the belt he currently holds.

A catchweight bout may sound appealing to Aldo’s camp, but it effectively freezes other contenders at both featherweight and lightweight from getting their own opportunities while Aldo and Pettis settle their business. Nobody wants to see that, least of all Swanson, and you can’t blame him for being upset at the notion of waiting on the sidelines for a long period of time before getting the title shot he has earned in the cage.

At the end of the day, I suspect we’ll see Swanson get his wish. Aldo will move up to lightweight to challenge Pettis for the belt, and Swanson and Mendes will fight to determine a new featherweight champion.

But for Swanson’s sake—and for the sake of every other fighter in both divisions who are awaiting their own opportunities to strap some gold around their waistsI hope Aldo and his camp make a decision soon.

It’s the right thing to do.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com