Is there any city in the US that can lay claim to producing top level UFC talent?

[Mystic Mac Miller]

Hoping this thread does not get trolled by the repeated West Lynn, OR comments.

I know in Boxing cities like Phili, Brockton, and NYC were representing the US hard. You even had Grand Rapids, Michigan which gave us the likes of Money Mayweather, Tony Tucker, James Toney, and Stanley Ketchel.

Which city is becoming to the UFC what Philly was to boxing?

 

[linvillegorge]

It's really about the locations of the big gyms. Albuquerque was the center of MMA for quite while when Jackson's was at it's peak. Denver has always been well repped with Trevor Wittman currently being the top dog in town. Coconut Creek, FL with American Top Team. Long Island, NY with Serra-Longo.

 

[Thepaintbucket]

UFC? I'm not quite sure. Doesn't Coconut Creek and Miami have a big combat sports scene

 

[MMAElite4]

no

 

[Poatan Power]

Jake Shields is from Mountain Ranch, CA. TJ Dillashaw is from Angels Camp, CA. Both in the same hodunk county in California (Calaveras) and only a few miles away from one another. Also the same county that Nick Kohring (NDA, Cesar brown belt, 13-2) and Christian Lohsen (Darkwolf MMA, Cesar black belt, 10-2) are from about 20 mins from Jake/TJ. Considering the size of the county it's actually fairly remarkable that they've had two Cesar black belts, a UFC champ and SF champ from there.

 

[chaos_36]

From an outsiders perspective it seems like New York producers the best MMA fighters.

 

[Psychedelic]

Alburquerque, New Mexico

Diego Sanchez
Carlos Condit
Jon Jones

In each UFC era, there's a standout fighter from that area. It also produced the MMA GOAT.

 

[jitzmonkey]

Nassau County which borders Queens, NY might be it.
It’s a 15 *minute drive late at night (per Google maps… because WTF do I know about the suburbs) from Weidman’s hometown to Aljo’s to Serra’s.

All three came up in their respective youth wrestling programs* before getting into BJJ/MMA.

Jake Shields is from Mountain Ranch, CA. TJ Dillashaw is from Angels Camp, CA. Both in the same hodunk county in California (Calaveras) and only a few miles away from one another. Also the same county that Nick Kohring (NDA, Cesar brown belt, 13-2) and Christian Lohsen (Darkwolf MMA, Cesar black belt, 10-2) are from about 20 mins from Jake/TJ. Considering the size of the county it's actually fairly remarkable that they've had two Cesar black belts, a UFC champ and SF champ from there.

Quick Google search shows a 50K population in Calaveras county (Vs 1.4 million in Nassau County for example.)

Talk about punching above their weight!

Also: Great Citation!

 

[BenjaminDuffy]

Do you mean where they come from originally, or where they go to train?

If you're talking about training, COVID concentrated a ton of talent in Vegas, because so many fighters wanted to be nearby in order to be able to fight in the UFC on short notice (or simply not to risk illness or travel restrictions by training elsewhere). It's no coincidence that Xtreme Couture and Syndicate exploded in size and prominence in 2020-2021.

 

[JPhenomenal]

Long Island, NY

 

[DapperDave]

Yes.

In fact, all of them can. Just wait 200 more years. It will happen.

 

[Harlekin]

Miami:

 

[pride_rules]

how many live in las vegas ?

or are we talking born/raised hometown fighters?
if so.

Jake Shields is from Mountain Ranch, CA. TJ Dillashaw is from Angels Camp, CA. Both in the same hodunk county in California (Calaveras) and only a few miles away from one another. Also the same county that Nick Kohring (NDA, Cesar brown belt, 13-2) and Christian Lohsen (Darkwolf MMA, Cesar black belt, 10-2) are from about 20 mins from Jake/TJ. Considering the size of the county it's actually fairly remarkable that they've had two Cesar black belts, a UFC champ and SF champ from there.

this guy has to be closest to the top
also factor in Stockton less than 60 miles from said hodunk county
gilbert shields diaz bros etc.
CA produces fighters boxing etc

 

[pride_rules]

Miami:

cream rises brah

 

[jeskola]

Huntington Beach, CA will always be the MMA city of America no matter what happens.

 

[Mystic Mac Miller]

Nassau County which borders Queens, NY might be it.
It’s a 15 *minute drive late at night (per Google maps… because WTF do I know about the suburbs) from Weidman’s hometown to Aljo’s to Serra’s.
!

LOL not even close.

Tons of people living there and it is one of the largest counties in America, for its size, it does quite poorly.

 

[Ajax41]

Alburquerque, New Mexico

Diego Sanchez
Carlos Condit
Jon Jones

In each UFC era, there's a standout fighter from that area. It also produced the MMA GOAT.

John Dodson
Holly Holm
Ray Borg
And Tim Means are all born and raised here as well. Jones isn’t from here but he and cowboy are legit transplants who’ve been here well over a decade

 

[jitzmonkey]

LOL not even close.

Tons of people living there and it is one of the largest counties in America, for its size, it does quite poorly.

1.4 million people.
3 generations of UFC champions.

That said, feel free to offer a counter argument.

 

[thewhiterooster]

Hoping this thread does not get trolled by the repeated West Lynn, OR comments.

I know in Boxing cities like Phili, Brockton, and NYC were representing the US hard. You even had Grand Rapids, Michigan which gave us the likes of Money Mayweather, Tony Tucker, James Toney, and Stanley Ketchel.

Which city is becoming to the UFC what Philly was to boxing?

are you asking what city has the best camps? or where the fighters themselves actually grew up?

 

[Captain_Dammitt]

ABQ has Walter Black. End of discussion.