Winklejohn: Winning FOTN could shorten your lifespan
Mike Winkeljohn amassed a 25-7-2 record as a professional kickboxer, including memorable battles with Marek Piotrowski and Coban Lookchaoemaesaithong. In…
Mike Winkeljohn amassed a 25-7-2 record as a professional kickboxer, including memorable battles with Marek Piotrowski and Coban Lookchaoemaesaithong. In 17 years, he would capture two International Sport Karate Association championships and one muay Thai world title. Winkeljohn does not revel in past glories — they’re just titles, he said.
The foundation for Winkeljohn’s crossover into MMA was laid when he started competing in the Russian-based combat sport of Draka, which combined kickboxing with takedowns. Around that same time, an organization called the Ultimate Fighting Championship held its first event in Denver.
Draka exposed Winkeljohn’s lack of wrestling aptitude. To help remedy those deficiencies, he sought out Chris Luttrell, an acquaintance from high school. Winkeljohn would spend the better part of a year inside the University of New Mexico wrestling room, refining his all-around skills. Through Luttrell, Winkeljohn was introduced to Greg Jackson, and the two men began exchanging philosophies on standup and ground fighting.
I would go and roll with Greg and then I would go right back and teach my classes, Winkeljohn recalled. All I want to do is teach people how to fight and get better at what they do. It was causing a few headaches along the way. I started just doing grappling and kickboxing at my school. I kind of just transitioned out of (karate), just because that’s where my heart was at.
Today, the sign outside the southeast Albuquerque gym location bears the name Jackson-Winkeljohn Mixed Martial Arts. It might be more commonly known as Jackson’s MMA around the world, but those on the inside recognize both men equally.
He continues to mentor me today because he’s very smart, he’s very strategic and he looks out for me, Jackson said. [When I got started] I didn’t know much about anything. He taught me a lot about business and work ethic — I look up to him. He’s bulldog loyal, always has my back. I really owe that guy everything.
I remember from day one he used to make me earn my place. He wouldn’t just give me pad work — if I was late, he’d just skip me, Jon Jones said. He definitely made me respect him from day one of being on this team, to the point where I realized how much of an honor and a privilege it was to have time with him, and I would never show up late to our kickboxing sessions anymore… He used to say it to me all the time: ‘I’m not gonna kiss your butt like people around here. I’m not impressed.’ I always thought that was cool that he took that approach to me.
Having been through multiple wars himself, Winkeljohn is well aware of dangers that can arise from the trauma of being hit repeatedly. Over many years in the fight game, Winkeljohn has seen the adverse effects of his chosen profession first hand, including death. It is why he drills the concepts taught to him years ago.
I’m all about angles — hitting and not getting hit. That’s kind of how I want my guys to fight; not stand there and brawl, which I know excites the fans, he said. I tell guys all the time: I’m not against winning the ‘Fight of the Night,’ but really I’m not excited about it. Usually, [it] means there’s a slugfest and it could shorten your lifespan down the road.
