UFC Gym

Whether you are a semi-pro fighter or just like taking the occasional boxing class, this gym has a class is for you. The UFC Gym is a 6,000 square-foot mixed martial arts facility that has everything from free weights and battling ropes to heavy bags and an octagon ring. It’s also equipped with the necessary fitness equipment for those days you that you don’t feel like hitting the heavy bag or another person (do those days actually exist?). There are lots of different classes to choose from including boxing, kickboxing, MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and HIIT training. They even offer personal training and accommodate all ages and fitness levels.

RUNDOWN

WORKOUT

The class started off with a 10-minute warm up consisting of butt kickers, high knees, jumping jacks, cross jacks, running jacks and every other kind of “jack” they could come up with. Not the most creative or the most difficult warm up, especially since we were only sorta-kinda-maybe warm by the end. Next up, we ran through a quick stretching routine and then it was time to put on the gloves and punch things. For the next 30 minutes, LJ took us through a dozen different punching sequences that had our arms burning and bodies sweating. To finish up we took the gloves off and busted out a quick core/ab session that wasn’t terribly difficult but got the job done, if you know what we mean.

We will admit it wasn’t the hardest or the most intense boxing class we’ve taken, but was it was a great boxing class for beginners and those looking for good pointers about how to clean up technique.

INSTRUCTOR

LJ Scarcella did an incredible job of explaining and demoing each punch, walking around correcting form and giving praise when deserved. There was never a point in class where we felt unsure of what we were supposed to be doing or if we were actually doing it correctly. This is super important in a technical class like boxing because there is a whole lot to think about and it’s pretty easy to look like a flailing fish out of water. We would have given LJ the highest marks, but we were put off by the two-minute self-promoted rant at the end of class where he did his best to get us to sign up for private training with him. It was hard to determine if he wanted what was best for us as potential members or what is best for his wallet.

SPACE

The gym is clean and the equipment is new, but at just one year old it’s to be expected. When you enter the gym, the 20-foot UFC octagon is straight ahead with the heavy bags to the left and the open gym area to the right. We were impressed with all of the equipment including free-weights, cardio machines, ropes, ladders, sleds, medicine balls and more. Unfortunately we were not impressed with the bathrooms or the lockers, which require you to bring your own locks. Apparently they put too much time in money into the rest of the facility and couldn’t be bothered with the locker rooms. As expected they have a retail area with gloves, wraps and shirts, all emblazoned with the UFC logo. Pricing is consistent with every other boutique gym–i.e., super expensive–but if mixed martial arts is your thing, then this is definitely a great place to kick (or punch) it.