When we first told you about the UFC’s plans to conquer the fitness market two and a half years ago, you may have expected the “fastest growing sport in the world” to become the “fastest growing fitness chain in the world”. Well, we’ve crunched the numbers and it looks like the franchise has fallen just short of that goal. Yesterday marked the grand opening of only their third location, all of which are located in California. Perhaps sensing that the brand could use a jumpstart, the UFC and BJ Penn have announced their partnership in the first of a new series of UFC Gyms to be headlined by the organization’s biggest stars.
From a business perspective, this makes perfect sense. BJ is an icon in the sport and a celebrity in Hawaii, and slapping his name up next to a UFC Gym sign will have people pouring in. But beyond BJ’s rabid fan base, is this pairing really the best fit?
When we first told you about the UFC’s plans to conquer the fitness market two and a half years ago, you may have expected the “fastest growing sport in the world” to become the “fastest growing fitness chain in the world”. Well, we’ve crunched the numbers and it looks like the franchise has fallen just short of that goal. Yesterday marked the grand opening of only their third location, all of which are located in California. Perhaps sensing that the brand could use a jumpstart, the UFC and BJ Penn have announced their partnership in the first of a new series of UFC Gyms to be headlined by the organization’s biggest stars.
From a business perspective, this makes perfect sense. BJ is an icon in the sport and a celebrity in Hawaii, and slapping his name up next to a UFC Gym sign will have people pouring in. But beyond BJ’s rabid fan base, is this pairing really the best fit?
Sure, having a World Jiu Jitsu Champion and former title holder in the UFC’s Lightweight and Welterweight divisions at the helm of a gym sounds like a no brainer. Only, “The Prodigy” didn’t become an MMA champion thanks to his work ethic; he became one despite it. He’s basically the posterboy for relying on unnatural natural talent- even his nickname connotes an innate gift, an ability achieved without hard work or sacrifice. Obviously, BJ wouldn’t be where he is today if he didn’t devote himself to his craft. And no, he didn’t crash and burn in the later rounds of every fight. But the simple truth is he doesn’t really like to train hard. Even when the cameras were rolling for Primetime, he didn’t think twice about taking five days off from training for the biggest fight of his life to chill on the beach. Basically, no one else on earth could achieve his level of success training as he does, which makes him an interesting namesake for a training facility, you know?
In the end, it doesn’t really matter. No one gets bent out of shape when they grab dinner at Planet Hollywood and they’re not sitting next to Bruce Willis, and this is kind of the same deal. BJ has his real gym on another island, and when he makes the occasional token appearance at this facility he’ll have great insight to share with the students. The big question is which UFC superstar will be the next to get his own place? Maybe Rampage?
First ImpressionsA cool, sunny day welcomed the grand opening of the new UFC Gym in Corona, Calif.While the event wasn’t actually set to begin until 10 a.m., many fans and spectators lined up as early as 8 a.m. to stand in line for autographs. And if t…
First Impressions
A cool, sunny day welcomed the grand opening of the new UFC Gym in Corona, Calif.
While the event wasn’t actually set to begin until 10 a.m., many fans and spectators lined up as early as 8 a.m. to stand in line for autographs. And if that’s not surprising enough, autograph sessions weren’t expected to even begin until noon.
Vendors and nutrition companies lined one side of the parking lot by a modest stage where the ribbon-cutting was set to take place.
Though definitely a far cry from the size and number of booths at the famous UFC Expos, the vendors and businesses there were more than enough. And, as always, there were more than enough of those annoying handouts to go around.
The gym itself was actually smaller than I imagined it would be, but that’s likely more my faulty expectations than a reflection on the gym itself. In fact, it’s roughly 45,000 square feet; not small by any standards.
Also, this is the third UFC Gym, and the largest of the three. There was more than enough space for several rows of ellipticals, treadmills and other heart-pounding, sweat-inducing machines for members to use.
The staff and a few members gave a quick circuit demonstration with five stations, showing how even a 25-30 second rotation can give an intense workout. By the end of the two-and-a-half minute demonstration, all members were sweaty and visibly worn out.
That’s the kind of intensity that is foreign and fascinating to many outside of the sport, and can now take part in it through the gym.
You know you’re in an MMA gym when you find equipment and machines that look like they’ve been taken straight out of someone’s backyard sitting in front of you, and yet, it strangely doesn’t look out of place. Seriously, where else would you find a tire sitting in the middle of the floor?
On top of that, there was a Jacob’s Ladder right next to some treadmills and a rope workout machine that simulates the climbing rope they made you climb back in gym class in the ’80s.
You see these types of workout machines in specialized workout videos and late-night infomercials, but I’ve never seen them up close. They’d definitely provide a cool, innovative workout.
And if that’s not a big enough giveaway to the kind of gym you are in, sitting dead-center in the gym is, of course, an Octagon.
However, the biggest difference that separates the UFC Gym from an ordinary gym is its family and community focus.
Several kids who were taking classes at the UFC Gym walked into the cage in the afternoon, giving spectators a demonstration of the moves they had been learning.
There are self-defense classes for men, women and children. And the gym has a section devoted for kids called, well, “Kid’s Gym.”
This focus on families and communities goes all the way to the top. As it says on the UFC Gym’s Senior Vice President Adam Sedlack’s Twitter page, the gym is “A new place in the fitness industry. Not your Parent’s Gym; It’s your Gym!”
In a brief conversation with Adam, I was amazed about how passionate he was not only about the business aspect of the gym, but its significance to the community and ability to affect peoples’ opinions of the sport.
Through their UFC viewing parties (free, of course, for members) during some of the recent fights, people unfamiliar with the sport have gotten to see it for the very first time.
And because of the classes and opportunities provided by the gym for these newcomers to take part in some of the intense workouts and training like that of UFC fighters, many have become instant fans.
BJ’s Announcement
One of the awaited events of the day was BJ Penn‘s mysterious announcement that would be given during the first media interview in the morning.
And his announcement was consistent with the theme of the UFC’s increasing involvement within local communities through their UFC Gyms.
BJ Penn announced that construction will begin on a UFC Gym in his native Hawaii, and will be branded with his name.
UFC Gym: BJ Penn should be completed by Jan. 1, 2012, with facilities comparable to that of the one in Corona. It will be replacing the famed “Pipeline Cafe” in Honolulu, which closed its doors in early February of this year.
This is a project that has been two years in the making, and will be the first UFC Gym branded with a fighter’s name.
“I’m trying to be humble and sit here and take it all in, but I’m very, very excited by this whole thing.”
BJ also mentioned that efforts will be discussed to reach out to at-risk youth through the gym and its programs.
Fighter interviews from Phil Davis, Donald Cerrone, Leonard Garcia, and more from BJ Penn will be covered in Pt. 2. This will include additional photos and videos.
This Saturday, May 14th, the UFC will be opening a gym in Corona, CA.Several UFC vets will be in attendance for the grand opening, including Chuck Liddell, BJ Penn, and Urijah Faber.According to the UFC:”The day-long festivities will be action-packed a…
This Saturday, May 14th, the UFC will be opening a gym in Corona, CA.
Several UFC vets will be in attendance for the grand opening, including Chuck Liddell, BJ Penn, and Urijah Faber.
According to the UFC:
“The day-long festivities will be action-packed and feature autograph signings and Q&A sessions with some of the biggest names in the UFC. In addition, there will be exciting activities, including class demonstrations and participation from local vendors and partners such as the U.S. Marine Corps.”
The full list of UFC veterans who will be in attendance will be:
UFC Hall of Famer, Chuck Liddell
BJ Penn
Urijah Faber
Phil Davis
Leonard Garcia
Donald Cerrone
As well as Best of Pride host Kenda Perez and UFC Octagon Girl Arianny Celeste.
I’ll be on-site covering the event and giving interviews for FindMMAGym.com.
While there, I plan on also live updating on B/R recaps of the day’s events, as well as some important (or memorable) quotes these guys give.
At the bottom of this article, leave some questions you have for any of these guys, and if/when I get the opportunity to talk with them, I’ll be sure to ask some of the good ones and share the replies with you all.
Keep in mind, I’m only going to ask reasonable and appropriate questions.
Look forward to some pictures and hopefully video as well.
The arm-triangle choke is one of the most devastating submission finishes in MMA because often times the choke victim has no idea that they have even been put into a bad position until their consciousness starts rapidly evacuating.
Once the hold is…
The arm-triangle choke is one of the most devastating submission finishes in MMA because often times the choke victim has no idea that they have even been put into a bad position until their consciousness starts rapidly evacuating.
Once the hold is secured, and the fighter applying the choke is free of guard and in side control, there is practically no escape.
Some fighters have become adept at getting out of solid chokes like guillotines and triangle chokes.
Like the rear naked choke, however, an arm-triangle is nearly inescapable when properly applied.
There are some variations of the arm-triangle choke, like the Anaconda (Brabo) choke and the D’arce choke, that are very similar, but do not count for the purposes of this list.
These are the 10 best in MMA history. When will we see the next one?
Consensus top 10 rankings in the mixed martial arts world have a lot of names that are in George St. Pierre’s win column. At No. 2, there’s Jon Fitch. The former Purdue Boilermaker has only lost once in his last 23 bouts—a lopsided decision …
Consensus top 10 rankings in the mixed martial arts world have a lot of names that are in George St. Pierre’s win column.
At No. 2, there’s Jon Fitch. The former Purdue Boilermaker has only lost once in his last 23 bouts—a lopsided decision to GSP at UFC 87. Although Fitch has been working his way back to a title shot ever since, his latest fight—a draw with contender B.J. Penn—has delayed him yet again, as a rematch will need to take place before he ever does so. In addition, a shoulder injury that requires surgery will have him out an additional 4-6 months.
The majority of rankings have Jake Shields at No. 3. In case anyone was in a coma for the last several months, UFC 129 was one of the biggest events in MMA history.
GSP easily dispatched Shields despite an eye poke that left him without the use of his left eye. Shields did not really threaten at any point in the fight and there is no reason to believe that a rematch would be considered any time soon.
Thiago Alves is in at No. 4, and while he stood no chance against St. Pierre at UFC 100, he is a constantly improving fighter at only 27 years old. The issue, however, is that injuries have only allowed him to fight twice since his July 11,2009 bout with the welterweight champion, losing to Jon Fitch and winning impressively against John Howard. On May 28th, he will be taking on Rick Story, whom he will need to dominate in order to start fighting contenders again. Either way, Alves is several fights away from another shot at the title.
At No. 5 is Josh Koscheck. After a great deal of hype with the help of the Ultimate Fighter, Koscheck’s title shot at UFC 124 involved a broken orbital bone and a subsequent trip to the hospital. Although Koscheck showed some impressive defensive wrestling, it was another lopsided decision for St. Pierre. Koscheck has yet to fight since their bout on December 11, 2010. Obviously, he is far away from a title shot.
Nick Diaz, at No. 6, is the only current legitimate contender at welterweight for St. Pierre that he hasn’t already disposed of. Although the majority of the mixed martial arts world believes that Diaz’s lack of wrestling will result in him spending the evening on his back, he does have a tendency to put on exciting fights that rarely go the distance, something that GSP desperately needs at the moment. Diaz has only gone to decision once in his last 11 bouts.
BJ Penn is the man in the No. 7 spot. Again, he is tied up in a rematch with Jon Fitch and has already lost to St. Pierre twice. There aren’t too many people who would care to see Penn fight for the title again and there really isn’t much of a reason to believe anything would be different. Penn was completely overwhelmed by the bigger, stronger champion and was forced to throw in the towel after four rounds.
Although most of the rankings have names like Carlos Condit, Diego Sanchez, Paul Daley and Martin Kampmann, none of these fighters have ever fought GSP for one reason—consistency. Condit has lost to Kampmann; Kampmann has lost to Shields and Sanchez (although Diego’s face would probably disagree); Sanchez has lost to Penn and Hathaway; and Daley has lost to Koscheck and Diaz.
Besides a relatively low-threat contender in Nick Diaz, George St. Pierre has completely cleared out the welterweight division.
I can understand his hesitance to jump up in weight by 15 pounds to middleweight—a loss to Anderson Silva would be detrimental to his stay there and his career—but this move is inevitable, barring some massive influx of talent to the 170 pound division. Either way, Anderson Silva is 36 years old and has been bringing up the prospect of retiring in recent years.
Whether St. Pierre fights Silva or not, he should be at 185 for the longevity of his career—for both the potential fights and the increased ease in cutting weight as he ages.
Professional mixed martial artists are highly trained professionals in all areas of self-defense and combat; making it all the more incredible that some of these guys can master specific techniques and use them effectively against world-class competiti…
Professional mixed martial artists are highly trained professionals in all areas of self-defense and combat; making it all the more incredible that some of these guys can master specific techniques and use them effectively against world-class competition.
A signature move means they have used the move multiple times with effectiveness, thus identifying the move with that specific fighter and vice versa.
Using a move once, even if iconic, does not make it a signature move for the purposes of this list.
Machida landing the front kick on Randy Couture was amazing, but not necessarily a signature move since we do not see him use it to great effect on a regular basis.
The same could be said for Frank Mir‘s armbar over Tim Sylvia or John Makdessi’s spinning back fist over Kyle Watson.
That also means no inverted triangles, showtime kicks, or pace chokes.
That being said, please let me know what I missed.
