Joaquin Buckley beat Abdul Razak Alhassan in a split decision at UFC Vegas 48.. But though the win was Buckley’s second in a row, and fourth inside the UFC overall, the talk surrounding the event was not on the fight itself but on Buckley’s third cornerman – viral sensation Commander Dale Brown.
Brown is the creator of Detroit Urban Survival Training or D.U.S.T. According to their website ,, a “preventative risk management training system” that “creates de-escalation through peaceful interactions and nonviolent outcomes” in recent months. have become a viral sensation for videos showing self-defense tips that have engendered mockery and criticism. Buckley himself first went to Brown’s school to test the validity of Brown’s methods and, speaking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Brown recounted how he became acquainted with Buckley and what led to his cornering the UFC fighter this past weekend.
“He came to my school — you can see the videos online — and he came to test the training,” Brown said. Brown said that he didn’t come just to have a good time, but to try the training. Halfway through he said, ‘You know what, wow, I didn’t realize this training was real.’ Then after that, two weeks later, it wasn’t immediate, he called back and asked if I’d be willing to be a cornerman and share knowledge and bring what we have to the table to assist. And I absolutely did.”
Buckley, who had trained with Brown in the techniques, praised them but said that it was only a promotion stunt to get interest. Brown agreed with the D.U.S.T. that Brown’s techniques weren’t applicable in the fight. Commander feels that Buckley was still a beneficiary of their collaboration.
” Although most of the training I did was not applicable to my sport, there are some elements, techniques and things we all shared,” Brown stated. There’s psychology. Psychology is an important part of our success. Survival psychology is really important in any endeavor. So he was able to get exposed to our survival psychology in that setting and I think that’s really helpful, especially in that fight he was just in. He was in an extreme fight and it was vital psychologically that he prepared. It was extraordinary and he pulled through.”
Indeed, Buckley did and now, like Steven Seagal before him, Brown finds himself 1-0 as an MMA cornerman. Brown said that if Buckley wanted to take it over in the future, he would be happy because everyone was so welcoming his first attempt.
“Sure, if he wants me to,” Brown said. “Absolutely, I would do that for him…. It was an amazing experience. Super positive. All the fighters were extremely, extremely professional and very welcoming.”
Perhaps we haven’t seen the last of Commander Dale Brown and D.U.S.T. Inside the UFC
