The Phoenix metropolitan area is quickly becoming a known hub for mixed martial arts (MMA), attracting fighters from across the globe due to its burgeoning fight community, high-quality training facilities, and strong collegiate wrestling backdrop. According to ABC15, Arizona State University is particularly influential, having established a pipeline producing prominent MMA talent such as former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and UFC Hall of Famer Ryan Bader.
Local gyms are a core reason why the area has risen to prominence. For example, Arizona Combat Sports in Tempe has been to not only build successful fighters but to also forge commendable individuals since its inception in 1999. The gym's Muay Thai coach and professional fighter Cedric Katambwa emphasized this ethos in a statement obtained by ABC15: "As a coach, my job is to make sure I get people ready for fights... And those people that aren't necessarily looking for fights, you know, teach them the art and help them have a good time doing it."
Arizona's fight scene extends well beyond Tempe, with facilities such as The MMA Lab in Phoenix and Fight Ready MMA in Scottsdale serving to further sharpen the skills of fighters and officers a rich array of training opportunities. As reported by My Herald Review, the area's growing reputation is partly thanks to the community's embracing attitude towards the sport.
Mark Shapiro, president, and COO of Endeavor sports and entertainment company highlighted MMA's ascendancy at a conference in 2024, stating the sport has to truly become one of the "big four" based on viewership. With such a vibrant scene, fighters like Zac North, who began competing in amateur boxing in Maryland before transitioning into MMA in Arizona, find a supportive and technically proficient community. North told ABC15, "It's a hotbed, man... You go 15 minutes south, northwest of here, you're going to find either another Muay Thai gym or an MMA gym, any type of combat sports."
The surge in MMA's popularity in Arizona is not only drawing in fighters but also fostering a tightly knit community that trains and grows together. Nyan Lopez, a Marine Corps veteran and Arizona Combat Sports trainee, expressed the collective nature of the community in an interview with ABC15: "You can count on one another. They want you to grow. They don't want you to just not try your best and show up. They want you to push yourself every day, be on time, be consistent." As the sport continues to expand, Arizona's standing as a key player in MMA seems to sure, only grow stronger.
