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10 Best MMA Gyms In Phoenix, Arizona

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U.S. Route 66 Sign near Phoenix Arizona


Dreaming of launching your MMA journey in Phoenix, Arizona? You’re in the right place. We’ve scoured the city to bring you a roundup of the top MMA gyms where dreams are forged into reality.

From fully equipped facilities boasting their very own octagons to a diverse selection of Jiu-Jitsu academies, and even a haven for enthusiasts of Eastern martial arts, Phoenix has it all.

Dive into our curated list of the ten standout MMA gyms in Phoenix, Arizona, and take the first step towards greatness.

Legion MMA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFu02YYEQjo

Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

Legion MMA is a mixed martial arts gym that includes classes for BJJ, Muay Thai & Kickboxing, and even Judo.

Their classes are available for kids and adults, making it a good gym option if you need classes for the family. Kids can do Boxing and BJJ to develop their mixed martial arts abilities.

There is a lot of practice on the mats with grappling, like BJJ and Judo with Daniel Madrid. However, the gym still services striking classes mostly held by Mario Velez Jr.

Daniel Madrid has over 15 years of Jiu-Jitsu and MMA experience. Daniel has been a Black Belt in BJJ under Paul Nava and Gustavo Dantas since 2015.

Not only that, but Daniel is also a professional MMA fighter in Bellator MMA and has fought other notable names like Daniel “El Leon” Hernandez and Johnny “Diamond Hands” Eblen.

Daniel’s vast knowledge of Mixed Martial Arts means he has good experience knowing what it takes to win fights and passes on that knowledge to you.

The gym’s striking classes are headed up by Mario Velez Jr. He’s a professional Kickboxing coach with over 10 years of experience.

Mario has trained amateur and pro fighters and helped them unlock the secrets of clinical striking. His methods are focused on planning for success, whether to reach your goals in your life or win a fight.

This is a great gym to pick if you are looking for a mixture of martial arts, emphasizing grappling and throwing people in Judo.

Pro Edge Boxing MMA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oxiMl2_OTA

Our Rating: ★★★★ 4/5

Pro Edge Boxing MMA focuses on MMA skills training with coaches in boxing, MMA, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with committed rings and areas.

Coaches here are frequently present at fight events operating corners and helping fighters. Even if you’re not competing, you can feel secure that you’re learning with very experienced fighters, coaches, and cornermen.

At Pro Edge, you will be sweating alongside authentic professional athletes in a friendly environment. They are committed to dropping egos at the door and making it a comfortable location for all to train.

They want to help each member develop a program specifically crafted around your personal strength and conditioning goals so you can count every metric along the way.

This gym has a somewhat unique schedule because they have a dedicated “MMA & Striking” class, so you’ll be able to develop particular skills for the sport.

Not only that, but you can benefit from an open gym and BoxFit classes to raise your level of conditioning.

This is a good gym if you desire to lose weight, get into great shape, or have particular targeted goals at competing in MMA.

The MMA Lab

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6K7dxqNkII

Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

The MMA Lab was founded in 2007 by John Crouch with aspirations of building the pinnacle MMA gym in the USA. Since its opening, The MMA Lab has become one of the top 10 MMA gyms globally.

This gym has hosted many high-level fighters who actively compete globally in the UFC, Bellator, and many other promotions.

The mission of The MMA Lab is to create a community of strong relationships that support anyone who wants to better themselves by learning martial arts and increasing their fitness.

The MMA Lab features ex-professional fighters who have competed at the highest levels of competition in UFC and Bellator.

The names that actively train and coach here include Benson “Smooth” Henderson, a former UFC and WEC champion. And Robert “The Saint” Emerson also competed in the UFC and Bellator during his career. Recently, middleweight UFC contender Jared “The Killa Gorilla” Cannonier even fights out of this gym.

The owner is John Crouch, a 3rd degree BJJ black belt under Royce Gracie and leads the MMA team. His experience of over 170 professional MMA fights brings a vast wealth of knowledge to the gym.

At this gym, you’re getting the whole package. It’s probably one of the best gyms to consider if you live in Phoenix because of the extensive class schedule its variety and the gym facilities.

Classes include BJJ, Kickboxing, Boxing, Strength training, and other fitness classes. Each of them offers courses suited for beginner and advanced students.

There is variety in the classes for experience and youth and women’s only BJJ.

Women’s Jiu-Jitsu classes are focused on self-defense, where women can successfully defend themselves against a bigger, stronger, or heavier attacker.

The MMA Lab facilities are extraordinary, with three training rooms including a full-sized octagon cage and boxing ring, a weights room, and even a childcare room if you need to drop off the kids while you train.

This is the gym to pick if you want to have it all; the highly experienced coaches, the facilities, and the variety.

12th Street Jiu-Jitsu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RChlFx76hQ

Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

12th Street Jiu-Jitsu takes pride in offering the highest-grade MMA training facility with advanced coaches to match.

Professor Jose Munoz is the head instructor and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This gym primarily focuses on Jiu-Jitsu and offers No-Gi BJJ, MMA, striking, and even Judo.

Striking classes teach you how to use your whole body as a weapon. In these classes, you’ll be able to develop accuracy and proficiency with punches, elbows, knees, and kicks.

The coaches here have over 10 years of experience learning, coaching, and competing at the highest level.

12th Street Jiu-Jitsu has formed a strong team including Jose Munoz, Ilya Mordukhayev, and Vince Arollo Sr.

The programs at 12th St will allow you to get optimum results inside a friendly atmosphere. Whether you’re looking to build confidence, learn self-defense, improve your fitness, or compete at the highest level, they intend to get you results.

The training area is over 4000 square feet of padded mat space suitable for BJJ, wrestling, MMA, and sparring. The facilities include the mat’s room, with other training equipment like heavy bags.

12th Street Jiu-Jitsu service areas of Arizona’s north Phoenix, Moon Valley, Metro Phoenix, and Deer Valley. This could be an excellent option for you if you’re in these areas. Located between 7th Street and 12th Street on the south side of Bell Road.

This is an excellent gym to choose if you’re nearby and looking to learn a BJJ base to move into MMA-style competing.

Strong Heart BJJ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-GTE4QW0nM

Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

Strong Heart BJJ is a Phoenix mixed martial arts academy, with a focus on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Gi & No-Gi) but where you can also learn striking and takedown fundamentals in their MMA programs.

Established in 2009 by Mike Martin, this gym follows and teaches the BJJ system pioneered by 15-time BJJ world champion Caio Terra.

Mike first began training under Joe Moreira, learning great technical pressure in Jiu-Jitsu. There Mike learned a great technical game under pressure. This friendship leads to Mike joining the Caio Terra Association and teaching his methods.

There’s a strong team of BJJ coaches at this gym, so if you have a preference for this style of martial arts then it makes it a good choice.

The academy even has its online training, in case you want to learn from home.

The Mixed Martial Arts classes on offer here can be followed to get ready for competition. The gym teaches the skills of boxing, footwork, and drills inside of the MMA program.

If you want to prioritize BJJ as your primary tool in MMA fighting, then this could be a good choice.

One Love Grappling Arts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTZ0ACb9dlk

Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

One Love Grappling Arts is an exclusive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy that has taught techniques to adults and children for more than 12 years.

The mission at this gym is to help people with their self-improvement journey and share a love of self and the community.

They believe strongly that Jiu-Jitsu brings the self-confidence to tackle life’s most difficult challenges, shows us how to display resilience, and fosters a positive sense of well-being.

One Love Grappling Arts opened its doors in 2006 by its owner and head instructor Issa Able. Along with the help of his wife, the community has grown into an extensive supportive network of BJJ devotees.

The family vibe at this gym is clear to see and feel each time you walk in the door.

This is a good gym for a Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast looking for a family-orientated and community-building vibe, whether for yourself or for your kids.

Marcio Andre Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6o5PHcamTU

Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

Marcio Andre Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy was opened by Marcio Andre Barbosa in 2019.

The main focus of this gym is to spread the positive effects that Jiu-Jitsu brings to people from all walks of life.

Marcio Andre Barbosa is a multi-BJJ World Champion and head instructor at this gym. Marcio’s talents are often regarded as some of the best of his generation, and he has spread his teachings globally in places like Abu Dhabi, Brazil (where BJJ was born), and across the USA.

His tuition methods are used here to make a gratifying skill and fitness-orientated learning environment for BJJ students.

This is a good option if you live nearby and want to focus on BJJ for your own or your kids, martial arts. It’s open for No-Gi classes, too, which is particularly helpful for self-defense.

Classes are offered almost daily and split between Kids (ages 3-11), teens and adults (ages 12+), and women only.

Infinite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu And MMA

Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

Infinite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA is a family-owned BJJ and MMA facility and the only one in Anthem (North Phoenix).

The instructors at this gym have fought professionally in MMA, utilizing their several years, sometimes decades, of experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The team from this gym prides itself on providing a community where students of any level or age can learn practical martial arts in a zero-ego environment. They want you to build confidence, get your body in shape, and have fun doing it!

Like many other gyms in this list, there is a focus on BJJ. But they still offer striking classes featuring techniques from Boxing, Muay Thai, and Kickboxing. These classes are available for ages 15 and up.

If you want to take it further and learn to fight in a cage, you can get involved in sparring in a cage or ring with help from the staff once you’ve had an adequate level of training.

MMA skills training can be discovered here through classes for technique, drilling, sparring, and fight prep for anyone who wants to compete.

Another great gym to pick in the North Phoenix area if you want to focus on grappling and BJJ skills.

Far East Martial Arts & Fitness

Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

Far East Martial Arts is a unique addition to this list as it is a rare gem that focuses on martial arts from, you guessed it, the Far East.

The instructors here have been training and sharing the advantages of martial arts for nearly 20 years in West Phoenix and surrounding Arizona.

Their high-quality training center provides an excellent atmosphere for developing a mixture of skills in Eastern martial arts and MMA. They’re eager to help you build a great foundation that you can take into your everyday life.

There are tailored programs available for almost any age looking to get into the methods taught by Sifu Michael Cardinale.

Sifu Michael Cardinale has been in martial arts for over 20 years. His specialties include Shaolin 5 Animal Kung Fu and Tai Chi Chuan.

Michael earned the rank of Sifu in Shaolin Kung Fu in 2005. Still, he has trained in tang soo do, Karate, Boxing, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, enabling him to provide high-level tuition inspired by Eastern arts and adapted for modern fighting.  

He brings plenty of detailed knowledge to the classroom with this broad understanding of different martial arts types and practical self-defense.

This is a gym to choose if you want to learn a mixture of martial arts from the Eastern principles adapted to modern mixed martial arts. Plus there are plenty of options for kids if you need classes for the family.

Mayko & Karen Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Our Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5

Mayko & Karen BJJ (Also known as Checkmat Phoenix) is a BJJ-focused gym that was founded by 3rd-degree black belt Mayko Araujo and Karen Tunes who is a five-time IBJJF champion.

Almost every student that walks through their doors is welcomed in like an extended part of the family.

There’s a really strong vibe here of security for both men and women to learn in an encouraging environment.

With both coaches having such a strong history in BJJ experience and competition, you can be confident you’re in good hands if you want to learn to roll.

This is a perfect option to pick if you are looking to learn BJJ in the Uptown area of Phoenix.

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