AusLeisure

The UFC GYM® franchise is to open its first club in Perth by the end of the year.

UFC Gym Australia Chief Executive Maz Hagemrad has revealed to local media that a franchise agreement has been agreed for Perth, with the franchisee now looking for a suitable site.

Announcing that the gym would open later this year, Hagemrad stated “Perth’s been in the pipelines for about 15 months now and as recently as last week we got a deal signed ... we’re now looking for property.”

Announced in late 2015, UFC Gym Australia’s expansion plans also includes multiple sites in NSW, Queensland and South Australia.

While UFC GYM’s signature Octagon will feature in the new club, Western Australian legislation will prevents it from being used for events.

The fast-growing global franchise that combines mixed martial arts (MMA) and fitness, encourages its members to train like fighters but it's not a traditional fight gym with sparring.

A brand extension of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) events series, UFC Gym’s offers  franchisees a unique selling point in Australia.

Hagemrad explains that the group’s ‘Train Different’ ethos promotes “focus, respect, integrity and discipline, in addition to strong physical health”, adding that “the opportunity to be involved with the UFC GYM brand in Australia is unprecedented for prospective franchisees,” he added.

Hagemrad also explains that “we’re a disruptive brand because we've come in with a model that says you pay a one-off fee which gives you access to everything in the club,” Mr Hagemrad said.

“There's also our exclusivity with the UFC brand.

“We use a very specific training program that’s pushed out to all of our clubs nationally and internationally and it’s built by the best in the business.”

MMA is legal in Western Australia but the use of the Octagon or ‘cage’  is prohibited so fights have been held in modified boxing rings.

The ban was imposed in 2013 against the safety advice of the Western Australian Government's Combat Sports Commission.

UFC Gym’s offer a range of fitness classes that includes group and private MMA training, performance-based training, kickboxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, women’s self-defence as well as youth programs for MMA and its signature classes.

Images: Adult and child members enjoy UFC Gyms.

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