UFC Lightweight champion kicks off UFC Gym launch with masterclass

UFC Gym Qatar, an extension of the renowned UFC brand, and Al-Mana Holding led the grand opening of their second gym at The Pearl Island on Monday, featuring UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev as guest of honour.
“This gym has everything, it's great. We can do our training camps here since it has everything. It’s a major platform for combat sports in Qatar and hopefully MMA’s (mixed martial arts) future champions in the octagon," Makhachev told a press briefing.
“It’s clear to see how the country’s created this amazing reputation for hosting sporting events and why it’s becoming the sports capital of the world. Inshallah we will see a few UFC events here.”
Noting it was his first time to visit Qatar, he hopes to return back to Qatar in the future – at the UFC gyms in particular – to hold some training sessions.
The newly-unveiled state-of-the-art facility provides limitless classes and personalised training sessions in various disciplines such as MMA, boxing, Jiu Jitsu, wrestling, Muay Thai, and HIIT, as well as an array of youth programmes. The gym also features a dedicated gym-area and UFC Octagon, among others, in addition to an exclusive women’s area for female-only classes.
The UFC GYM team offers a free pass for enthusiasts and aspiring MMA fighters, urging them to also visit the UFC Gym Qatar website and explore the customised membership tiers.
“The much-anticipated opening of our second location on The Pearl has become a central focus for Al Mana Holding. Our research shows there is an appetite for an all-inclusive facility offering an MMA-inspired training space and traditional fitness under one roof.
“We’re very much looking forward to contributing to the growth of Qatar’s vibrant fitness community by continuously expanding our sports offering,” Al Mana Holding deputy CEO Abdulrahman Hamad al-Mana said.
The inauguration of The Pearl-Qatar branch forms part of Al Mana Holding’s expansion plans aimed at promoting UFC Gym’s unique ‘Train Different’ philosophy. This follows the New Salata branch opening in August 2022 and another massive location opening in Al Kheesa at the end of 2023.
It is learnt that the first branch witnessed an increasing number of memberships, giving them the chance to excel in their sport and for others to try something new.
As Qatar continues to make significant strides as a leading sports destination, MMA offers an opportunity for people in Qatar to exercise and stay fit in an exciting and enjoyable way.
At the press briefing, Makhachev underlined the importance of preparations, hard training, and being in top shape, which includes holding training camps in the mountains as part of their conditioning.
He also offered some tips for aspiring MMA fighters, saying that training and having a background in wrestling and Sambo, which he did for a couple of years, would significantly help in advancing their careers.