alliance mma

Location: Chula Vista, CaliforniaYear Established: 2007Founder: Brandon VeraHead Coach: Eric Del FierroNotable Titles Won: UFC Light Heavyweight Title, UFC Bantamweight Title, Bellator Light Heavyweight Title, One FC Heavyweight Title How was Alliance MMA established? Alliance MMA was established in 2007 by pro MMA fighter Brandon “The Truth” Vera and coach Eric Del Fierro. Early in […]

Location: Chula Vista, California
Year Established: 2007
Founder: Brandon Vera
Head Coach: Eric Del Fierro
Notable Titles Won: UFC Light Heavyweight Title, UFC Bantamweight Title, Bellator Light Heavyweight Title, One FC Heavyweight Title

How was Alliance MMA established?

Alliance MMA was established in 2007 by pro MMA fighter Brandon “The Truth” Vera and coach Eric Del Fierro. Early in his career, Vera trained with black belt and then moved to City Boxing in San Diego.(Not related to the City Boxing Gym in Auckland, New Zealand.)

Vera was part of the management team at City Boxing and was also a trainer. In 2006, he parted ways working with this gym and went out to set up his own.

What he set up along with Eric Del Fierro would become one of the top MMA gyms in the world.

Alliance MMA vs Alliance BJJ

There is some confusion that comes up when talking about Alliance MMA. There is Alliance MMA and another school called Alliance BJJ.

Many assume that the gyms are connected, but there is actually no relationship between the two. Alliance BJJ is an affiliation of BJJ schools that was founded by Fabio Gurgel and Romero Calvacanti in 1993.

Alliance MMA was initially created to form a pro fight team within the San Diego area. It then transformed into a training facility that offered various martial arts classes to all skill levels and kids.

Brandon Vera

The former UFC veteran and current One FC champion was one the people behind creating Alliance MMA. Vera was introduced to MMA by BJJ black belt Lloyd Irvin, who coached Vera in his first pro MMA fight.

Vera then moved to San Diego after taking a trainer’s position at City Boxing. There he worked under owner Mark Dion and was coached by Dutch kickboxing legend, Rob Kaman.

The relationship between Vera and City Kickboxing would last for 4 years and he was even made a business partner.

Then in 2007, Vera decided to leave City Boxing and start his own gym, which would become Alliance MMA.

Eric Del Fierro

Brandon Vera founded Alliance MMA, but the architect behind the gym’s success is head coach and owner Eric Del Fierro.

Del Fierro is an unsung hero of Alliance and the coach behind the success of numerous fighters since 2007. Eric had been working with Vera early on in his career and they developed a close relationship with one another.

When Vera wanted to start his own MMA gym, he wanted Del Fierro to lead his MMA gym. He is an unsung hero of the gym that isn’t talked about as much as his fighters.

Which is by design since Del Fierro is an introverted person and prefers that his fighters take the spotlight. At first during the early years, Del Fierro would rarely accept interviews with the media. Later on when his fighters started getting success, he began to open up to doing more interviews.

In his over 20 years of coaching, Del Fierro is among the most accomplished MMA coaches in the world. Under his guidance, he has led his fighters to nearly 10 world titles and numerous title defenses.

Notable Alliance fighters

Alliance has been producing elite fighters since 2007 and are still producing championship caliber fighters. Here are some of their most known fighters.

Brandon Vera

We’ll start with the gym’s founder and the first professional out of the gym, Brandon “The Truth” Vera. During the UFC’s explosion in popularity after TUF, Vera was one of the young stars of the promotion.

He would start strong winning his first 4 fights at heavyweight before losing his first pro fights. Vera would then have mixed success in the promotion and then drop to the light heavyweight division.

After going 7-4 in the promotion, he was offered a contract by Asian MMA start up One FC. At One FC, he would win the promotion’s inaugural heavyweight championship.

After winning the title, the Flipino fighter would become a superstar in the Philippines. Eventually moving to the country and starring in TV shows there to go along with his fighting career.

Dominick Cruz

One of the best bantamweight fighters of all time has called Alliance home since the gym opened. Dominick Cruz is an innovator and one of the only fighters to win multiple UFC Bantamweight Titles.

He would first dominate the WEC, winning 7 of his 8 fights with the promotion. Including winning the WEC championship before the promotion merged with the UFC.

Cruz would then win the inaugural UFC Bantamweight title and defend it twice. Unfortunately Cruz was plagued by knee injuries and was forced to vacate the title.

Dominick would be on the shelf for 3 years before coming back and winning the title again. Then would be shelved with another injury before returning to fighting in 2020. Even though Dominick lost years of his career due to injury, he is still ranked as an all time bantamweight fighter.

Phil Davis

Another long time member of Alliance MMA is Mr. Wonderful, Phil Davis. Davis made his name for years as a top 10 light heavyweight in the UFC.

After going 9-3 in the promotion, Davis signed with Bellator after being offered more money. He would fight 2 in one night in his promotional debut winning the light heavyweight grand prix tournament.

Then two fights later, Davis would win the promotions light heavyweight title. Mr. Wonderful has fought some of the world’s best fighters and will continue to do so in the future.

Alliance MMA’s legacy

Alliance MMA has cemented themselves as one of the top MMA gyms in the world. The gym has grown exponentially in its 15 year existence and will continue to grow.

Today, Alliance MMA has 4 different training facilities open including 3 in the San Diego area and one in the Philippines. Vera and Del Fierro have turned the Alliance MMA brand global and will continue to grow their academy. Producing top level fighters from all around the world.

Burt Watson Joins Alliance MMA As Director Of Fighter Relations

Former longtime UFC employee, effectionately known as “Babysitter to the Stars” — Burt Watson — has resurfaced in the MMA world this week.

Below is an official press release that was sent out on Tuesday to announce that Watson has joined Alliance MMA as their “Director of Fighter Relations.”

BURT WATSON JOINS ALLIANCE MMA AS DIRECTOR OF FIGHTER RELATIONS

MMA Legend to Help Cultivate Next Generation of Champion Fighters

NEW YORK, NY – November 8, 2016 – Alliance MMA, Inc. (“Alliance MMA” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: AMMA), a mixed martial arts organization offering premier promotional opportunities for aspiring mixed martial arts fighters, today announced that MMA legend Burt Watson has joined the Company as Director, Fighter Relations, where he will serve as a motivational mentor for Alliance MMA’s regional promotions and their fighters.

In this newly created capacity, Mr. Watson will help shepherd Alliance MMA’s most valued product, its fighters, in their quest to become MMA champions. Applying his extraordinary inspirational talents, he will routinely visit Alliance MMA promotions to ensure consistency in the fighter relations process, and concurrently assist in nurturing the upcoming generation of professional fighters. Mr. Watson will help standardize the coordination of behind the scenes details for the promotions to help ensure that fighters are competing at the highest possible level of personal performance.

“Alliance MMA has already acquired five promotions, and we have plans to expand our operations aggressively in the coming months. Burt’s direct involvement will create a level of consistency for the promotions that we believe will result in our ability to ensure remarkably competitive opportunities for our fighters, while at the same time maximizing the entertainment value for our fans,” said Robert Haydak, President of Alliance MMA, Inc. “Burt has a unique talent for personalizing the fighter’s experience which creates a truly supercharged environment. He takes a sincere personal interest in every athlete, before, during and after each event. His infectious charisma inspires fighters preceding their bouts, and when necessary, he’s also the first person to provide compassionate consolation. We are absolutely thrilled to feature his larger than life presence as a key member of our team.”

Mr. Watson began his career in boxing more than 30 years ago coordinating events that involved boxing stars Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, Roy Jones, Sugar Ray Leonard, Bernard Hopkins and Wladimir Klitschko. Most recently, he served as head of fighter relations at Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC), an Alliance MMA promotion. Before joining CFFC, Mr. Watson was the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Event Coordinator for 14 years where he was intimately involved in producing some of their most memorable events. Prior to his association with the UFC organization, Mr. Watson served as the business manager for legendary fighter ”Smokin’ Joe” Frazier for several years, and coordinated a promotional tour featuring renowned boxing greats Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, George Foreman and Ken Norton. Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. Watson was responsible for coordinating televised sporting events featured on numerous networks including ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, HBO, Showtime, USA, BET and Telemundo.

“My passion is working closely with fighters, and now with the Alliance MMA opportunity, I get to work with both fighters and the regional promoters to deliver the best possible experience for all,” said Mr. Watson. “MMA is widely regarded as the world’s fastest growing sport, and as the fan base continues to expand, I am totally stoked to help produce the next generation of stars as a member of the Alliance MMA family.”

Alliance MMA is the first MMA company to be traded on a major stock exchange, and is currently the only way for the public to invest in the MMA industry. Earlier this month, Alliance MMA announced the successful completion of their IPO, their listing on the NASDAQ and their acquisition of seven companies including five MMA promotion companies, a digital media sports platform and an electronic ticketing platform optimized for marketing MMA events.

MMA is a full contact sport that allows a wide range of fighting techniques including, striking and grappling from various martial arts and disciplines including Boxing, Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Karate & Muay Thai. Professional MMA fights are legal and regulated by state athletic commissions in all 50 states.

Former longtime UFC employee, effectionately known as “Babysitter to the Stars” — Burt Watson — has resurfaced in the MMA world this week.

Below is an official press release that was sent out on Tuesday to announce that Watson has joined Alliance MMA as their “Director of Fighter Relations.”

BURT WATSON JOINS ALLIANCE MMA AS DIRECTOR OF FIGHTER RELATIONS

MMA Legend to Help Cultivate Next Generation of Champion Fighters

NEW YORK, NY – November 8, 2016 – Alliance MMA, Inc. (“Alliance MMA” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: AMMA), a mixed martial arts organization offering premier promotional opportunities for aspiring mixed martial arts fighters, today announced that MMA legend Burt Watson has joined the Company as Director, Fighter Relations, where he will serve as a motivational mentor for Alliance MMA’s regional promotions and their fighters.

In this newly created capacity, Mr. Watson will help shepherd Alliance MMA’s most valued product, its fighters, in their quest to become MMA champions. Applying his extraordinary inspirational talents, he will routinely visit Alliance MMA promotions to ensure consistency in the fighter relations process, and concurrently assist in nurturing the upcoming generation of professional fighters. Mr. Watson will help standardize the coordination of behind the scenes details for the promotions to help ensure that fighters are competing at the highest possible level of personal performance.

“Alliance MMA has already acquired five promotions, and we have plans to expand our operations aggressively in the coming months. Burt’s direct involvement will create a level of consistency for the promotions that we believe will result in our ability to ensure remarkably competitive opportunities for our fighters, while at the same time maximizing the entertainment value for our fans,” said Robert Haydak, President of Alliance MMA, Inc. “Burt has a unique talent for personalizing the fighter’s experience which creates a truly supercharged environment. He takes a sincere personal interest in every athlete, before, during and after each event. His infectious charisma inspires fighters preceding their bouts, and when necessary, he’s also the first person to provide compassionate consolation. We are absolutely thrilled to feature his larger than life presence as a key member of our team.”

Mr. Watson began his career in boxing more than 30 years ago coordinating events that involved boxing stars Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, Roy Jones, Sugar Ray Leonard, Bernard Hopkins and Wladimir Klitschko. Most recently, he served as head of fighter relations at Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC), an Alliance MMA promotion. Before joining CFFC, Mr. Watson was the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Event Coordinator for 14 years where he was intimately involved in producing some of their most memorable events. Prior to his association with the UFC organization, Mr. Watson served as the business manager for legendary fighter ”Smokin’ Joe” Frazier for several years, and coordinated a promotional tour featuring renowned boxing greats Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, George Foreman and Ken Norton. Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. Watson was responsible for coordinating televised sporting events featured on numerous networks including ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, HBO, Showtime, USA, BET and Telemundo.

“My passion is working closely with fighters, and now with the Alliance MMA opportunity, I get to work with both fighters and the regional promoters to deliver the best possible experience for all,” said Mr. Watson. “MMA is widely regarded as the world’s fastest growing sport, and as the fan base continues to expand, I am totally stoked to help produce the next generation of stars as a member of the Alliance MMA family.”

Alliance MMA is the first MMA company to be traded on a major stock exchange, and is currently the only way for the public to invest in the MMA industry. Earlier this month, Alliance MMA announced the successful completion of their IPO, their listing on the NASDAQ and their acquisition of seven companies including five MMA promotion companies, a digital media sports platform and an electronic ticketing platform optimized for marketing MMA events.

MMA is a full contact sport that allows a wide range of fighting techniques including, striking and grappling from various martial arts and disciplines including Boxing, Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Karate & Muay Thai. Professional MMA fights are legal and regulated by state athletic commissions in all 50 states.

Alexander Gustafsson’s Head Coach Refutes Alliance Team Split…Or Does He?

(The often scruffy, always inscrutable Alexander Gustafsson | Photo via MMAnytt.se)

Yesterday we shared a report that quoted UFC light heavyweight ~~champion~~ contender Alexander Gustafsson as saying that he no longer planned to train in San Diego with the Alliance team or Phil Davis before fights. “Now I’m in that stage of my career that I will compete three or four times a year, so I can not hold on and go off all the time,” Gustafsson said. “It costs too much and it takes too much time away from my family. It’s simply not worth it.”

Furthermore, Gustafsson said that he believed that he and Davis would soon fight again so, you know…awkward. “We both belong to the top, and that’s not a difficult guess that we’ll meet again soon…it feels better to not train together right now,” Gus said.

Well, Gustafsson’s head trainer Andreas Michael is now saying that the media took the fighter’s words out of context. In an interview with Kimura.se the coach says that the media interpreted Gustafsson’s statements incorrectly in order to “sell” the news. Kimura.se reports that Michael also said that “the partnership between the Alliance and Alex / Allstar Fitness that it will continue cooperation for a long time to come. Thoughts on finishing the fine relationship that the two clubs have between them does not exist and has never existed.

“Rumors of a bout between Davis and Alex is also not [accurate], it is just something the media created out of thin air.”

(The often scruffy, always inscrutable Alexander Gustafsson | Photo via MMAnytt.se)

“Rumors of a bout between Davis and Alex is also not [accurate], it is just something the media created out of thin air.”

Well, not so much “thin air” as they were Gustafsson’s own words, but alright. Michael certainly seems upsets by the reports of Gustafsson’s leaving Alliance but doesn’t actually refute any of the important specifics — namely that Alexander will hold his training camps in Sweden instead of San Diego from now on and that the Swedish fighter believes it is inevitable that he and Davis will fight again soon so he prefers not to train with the national champion wrestler right now.

If Gustafsson’s coach won’t refute any of the reported facts, why is he so upset? Who knows?

Perhaps Gustafsson wasn’t supposed to talk publicly about his plans before all the details could be worked out. It isn’t uncommon for teams to enter into business relationships in which fighters sign to train with and pay a percentage of their purses for a set period of time or number fights.

If that is/was the case with Gustafsson and Alliance, he may still need to figure out how to fulfill a contract to them and/or pay them fees even if he wants to train elsewhere. Alliance head coach Eric Del Fierro told MMA Junkie that he didn’t know how Gustafsson camps would proceed because he hadn’t been told, but seemed to express optimism that he and Alliance would still be able to work in consultation with the fighter, remotely, as they did before Alexander trained to fight Gegard Mousasi.

– Elias Cepeda

Alexander Gustafsson Leaves Alliance MMA and Phil Davis Behind, Opts to Hold Future Training Camps in Sweden

(Image via Getty)

Alexander Gustafsson fought better than ever at UFC 165 in challenging light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Even though he lost on the official score cards, many observers felt that the Swede did enough to become the new champion, and the conventional wisdom was that his training with former foe Phil Davis at the Alliance MMA camp in San Diego was key to Alexander’s improvement.

Gustafsson has announced, however, that he will no longer conduct training camps with the Alliance team nor train with Phil Davis, according to a report from MMA Junkie. “Now I’m in that stage of my career that I will compete three or four times a year, so I can not hold on and go off all the time,” Gustafsson said in a recent interview with Aftonbladet. “It costs too much and it takes too much time away from my family. It’s simply not worth it.”

It may be that Gustafsson believes that he and Davis will be fighting one another again and wants to avoid the untenable situation of fighting a teammate. The two big men fought one another at UFC 112 in 2010, with Davis earning a first-round submission win. Since that time, Gustafsson has trained alongside Davis at Alliance, improving his wrestling skills by working with the former national champion out of Penn State.

“We belong to both the top, and that’s not a difficult guess that we’ll meet again soon,” Gustafsson explained. “It’s not a dream opponent because we are friends, but (if) UFC decides that we should meet…it feels better to not train together right now.”

(Image via Getty)

“We do not train with each other as much anymore,” Gustafsson said flatly.

Alliance head trainer Eric Del Fierro expressed surprise at Gustafsson’s decision. According to Del Fierro, an injury sustained by Davis recently prevented he and Gustafsson from training much together in advance of UFC 165 but that prior to that the two had no apparent problems working with one another.

What do you think, nation? Is Gustafsson sensing that the UFC will pit him against his friend Davis once again since they have opted to give Glover Teixeira the next shot at Jones?

Will Davis and Gustafsson’s ebony and ivory buddy cop friendship survive this latest riff and a possible second fight? And can Gustafsson continue to improve as much in Sweden, without the help of Davis and Del Fierro?

– Elias Cepeda