Mixed martial arts is one of the popular sports in the world, and its legion of disciples will only swell.
While the UFC is MMA's largest organisation, making household names out of Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey, the sport of MMA itself can be practiced by anyone.
MMA is a brilliant way to exercise and stay in shape, as well as being far more enjoyable than running for hours on a treadmill.
Don't worry if you have no intention of stepping into the Octagon – practically every MMA gym welcomes those simply looking to keep fit, with numerous classes and PT sessions available.
And if you ever should wish to try your skills for real, sign up for sparring or even a white-collar event.
We've listed the best MMA gyms in London – click through the gallery below.
See you on the mat!
Urban Warriors Academy
Easily accessible from the City in its Vauxhall location, Urban Warriors Academy offers the perfect place to shed the white collar and connect with your inner McGregor. Training is offered in a number of intrigued disciplines; as well as the MMA / boxing staples, fighters may also try Krav Maga, a range of Filipino Martial Arts and Dirty Boxing, also known as Filipino Street Boxing. It’s almost worth provoking a bar brawl in order to try out that last one. The Rope Burn, a 30-minute high intensity interval training session, is probably best tackled before lunch.
Membership
- Unlimited £80 per month
Address
- Arch 12, Miles Street, SW8 1RZ
Nearest station
- Vauxhall
Contact
- 020 7720 1088 / info@urbanwarriorsacademy.com
Follow on Instagram urbanwarriorsacademy.com
Urban Kings Gym
MMA is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and Urban Kings, based in King’s Cross, should help you keep up with the (Jon) Joneses. Offering classes in boxing, wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Glory kickboxing and Capoeira, you’ll learn all the fundamentals required to shine in the Octagon.
Membership
- From £80 per month
Address
- 4 Bravingtons Walk, Kings Cross, N1 9GA
Nearest station
- King’s Cross
Contact Contact
- 020 7837 7774 / info@urbankingsgym.com
Follow on Facebook urbankingsgym.com
The MMA Clinic
Learn to fight like a devil at The MMA Clinic in Angel, Islington. The Clinic is equipped with a 30ft cage, 18ft boxing ring, 20 assorted punch and kick bags, kettle bells, and the tools required for strength and conditioning. Changing room and shower facilities are also on-site, ensuring a quick lunchtime workout is very doable. As while as advanced MMA classes / sparring, there is bag work, MMA conditioning, and controlled boxing for some serious cardio.
Membership
- £90pm for Gold Card membership
Address
- 29-30 St Albans Place, N1 0NX
Nearest station
- Angel
Contact
- 020 7226 4731
Follow on Facebook. The MMA Clinic
Diesel Gym
The East End has long been a boxing hotbed, and now MMA has announced its presence in the form of Diesel Gym one of the largest MMA gyms in London, right in the heart of the Docklands. Classes are much more streamlined than others on this list: you get Muay Thai, MMA, Tenth Planet (a no-gi evolution of Jiu Jitsu developed for MMA), Wrestling, Yoga, Strength and Conditioning, and that’s your lot. There’s an admirable purity in such focus, although it should be stressed Diesel welcomes all-comers. 25% of its active members are women, and there's classes for under 16s every day, striking a blow against the perception of MMA as a solely masculine pursuit. (Although Ronda Rousey also helped.) 1-2-1 personal training starts from £45 per hour and includes boxing if so desired.
Membership
- £95 per month, special concessions for students and key workers.
Address
- Diesel Gym London, 1012 Dockside Road, E16 2QD
Nearest Station
- Royal Albert Dock
Contact
- 07765 243012 / cliff@dieselgym.co.uk
Follow Diesel Gym on Instagram
MMA Den
Battersea is one of the up-and-coming areas of London, and while it might be a stretch to credit MMA Den solely for this transformation, having a top quality MMA gym in the vicinity certainly can't hurt. As well as the staples of MMA, boxing, BJJ and Muay Thai, MMA Den also offers wrestling classes, and conditioning and personal training. If you're nearby, pop down and try the first class or training session of your choice for a fiver. There are also kids and teen classes for those with budding Conor McGregors.
Membership
- £80 per month for a year
Address
- Arch 698 Gladstone Court, Havelock Terrace, Pagden St, SW8 4AT
Nearest station
- Battersea Park
Contact
- 020 7627 5469 / contact@mmaden.com
Follow MMA Den on Twitter. mmaden.com
London Fight Factory
Another gym ideally located for the post-work workout, London Fight Factory sits just five minutes north of Old Street station. As with most MMA gyms, the diversity of disciplines available should ensure every need is met; however it’s worth noting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA classes are held weekdays 7.15 – 8.15am, perfect for some early morning exercise. Lunchtime boxing classes on Monday and Wednesdays should also suit those looking to trade food for fitness. 80% of new arrivals are complete beginnings to the game so no need to feel self-conscious. Based in darkest North London? There’s a Golder’s Green branch as well.
Membership
- Unlimited £90 per month (£25 joining fee)
Address
- 19 Ebenezer St, N1 7LU
Nearest Station
- Old Street
Contact
- (Luiz) 07944 574046, (Helen) 07951 043682 / info@londonfightfactory.com
Follow London Fight Factory on Facebook / londonfightfactory.com
KO Gym
This is a gym with a no-frills approach to exercise. Established in 1976 by Bill Judd, long before it was socially acceptable to choke, clinch or hammerfist your friends, KO Gym is one of the founding fathers of MMA in the UK – and it has the record to prove it, creating 32 world champions in the last four decades. Priding itself on being simple and effective, inspired by the traditional atmosphere of Thai gyms, you won’t find any saunas or jacuzzis. What you get is a den hidden away under the arches of the Bethnal Green railway where you can focus on your hooks during 90 minute introduction, general and intermediate classes. Even Anthony Joshua is a fan.
Membership
- £80 per month
Address
- 186 Bancroft Rd, E1 4ET
Nearest Station
- Bethnal Green
Contact
- 02072659693 / info@kocombatacademy.com
Follow KO Gym on Facebook / ko-muaythai.com
100% MMA
According to 100% MMA’s website, the gym offers, “strength and conditioning for badasses.” As founder, Max Cotton, is a fighter, we’d expect nothing less. On moving to London he wanted fight-specific fitness and conditioning sessions which he could fit in around his full-time job. When he struggled to find what he was looking for, he created it. He developed the 100% MMA Build and Burn sessions which focus on burning fat, building speed, power, endurance and technique, and introducing the boxing basics of MMA. As an incentive to get you Octagon ready, basics training is offered free to anyone attending two or more sessions a week of build or burn.
Membership
- Operates on a credit basis
Address
- Jubilee Hall Gym, WC2E 8BE
Nearest tube
- Covent Garden
Contact
- 0207 231 8576 / info@100percentmma.com
Follow 100% MMA on Instagram / 100percentmma.com
Fightzone London
A great addition to the East London fight scene. Opening in 2012 Fightzone London has quickly built up a strong membership due to its fun, friendly atmosphere that encourages even the most timid novice. The gym provides more than 70 classes per week in eight different disciplines. The London branch is an offshoot of Fightzone in Brazil, an exceptional martial arts academy founded by nine-times Jiu Jitsu world champion Ricardo Vieira. Now that's what we call some serious pedigree. You mightn't become a multiple world champion (although who are we to talk?) but you should certainly build skills, lose weight and have fun.
Membership
- £90 per month
Address
- 16-22 Pritchard’s Road, E2 9AP
Nearest Tube
- Bethnal Green (Cambridge Heath station is closest)
Contact
- 02077293907 / fightzonelondon@gmail.com
Follow Fightzone London on Facebook / fightzonelondon.co.uk
London Shootfighters
Founded in 1997, London Shootfighters has enjoyed two decades of growth to the point a second East London gym was opened to compliment its West London forebearer. The gym has housed many professional fighters, including Bellator superstar Michael Page, but welcomes newcomers for whom exercise is the primary goal. A wide range of classes teach boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and many more disciplines: reading down the list is like glancing at Bruce Lee’s training regime. Boxing rings, octagons and plenty of punch bags will help build the requisite stamina and power.
Membership
- Standard £35 per month, Unlimited £90 per month (includes all classes)
Address
- Unit 4 Atlip Centre, Atlip Road, Wembley, HA0 4LU
Nearest station
- Alperton
Contact
- 02037309557 / londonshoot@hotmail.com
Follow London Shootfighters on Facebook / londonshootfighters.com
Fight City Gym
Nestled in the heart of Moorgate, Fight City Gym is perfect for workers who want to let off some steam following a long day behind a desk. Cramming an awful lot into a relatively small space, the gym caters to the boxer, MMA fighter and casual weightlifter. The boxing ring and MMA cage are separated by a green 25m sprint track: this gym is very much of the future, not a trace of sawdust in sight. Fight City hosts plenty of events to test your techniques in action, from White Collar Boxing to Caged Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu submission competitions. Not for the fainthearted but a good deal more fun than another round on the treadmill.
Membership
- £80 per month (£45 joining fee)
Address
- 15 Worship St, EC2A 2DT
Nearest station
- Moorgate
Contact
- 0207 043 6032 / info@fightcitygym.co.uk
Follow Fight City Gym on Instagram / fightcitygym.co.uk
Titan Fighter
One for our North London readership. Located just inside the North Circular, Titan Fighter has been working MMA fighters since 1997 – long before UFC was the sporting behemoth of today. The training promises to improve all aspects of fitness, from muscle growth to fat loss, as well as honing the MMA skills for those keen to step inside the Octagon. The tailored classes include MMA cardio and striking, as well as an kids class for miniature Conor McGregor wannabes. With an array of dedicated coaches, including current UFC bantamweight fighter Brad Pickett, Titan is a godsend for MMA fans and fitness lovers situated north of the Thames. Students receive 15% off all memberships.
Membership
- Unlimited £80 per month
Address
- Unit G4 Orbital Business Park, Argon Rd, N18 3BW
Nearest station
- Angel Road
Contact
- 0203 740 8059
For more info, titanfighter.com