[autotag]Mike Valle[/autotag]’s work has been seen in premiere MMA for a long time. However, 2024 was the year when his coaching really stood out.
The veteran trainer, who operates out of Chicago with VFS Academy, helped create two UFC champions this year and helped further the trajectories of other UFC and regional fighters.
Valle’s most notable work came through [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag], who captured the UFC welterweight title after one of the longest and toughest title campaigns in the promotion’s history. It was also enforced by [autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag] reclaiming her UFC women’s bantamweight belt, and prospect [autotag]Ignacio Bahamondes[/autotag]’ resurgence.
Belal Muhammad
Muhammad didn’t have it easy. The promotion didn’t favor him like they have with some of their other fighters, such as Sean O’Malley or Darren Till. There was no fast track to the belt. The general MMA fanbase, at least the majority of it, wasn’t vouching for him to get his due, either.
Valle stood by Muhammad’s side, knocking off one contender after the next. After a 10-fight unbeaten streak, which spanned five years, “Remember the Name” finally got his much deserved shot at UFC gold.
On July 27, 2024, Muhammad traveled to enemy territory to challenge British champion Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 304. To many’s surprise, not only did Muhammad win, but he dominated Edwards over the course of 25 minutes, mixing up his striking and wrestling flawlessly.
Muhammad, the team captain of VFS, added the first UFC undisputed title to Valle’s 2024 run. It was a big moment for Valle and the whole team, who campaigned and supported Muhammad for years.
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Julianna Peña
It’s hard to become champion, and many say it’s even harder to stay champion. But statistically speaking, not many are able to win a UFC belt after losing it a first time, and that’s exactly what Peña did.
Peña stunned the MMA world in late 2021 after dethroning the greatest female MMA fighter of all time, Amanda Nunes, in a giant upset submission win. She then returned in July 2022 in an immediate rematch against the Brazilian, only to lose her belt in dominant fashion.
After losing the belt, the sport didn’t see Peña back in action until October 2024. Peña returned from injury after over two years of inactivity against defending champion Raquel Pennington. It felt like a lot what stacked against the “Venezuelan Vixen” yet she was able to leave UFC 307 as champion.
Sure, it was a highly debated decision, but it was a close, competitive fight where Peña did enough to get the on the right side of the opinions that matter. Peña added the second UFC title to Valle’s 2024. It was a big moment for the team.
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Ignacio Bahamondes
Watch out lightweights, “La Jaula” is back.
After going 1-1 in 2023, Bahamodnes needed a big year if he wanted to re-spark the hype that he generated with his entry through Dana White’s Contender Series. Bahamodnes fought twice, picking up two highlight-reel finishes and two $50,000 Performance of the Night bonuses.
Bahamondes knocked out Christos Giagos in May and then pulled off an upset TKO win over Manuel Torres in September at The Sphere. Bahamodnes, 5-1 in his past six outings, is knocking on the door of the UFC lightweight rankings.
Honorable mention
[autotag]Javier Mendez[/autotag] and [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] have won MMA Junkie’s Coach of the Year before, and the pairing will be a big staple for many years to come given their stable of fighters.
Although they didn’t win Coach of the Year in 2024, they were in the conversation and had to be mentioned.
Between Mendez and Khabib they have several fighters under their wing, but three specifically stood out: [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag], [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag], and [autotag]Usman Nurmagomedov[/autotag]. These three went undefeated in 2024, and picked up very important wins.
Makhachev fought once, successfully defending his UFC lightweight title against the always tough Dustin Poirier in the main event of UFC 302 in June. It was a wild fight, one of the best championship fights in recent memory, and Makhachev was able to end it by submission.
Umar competed twice, defeating Bekzat Almakhan in March and then Cory Sandhagen in August. This 2024 run, paired with what he’d done in years prior, got him a title shot against Merab Dvalishvili in the co-main event of UFC 311 on Jan. 18. This was Umar’s biggest year in his career.
Usman only fought once, but in that fight he was able to stay undefeated and retain his Bellator lightweight title. Usman dominated Alexandr Shabliy to win a unanimous decision back in September at Bellator Champions Series 4.
Two title defenses, and one title shot. Not a bad 2024 for Mended and Khabib as coaches.
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