A Tour of the New, $14M UFC Performance Institute - MMA Fighting

UFC execs James Kimball and Forrest Griffin take MMA Fighting's Marc Raimondi on a guided tour of the promotion's new, state-of-the-art Performance Institute. The facility is 30,000-square feet, cost $14 million to make and sits on the UFC's new campus in Las Vegas.
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[@DragosLazarescu]

Forrest looks like he lives there.

[@alejandrochavez9166]

I would love to live there. Forrest deserve it. Legend

[@NazriB]

Lies again? LA Liga Good Papi

[@vickmackey24]

Questions you guys should have asked: 1. How many UFC athletes actually use this facility? Is it always busy? When is it most busy? 2. Is everything in the facility free to UFC athletes? 3. Is transportation _to_ the facility free? 4. Is there a limit to how long athletes can use it? 5. When is the facility open? 24/7? 7 days a week? 6. Is the facility open to the regular public as well? 7. Which parts of the facility get the most use? Which parts get used the least? 8. Do you plan to build more of these facilities around the world? 9. Which UFC athletes are using it the most? Top-10 ones? Injured ones? Ones who train/live nearby?

[@seamusmckee1974]

Yes

[@vickmackey24]

Amateur hour... terrible preparation. Looks like this guy just showed up to look around, and just asked whatever happened to come to mind at the time.

[@327thejess]

all those questions you sound like a cop.

[@VegaH_]

These are the question we all really care about.

[@chikuman6224]

agreed except that u don't wana reveal the names of the fighters who are training there currently....rest are really great questions.

[@fmbaig21]

Isn't $14 million pretty cheap for a facility like this?

[@bighands69]

Not really. It is a small centre and that would be roughly about right.

[@adonisg667]

It's in Vegas so they probably saved a trillion dollars on buying the property.

[@pitoblogg]

Exactly what I thought. The size of that land and building, seems to me that just the real estate costs 14 mil. Let alone all the equipment and manpower to set it up!

[@alialghamdi7153]

Dude I was thinking the same thing!

[@mikehunt8221]

@@bighands69 doesnt look small to me

[@rudyrudiger84]

Forest Griffin has no idea what that laser therapy does.

[@IronWolf277]

But he knows how to fight!

[@IronWolf277]

Forest Griffin doesn't need to be a Scientist to help out future MMA fighters. I'd listen to him.

[@stonephilips9361]

rudyrudiger84 He's clueless🤔 14 million😂 are they charging the fighters to use the facilities.

[@SteeleBeats]

rudyrudiger84 forest was being serious in most of the interview... tripped me out.

[@Bfr3shBrian]

6:30

[@RJandPAULA]

You know Dana took care of Forest Griffin because if it wasn't for that TUF fight UFC would be broke and gone.

[@hhh9849]

Rj and Paula that fight got me into mma. It was awesome

[@papaskanku3097]

Rj and Paula damn paula is a smokeshow

[@strugglrbrah4294]

why does forrest griffin sound like he is talking with a sock in his mouth smh

[@HiGregory]

It's no secret

[@carbonbonds3019]

he actually does work. the WME fired chuck and huges

[@bongdonkey]

Forrest is such a company man!Because he was one of the only fighters UFC took care of!

[@jdevlin1910]

Marc gonna get at least 30 articles out of this

[@bluebke]

6:55 - Forrest looking up what all this stuff does.

[@Thawhid]

bluebke lol

[@MAORIATLAS]

That looks awesome Francis Ngannou trains/lives there.

[@cofishfinder7269]

It didn’t seem to help.

[@anggvoagg7881]

He live there cause he homeless ... needs a treadmill in his room

[@doucheycowboysfan2751]

It’s amazing how much the sport has grown to this.

[@itsliterallycurry4038]

Grif over here absolutely DOMINATING the “conversation” 💪🏼

[@spencerwinston4334]

Great to see how much physical therapy, proper training, and nutrition is promoted at the center. This center should be a wonderful resource for aspiring fighters to go to the next level. Hope corporate sponsors and hospitals will embrace the center. With the added corporate interests, more money should in theory flow back to the fighters. UFC is on track to catapult to that esteemed 5th sport. With Forrest's help and other agents, the stratosphere is the limit if the sport can stay real, raw, natural, instinctual and yet safe and professional. Sparta training for the 21st century. Get Gerard Butler to do a promo for the center to raise awareness if possible!!!!!

[@CommandoMaster]

Most fighters aren't even gonna use most of the stuff in there. Don't forget a lot of fighters live in other places around the world and don't come to Las Vegas until they fight.

[@ekulreklawyks9921]

But if they get hurt they have a place for free to get better at.

[@Alpinex105]

They have to fly there, probably have to stay in a hotel too. Can get expensive. Not worth it unless the trip expenses are covered.

[@ekulreklawyks9921]

''Not worth it unless the trip expenses are covered.'' And who are you to say what a fighters health is worth. I don't think you understand the amount of money all those things cost, and UFC is offering it for free. This is a huge thing for their athletes.

[@humanmoron]

imo the main reason for building this is to deflect the notion of offering the fighters the medical coverage they deserve. just a pr tactic to save big $$ long term.

[@joshspawn161]

UFC pays for travel

[@joshwheeler5143]

This is awesome and WTF is with the comments?!?!?!

[@watchesandcaps2566]

Love that Forrest wore flip flops and no socks to a televised tour of this flagship state of the art facility.

[@iloveshenaegrimes]

Marc looks like a chicken nugget. And he's kind of awkward, standing there with like his awkward hands half in his pocket half not. I hate being one of those guys begging for Ariel in every video but that would've been more appropriate, or even Luke Thomas. I wonder if Ariel's beef with the UFC has put a strain on his ability to cover a lot of the different things the UFC offers.

[@memento_mori_22]

One cryo chamber, one laser chamber...hundreds of fighters

[@Samuelbell99]

Martin Neshev but only a few who can afford to come to the institute. This is basically a recovery center for Dana's favorite moneymakers

[@Mark_106]

Naturally!!

[@memento_mori_22]

I guess Conor will never set foot there, but I see what you mean

[@memento_mori_22]

I am not blasting it mate, contrary to that.

[@Samuelbell99]

+Seeing most fighters cannot afford to go to Vegas to train or recover. Conor will probably use it when he trains in the U.S. and other big names with enough cash can afford to get all their coaches down there. Most fighters can use it during fight week if they are fighting aroumd Vegas. A lot of fighters also have regular jobs and it would be a massive expense to go to Vegas just to recover or train when they can do so locally.

[@geoffiskool]

the ufc basically built a college football facility...

[@kratos1667]

Geoff Bardenheier except more manly

[@ngonamhai1991]

UFC: 14 million dollars for a new facility nobody uses, no money to pay their fighters

[@cosmokramer7396]

No shit, right?

[@Mark_106]

that's the UFC baby.....and we love it!!

[@racecrasher99]

Francis Ngannou basically lives there. Trains in the PI every day.

[@coralreefer4602]

Moose the Goose that's not even close to being true

[@yellowfella]

You forgot...giving Forrest a job for the last year at a salary more than 95% of all active ufc fighters

[@SpencerAGuitar]

Marc Raimondi has a big vocabulary: "Hmm.." "Yeah" "Haha"

[@Fireblaze15]

Marc Raimondi should exercise more.

[@Lee_Forre]

Raimondi is Italian, genius

[@discrete3511]

Steele Beats 😂😎

[@벡터나인]

This is fighter's heaven.

[@cybersub4693]

This tour was kinda unprofessional. It seems just thrown together without much thought. Like first of all Marc is totally the wrong guy for this job, he's too subdued for this. However I was impressed Forest knew as much as he did, but his partner was a total none factor. None of the 'professional staff' where interviewed which would have really beefed the info side of things with the tour...like the Director of Physical Therapy (Olympic lady) they where hype about. Supposedly all the areas had trained staff on site, but none of them where on camera to better explain things. Expecting Forest and silent bob to know it all was a joke in this. I'm just not impressed by your performance. The facility itself was very nice, but seemed limited in some areas...like there was 1 Cryotherapy unit, 1 Hydrotherapy unit, 1 Hydro treadmill...I mean you have this huge facility with possibly 100's of athletes in there, and so you'd think 1 of these important pieces is not enough? I don't know maybe they're testing the waters here to see just how much the facility will be in use before expanding things, maybe building across the country. Overall the athletes should be thankful that the money is being spent on them rather then just going into pockets and paying off loans. I don't think the argument of 'the money should go to the athletes pockets' is wrong to say, but these shouldn't be mutually exclusive. They should build more facilities across the country and of course pay the athletes more. Hopefully all in due time.

[@tcby2332]

Is stuff like this accessible at UFC gyms? Also, an app that ties the fighters entire camp into one source would be cool. It would be awesome to eventually publish the data so that other people could see how their training plans compare with a pro fighter. The next wave of fighters are going to be monsters!

[@yesandnosomethimes2157]

Thank you conor!

[@VegaH_]

You can tell it’s hard for Forest griffin to use his brain from all the head damage.

[@conormagill]

Good to see so many fighters using this, lost track of Forrest and Mark for a second there because of all the bodies

[@DevandreJMma]

I actually have been to this gym I been living in Las vegas my whole life it's an amazing gym not just made for famous fighters they train anyone

[@rextetron]

In my eyes this is very very weird. Fighters are all normally around the globe training in their own camps, and yet all these employees hang in Vegas in these premises? Do any fighters go to this place any other time than maybe when they might have an event in Vegas? It's not like it's a bad thing to have this kinda place, but I just don't see the point?

[@TheChadD315]

rextetron Kevin Lee uses it. It's a big benefit to fighters in Vegas.

[@SteeleBeats]

this is the gym where usada doesnt pull up at... all the ufc stars they are "pushing" train here. lol just a theory.

[@TheSubieFan]

rextetron ya it seems odd but considering that most fights take place in Vegas the fighters can go there before the fights and do camps there makes sense just not the most practical option.

[@UFCNERD]

Lol imagine the application for the physical therapist. " you'll see one fighter probably once a month but you'll be paid 40 hours a week"

[@samuelleahy4780]

I don't see the problem... little work, good pay. Sounds nice.

[@JRAT777]

This is so awesome!! If I were a fighter I would move to Vegas to take advantage of this place. The fact that they pay for everything is such a big deal!

[@jeremylynch6459]

It is mostly used by fighters visiting Vegas either for an upcoming fight or while visiting the UFC headquarters.

[@a_roderick1153]

What an amazing facility. Wish it was more convenient for fighters to take advantage of. But if you're doing the latter half of your fight camp AT the fight location that's primarily Vegas area. It's got ups and downs. Facility though is top of the line.

[@CryptoTransactions]

That’s a great deal for $14 mil.

[@cosmokramer7396]

$14mil for a new facility, and they don't have the money to pay the fighters more.

[@coralreefer4602]

They would make more than that losing one fight

[@event201plandemicyoutubese2]

14 million? that's less than my show money, its absolutely embarrassing

[@shifty277]

That's less than my tip money

[@derhanibal9023]

I dont know why, but i watched this a million times cause its so awesome

[@ConspiracyGamer]

Imagine if the 14 million dollars were averaged into the fighters salary. It's a good idea and concept but pay your fighters first.

[@0104-s8k]

14 mill : 550= 25454 dollars not much

[@coralreefer4602]

Conspiracy Gamer they would make more than that losing one fight.. Stick to gaming

[@Batterystang]

The company sold for 4 billion. Fighters are now making 10+ million per fight. Dana White is the promoter/partial owner and worth 100's of millions. Heck, even the announcer Joe Rogan is worth many millions due to the popularity of the sport. How is this the most amazing facility with this size to so many athletes that compete in this sport.

[@cknorris3644]

10:10 I can see why it cost so much. They have enough line array speakers on the ceiling for a huge outdoor concert. Complete overkill in that room and makes no sense!! They must have said "no budget, skies the limit" and all the contractors took full advantage.

[@Karemaker]

The Bro Science is strong in this one. I guess these guys who built this just got finished watching Rocky IV.

[@seangallagher4498]

Its cool... but why? Fighters aren't going move their camps to train here... It seems like its just for show and not actually practical.

[@Enigmatized13]

It probably gives fighters the ability to go to Vegas early (maybe a couple weeks before) and have somewhere to train before their fight.

[@dereknueveuno]

Lot of fighters are already training there, i've seen a handful via social media. its for the mid-tear up and comers, top guys could benefit too but most have their camp down to a science, the TJ's, Conor, Holly, Jones, Cody..ect ANY fighter can go here, they didnt say only top guys, if you can get there and a fighter it's open to you

[@seangallagher4498]

baddogonline: I would disagree they are the only organization trying to improve the MMA. The UFC IS the sole leader in the level of competition, but Bellator is slowly improving its level of competition

[@seangallagher4498]

If the UFC really want to improve their image and alleviate the some of the financial hardship of their fighters without having to pay them more then they need to ax the Reebok apparel deal. Let fighters re-coup pay through sponsors. Sponsors help promote the individual fighters.

[@Sup_Mate]

It introduces the mma community to a variety of new training methods, methods of recovery, state of the art sports-science technology that they might've otherwise been ignorant of. This institute allows fighters and their coaches to have in view the full range of possibilities when training and conditioning the body, how they can find an edge over their opponents physically etc. It represents a concerted effort on behalf of the UFC to cut down on the overall amount of injuries experienced by fighters in addition to making weigh-cuts as easy as possible. Also, it's ideal for fighters coming from other parts of the world, having to leave all their resources behind, someone like Francis Ngannou for example. He can bring his coaches their and they'll absolutely everything they need at their fingertips.

[@alpacapines8553]

At 17:45 Forrest Griffin said the UFC wants to treat it's athletes well, yet Dana is always bashing his fighters, like DJ. And they don't even get paid well unless they're Conor, Ronda or Brock Lesnar.

[@alpacapines8553]

Eduardo Flores he's the face of the UFC.

[@MJJSmoothCriminal]

Louis Juarez Forrest is gonna treat them right because he's nice guy and was a fighter himself.And the ufc and Dana don't care because they were never fighters so they don't respect most of them. UFC is like fast food companies paying their employees minimum wage. And Dana will never disrespect Brock because he would get beat and is a money maker like Ronda and Conor. They need to promote and respect fighters like they did those guys. You think with a talent agency owning it now,it would be better promotion for the fighters.

[@gordonthomson8323]

Louis Juarez Or Jon Jones

[@boogynights]

Louis Juarez That why there more mma out there if it was like fifa the best talent get a chance to fight anywhere and eventually fight anyone in fifa standards but in the scope of mma its impossible.

[@ciaranfox2925]

You get what you bring in , dj doesn't deserve to be paid as much as the others as he brings in a small fraction of what they do , thank god idiots like you don't run the UFC or it wouldn't exist very long

[@JoseSLC]

14M for a useless building that in my opinion most fighters wont use, just like ufc retreat building, 14M+ what ever the damn retreat costed could be used to pay the fighter more.. WME/ IMG is wasteing money that could go to the fighters

[@Pratikinho80]

14M$ is small change for an organization like UFC. Considering PSG spent 180M$ on Neymar, McG earned 100M$ for one match, Nate demanding 20M$ for another match

[@harrywilliams2327]

$14 million holy shit it's cheap to build stuff in Nevada!

[@327thejess]

14 million is not cheap.

[@allrawpaul]

Thank you UFC! Great work!

[@anon_genz]

*And made with the fighters literal BLOOD MONEY*

[@FF-dv6ti]

I can only imagine the questions Ariel would have asked if he did this tour/interview but ofcourse they know better than to allow him there so instead this bum went. This guy does not even know why hes there, not a single good question. The first thing he should have asked is do you provide free transportation to the fighters to use this facility?. sigh, wish ariel had been there

[@GGG-wm1nd]

Should've asked him to explain light therapy again

[@PieLane]

If they pay for the fighters to fly out each time to go there then yes for sure this would be good otherwise I doubt many will utilize it. This is really good though. Free health care is important but we'll see how free it really is.

[@russiannuke6239]

14:28 Netflix Icon. Who hatches Netflix while training?

[@jakediddy3658]

This is ufc fighter nirvana recovery.

[@cambo6911]

Building the P.I. was basically to have something more to offer a buyer prior to the sale of the UFC, as was the deal with Reebok & bringing in USADA. The building of the institute was likely a tax write off as well. Pretty sweet unit though.

[@4BCJesus]

I like where they are going with the scientific approach. I think we are going to see some machines come out in the next 2 or 3 years.

[@stemstudentph9246]

Dang all these dragonball technology coming into existence, awesome.

[@willgetcarriedfornudes1417]

God, the Marc doesn't look excited at all.... I would've creamed myself to met one of my favourite fighters ever and explore this Rocky IV laboratory.

[@SKing-si7bc]

So what is it used for if it’s only accessible by fighters on the UFC roster? When is it used by fighters?

[@spacescience9995]

14 Mill damn that's a steal

[@wmarcoux9]

You would think the place would be 10× the size considering their is over 500 UFC athlete's.

[@henriquept1224]

William Marcoux but most of them dont even live in the us or int that area so

[@NeonLeonNoel]

So much does the performance center cost to uphold, maintain, and staff? To the people saying pay their fighters more, if they divided it up evenly, amongst 400 fighters, they'd make just 35k more for one year. That's really not a lot.

[@berlinbunker]

where are all the athletes...the place is a ghost town

[@humanmoron]

6 to 8 employees lmao. more people work at a dominos pizza

[@TheKondinho]

most gyms have small staff

[@force1452]

finallynb exactly, for training it don't require large volume of staff. The facility looks great

[@AimZ2909]

Notice you don't attend many gym if any

[@kevinnicanor6893]

humanmoron yea the staff at dominos only gotta make pizzas, at the ufc fighting facility they have college degrees and are world class staffs dumbass

[@interesting-facts100]

humanmoron u are an idiot

[@DeepValueOptions]

When you realize they dont know that lactic acid is actually good for you

[@ralphbohatz5151]

forrest griffin one of the best personalities of the game

[@alexseuser4035]

MMA Fighting should get more guys that actually train

[@TonyMon16]

MY dream gym .. brought a tear to my eye.. wish i could be there.... one day . one it shall be all MINE!!! BUT hearing forest talk at end, seesm short sighted. talks about more regulation and doing what other sporst do.. if they do to much fo that all that will happen is mma turns corrupt like tkd and boxing ( due to too many officials and agencies involoved and no one governing them) or it ends up like point karate as safety is pushed too much.

[@paladro]

14 million doesn't seem like much and could have easily been paid out to the talent in bonuses, seems more like a place for them to film promo's for reebok...

[@mugshotmarley]

paladro Theres aroubd fighters on the roster. At 14 million, thats a total of $28,000 each, before taxes. After taxes, you're looking at one payment of $20-$22k per fighter. As a fighter, Id rather have this institute, for life!

[@freds-shed]

They didn't even put in an elevator

[@whatapitte]

Left when "The Nose" was not here.

[@george221999]

well good luck to you-is this for the execs?

[@38jagger]

fighters goin be quitting there camps forsure........

[@coolgadgetreviews]

this was built for connor to train here before mayweather fight!!

[@johndo8792]

Forrest is the science guy.

[@SKing-si7bc]

Why don’t all fighters train here for every fight? Is it because they don’t wanna leave their current gym? Or they don’t wanna move to Vegas? I mean I can’t imagine a lot of fighters wanna share their game plan?

[@grumble2437]

It would be funny if UFC built a complex where the fighters could live near this facility (not saying it's a good idea! fights would break out, just thought it would be funny)

[@stintstravels7387]

anyone know if you can visit it for a tour?

[@mikegoldberg2386]

They invite you on a tour and you ask Helwani type weasel questions. Like the lady at Walmart offering free samples and some guy grabbing 5 pieces while looking her straight in the eyes.

[@PieLane]

Where does it say they were invited? MMAFighting asks 99% of the time to do something.

[@913NUPE]

I would let them do my entire training camp nutrition there if I were a UFC athlete

[@murrayw68]

gotta have that UFC logo on every thing...

[@joebling1400]

Murphy Williams it’s just three letters

[@yellow92591]

This reporters shirt is way too tight.

[@Saucey_0y0]

Woah, it’s Forrest Griffin

[@Ianmundo]

perks in lieu of pay, a classic corporate diversion. This "institute" just requires fighters to be away from their families, teams, coaches. Looks great but it makes little sense compared to just paying for physiotherapy

[@philjoyce1548]

Forrest keeps walking in the way ....oh well your still the man big fella

[@justbi9909]

Is this where Conor McGregor going to train for the Mayweather fight?

[@justbi9909]

Yeah his coach said they are going to train in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks

[@TeDoGBi]

I seen it on conor instagram

[@Assasin293]

Mind blowing UFC

[@igorsenayoutube]

They better not charge the fighters anything they do in there. Forrest said it´s free of charge . I hope he is right.

[@theez0809]

Probably mostly investor strategy to get regulators, sponsors, broadcasters, etc. to buy that it's safe and well run so they support and grow the sport. Otherwise, it's purely aspirational. Chit they both said it runs in the red. This isn't a college football team collected on a campus - these fighters live and train all over the world.

[@george221999]

this seems like a vanity project-fighters have to come to vegas to train? What about their coaches and sparring partners? I am struggling to make sense of this.

[@MaDaburazGmaz]

Forrest trying to act smart...

[@CRUISEWITHSPIRIT]

14:20 forest walked off the octagon and the other two looked as if some illegal creature was there.

[@SincereDoper]

wow look at all those fighters training in this new facility! it's actually pretty dope, but it won't get much use except for the fighters getting ready to fight in vegas on the week of their fight. houses are pretty cheap in vegas, if i was a fighter in the ufc i would just buy one and have my own 14 million dollar private gym for me and my team.

[@brandonl2857]

Guy seems strangely unimpressed

[@greenbean4446]

UfC GYM #1

[@jeeezah]

Who uses this place anyway?

[@XrayJose]

No one uses it but our troops could

[@bamboozledcat8425]

dude shut up

[@overshot8331]

Awesome place!!

[@thekid5938]

Is this place open to the public? Would he one hell of a place to workout at.

[@jakediddy3658]

The UFC buying up new toys.

[@randyredman]

Actually a small investment for how big and how much the ufc makes

[@rickzippo]

if you build one in Tampa I want a job there.

[@nathangrice6999]

It's mad that they spent all that money on it, And there are more people in the gym I go to at 6am in the morning