Evolve MMA

Evolve MMA
Est. 2009
Founded by Chatri Sityodtong
Primary trainers Chatri Sityodtong
Heath Sims
Shinya Aoki
Ben Askren
Rafael Dos Anjos
Orono Wor Petchpun
Sagetdao Petpayathai
Pornsanae Sitmonchai
Jake Butler
Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke
Nong-O Kaiyanghadaogym
Roger Gracie
Michelle Nicolini
Training facilities Singapore
Website Evolve-MMA.com

Evolve Mixed Martial Arts is a chain of martial arts academies and home to one of the leading teams in mixed martial arts. Founded by Chatri Sityodtong, it opened in January 2009.[1] In November 2015, Chatri Sityodtong was named the 2nd Most Powerful Person in Asian MMA by Yahoo! Sports.[2]

Background

Evolve MMA has the highest concentration of champions of any gym on the planet according to MMA website Middle Easy.[3] It has World Champions in Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing, Wrestling, No-Gi Grappling, etc.[4]

There are currently four Evolve MMA academies, Evolve PoMo, Evolve Far East Square, and Evolve Orchard Central in Singapore, and Evolve University, the largest online university for martial arts.[5] Evolve MMA is affiliated to the Renzo Gracie Academy, Jackson's Mixed Martial Arts and Sityodtong Muay Thai.[6] Chatri Sityodtong has stated that he wants to open an Evolve MMA camp in every major Asian city.[3] High-profile visitors to Evolve MMA include Renzo Gracie, Greg Jackson, UFC Legend Rich Franklin, PRIDE Legend Dan Henderson, Bellator Champion Ben Askren, Roger Gracie, Phil Baroni, Yodtong Senanan, Saenchai PKSaenchaimuaythaigym, Matt Hume, Kyra Gracie, UFC fighter Riki Fukuda and DREAM star Ryo Chonan.[7]

Media

In January 2014, FOX Sports called Evolve MMA "Asia's top MMA gym".[8] In December 2013, MMA Mania awarded Evolve MMA the Asian MMA Camp of the Year.[9] In January 2013, MMA Mania named Evolve MMA as the #1 MMA camp in Asia.[10] Also, in January 2013, leading Asian MMA website, The Fight Nation, named Evolve MMA as the best MMA gym in Asia.[11] In July 2012, leading Asian MMA website, MMA Japan, named Chatri Sityodtong the 2nd Most Influential Person in Asian MMA.[12] Also, in December 2011 Chatri Sityodtong was named by MSN as being one of the best head coaches in the world alongside the likes of Greg Jackson, Pep Guardiola, and Jose Mourinho.[13] In September 2011, CNN described Evolve MMA as Asia's number one-ranked MMA-training organization.[14] Evolve MMA has also been described as 'the top MMA camp in Asia' by Bloody Elbow.[15] Rich Franklin described it as the best camp he had ever trained at [7] and Middle Easy described it as 'the best gym ever'.[16] Bleacher Report also stated that 'Evolve MMA out of Singapore is already shooting up the ranks as one of the best teams in the world.' [17] In 2010 Rafael Dos Anjos told Fighter's Only Magazine that 'In fighting, you are only as good as your team and I have one of the best teams in the world at Evolve MMA'.[18] After successfully defending his title at the 2011 DREAM New Year's Eve event, DREAM World Champion Shinya Aoki declared that 'Evolve MMA is the No. 1 MMA camp in Asia'.[19] Brazilian jiu-jitsu Master Renzo Gracie has said that, "Evolve is the best MMA school in Asia and has the highest quality instruction in the world."[20]

Awards and recognition

Evolve Fight Team

The most high-profile members of the Evolve Fight Team are DREAM and ONE Championship Lightweight World Champion Shinya Aoki, former Bellator Welterweight World Champion and ONE Championship Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren, former UFC Lightweight World Champion Rafael Dos Anjos, Strikeforce World Champion and UFC Welterweight contender Tarec Saffiedine, ONE Championship Strawweight World Champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, ONE Championship fighter Jake Butler, and ONE Championship fighter siblings, Angela and Christian Lee. UFC Legend Rich Franklin has also spent time training at Evolve MMA.

Notable fighters

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In March 2015, the Evolve Fight Team won the Ultimate Fighting Championship world championship title with Rafael Dos Anjos victory over Anthony Pettis. Other notable UFC fighters include Tarec Saffiedine and Leandro Issa.

ONE Fighting Championship

ONE Championship announced on July 14, 2011 that it had added multiple Evolve MMA fighters to its roster, including Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn, Eddie Ng, Yodsanan Sityodtong, Mitch Chilson, Leandro Issa, Orono Wor Petchpun, and Yoddecha Sityodtong.[30] Five members of the Evolve Fight Team fought and won on the card at ONE Fighting Championship: Champion vs. Champion at the 12,000 capacity Singapore Indoor Stadium on September 3, 2011. Phil Baroni and Gregor Gracie both prepared for their fights at ONE Fighting Championship: Champion vs. Champion at Evolve MMA and Renzo Gracie flew in to help coach the Evolve Fight Team.[31] In 2011, DREAM World Champion Shinya Aoki successfully defended his title four times against Satoru Kitaoka, Rob McCullough, Rich Clementi, and Lyle Beerbohm. In 2012, the Evolve Fight Team competed and won in Ultimate Fighting Championship, DREAM, and ONE Championship. On April 5, 2013, Shinya Aoki successfully captured the world championship title at ONE Championship with a 2nd round submission victory over Kotetsu Boku. In May 2015, Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke from the Evolve Fight Team became the first Muay Thai World Champion in history ever to capture a major world championship title in MMA when he won the inaugural ONE Strawweight World Championship belt.

References

  1. ↑ "Founder's Message - Evolve MMA". Evolve MMA Singapore - Asia's #1 Mixed Martial Arts Gym.
  2. ↑ "Asian MMA's Most Powerful People". Yahoo Sports Singapore. 10 Nov 2015.
  3. 1 2 Tommy Messano (30 November 2015). "Rawesome Fight Coverage and MMA News - MiddleEasy.com". My Blog.
  4. ↑ "About Us - Evolve MMA". Evolve MMA Singapore - Asia's #1 Mixed Martial Arts Gym.
  5. ↑ "News & Events Archives - Evolve Daily". Evolve Daily.
  6. ↑ "About Us - Evolve MMA". Evolve MMA Singapore - Asia's #1 Mixed Martial Arts Gym.
  7. 1 2 "Exclusive Interview with UFC Fighter Rich Franklin Courtesy of Evolve MMA". Bleacher Report.
  8. 1 2 "Singapore event represents only the start of UFC's massive Asian expansion | FOX Sports on MSN". msn.foxsports.com. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  9. ↑ "The 2013 Asian MMA Awards - MMAmania.com". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  10. ↑ "Asian MMA Awards: Who was tops in 2012? - MMAmania.com". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  11. ↑ "The Fight Nation - Asia's Coolest MMA News Site!". thefightnation.com. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  12. ↑ "op 5 Most Influential People in Asian MMA". Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Pep Guardiola - PHOTOS: The top coaches of 2011 - xinmsn Sports". sports.xin.msn.com. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  14. ↑ "ONE Fighting Championship: A fight to end all fights". Cnngo.com.
  15. ↑ James Goyder. "ONE Fighting Championship: Which Camps Are Set to Shine?". Bloody Elbow.
  16. ↑ Tommy Messano (30 November 2015). "Rawesome Fight Coverage and MMA News". MiddleEasy.com. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  17. ↑ Andrew Mahlmann. "ONE FC: 8 Reasons Why It Could Be Asia's Answer to the UFC". Bleacher Report.
  18. ↑
  19. ↑ "Shinya Aoki Not Satisfied With Win, Plans Return at Dream/One FC Show in March | MMAWeekly.com". mmaweekly.com. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  20. ↑ "Testimonials and Reviews - Evolve MMA". evolve-mma.com. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  21. ↑ "The Top MMA Instructor Teams in Asia - Yahoo Sports Singapore". sg.sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  22. ↑ "ONE Fighting Championship: A fight to end all fights | CNN Travel". travel.cnn.com. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  23. ↑ "Evolve MMA is AsianMMA.com’s 2012 Fight Team of the Year | AsianMMA.com". asianmma.com. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  24. ↑ "Ranking the Top Ten Mixed Martial Arts Camps in Asia - MMAmania.com". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  25. ↑ "The Fight Nation - Asia's Coolest MMA News Site!". thefightnation.com. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  26. ↑ "Combat Asia 2012 End of Year Awards | Combat Asia". web.archive.org. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  27. ↑ "Samurai Life MMASamurai Life MMA » Samurai Life: The Fightsport End of Year Awards 2012 - Vote!". samurailife.net. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  28. ↑ Tommy Messano (30 November 2015). "Rawesome Fight Coverage and MMA News - MiddleEasy.com". My Blog.
  29. ↑ "Chatri Sityodtong - PHOTOS: The top coaches of 2011 - xinmsn Sports". sports.xin.msn.com. Retrieved 2014-02-09.
  30. ↑ "ONE Championship - News - Largest Asian MMA Organization in History". Onefc.com. 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  31. ↑

External links

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