'UFC Gyms' locations to begin appearing worldwide
by MMAmania.com on Jan 27, 2009 10:02 AM EST
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Former aerobics instructor and current president of the fastest growing sports organization in the world, Dana White, is going back to his roots.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today announced that it would soon unleash a global network of fitness centers dubbed, "UFC Gyms." It’s being hailed in a recent press release as "the first major brand extension" for the promotion.
Here’s a snip from White:
"UFC gyms are going to shake up the fitness industry the way UFC shook up the sports industry. All the energy and excitement that we have brought to the fight business we are now going to bring to the fitness business. There is going to be something for everybody at all levels – from first timers to world class athletes – we’re going to get people excited and motivated to work out and get in great shape."
The report did not indicate when the first UFC Gym would open its doors nor did it announce a list of possible locations. However, the home base of the Zuffa-owned promotion, Las Vegas, Nevada, would appear to be the most logical start.
UFC has partnered with fitness brand experts Mark Mastrov and Jim Rowley to roll out the ambitious project, which will "give UFC enthusiasts and fitness seekers alike the opportunity to practice the training techniques of famed UFC athletes, such as Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn."
For more on UFC Gyms visit the Web site right here.
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i think its a cool idea but itll probly be WAY overpriced… im guessing 200 dollars a month with a 500 dollar sign up or some nonsense… lol they will probly have like an exclusive three year contract too!!! lol
by brendan on Jan 27, 2009 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
49 enrollenment fee, 84 a month for ultimate packagae-fitness + mma classes and discounts of gear, equipment, and access to UFC pay per view fights
49 enrollement fee, 34 a month for basic-just fitness
1st one is in Concord, CA, they are building it now, looks awesome.
by mike on Jul 30, 2009 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Phil, this is just a rumor, but now that I think about it, it would make for an amazing match up:
Banha Cane vs. Rich Franklin! Btw, what does Banha mean?
by john on Jan 27, 2009 10:35 AM EST up reply actions
That sounds like a good fight. Banhar is to bath. I doubt that is his nick name. At least, I hope it is not his nick name.
by Jeff on Jan 27, 2009 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
If Banha does mean bathe, then they ought to give that nickname to Lindland.
by PW on Jan 27, 2009 10:57 AM EST up reply actions
John: Banha.. is slang terms.. means like fat.. like a fat stomach.. or fat that is showing on your body.
by PhilQNY on Jan 27, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions
Phil isn’t the term, “Banha de gordo”? I might have mixed some Spanish in there.
by Jeff on Jan 27, 2009 11:52 AM EST up reply actions
As long as they have personal trainers dressed like ring girls —I’m in.
by DrPepper on Jan 27, 2009 6:37 PM EST up reply actions
Great. That’s all the world needs is more douchebags walking out of gyms with Tapout t-shirts on and “I’m an Ultimate Fighter” tattoo’d across their foreheads.
On a side note…this is just one more step in the UFC taking over fighters camps too. I predict that at some point, UFC fighters will be forced to train at these gyms……you watch. It will start out with “Forrest Griffin will be making an appearance”…then, "Rich Frankling will be holding a workout at this gym…then, “so and so will be released from his contract if he does not spend an appropriate amount of time in our camps”, etc……..you watch.
by introvert on Jan 27, 2009 10:09 AM EST reply actions
Thats far fetched, but what we are going to be hearing about a lot in the next few months is the UFC is trying to figure out ways to control fighters sponsorship deals. They dont know how yet but are said to be exploring ways of doing so. Keep your eyes open, because this could really hurt a lot of fighters!~
by john on Jan 27, 2009 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
..and if Affliction stays viable I could see many of those mid-tier fights telling Zuffa where they can put their sponsorship control. As far a sponsorship control goes, I agree with it to the point where it affects the parent organizations business practice. For example, I have no problem with Zuffa telling their current athletes not to wear Affliction products. It makes good business, as the sport becomes more main stream, to have the fighters representing more main stream products (as opposed to the adult website that sponsored Kimbo).
However, is Zuffa starts contracting their athletes and forcing them to turn away from perfectly mainstream companies that don’t directly compete with Zuffa, then the contracts cross a line where some fighters might abandon Zuffa. Let’s not forget that some of these sponsorships pay the way for these fighters.
by Jeff on Jan 27, 2009 10:40 AM EST up reply actions
This is exactly why more than one organization is better overall for MMA. It keeps all honest… well, to a point, but you get what I mean.
by DJ on Jan 27, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions
I get what you mean, but its shortsighted. The UFC is trying to be the NFL of MMA. If they succeed, and any and all decent fighters have to pretty much accept the terms to get in, it is WAY better for the fans.
Who wants to see fighters in different organizations who never fight each other. We had that with Pride and UFC (and to a lesser extent now) and it sucked.
One organization might not be best for all fighters, but as fans, who cares. As long as the fighters make enough money to train full time, I could care less how much the fighters make. I just want to see the best fight the best, and one organization is clearly the way to go to accomplish this.
by noneed4name on Jan 27, 2009 1:26 PM EST up reply actions
That’s a fantastic idea that I used to be a fan of, but it’s obvious that the UFC had too many fighters under contract and started cutting them.
How can you be the NFL of MMA, when you don’t have half the fighters in the world and your roster is too full? The only way they could do it is with a minimum of 2 TV events per month, lowering PPV costs and securing a real network deal.
by Space on Jan 27, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions
You bring up a good point but answered it yourself. Obviously the UFC is not there, but if they did get the network deal and had more events, they could easily handle a larger element.
The UFC cuts fighters in the same manner NFL teams cut players. You might not be aware how many players are actually released in the NFL on an ongoing basis, but it is significant.
Let’s agree that even if the UFC achieves NFL type status, it’s not going to be perfect. There is no absolute perfect situation. The NFL isn’t perfect. However, an NFL type structure is easily the best outcome for fans compared to competing organizations.
This is all Dana is trying to accomplish, and it never ceases to amaze me how many fans dislike him for it.
by noneed4name on Jan 27, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
I actually comment on something yesterday in regard to the sponsorship thing. It seems mania didn’t wan’t to let me comment for some reason.
Just a question for the die hard UFC fans…
When is the last time the UFC have given any slack toward the fighters? It seems that any time they make the news, it’s about the UFC tightening the reigns…been a long time since there has been some slack in said reigns.
by introvert on Jan 27, 2009 10:56 AM EST up reply actions
Okay, I agree with the first part of your statement. However, the side note, I don’t agree with. As the contracts are in place with Zuffa, the org. can’t tell it’s current contracted athletes where to train. When contracts renew, I could see the org (Zuffa) asking athletes to make appearances. However, to tell an athlete that they need to train a certain amount of time at a UFC gym is bad business (and Zuffa is all about the business).
Those, of us that are hardcore fans appreciate the differences between a Jackson camp fighter and a ATT fighter, etc. Zuffa knows this is an important part of their current (successful) business model. I highly doubt that they would screw with a successful business model.
by Jeff on Jan 27, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions
What if they hire Greg Jackson to run a gym? or two? or more???
by DJ on Jan 27, 2009 10:46 AM EST up reply actions
why don’t they just stay out of the gym business
by roy on Jan 27, 2009 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
Good point DJ, that is one way around it. However, I think the money (serious money) would need to be there for Jackson to leave his own training facility.
by Jeff on Jan 27, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions
Plus jackson trains fighters that fight in various orgs, it would be unlikely that one of his fighters fighting in Strikeforce, Affliction, ( if he has fighters in these orgs… just making an example) would be allowed to train in a UFC gym. I like to think Jackson would have more class than to say, “sorry buddy i train at UFC gyms now. Nice knowin ya.” But money talks, so maybe. seems unlikely that the UFC would take it to that extreme. I think they are really just using their name to sell some gym memberships at an above average membership price.
by James S on Jan 27, 2009 2:50 PM EST up reply actions
Yup the fascist regime will make it a point that UFC fighters attend the gyms to pump up little dweebs in to thinking they can be fighters too.
by Bigmcmac on Jan 27, 2009 11:07 AM EST up reply actions
interesting comment introvert, deff something to watch for
by jet99 on Jan 27, 2009 11:17 AM EST up reply actions
why hate on Tapout tshirts? you know ya all have one!
by Lights Out on Jan 27, 2009 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed. The thing that always got me with these sponsored product (sneakers, shirts, fight shorts, etc.) is that they charge us $90 for an ’effing t-shirt and Fedor wears his for free.
There is no way in hell I’m coughing up $90 for a cotton t-shirt with some graphics.
by Jeff on Jan 27, 2009 4:31 PM EST up reply actions
No tapout shirt here…. the UFC shirt that was given to me over 1 1/2 years ago still has the tags on it.
by Psyqo78®™ on Jan 27, 2009 5:02 PM EST up reply actions
I’ve never paid for a TapouT shirt. My uncle runs a Tshirt store (*thetshirtdiner*dot com its crude humor shirts and stuff, check it out) and he can print any design on a shirt. He has a store in Vegas and said that he’s had to print out sponsorship shirts and shorts before (he made me a pair, just cuz).
But my point is he made me and my brothers all TapouT logo shirts, and thats the only Tapout shirt I have. I have a bunch of Xtreme Couture, and a few Affliction and Warrior shirts.. but yah. I’m with Intro here..
by Synyster [[2009 Year of Gegard Mousasi]] on Jan 27, 2009 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
Couldn’t they come up with a better name? Seems like they are kind of jumping the shark on this one. Whats next, energy drinks, protein and weight sets?
by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Jan 27, 2009 10:11 AM EST reply actions
it sounds farfetched but I wouldn’t doubt if any of that happened within 2 years
by McArthur on Jan 27, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions
Sounds like a day care, or an after school pogram for kids.
by ktown on Jan 27, 2009 10:42 AM EST up reply actions
Interesting…
LOL John
by Synyster [[2009 Year of Gegard Mousasi]] on Jan 27, 2009 10:13 AM EST reply actions
I just watched a new interview with Atencio and he said he was pleased with the improvement that Affliction has made from the 1st show to saturday and promised that the product will continue to improve. Affliction is going to do a 3rd show for SURE, the only question is when. Right now he believes the 3rd show will be July or August and yes there is a possibility that the 3rd show takes place on the EAST coast!
by john on Jan 27, 2009 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
john theres no way affliction can afford to do that many more shows, they sold basically 0 ppv’s and had not even double what a WEC event had for people and the WEC played in half the arena but it was sold out affliction had a stacked card but noone went, tom atencio isn’t a good business man AT ALL.. he picked the wrong weekend,and wrong town to make affliction at.. you cant put a big MMA fight down the street from a huge boxing fight more people in LA will know the boxing fight,and there advertising is weak you dont see any commercials no calling radio shows and doin interviews nothing good in any attempt to make it happen good just calling dana white and inviting him to the ppv ringside
by randy murders on Jan 27, 2009 10:57 AM EST up reply actions
the place seemd pretty full to me, and they put on a great show and the word about fedor is getting around if they can hold in there they will start to see the numbers improve.
by roy on Jan 27, 2009 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
I guess it’s not going to be a place to train MMA with coaches and trainers etc but a gym to get fit and work out?
Couldn’t link to the website here at work.
by Ca$z on Jan 27, 2009 10:15 AM EST reply actions
That’s what I was wondering… if there’s mma training it sounds a bit “McDojo” to me.
by BritishBulldog on Jan 27, 2009 10:33 AM EST up reply actions
if they open a agym in scotland near my home town i’ll b the 1st to join up
by ruan-fiy on Jan 27, 2009 10:46 AM EST reply actions
I understand that they are trying to expand their brand, which is smart business on their end, however by calling it “UFC” gyms, its a step backwards in educating people about the sport. That the sport is called Mixed Martial Arts. Not UFC.
Lil Johnny: What do you want to do today?
lil Tony: I want to play pick up UFC!
by the killer on Jan 27, 2009 10:55 AM EST reply actions
white and the fertitas don’t care about mma. they only care about the ufc. look up some interviews from the fertita brothers.
oh, and do you have to sign away the rights to your likeness if you join this gym? LOL
by B_Hos on Jan 27, 2009 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
I’m thinking the consulting work that concluded “this is a good idea” was put in before the economy tanked. This seems like a bad idea, from a long-term profitability standpoint. But who knows, maybe they’ll be a huge hit. If anything, I hope they thin out the herds of douchebags from regular gyms.
by Clayton on Jan 27, 2009 11:47 AM EST reply actions
if you think there’s a lot of douchebags in other gyms (and by douchebags i assume you mean cocky meatheads), who in the hell do you think is going to be joining a gym with the UFC moniker in the name? there’ll be fights every week! LOL
by B_Hos on Jan 27, 2009 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
Right, this is the logic behind me hoping that they “thin the herds of douchebags from regular gyms” meaning that the douchebags will flock to these new UFC gyms and leave the good gyms in peace and quite.
by Clayton on Jan 27, 2009 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
I agree if one opened near me in scotland id join, its different in the us where you prob have a decent choice of mma gyms, there are none near me!!
Plus its not like its a huge deal its just expanding the brand and public awareness while providing state of the art training facilities. Theres no way its goin to be basic gym, ufc (ultimate fighting championship) not cardio, muscle building gyms!!
other sports do similiar things, i dont see the problem with it, and there is no chance fighters will be forced to train here thats like saying you cant live in your house…..always over reacting on here!!
by mo on Jan 27, 2009 1:59 PM EST reply actions
u know i can only think of 3 places where u can train mma. i think if they do open 1 in sunny scotland it will b awesome for brittish mma overall
by ruan-fiy on Jan 27, 2009 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
This business venture will fail and within a year of launching, the UFC gyms will shut down. This is a bad idea. Dana is spreading his resources and time too thin.
Stick to MMA. That’s working great.
This reminds me of when actors get really big and then decide they can sing and put out an album.
Stick to MMA, Dana.
by S-Dub on Jan 27, 2009 2:22 PM EST reply actions
This reminds me of when fans of (insert any sport) insist they could do a better job than the coach yet have never coached anything in their life.
They are either successful or they fail. Its a coin flip. Bravo for picking a 50% shot at being right. So bold!
by noneed4name on Jan 27, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions
There’s more than random odds in this. They’re opening what’s going to be a high-overhead, high cost venture in the middle of a pretty sizable recession. You don’t have to be a mathematician or an economist to see that this isn’t an issue of 50/50 odds. My guess is that the collaborator approached the UFC, the UFC hired consultants pre-recession who thought it might work. And who knows, these things are hard to predict, it might work, but the risk involved in the current economy is huge.
by Clayton on Jan 27, 2009 4:07 PM EST up reply actions
I think that everyone is taking this to the extreme. If they make a gym with some different equipment than at your regular bally’s it might be really good.
I don’t think they are trying to take over ATT or jackson. They can provide a gym that is a little different with mma type workouts.
It will be more exposure for their sport/business.
by crazyeddie on Jan 27, 2009 2:52 PM EST reply actions
They don’t even need to be different. They could buy an existing chain (think about a 24 Hour fitness) and pop the UFC name and logo on it and the current hype would add value.
I am not saying buy 24 Hour Fitness, just making a point that they are intending to use their name to find additional revenue streams. the UFC is growing by leaps and bounds and they certainly have risk capital. A new service tied in to their current marketing base is intelligent.
If they do add new elements not offered in conventional gyms all the better (and more risk as well).
by noneed4name on Jan 27, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
I can’t wait for UFCees, the latest in high sugar breakfast cereals with a comic character Dana with the slogan “They keep tryin to steal my F$#*@in’ Charms!”
by godisnowhere on Jan 27, 2009 10:55 PM EST reply actions
Nice. Wonder if Lawton/Ft.Sill will get some UFC love?
by wAyNe on Jan 28, 2009 1:27 PM EST reply actions
who knows! if will work! but theres no dout that this are hard times! and the odds are not so good!
all im sure is if they put female trainers like the octagon girls on this gyms Im in!!!!
fucking 24 hour fitness got fucking joke trainers , skinny guys who dont know nothing and a thin girl who is just thin but not in shape! and a fat trainer also.
by gino on Mar 29, 2009 11:54 PM EDT reply actions
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