Albuquerque is a weird place for a sports mecca. It's high, it's dusty, and it’s home to a nondescript building on Acoma Road that has produced more gold than a Spanish galleon. Inside those walls at Jackson Wink MMA, a specific dynamic formed between two of the most different people you could imagine: Jon Jones and Holly Holm.
One is a chaos magnet with arguably the greatest natural talent in human history. The other is "The Preacher’s Daughter," a model of discipline and stoicism.
They aren't just teammates. They’re "gym siblings." Honestly, if you want to understand why Jon Jones has stayed at the top for nearly two decades despite, well, everything, you have to look at the influence of Holly Holm. And if you want to know how Holm pulled off the greatest upset in sports history against Ronda Rousey, you have to look at the guy who was sparring with her in the weeks leading up to it.
The Albuquerque Connection: More Than Just Sparring Partners
Most people think elite fighters just show up, hit pads, and go home. It’s not like that at Jackson Wink. For Jon Jones and Holly Holm, the bond was forged in the "graveyard" shifts of training. Back in 2011, before Holm was even a household name in MMA, Jones was already the youngest champion in UFC history. Yet, he was the one showing up to her boxing media workouts.
There’s famous footage of them from over a decade ago. Jones, a giant light heavyweight, is playfully but technically sparring with Holm. He’s not taking it easy; he’s pushing her. He once famously said, "I look up to her." That wasn't just PR fluff. While Jones was battling his own demons outside the cage, Holm was the constant. She was the one who didn't judge.
Why the "Sister" Label Actually Matters
Jones has repeatedly referred to Holm as his "sister." In the hyper-masculine, ego-driven world of fight camps, that’s a rare sentiment. When Jon was pulled from UFC 200 due to a doping violation—a moment that could have fractured any team—Holm didn't distance herself. She told reporters, "We stick together as a team."
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She didn't condone his mistakes. She just didn't abandon him. That’s a nuance people miss.
The GOAT Debate and Mutual Respect
When Holm knocked out Ronda Rousey at UFC 193, the world was in shock. Jon Jones wasn't. He went on a social media tear, calling her the GOAT of women's combat sports.
He pointed out something most fans ignore:
- Holm is the only person to win world titles in both top-tier boxing and the UFC.
- Her "boring" grocery store trips (which Jon says take 45 minutes because she talks to every fan) are a stark contrast to his own tumultuous relationship with fame.
- She provided the "mental blueprint" for Jones to stay focused when his career felt like it was sliding off the rails.
It’s a bizarre trade-off. Jones gave Holm the wrestling and clinch insights needed to survive in the octagon. Holm gave Jones a glimpse of what a "classy" champion looked like.
The 2021 Breaking Point
Things got complicated in October 2021. After an arrest involving domestic violence allegations, Jon Jones was famously banned from Jackson Wink by Coach Mike Winkeljohn. It was a "tough love" moment that shocked the MMA community.
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Where did that leave Holly?
She stayed at the gym. She remained loyal to her coaches but never trashed Jon. It’s that Albuquerque loyalty—it’s thick. Even as Jon moved his training to "Fight Ready" in Arizona and eventually returned to win the Heavyweight title, the shadow of his time with Holly remained. They still speak of each other with a level of reverence that you don't see between, say, Jones and Rashad Evans.
What Really Happened with Jon Jones and Holly Holm?
The internet loves a conspiracy. For years, message boards like Reddit were convinced there was a "hidden love story" here.
Let's be real: there isn't one.
The "Preacher's Daughter" and "Bones" are just two athletes who grew up in the same pressure cooker. When you’ve bled on the same mats for 15 years, you develop a bond that transcends the typical teammate relationship. They saw each other at their lowest points. Holm saw Jon’s legal battles; Jon saw Holly’s heartbreaking losses to Miesha Tate and Valentina Shevchenko.
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In a sport where everyone is looking for an edge, they found one in each other’s presence. Jones’s wrestling helped Holm’s takedown defense reach elite levels. Holm’s kickboxing pedigree undoubtedly influenced the oblique kicks and range management that became Jones’s signature.
Actionable Insights for MMA Fans
If you're following the careers of these two legends, here's what you actually need to keep an eye on:
- Watch the "Jackson Wink" Factor: Notice how fighters from this camp often have a "look" or a style. The high-elbow blocks and the lateral movement are hallmarks of the Jones/Holm era.
- Longevity as a Metric: Both fighters are in the sunset of their careers. Jones officially retired the Heavyweight belt in 2025, and Holm has returned to the boxing ring. Their ability to compete at the top level into their late 30s and 40s is a direct result of the high-altitude, technical-first training they pioneered together.
- The "Teammate" Narrative: Next time a fighter has a controversy, watch who stands by them. The Jones/Holm dynamic is the blueprint for how a gym survives a superstar’s meltdown without losing its soul.
The story of Jon Jones and Holly Holm isn't about romance or gym drama. It’s about the fact that even the "Baddest Man on the Planet" needs a big sister to tell him when he’s being an idiot, and even the most disciplined boxer needs a creative genius to show her how to win in a cage.
To really understand their impact, go back and watch the UFC 193 highlights, then flip over to Jones vs. Cormier II. You’ll see the same fingerprints—the same Albuquerque grit—on both.
Next Steps:
If you want to see the technical side of this relationship, look up the 2011 archival footage of Jon Jones and Holly Holm sparring at the old Jackson's gym. Pay attention to how Jones mimics Holm’s head movement—it’s a masterclass in how different styles blend in a championship environment.