The Ultimate Fighting Championship gym celebrates the end of its first year in Sheepshead Bay, and a novel way of defining training essentials

Viewers of Ultimate Fighting contests on Fox Sports and a variety of pay-TV events wouldn’t be mistaken in regarding the mixed martial arts bouts as about as institutionalized as professional boxing. It’s easy to forget, however, that Ultimate Fighting as a concept is barely more than two decades old—born of a simple desire to see which of the martial arts among Jiu-Jitsu, Sambo, Boxing, Brazilian Wrestling, Karate, Judo, and Muay Thai would win pitted one against the other. When kickboxing promoter Art Davie proposed to Hollywood director John Milius and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Rorion Gracie such a contest in the early 90s, called “War of the Worlds,” the idea was quickly snapped up by pay-TV company SEG, which dubbed it The Ultimate Fighting Championship.

In 2000, SEG was facing bankruptcy, and accepted an offer from casino executives Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, and they, along with partner Dana White have owned and operated UFC ever since, with White acting as president. In 2010, the company elected to expand the brand to a series of UFC Gym locations, with a business model that included both parent company-owned and franchised brick and mortars. After rolling out 56 in its first year, the number of gyms has expanded to 105 as of 2014. According to entrepreneur.com, an initial franchise fee of $30,000 begins the ownership process, followed by startup costs that range from $244,257 to $594,507.

Brooklyn’s UFC Gym location in Sheepshead Bay (though there are several in Manhattan), which opened in 2013, showcases interesting innovations the brand offers over a standard workout experience. Yes, participants can learn and hone a mixed martial arts skill set that includes boxing, kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, and a variety of other fighting forms, but it is the conditioning that stands out here. Building endurance and functional fitness in tandem with fighting skills (collectively referred to as the TRAIN DIFFERENT system) is the hallmark of the brand, culminating in a patented The Workout “ultra training session,” which burns an astonishing 800 to 1,000 calories in a single hour. The Brighton 11th Street gym, however, claims to be the only one in the city that combines mixed martial arts with TRX suspension training, which essentially involves suspending body weight on ropes to develop core muscle areas. The location also offers Trigger Point Boxing, UFC Fit, and Daily Ultimate Trainer classes.

“For years people have joined gyms and experienced less than desired results,” said Adam Sedlack,
UFC Gym president. “We empower men, women, and kids to achieve personal best fitness level inside an innovative facility with dynamic classes and coaching. Members train like the top UFC athletes building confidence, strength, and stamina in an atmosphere where collaboration and camaraderie are key.”

UFC Gym
16 Brighton 11th St. / 718.975.7100 / ufcgym.com/brooklyn