Earn Your
Place.
Mixed Martial Arts, Kickboxing, No-Gi Jiu Jitsu, and Wrestling in Hendersonville, TN. A real fight gym with a team that competes, where coaches hold beginners and fighters to the same standard. Your first day or your next fight camp starts here.
Four disciplines. One roof.
Every class is scaled so a first-timer and a competitor can train side by side. Pick a lane, or do them all.
All levelsMixed Martial Arts
Striking, the clinch, takedowns, and the ground game forged into one complete system.
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All levelsKickboxing
Hands, kicks, knees, and footwork. The most fun, fat-burning workout you will find.
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All levelsNo-Gi Jiu Jitsu
No-gi grappling that takes the fight to the ground, controls it, and finishes with chokes and joint locks.
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All levelsWrestling
Takedowns, scrambles, and top pressure. Control where every fight takes place.
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We train fighters here.
Furst Place is a real fight gym with a team that competes. The work is hard, the coaching is honest, and the room is built to make you better.
Our fight team trains with a plan. Coaches build camps around real competition, sharpen technique round after round, and hold every athlete accountable for showing up and putting in the work. Mixed Martial Arts development here means drilling the details, sparring with intent, and getting your conditioning to where it needs to be when the cage door closes.
This is a team, and teams carry each other. You push your partners, they push you, and everyone leaves better than they walked in. You do not have to compete to train alongside the fight team, and plenty of our members never step into the cage. But if you want to find out what you are made of, the path is right here.
- Competition CampsStructured fight camps with a game plan, sparring, and conditioning built around your next bout. Coaches prepare you for who is standing across from you.
- Coaching and AccountabilityHonest feedback every session. We track your progress, call out the work that needs doing, and expect you to answer the call. No coasting on the team.
- Earn Your PlaceHard rounds, real discipline, and a team that holds the standard. You build skill and conditioning through work, next to people who want the same thing.
What the work looks like
You do not need to be in shape or have any experience to start. Here is how it goes, from your first class through your first three months, laid out plain.
- 01
Your First Class
Show up in clothes you can move in and a coach takes it from there. You drill the basics, get a real workout, and leave knowing something you did not know walking in. Sparring is optional and earned.
- 02
Your First 2 Weeks
You learn to move, breathe, and cover the fundamentals in your chosen disciplines. Reps are scaled to where you are. The work is hard, but the room is welcoming and nobody expects you to be good yet.
- 03
Weeks 3 to 6
The basics start to click and your conditioning climbs. You hold your own in drilling, build real skills you can use, and start to see why people keep coming back to this room.
- 04
Day 90 and Beyond
Fitter, sharper, and more confident because you earned it through work. Keep training for yourself, or talk to a coach about the competition path and get in your corner with the fight team.
Furst Place vs. a regular gym
A treadmill cannot teach you to defend yourself, and it will never learn your name.
| What you get | Furst Place MMA | Typical Gym |
|---|---|---|
| Real self-defense skills you can actually use | Not typically included | |
| Coaches who know your name and your goals | Not typically included | |
| A beginner on-ramp with a strict no-ego rule | Not typically included | |
| Training partners who push you, not machines you sit on | Not typically included | |
| Every session is different, so you keep improving | Not typically included | |
| A free trial class before you commit a dollar | Not typically included |
Real Reviews from Real Members
Five-star Google reviews from the people who train at Furst Place MMA in Hendersonville, TN.
- Anthony Pascarella
"Furst Place MMA is the real deal. High-level MMA and submission wrestling taught by a seasoned veteran who has spent years competing, coaching, and developing athletes. The instruction is technical, practical, and focused on what actually works, not flashy moves or watered-down classes. Whether you're looking to compete, improve your grappling, or learn MMA from someone who has lived it, you'll find quality coaching and a great training environment. Highly recommend for anyone serious about getting better."
- Kimberly Anderson
"My son started training with Coach Mike several years ago at a different location. We followed Mike to his new location and if he moved again, we'd follow him. He has a high skill set and trains legitimate MMA and BJJ which you don't come across often. Very knowledgeable. Cares about you improving your skills and encourages you throughout your training. Top notch."
- Matthew Formisano
"Furst Place with Coach Mike is legitimately one of the best in the business. I've trained with Mike for years and have seen great improvement. Whether you're looking for a great place to train while visiting, or for a place to build yourself long-term, start at Furst Place and learn from one of the best."
- Peter Atencio
"Easily the best gym I've ever trained at. I've met so many great people and had amazing experiences with them. The gym offers a great environment for learning and self improvement and Coach Mike will give you all the tools you need to achieve whatever goal you have."
- Nicholas Mayhair
"Mike is one of the most dedicated and detailed coaches who has a passion for MMA and passing that knowledge onto his students. Great training!"
- Zack Hicks
"Furst Place MMA is a great place to train! Mike is a very knowledgeable coach and is extremely passionate about his craft. I've trained with Mike for years and highly recommend him as a coach."
- Jason Strickland
"Iron Mike is a great coach in MMA as well as Jiu Jitsu! Super knowledgeable! All skill levels are welcome!"
- Blake Jamison
"Ol J. Luv is a damn good instructor and knows his stuff. You want to learn and learn right, hit J. Luv up! You won't regret it!"
- Riley Cook
"Super athletic, knowledgeable and VERY strong."
- Brittney Hyche
"Coach Mike is fantastic! My son has been training with him for a few months now, and I'm impressed by how much Mike pours into people. He checked in with me after the first several classes to see how my son was doing, how he was liking training, etc. Mike checks up on him when he misses classes. He truly cares about the people he's training, and my son can see that and looks up to Mike so much. If you're looking for a coach who will push you to be your best and who also wants the best for you, Coach Mike is your guy, and Furst Place MMA is the place to go."
- Art N
"Coach Mike has a wealth of knowledge and experience in striking, wrestling, and BJJ. The gym has plenty of mat space, cage walls for MMA-specific training, and a great environment for learning and improving. If you're looking to train MMA in the Hendersonville area, this is the place to be."
- Clint Goodrum
"Mike and his team provide excellent coaching in all aspects of MMA. Breaking down things to a technical level, but also hard training and tough guys. The results are speaking for themselves as the team wins fights. Clean gym. Great team. And a lot of fun!"
- Miles Posey
"Great to finally have an MMA gym in Sumner County! Coach Mike is extremely knowledgeable and truly dedicates his time to his team. It's a great place whether you are experienced or a beginner."
- Chris Pulliam
"Coach Mike has an absolute love for MMA. It's easier to learn new skills when the teacher truly cares about transferring his knowledge. Coach Mike will take your skills and confidence to a whole new level!"
- Allan Moser
"This is the place to learn to handle yourself. Regardless of your experience level, they will treat you like a member of the team. Top notch coaches who have produced some very talented fighters. Professional coaches who take it serious."
- Sam Campagna
"If you want legit training, then Mike is the best coach in the middle TN area to get you to where you want to be!"
- Christopher Taylor
"Very knowledgeable, great coach for all levels."
- Erica Camp
"Awesome place to train, learn, and grow. Highly recommend!"
Straight answers.
Everything a first-timer wants to know before walking in.
I have zero experience. Is that okay?
Do I have to spar or compete?
What should I wear and bring to my first class?
How much does it cost?
Where are you located?
Your first class is on us.
No card, no contract. Come see the room, meet the coaches, and find out what the work feels like in Hendersonville.