The Dagestani Difference

[Doctor Grudge]

Abdulmanap was the highest tier sambo coach, and over time they just perfected their mma formula, it is an exception, you are right. Dagestan has a lot of mma talent (and probably the most concentrated overall combat athletes anywhere in the world) as well, but many younger prospects are not competing in UFC, and spread out over other gyms/coaches etc.

There is more to this formula of generating combat athletes than what has been discussed in this excellent thread. I have first hand knowledge on that being from the region myself originally, and doing combat sports for a decade there.

Somewhat coincidently, I used to go to Ray Longo's gym, and most of the fighters there are homegrown, from the same county. The county has about the same population as Dagestan, so it's quite impressive Ray Longo's gym has generated as many UFC fighters and champions as it has.

Because technically it is in New York (State) though, I think people just assume that a huge pool of fighters from the big city go to Ray Longo's gym. Almost everyone there grew up within 20 minutes of each other in some random suburb.

Mekrab is the first guy who is more of an import from that gym. I think on TV people can tell Ray Longo and Matt Serra have a homegrown/local vibe compared to the bigger gyms in USA.

They too have a very interesting formula for grappling, that has helped immensely when converting wrestlers to MMA. Very chain/catch-wrestling based.

 

[The Siege]

Right, but that isn't Dagestan, that's a team. Khabib's gym is a lot better at fighting on the ground than the other gyms in Dagestan.


Abdulmanap is just top tier, and possibly the best team in the world. Dagestan

does punch above its weight overall, but I think many people kind of lump them all together, when many Dagestani guys are not killers like the Nurmagomedov family (and Islam).

I agree. You have to remember that when people refer to "The Dagestanis" (whether negative or positive) they are referring to Team Abdulmanap for the most part. No one is thinking about Shamil Abdulrakhimov or Muslim Salikhov when this topic comes up.

However, you are correct, much of the dominance and success has been coming out of that gym.