Fortis MMA’s Sayif Saud shares key to reaching 100 UFC teaching wins

Coaches are among the many most unheralded individuals in MMA, however at UFC Fight Night 254 this previous Saturday, Fortis MMA chief Sayif Saud bought his flowers.

After being a frequent presence within the nook of notable athletes beneath the UFC banner, Saud reached the landmark of 100 crew victories with the game’s largest promotion, and it got here courtesy of a Sam Hughes split decision triumph over Stephanie Luciano in a strawweight bout at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The second Hughes’ hand was raised, she took the microphone throughout her post-fight interview and showered Saud with reward, vocalizing the importance of the Dallas-based crew hitting the milestone of triple-digit victories within the UFC.

“Everyone was so cool about it like, ‘Tonight’s the night time,’” Saud instructed MMA Junkie. “It shocked me, actually, as a result of there’s a lot fights, a lot crap happening. Everyone who performs a job (on the UFC) that individuals don’t see had been like, ‘Tonight’s the night time. You’re going to do it.’ Everyone dealt with it fairly superior and gave me numerous love. Only a actually cool second and one thing I’ll one thing I always remember.’

“Successful fights within the UFC isn’t straightforward. Successful double digit fights over a number of years, it’s so exhausting. I believe we’ve completed it 5 occasions in 5 years or six years. It’s so exhausting then to win 20 fights in a 12 months, we’ve completed that a few occasions. Only one win is difficult, so clearly in case you’re getting 20 wins in a 12 months within the UFC, it’s actually one thing to be happy with.”

Saud, a former fighter who discovered his place as a coach with the famed Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuquerque, N.M., bought his first teaching win on the again of Sean Spencer beating Yuri Villefort at UFC Battle Night time 28 in September 2013. His private highlights as a cornerman on the street to 100 included Geoff Neal’s 90-second knockout of Mike Perry in December 2019, and Brandon Moreno rising from his four-fight series with Deiveson Figueiredo as undisputed flyweight champion.

Though 100 represents a monumental achievement for Saud and a key merchandise crossed off his bucket record, he mentioned it’s not the time to relaxation on his laurels. He’s nonetheless bought related, extremely ranked names in his secure of fighters who’ve aspirations of their very own.

“I had two objectives (as a coach): My first aim was to get to 100 wins, as a result of I believed that’s Don Shula-esque, you possibly can’t be denied,” Saud mentioned. “That’s numerous wins. The second was to win an undisputed title, which that wasn’t straightforward in any respect and shall be very exhausting to do once more and that’s what we’re striving to do, to win titles.”

Though Fortis MMA is now among the many most established and prestigious gyms within the sport, Saud mentioned it’s a precedence to proceed increasing and evolving. Longtime crew member and UFC light-weight veteran Diego Ferreira just lately dedicated to a job as full-time jiu-jitsu coach, which Saud mentioned provides to the “very distinctive” employees Fortis MMA has to supply.

In December, Saud instructed MMA Junkie that he was mulling a coaching retirement within the not-too-distant future. He mentioned these feedback had been met with pushback from his athletes, particularly those that are youthful of their respective careers.

Saud mentioned he’s not but able to make his exit as Fortis MMA’s head coach, particularly as he displays on such a giant second in his profession, which he preached as a product of getting fighters constantly ready to compete on the highest stage of MMA.

“I’ve bought to thank everybody on the gymnasium that has been a part of this journey since Day 1,” Saud mentioned. “This dream that we needed to construct this crew from scratch, to sort of see it now hit this milestone of 100 wins is simply form loopy. It’s surreal in some methods as a result of it’s like, we did it. We solidified this dream, and I really feel like what’s what this 100 wins reveals, is the consistency on the highest stage when the game has continued to get more durable and more durable. It’s so exhausting to win now even in comparison with pre-COVID and Contender Collection. It’s a lot extra aggressive. I’m simply actually happy with everyone.

“I’m gone a lot. Life’s trade-offs. For these 100 wins, that’s 100 occasions that I wasn’t right here at house to look at my very own varieties. It’s an accomplishment that so many individuals had been part of and supported and I actually respect everyone. It was a extremely cool weekend.”

To listen to extra from Saud on his milestone of 100 UFC wins, try his full look on “The Bohnfire” podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn within the video above.