Mixed martial arts (MMA) has a relatively short history in Melbourne, Australia compared to other cities around the world. The sport began to gain popularity in the early 2000s, and the first MMA event in Melbourne was held in 2004. Since then, the sport has continued to grow in popularity and a number of MMA organizations and promotions have been established in the city, including the Australian Fighting Championship (AFC) and the Cage Fighting Championship (CFC).
In the early days, MMA in Melbourne and Australia as a whole, was not as popular as in other countries and struggled to get mainstream acceptance. Many gyms and clubs were focused on one specific discipline, and it was not as common to find gyms or dojos that offered training in multiple disciplines. However, as MMA gained popularity, more gyms and clubs began to offer training in MMA and other martial arts, and the sport has become more mainstream.
Today, MMA is considered to be one of the most popular combat sports in Melbourne, with a large number of gyms, clubs, and promotions dedicated to the sport. The city is also home to many talented fighters and coaches, and many fighters from Melbourne have gone on to compete in international MMA events such as the UFC, Bellator and ONE championship.
It’s worth noting that Melbourne has also hosted several international MMA events, such as UFC 243 in 2019 and UFC 234 in 2018, which took place at the Marvel Stadium.
Melbourne is home to many MMA (mixed martial arts) clubs, trainers, and dojos. Some popular MMA gyms in Melbourne can be found at Melbourne MMA Training.
These are just a few examples of the many MMA clubs, trainers and dojos in Melbourne. It’s worth noting that Melbourne is home to many other martial arts and combat sports clubs like boxing, wrestling, Judo and BJJ. I recommend looking for a gym or club that aligns well with your goals, and that you feel comfortable with the training environment and instructors.