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MMA Factory

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MMA Factory
Est.2013; 11 years ago (2013)
Founded byFernand Lopez
Primary trainersFernand Lopez
Past titleholdersFrancis Ngannou
Ciryl Gane
Training facilitiesBoulevard Poniatowski, Paris, France
Websitemma-factory.fr

MMA Factory is a mixed martial arts gym based in Paris, France. It is considered the largest MMA gym in France,[1] and is notable for producing former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Francis Ngannou and former UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion, Ciryl Gane.

Overview

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In 2013, Fernand Lopez and his business partner, a police officer, opened CrossFight in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. Soon after, he renamed the gym 'MMA Factory.' The gym started with only two fighters but rapidly expanded to have over 600 students and 18 staff members as of 2018.[2]

MMA Factory was sponsored by Reebok France.[1]

The most notable fighter produced by MMA Factory is Francis Ngannou who would become UFC Heavyweight Champion in 2021. When Ngannou was 26, he moved from Cameroon to France in order pursue his dream of becoming a professional boxer.[3][4] Francis Carmont met Ngannou and then introduced him to Lopez and the MMA factory.[5] Lopez saw the potential of Ngannou and convinced him to try MMA even though Ngannou originally wanted to do boxing.[4] Lopez gave Ngannou some MMA gear and allowed him to train and sleep at the gym for no cost thus starting his MMA career.[3][4][5][6] However the relationship between Lopez and Ngannou has deteriorated in recent years with Lopez citing that Ngannou has ego problems and had refused to pay gym membership fees after he had achieved success.[7][8][9] As a result, Ngannou moved to the United States to train at Xtreme Couture.[10][11]

MMA factory has also produced Ciryl Gane. Gane won the Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship after defeating Derrick Lewis on 7 August 2021, at UFC 265.[12]

Gane faced Francis Ngannou for the UFC Heavyweight Championship on 22 January 2022, at UFC 270.[13] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Notable people

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Mixed martial artists

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UFC

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Others

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Fernand Lopez: The Mastermind Behind Francis Ngannou And MMA Factory Paris". MMAnytt.com. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  2. ^ Bissell, Tim (18 January 2018). "Feature: Fernand Lopez and the Factory behind Francis Ngannou". Bloody Elbow.
  3. ^ a b Dundas, Chad. "From Homeless to UFC's Next Big Thing: Francis Ngannou's Amazing Journey". Bleacher Report.
  4. ^ a b c "MMA: le parcours hors-norme de Francis NGannou, nouveau champion du monde des poids lourds". France Bleu (in French). 29 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b Coleman, Joe (28 March 2021). "New UFC champ Ngannou slept rough on way to top, loved Mike Tyson and packs a punch". talkSPORT. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  6. ^ Lesage, Julien (28 March 2021). "Francis Ngannou, ex-SDF et champion du monde de MMA: "Il sait ce qu'il a enduré pour y parvenir"". leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  7. ^ ""I Feel Like You Have an Ego Problem" - Francis Ngannou's Coach Drops Insider Details". EssentiallySports. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  8. ^ Lynch, James (11 February 2021). "Fernand Lopez: Traduction de l'interview "Line Movement"". MMA DEFERLANTE (in French). Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Coach Fernand Lopez Claims Ngannou Refused To Pay Gym Membership". MMA News. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Coach Fernand Lopez insists that future Ciryl Gane vs. Francis Ngannou fight won't be personal". MMA Junkie. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Who Are Francis Ngannou's Coaches and Training Partners?". EssentiallySports. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  12. ^ Nolan King (28 June 2021). "UFC 265 heads to Houston with Derrick Lewis vs. Ciryl Gane interim heavyweight championship headliner". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 28 June 2021. (in English)
  13. ^ "Ciryl Gane vs. Francis Ngannou pour l'UFC 270 !". La Sueur (in French). 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Dragutin Dukić- Trener rvanja Francisa Ngannoua i MMA Factory Paris". Triangle TV (in Serbian). 7 October 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  15. ^ "UFC, DFNS & Cyril Gane: Fighting for a More Sustainable Future | UFC". www.ufc.com. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  16. ^ Rigaud, Robin. "UFC Sunrise: Ion Cutelaba s'attaque à une légende !". MMAFACTORY (in French). Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  17. ^ Sherdog.com. "Veronica Macedo MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Former UFC fighter Taylor Lapilus has a goal to return to the promotion in 2020". MMA Junkie. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  19. ^ archyde (20 February 2021). "MMA: the new French pearl is called Nassourdine Imavov". Archyde. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  20. ^ Bitter, Shawn (8 October 2020). "Welcome to the UFC: Alan Baudot". Cageside Press. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Jérôme Le Banner, un combattant d'exception en quête de nouvelles aventures". La Voix du Nord (in French). 21 May 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  22. ^ Sherdog.com. "Christian". Sherdog. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  23. ^ Sherdog.com. "Rizlen". Sherdog. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  24. ^ Calhoun, Curtis (2 October 2023). "Cédric Doumbé Makes Scathing Allegations Against Former Coach After Statement Win At PFL Europe 3". MMA News | UFC News, Results & Interviews. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
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