The MMA Lab (also known as MMA Lab and The Lab) is a mixed martial arts (MMA) gym based in Glendale, Arizona. It has produced two

UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. The larg ...

champions,

Benson Henderson Benson Henderson (born November 16, 1983) is an American former professional mixed martial artist, who most recently competed in the Lightweight division for Bellator MMA. He is a former UFC Lightweight Champion and WEC Lightweight Champion. H ...

(former UFC Lightweight Champion) and Sean O'Malley (former UFC Bantamweight Champion).

History

According to ''

Bloody Elbow ''Bloody Elbow'' is a news website that covers the sports of mixed martial arts (MMA), boxing, kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, and other traditional martial arts and combat sports. Founded in 2007, the site has been notable for its investigat ...

'', MMA Lab was incorporated on November 16, 2006, with its two largest shareholders being Khonkhor Enterprises and JBeck Investments. Both were investment companies owned by

Royce Gracie Royce Gracie (; born 12 December 1966) is a Brazilian retired professional mixed martial artist. Gracie gained fame for his success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a member of the Gracie jiu-jitsu family, a UFC Hall of Famer ...

and Jason Beck respectively. Beck previously trained at a Gracie Academy and had expressed interest in opening his own gym in central Arizona. He later brought in his training partner and Gracie Academy instructor, John Crouch to join MMA Lab. In early 2012, Gracie and Beck transferred their ownership interest of MMA lab to Crouch,

and Joe Ervin. In early 2015, Gracie was involved in a tax dispute with the

Internal Revenue Service The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service for the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, which is responsible for collecting Taxation in the United States, U.S. federal taxes and administerin ...

where it claimed Gracie and his wife fraudulently evaded paying over $1.1 million in personal income taxes from 2007 to 2012 via various means. It disallowed a 2011 Khonkhor expense deduction for $338,871 which was for MMA Lab having a net loss. In 2018, the MMA Lab facility was upgraded to have three training rooms, a full-sized octagon and a weight room for strength and conditioning. MMA Lab has currently produced two UFC champions, Benson Henderson and Sean O'Malley.

Notable fighters

* Sean O'Malley * Jared Cannonier * The Korean Zombie *

Mackenzie Dern Mackenzie Lynne Dern (born March 24, 1993) is an American and Brazilian professional mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner currently competing in the women's Strawweight (MMA), Strawweight division of the U ...

Joe Riggs Joseph Jonathan Riggs (born September 23, 1982) is an American professional bare-knuckle boxer and former mixed martial artist who was most recently signed to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship where he lost via KO to Lorenzo Hunt. He former ...

* Mario Bautista * Kyler Phillips *

Jamie Varner James Varner (born October 12, 1984) is a retired American mixed martial artist who fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former WEC Lightweight Champion. Background Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Varner attended Deer ...

* Efrain Escudero *

John Moraga John Anthony Moraga (born March 20, 1984) is an American professional boxer and mixed martial artist who competes as a flyweight and featherweight in MMA and boxing, respectively. He is best known for his lengthy career in the Ultimate Fighting ...

Johnny Case Johnny Case (born June 28, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist and professional boxer who currently competes in the Lightweight division of RIZIN. A professional since 2007, he formerly competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Pro ...

Steven Siler Steven Siler (born February 15, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division of the Professional Fighters League. A professional competitor since 2005, he has competed for the UFC, Titan FC, Tachi ...

* Alex Caceres * Bryan Barberena * Rick Story

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:MMA Lab Mixed martial arts training facilities 2006 establishments in Arizona Sports in Arizona

History

Notable fighters

See also

References

External links