Est. 2009 Training facilities Singapore | Founded by Chatri Sityodtong Website Evolve-MMA.com | |
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 | ||
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. In December 2016, Chatri Sityodtong was named the Most Powerful Person in Asian MMA by Yahoo! Sports.
Contents
Background
Evolve MMA has the most number of world champions available anywhere in the world. It has World Champions in Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing, Wrestling, No-Gi Grappling, etc.
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. Evolve MMA is affiliated to the Renzo Gracie Academy, Jackson's Mixed Martial Arts and Sityodtong Muay Thai. Chatri Sityodtong has stated that he wants to open an Evolve MMA camp in every major Asian city. 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.
Media
In January 2014, FOX Sports called Evolve MMA "Asia's top MMA gym". In December 2013, MMA Mania awarded Evolve MMA the Asian MMA Camp of the Year. In January 2013, MMA Mania named Evolve MMA as the #1 MMA camp in Asia. Also, in January 2013, leading Asian MMA website, The Fight Nation, named Evolve MMA as the best MMA gym in Asia. In July 2012, leading Asian MMA website, MMA Japan, named Chatri Sityodtong the 2nd Most Influential Person in Asian MMA. 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. In September 2011, CNN described Evolve MMA as Asia's number one-ranked MMA-training organization. Evolve MMA has also been described as 'the top MMA camp in Asia' by Bloody Elbow. Rich Franklin described it as the best camp he had ever trained at and Middle Easy described it as 'the best gym ever'. 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.' 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'. 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'. 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."
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.
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. 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. 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.