Mixing with stars of MMA
MICHAEL Archer rubbed shoulders with some of the world’s most devastating strikers — and stood toe-to-toe with the rising stars of MMA.
It was a trip of a lifetime for the Geelong striking coach, who spent three weeks inside the famed Jackson Wink MMA Academy.
Archer watched UFC champions Jon Jones and Holly Holm go to work and was on hand to see heavyweights Alistair Overeem and Andre Arlovski work through session after session.
“It was a very humbling experience,” he said of his stay in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“It was a bit nerve-racking for the first couple of days, but as I got into the swing of things, it was really good.
“I was working closely with Lando Vannata, who is an up and comer in the UFC, Ray Borg and John Dodson, who is another big name.
“The main thing I got out of it was working with Brandon Gibson, who is Jon Jones’s striking coach.”
Archer held the pads for a host of the Jackson Wink fighters, but it was bantamweight Holm, who shocked the world with her stunning upset of Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 in Melbourne in November 2016, who was a sight to behold.
“To share a cage with Holly Holm . . . it’s something out of this world,” he said.
“She is just phenomenal. It gives you goosebumps. The way she works, she’s a welldeserving champion.”
Jones is back in training as he waits for his 12-month ban for taking banned substances to be lifted.
“I spoke to Jon Jones a fair bit and he’s training hard,” Archer said.
“He’s got a real presence and he rolls and wrestles with a lot of the young guys.
“It’s very humbling to get an invite back to work with some of the fighters and that’s fantastic.”
A striking coach for more than 20 years, Archer hopes to continue to build his brand in Australia and the US.
“The end goal for me is to coach young, aspiring talent here and hopefully be able to take a fighting from the local area into the UFC,” he said.
“I believe it’s only the beginning with Jackson-Wink and they’re looking at getting a few fighters on the next Melbourne card.”