Father of all MMA photographers interview and gallery

MMA photography pioneer Susumu Nagao – who has shot some of the most important and historic events in MMA history – spoke to MMA Fighting’s own photographer Esther Lin about an exhibition of his work at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo in Long Beach, California.

Nagao discusses how he got interested in MMA through Shooto and professional wrestling, his early impressions of Royce Gracie during the first UFC events, the stories behind some of his most famous photos, PRIDE’s spectacle and how much he misses it now, the special relationship he had with Carlson Gracie despite a language barrier and so much more.

A handful of Nagao’s countless iconic images appears below.

The copyright of these photograph is held by Susumu Nagao.