​LAS VEGAS — If the universe were to end in 100 years, 1,000 years, or even 1 million years, and a history book of MMA was written in the months just before, Ray Longo would still be remembered as one of the coaches who left a meaningful chapter. Standing on the red carpet at T-Mobile Arena, moments from inducting arguably his most legendary student, Chris Weidman, into the UFC Hall of Fame, Longo reflected on an era when fighters thrived under his guidance at Serra-Longo MMA and Longo and Weidman MMA.
“I couldn’t be happier,” Longo told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “I’m super tight with Chris. We built this from a 3,500-square-foot gym. Nobody realized how small it was. The camaraderie we had is what carried us. I’ll tell you, when (Matt) Serra won the title, our gym was 2,500 square feet. We really went big time. We added another 1,000 square feet. Then for (Aljamain Sterling) and Merab (Dvalishvili), we added another 2,000 and bumped up to 5,500. But the point is, all of these guys were five minutes from the gym. They threw their first professional MMA punch with me, and I’m just glad it worked out.”
Longo opened his gym in 1990, and over the next 35 years it became a breeding ground for champions and challengers alike, all while keeping the professional team relatively small compared with other gyms. Many of its most notable alumni hailed from Long Island, born and raised in the area. “It was a special time,” Longo said. “I don’t think it’s ever coming back. Today, I don’t see the young fighters with the grit and determination those guys had. I feel they’re given too much, too soon, and they expect too much too early. It weakens them. It’s like if you put a guy on welfare—why would he want to get off if you keep giving him everything? I think those times will never return. That’s why, as I was writing the speech, it brought out a lot of emotions about what we were really doing in that small gym. We were a powerhouse when everyone was in there—the Iaquintas, the Sterlings, Dvalishvili—we had Costa Philippou. We had a tight group of guys who worked together. We were getting things done back then.”
So what does the future hold? It’s hard to say. Perhaps some of the more notable professionals will divide their time between the gym and other ventures, or migrate entirely to the West Coast. As proud as Longo is of his accomplishments, he seemed to acknowledge on Friday that strong chapters can come to a close. He also thanked his former student and longtime coaching partner, Matt Serra, for his contributions to their shared success.
“I think it’s almost closed at this point,” Longo said. “I hate to say it. And the other thing I want to add is that I wouldn’t be here without Matt Serra. Even though he was always gracious about giving me opportunities and letting me have the spotlight, there wasn’t a decision made for better SEO. The truth is, I owe a lot to him.”