At Bangtao, our mixed martial arts program is at the forefront of what we do. It’s the core of our existence – it’s why we started this place. It was our goal to start a world-class MMA gym and base it out of Thailand, where we could tap into the country’s already amazing fight culture and its openness to visitors from around the world.
The MMA program at Bangtao has quickly become one of the best in the world, attracting world-class fighters such as UFC Champions Weili Zhang and Jiří Procházka and PFL champion Brendan Loughnane, all of whom have done their fight camps with us.
Since our inception in 2022, Bangtao has prided itself on its ‘everyone is welcome’ approach to training, and our MMA program is no different. We aim to bring people from all over the world, from different disciplines and skill levels, together to develop their MMA skills in a safe, non-intimidating environment. The classes are designed so that you can progress at your own pace, regardless of your starting point, with the assurance of a secure and supportive training environment.
Classes at Bangtao focus on technique and sparring. Our coaches use their experience to combine striking, grappling, wrestling, and submission techniques, all of which have been meticulously tailored for MMA. Once paired up, you will be guided through continuous partner drills before being brought in for controlled sparring.
The program, which is led by head coach and co-founder George Hickman, is the combined effort of his fellow coaches Frank Hickman, Alex Schild, Andrew “Woody” Wood, and Brad Riddell. They have worked together for over eight years to build their MMA program, and this unparalleled connection between the coaches is evidenced by the results and accolades their training system has received from some of the best in the business. As George puts it,
“We have a big history together and we gel well together. Plus, we all have a similar philosophy. It works.”
Their training methods seamlessly flow together, complementing and building off each other. You’d be hard-pressed to find this type of synergy anywhere else in the world. And being able to walk to the beach after training truly is the icing on the cake. Additionally, Phuket’s affordable cost of living is a major draw for professional fighters and practitioners looking to relocate.
Our dynamic team of international coaches is something that can be only found at Bangtao. Each of our coaches has decades of experience that spans countless continents. They haven’t just studied the game; they helped write the rules. True pioneers of MMA in Thailand and beyond, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more talented and diverse coaching team.
Having a coaching team that works so well together, each with their own set of strengths, is precisely what is needed in MMA – a sport where anything can happen.
A trailblazer of MMA in Thailand, head coach George Hickman has his sights set on building his own Thai MMA team, helping create Thailand’s first generation of MMA fighters. He was the one who built Loma Lookboonmee, Thailand’s first-ever UFC fighter. She began her MMA career with him in 2017, having never even stepped foot in a cage. He hopes to see more Thais competing in MMA internationally and wants to join that journey.
Thailand’s proud tradition of Muay Thai, an integral part of the nation’s identity, is fertile ground for the country’s untapped potential for MMA. We are optimistic that Thais embodying that warrior spirit will carry their country’s flag to new heights. Watch as we develop Thai MMA into a force to be reckoned with.
Bangtao currently offers four types of MMA classes and will be adding more in the future. Our schedule consists presently of beginner MMA, MMA grappling, MMA sparring, MMA wall work, and wrestling for MMA. Brad Riddell’s kickboxing class is also geared towards MMA.
Take a look at our schedule below:
Beginner MMA: Tues & Thurs 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
MMA Grappling: Mon 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
MMA Sparring: Tue & Fri 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
MMA Wall Work: Wed 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Wrestling for MMA: Thur 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.