EVOLVE MMA: THE NEXT GENERATION OF MMA

Evolve MMA in Singapore is the brainchild of founder Chatri Sityodtong. Chatri's deep background as a Muay Thai fighter and his success as an entrepreneur led him to the concept of a full-on, full-service, fully-operational MMA fighters' gym. Accommodating world champions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and now wrestling who teach and hold fight camps at Evolve MMA, the first generation of professional MMA fighters to be born and bred there are starting to emerge.  How do we know?  This epic Evolve / ONE FC contract signing video, of course!  Now Coach Chatri can add movie actor to his long list of credentials.

First - and most exciting - is the lone female of the bunch, Nicole Chua. She is known as one of Singapore's own premier Muay Thai fighters. She started the sport for fitness and fun, then got hooked. So hooked in fact that she trained five years before her first fight, and then gave up an executive-level job to train in Thailand full time. For the last two years, Nicole has been training on the Evolve fight team and fighting professionally in Muay Thai. She is expected to take her training to the next level and make her foray into MMA this year on a card in the ONE FC network.  Women's MMA!!!

Yodteera Sityodtong is next to be revealed as an Evolve Fight Team member.  His Muay Thai background is world-class; he is a former #1 ranked champion at Lumpini.  Yodteera has been training BJJ for the last two years, and cornered teammate Eddie Ng at ONE FC's first event.  Now that he's on the Evolve Fight Team, expect him to fight MMA soon.

Fabricio Montiero is relatively new to Evolve, but not new to MMA.  He is a Black Belt under Elcio Figueiredo (Carlson Gracie) from Brazil and has a professional MMA record of 17-9-0.  He fought first in Brazil in Body Fight and Jungle Wars, then back and forth to Japan in DEEP and Sengoku, and Fury in Brazil along with now-Evolve Fight Team teammate Raphael dos Anjos.  His MMA history is also intertwined with Evolve Fight Team's Shinya Aoki: Fabricio handed Jutaro Nakao a loss, and Nakao was the first person to ever beat Aoki; conversely, Fabricio got choked by Satoru Kitaoka, whom Aoki defeated in his last title defence in DREAM.  He has signed to fight in ONE FC and we can expect to see him on a card this year.

Montiero dropping payload on Nakao

Airam Noguiera joined Evolve's roster of champion BJJ instructors as another Black Belt under Elcio Figueiredo.  He has been training in Muay Thai for the last six months and is now a member of the Evolve Fight Team.

Chanachai Kaewsamrit, only 21 and a ranked Rajdamnern Muay Thai champion, will arrive at Evolve MMA within the week.  He will join the fight team and learn wrestling and BJJ for a year with the hopes of adding him to their list of debuting MMA fighters.