Dallas-based Fortis MMA enjoyed a banner year in 2018. Not only did the team improve its personal best of fighters signed to the UFC, but those fighters compiled a record of 11-3 throughout the year—which includes three performance bonuses as well. 

While 2019 started off with a bang—Fortis MMA fighters went 2-0 in Brooklyn this past weekend—head coach Sayif Saud has far loftier goals than just a solid win-loss record. He’s made that goal perfectly clear to each and every fighter he has on the UFC roster. 

“To all of the athletes in the UFC, I said if you don’t have a number next to your name by the end of 2019, you failed. That’s your goal,” Saud revealed. “I literally said that two weeks ago.”

For some fighters it will be easier than others. Take Geoff Neal, who picked up a big win over Belal Muhammad at UFC on ESPN+ 1 this past weekend in Brooklyn. With the victory, Neal moved into the competitive welterweight rankings at No. 14, which officially put him on the success list for Saud.

“Geoff [Neal] obviously had a little momentum going in, but we took a hard fight with Belal [Muhammad], a very tough opponent—zero quit in him as you saw,” Saud said. “I thought he would wind up somewhere between 16 and 20, but the fact that he’s number 14 is really exciting.”

And while the path to getting a ranking might not look quite as fast for some fighters, Saud thinks that it might be closer than a lot realize. This is even true for those who have yet to make, or have just barely made, their debut. 

“The guys that are debuting might not be able to get there as fast, but Alonzo [Menifield] and some of these other guys are 205ers," Saud said. "You know the heavier divisions doesn’t take as many fights—that’s just the truth." 

Plus, he’s got plenty of other fighters he feels are ready to make waves,some of which have perhaps even higher goals.

“And we got Macy Chiasson who's going to make her debut at 135, where I think she really belongs,” Saud said. “I’m hoping to see her crack the rankings. She could be a contender and make waves in that division.”

Whether it’s Charles Byrd, Carlos Diego Ferreira, or any of the others he has chomping at the bit for their next fight, Saud believes they are all in the right place. 

“These guys are all in position,” he says. “That’s the standard we’re going to set.”

The next UFC bout for a Fortis MMA fighter will be when Ryan Spann steps in to face Jim Crute at UFC 234 in Australia. That bout is currently scheduled to be on the main pay-per-view card.