At a glance
- Born May 20, 1958, in Astoria, Queens, with a 1980 accounting degree from St. John's University
- Has coached four UFC champions: Matt Serra, Chris Weidman, Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili
- Nominated for Coach of the Year at the 2015 World MMA Awards
Overview
Ray Longo is a New York coach, born May 20, 1958, in Astoria, Queens. He earned an accounting degree from St. John's University in 1980 and went on to specialize in striking, with a background in Jeet Kune Do concepts, the method Bruce Lee developed around simplicity, economy of motion and adapting to the opponent. That unusual path, from accounting to coaching, is part of his identity on the New York fight scene.
He cofounded the Serra-Longo Fight Team with Matt Serra and also runs Longo-Weidman MMA in Garden City, New York. He was nominated for Coach of the Year at the 2015 World MMA Awards.
What you'll find
His X account, @raylongomma, carries his takes and news about his fighters. The Instagram account @longosmma, run by his gym, Longo's MMA, posts training content and team announcements.
Longo also gives plenty of interviews and pre-fight breakdowns to MMA outlets, especially when a Serra-Longo fighter is on the card. He speaks frankly about game plans, opponents and what his fighter needs to avoid.
Why follow
He has coached four UFC champions: Matt Serra, Chris Weidman, Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili. That list spans close to two decades and several divisions, from bantamweight to middleweight, so you can follow how one team has evolved over time.
His perspective as a striking specialist helps you understand how a team whose champions include grapplers like Aljamain Sterling and Merab Dvalishvili builds the stand-up side of their game. His pre-fight breakdowns are blunt and give you a clear idea of what the team has been preparing.
MMA Official's take
Ray Longo is for fans who enjoy frank analysis and for practitioners interested in striking. Start with his pre-fight interviews ahead of an Aljamain Sterling or Merab Dvalishvili fight, where he lays out the plan and the opponent's weak spots.
Then follow @raylongomma on X for his post-fight reactions and the Longo's MMA Instagram for a look at the work in the gym. Put the three together and you can connect what he predicts, what gets drilled in training and what actually happens in the cage.