First of '300 to 400' UFC gyms opens its doors in Concord, Calif.

by MMAmania.com on Nov 28, 2009 9:05 PM EST Comment 18 comments

Quoteworthy:

"This was the natural evolution for our brand. UFC revolutionized traditional martial arts. It's a perfect fit to us to expand into the fitness area.... We're not looking to train or create fighters. We're looking to create a fun family environment."

UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta details his vision for the new UFC Gym enterprise, a concept that was formally introduced earlier this year. In less than a year, the mixed martial arts company has already cut the ribbon on its first "state-of-the-art, 38,000-square-foot facility" in Concord, California. Fertitta and Co. envision as many as 400 gyms "across the United States within five years." UFC Gym members won't necessarily learn how to fight, but will endure similar training opportunities, including tractor tire flipping and rope climbing. Not sure about the sledgehammers. Of course, members will have access to fighters who drop in for meet and greets, as well as "enjoy benefits like priority access to tickets and first-look privileges to news and events." How's that sound, Maniacs?

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You know

I saw the “awesome” UFC display in a Kmart today and started to wonder whatever happened to the “UFC Gym” concept.

@fjbar75 on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner

by _Felix_ on Nov 28, 2009 9:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That is cool!!

you guys have UFC stuff at your Kmarts!!

Akiyama and Maia to WW!!

by N.Mamone on Nov 28, 2009 9:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I put a picture of the display in the FanShot section and it actually looked pretty lame

What’s next? Energy drinks and Bruce Buffer Step Aerobic DVD’s?

@fjbar75 on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner

by _Felix_ on Nov 28, 2009 10:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

dude

bruce buffer is pretty big. i guess it comes w the name.

to the death, georges.

by an8yr0ldboi on Nov 29, 2009 2:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sooooo???

If they claim they are NOT looking to train or create fighters…Then there will be no fight classes there?? Only fitness?? That is a bit lame IMO its the UFC they should have like a different UFC/WEC fighter come and run a class for son long then different you could train with many different fighters which would be a awesome chance for young kids or anyone in the matter.

by N.Mamone on Nov 28, 2009 9:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Makes no sense to have fight classes.

Why start training the typical gym meathead or a young kid with no discipline in MMA? That’s just a road that leads to people getting hurt, lawsuits, and more MMA/UFC stereo-types as being violent. If a person wants to train a martial art or MMA – go to a qualified instructor – not a McDojo – like a UFC gym….

by TABASCOsauce on Nov 28, 2009 10:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so very true..

by sarah- on Nov 28, 2009 10:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

All ufc gyms will be McDojos

Someone post the vid of the two instructors welcoming everyone into one of these. I suspect doucheness levels to rise to new levels at least for a few months. Expect a lot sof – “I trane UFC man.”

by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Nov 29, 2009 3:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

there are fight classes

watched watched a promo vid for the gym. boxing going on in the background. and they specifically said to drop in for a fight class.

"to the death Georges. I mean it" - BJ

by Newfie3 on Nov 29, 2009 8:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The whole thing sucks

how can you have a place called The Ultimate Fighting Championship Gym and then not have fight classes. That seems pretty stupid! I just don’t think this will work. I don’t think the brand fits and I think it sucks.

In the name of the Fedor, the Anderson and the GSP, Amen.

by Spinning Fat Kick on Nov 30, 2009 5:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

N.Mamone

Yeah that’s almost the honorable thing to do, but not the most $$ profitable idea for the UFC. I’m sure they will have fighters visit their gyms from time to time… probably for zero $$$… lol.

by THORAZINE on Nov 28, 2009 11:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Imagine the number of douchebags at these gyms. The affliction-shirt-wearing-wannabe-fighter-aholes…

by cauliflower_ears on Nov 28, 2009 11:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

LOL… yeah I’ll wait for the reviews before I step in that gym… I’ll be the guy peering through the window eating a donut.

by THORAZINE on Nov 28, 2009 11:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Have you guys trainned MMA at a gym???

Most guys who actually begin to train MMA, rather than becoming more violent actually start to chill out and become more respectful, because when they spar with the lanky, geeky looking guy who weights -120 pounds and that same lanky, geeky looking guy beats the crap out of them with ease they start to realise that there are many levels to fighting and they unfortunately for them are right at the bottom.

Look at when Sean Gannon faced Brandon Lee Hinkle, apparently top rated street fighter gets anhilated by low level unknown MMA guy, same with Kimbo.

MMA teaches respect and not to judge a book by it cover.

by holdin_ropes on Nov 29, 2009 10:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I KNOW I SAID I WOULDNT POST ANYMORE

But had to agree with holdin ropes, unless your naturally gifted and just dont know it yet till you actually apply yourself to mma, then starting to train any form of martial art is one of the most humbling experieneces!!!! lol at holdin ropes comment on the “geeky looking guy” bit in his post, guarantee 9 out of 10 people who do train or have started to do some form of martial art know what hes talking about. MMA teaches respect and not to judge a book by its cover for sure!!

I"m no Ned Flanders punk!!

by tkkpal on Nov 29, 2009 11:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think UFC is making a bad business decision

It’s hard to make money with an MMA gym, even with the UFC brand name thrown into the mix. In Southern California, $120-$200/month is standard, depending on the name of the instructor. Not many people have that amount of spare cash to throw into a recreational activity on a regular basis. And of those that can afford it, the vast majority find pretty quickly that it’s not for them.

by Pantherhare on Nov 29, 2009 1:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agree, this will be a money loser

The gym business is already super competitive, and I jsut don’t see the UFC gyms being successful with the dues they will be charging. I am a huge UFC fan, but hell I’m not going to pay $100-200 a month for a gym membership when my current gym is $20 a month!

There are no such things as lesbians, just women who have not yet met Chuck Norris

by the rock on Dec 1, 2009 6:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I can see these gyms doing really well just off name creditibility and incentives. I like how they offer a fight training style of equipment/exercises though. This gym would probably be good for Strength/Conditioning.

by Vic De Zen on Dec 2, 2009 10:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs