In the realm of sports, fighters are fascinating people. They stand out the most among athletes in every sport known to man. However, we forget that there is a great coach behind every great story; behind every great fighter. Fighters would not be fully prepared to meet the task that is set in front of them in a battle if they did not have the guidance and wisdom of a coach.
Let's take a look at some of the top combat sports trainers that have coached some of our favorite cage competitors.
Trevor Wittman:
As an amateur boxer, Trevor Wittman began his combat sports career. Wittman's career as a fighter, however, was cut short when he was diagnosed with a catastrophic lung ailment.
Following his retirement, Wittman opened the T's K.O. Boxing Gym in Colorado, which later became the Grudge Training Center in 2009. He had no idea, however, that he would be producing a world champion, Rose Namajunas, who won the strawweight world title by stoppage in 2021.
Hector Vasquez:
Hector Vasquez is a skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter who can easily hold his own in a fight, although he wasn't always at his best. He grew up in a difficult circumstance where taking risks was a way of life, but with the help of a good coworker and jiu-jitsu, he was able to turn his life around. Hector is now a five-time World Champion and teaches Brazilian jiu-jitsu to martial artists young and old at Cobrinha in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hector instills not only martial arts techniques but also discipline and confidence in his students.
Hector has not only won multiple world titles for himself, but he has also trained Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov and created Brandon Moreno to earn his world title. Hector's Instagram account, @hectorvasquezbjj (https://www.instagram.com/hectorvasquezbjj/), is quite active.
Brandon Moreno, his current trainee, earned his first world title in the flyweight weight division a few months ago, which was his most recent achievement.
Rafael Cordeiro:
Rafael Cordeiro competed competitively, but it was his work as an exceptional MMA teacher at Brazil's iconic Chute Boxe Academy that made him famous. Cordeiro coached a number of Brazilian superstars to the top of their respective UFC divisions.

Cordeiro's standing as one of the top MMA instructors was cemented when Rafael dos Anjos and Lyoto Machida both won UFC belts at various periods in their careers. Cordeiro is also credited with helping Anderson Silva, Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua, and Wanderlei Silva create their stand-up routines.
By creating the right environment, a coach can open doors and unlock a fighter's potential. They can take a step back and objectively examine your development, advising you on when to push harder or take a break.