The combat sports community continues to impress with its unity, even in a sport as intense and bloody as MMA. Of late, the same sense of community emerged when American-Tajik MMA fighter Bekhzod Usmonov’s family suffered a serious accident, leaving everyone injured and in urgent need of help.

At that critical moment, Jon Jones’ former coach stepped in to provide the much-needed financial assistance, much like earlier this year when stars from MMA, boxing, and wrestling came together to support former UFC fighter Ben Askren. After his fight with Staph, pneumonia severely damaged both of Askren’s lungs, placing immense physical and financial strain on his family.

Support Effort Begins at Jackson-Wink

“We’re hoping for the best, praying,” MMA Coach Mike Winkeljohn told the Albuquerque Journal. Bekhzod Usmonov’s wife, Victoria, and their 1-year-old son, Maximus, were recently involved in a serious car crash. As a result, doctors immediately rushed Victoria and their son to the hospital.

Meanwhile, to provide additional support, Coach Winkeljohn quickly launched a fundraiser for Bekhzod and his family on GoFundMe.com. Thirty-year-old Bekhzod Usmonov (11-5) fights under the Conor McGregor’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and holds a 2-1 record in his bare-knuckle career. However, he has not competed since February.

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Usmonov has been training at Jon Jones’ former gym, Jackson‑Wink Academy, since 2022. In that short time, he has built a strong bond with Winkeljohn. “He never stops smiling, never stops saying nice things to people,” said Winkeljohn, one of Usmonov’s coaches at Albuquerque’s Jackson‑Wink MMA.

Despite training at the gym, Usmonov never got the chance to train with Jon Jones, as the gym banned Jones in 2021 due to domestic violence legal issues. Although he competed at a high level, Bekhzod Usmonov unfortunately missed the chance to fight in the UFC in 2024.

He participated in The Ultimate Fighter 32, with Alex Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko serving as coaches. At the weigh-ins, he came in half a pound over the limit. However, when his opponent also missed weight, the fight continued at catchweight.

Both fighters delivered what many called the season’s best performance, but in the end, Usmonov lost the fight as well as the UFC opportunity. Despite this setback, Usmonov continues to excel in combat sports, fueled by his determination and hard work.

Bekhzod Usmonov’s journey from early life to fighting in America

For Bekhzod Usmonov, achieving the dream of coming to America was far from easy. At just 10 years old, he left his homeland and moved to Russia with his father. MMA did not enter his life until he moved to Thailand at 19, where he trained under AKA Thailand to refine his skills. With the unwavering support of his parents, he debuted in MMA at Russia, competing in promotions like Ambition FC, and later fought in the Chinese and Australian circuits, steadily sharpening his abilities along the way.

After building success on the regional circuit, Usmonov decided to move to America in 2022. He first competed in IKON FC 5 in Savannah, which eventually led him to Albuquerque to join Jon Jones’ gym, Jackson-Wink MMA Academy. Inspired by homegrown stars such as Holly Holm and  Jones, Usmonov now aims to motivate others.

“I’m gonna inspire those kids that watch this show, who are gonna say to their parents, ‘Dad, I’m gonna do exactly how Bek is doing,’” he says in his interview with UFC. “‘I’m gonna go to America or somewhere else and become an MMA fighter.’”

While training at Jackson-Wink MMA Academy, Usmonov lived in the gym dorms. At the same time, he worked double jobs, including one at Starbucks, while taking undergraduate classes to pursue his dream.  Even though he hasn’t yet fought in the UFC, his standout performances in bare-knuckle competitions prove that the Tajik-American fighter is determined to inspire others. His story is just getting started.