UFC Gym’s First Jiu-Jitsu Studio to Open in Manhattan

The combat fitness franchise is bringing its new stand-alone Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu concept to New York City through a partnership with Jiu Livre

UFC Gym is officially putting its latest franchise concept into action.

The combat fitness brand will open its first UFC Gym Jiu-Jitsu studio on August 8 in Manhattan, giving the company a flagship location for its newly launched Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu-focused model.

Located at 383 Fifth Avenue, the studio will operate in partnership with Jiu Livre, an established New York academy. The location will combine UFC Gym’s brand, programming and franchise infrastructure with Jiu Livre’s coaches and local community.

The opening follows UFC Gym’s recent unveiling of the stand-alone concept, which gives franchisees a more specialized — and potentially more accessible — way to enter the combat sports market. Unlike a traditional UFC Gym, the smaller-format model is centered on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu rather than a broad mix of fitness and MMA offerings.

“Bringing UFC Gym Jiu-Jitsu to life in New York City is an important step in how we expand the brand,” UFC Gym CEO Adam Sedlack said. “We’re meeting the demand for high-quality Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction in one of the most passionate and engaged Jiu-Jitsu communities in the world.”

Sedlack added that the Jiu Livre partnership allows UFC Gym to combine “authentic and trusted local experience” with the company’s global resources and operational structure.

The new studio represents UFC Gym’s push to capture growing interest in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while expanding beyond its conventional gym model.

The discipline has widened its appeal beyond competitive fighters, attracting consumers interested in self-defense, fitness, skill development and community. That momentum creates an opportunity for UFC Gym to serve dedicated practitioners while bringing newcomers into the sport through one of combat sports’ most recognizable brands.

UFC says it has more than 700 million fans globally, giving the gym business a sizable audience from which to draw prospective members and franchise partners.

The Manhattan studio will offer instruction for beginners, experienced practitioners and competitive athletes. Programming will be led by black belts and other advanced coaches, with members following UFC Gym Jiu-Jitsu’s standardized training methodology and belt progression system.

Jiu Livre will retain its existing identity and continue serving its current members as the UFC Gym curriculum and member experience are introduced. That structure could also offer UFC Gym a blueprint for future expansion: partnering with respected local academies instead of attempting to build every market’s coaching staff and community from scratch.

Opening in New York gives the concept an early test in a dense and highly competitive martial arts market. If successful, UFC Gym Jiu-Jitsu could provide the company with another growth vehicle—one designed around specialized instruction, a community-driven experience and the accelerating popularity of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Founding members at the Manhattan studio will also be entered into a raffle for two tickets to a future UFC event, linking the new concept directly to UFC’s global fight platform.