LIONS MMA CLUB

Why people choose this gym

Lions MMA Club was built for athletes who don't want to choose between Muay Thai and MMA.

Located on Phuket's famous Soi Ta-iad, the gym offers Muay Thai, boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, MMA, and kids programs under one roof. Rather than treating these as separate businesses, the classes are designed to complement each other, making Lions especially attractive for anyone preparing for amateur or professional MMA competition.

The coaching team is another major draw. The BJJ program is led by Marcio Cesar Gracinha, a multiple-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt with decades of coaching experience. The gym also promotes that fighters from the UFC, PFL, and ONE Championship are regular members of the fight team, giving visitors the opportunity to train alongside active professionals instead of only seeing them during seminars.

Community discussions also place Lions among Phuket's strongest MMA gyms. While names like Bangtao and Phuket Fight Club are often mentioned first, Lions consistently appears in recommendations for people looking for quality coaching without the huge class sizes found at some larger camps.

What makes this gym unique?

One of the biggest strengths of Lions is its balance.

It offers the facilities and coaching depth of a large MMA gym while maintaining a level of individual attention that many visitors say surprised them.

The facility includes a professional boxing ring, dedicated Muay Thai area, a 20 × 20 metre air-conditioned Fuji mat for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, recovery facilities, and a boxing zone. A CrossFit area is also being developed, expanding the gym into a complete combat sports centre.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is another standout feature. Multiple reviews mention that Lions offers one of the busiest BJJ schedules on Fitness Street, making it particularly attractive for visitors who want to train both striking and grappling every day.

Unlike some gyms where beginners spend much of the session watching experienced athletes, reviews repeatedly mention that coaches actively rotate between students, giving technical corrections throughout class.

Real visitor experience

Reviews reveal several consistent themes.

Many beginners describe expecting to feel overwhelmed but instead receiving far more coaching than anticipated. One visitor mentioned attending a Muay Thai class with roughly ten students and around six coaches, saying it felt almost like private instruction during technical drills.

Intermediate and advanced students often praise the quality of sparring. A recent Reddit review noted that trainers carefully supervised timing rounds and immediately corrected unsafe behaviour, creating productive sparring instead of uncontrolled fights.

The BJJ program receives equally strong praise. Visitors frequently describe it as one of the reasons they chose Lions over neighbouring gyms, with several reviews specifically mentioning the variety of classes and the quality of instruction.

Not every review is perfect. One visitor commented that some coaches can be strict and that complete beginners may initially find the sessions physically demanding. Others suggested bringing your own gloves and wraps for comfort. These are relatively minor criticisms, but they provide a realistic picture of what new students should expect.

Who trains here?

Lions attracts a broad mix of students, but it stands out most among MMA athletes.

You'll regularly find people training Muay Thai in the morning before moving into wrestling or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu later in the day.

Professional fighters share the mats with beginners, but reviews suggest the coaching staff does a good job of keeping classes approachable rather than intimidating.

The gym also attracts digital nomads and long-term visitors who want to train multiple disciplines without needing memberships at different gyms. See also our stay near camp guide.

Who is this gym best for?

Lions is ideal for anyone who wants more than Muay Thai.

If you're interested in MMA, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, or boxing alongside striking, few gyms on Fitness Street offer such a complete schedule.

It's also a strong choice for beginners who value technical coaching, as reviews consistently mention the amount of feedback coaches provide during classes.

If your only goal is experiencing a traditional Thai fight camp focused exclusively on Muay Thai, gyms such as Phuket Singha or Rattachai may provide a more traditional experience. Lions is built around modern mixed martial arts while still delivering high-quality Muay Thai coaching.

Unique features

• Muay Thai, MMA, boxing, wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under one roof
• Air-conditioned 20 × 20 metre Fuji mat for BJJ and MMA
• Professional boxing and Muay Thai ring
• One of the largest BJJ schedules on Fitness Street
• Coaches with UFC-level and international experience
• Fighters from UFC, PFL, and ONE Championship regularly training
• Recovery facilities and showers
• Located on Soi Ta-iad, Phuket's Fitness Street
• Loaner gloves and shin guards available for first-time visitors

Why book one week here?

A week at Lions MMA Club quickly shows why so many visitors recommend it after trying several gyms on Fitness Street. The biggest surprise isn't the facility or the fight team. It's how much coaching people say they receive.

Students often leave remembering the technical feedback, the variety of training available each day, and the chance to roll, spar, and learn alongside athletes competing at the highest levels of the sport. If your goal is becoming a more complete martial artist rather than training in a single discipline, Lions makes a compelling case from the very first session.

Planning your first block? Start with our First Muay Thai camp in Thailand guide.