(This is an interview from Fight For It 25 / Original audio was corrupted)
MAD Coach: Toby, we were just talking about discipline and structure backstage. You mentioned something that stuck with me — “discipline creates freedom.” How does that apply to Jonathan?
Toby Grear: A lot of people think discipline takes away freedom. It’s the opposite. Discipline creates freedom. Because Jonathan has a disciplined regimen — an eight-week, color-coded camp, Excel spreadsheets updated weekly — I know where he’s supposed to be at 4:30 on Monday and 7 a.m. Wednesday. So when fight night comes, he has options. He can do what he wants to do in there because the work has already been done.
MAD Coach: After that first round, I saw a shift in his style. There was synergy between you two in the corner. What changed?
Toby Grear: That’s the connection. I’ve done this for two decades. What I say in the corner is like hitting buttons on a video game. Nobody else understands it, but he does. After round one, we knew what the opponent was going to do — dive for our legs. So we changed the game plan. That position where Jonathan was standing over him? That’s all we drilled Thursday. I told him, “Here’s where you’re going to end up.” And there was a moment — you can see it on video — he looks at me and smiles. That’s when he realizes: we’re doing exactly what we trained.
MAD Coach: You’ve been around a long time. Where does Jonathan sit in the bigger picture of your gym?
Toby Grear: He’s the one. Every gym has one. I only have one guy. I looked at him while wrapping his hands and said, “If you lose this fight, I’m canceling my lease.” The other guys laughed. Jonathan? He half believed me. That’s the level of belief I have in him. I’ve already had world champions. I’ve cornered across from guys like Brian Ortega. I’m satisfied with my career. Now it’s about becoming the greatest coach I can be — and that comes from building someone like Jonathan.
MAD Coach: He was originally scheduled for kickboxing on this card, right?
Toby Grear: Yeah, but the opponent took another fight and got concussed. So we pivoted — two weeks out — to a leg lock specialist. That’s the game. Adapt. We drilled leg locks nonstop. Jonathan even admitted his ankle popped in the first round. He heard it. But he fought through it. That’s toughness, but more importantly, that’s preparation.
MAD Coach: Stylistically, what are we watching when Jonathan fights?
Toby Grear: He’s going to be the dominant striker. He got his blue belt in under two years — with no striking background before. So now we initiate the ground game by making them shoot. That’s the strategy. We strike so effectively they dive for the legs. And when they do? We’re already ahead of them. That’s not accidental. That’s design.
MAD Coach: What’s the long-term vision?
Toby Grear: Teach once, learn twice. Fighting came natural to me. Coaching is the higher level of learning. I model my structure after guys like Greg Jackson. Look at who coached Georges St-Pierre — John Danaher. That’s the standard. Jonathan’s development is intentional. Disciplined. Strategic. If we keep stacking camps the way we are, this is just the beginning.
