THE SINGLE BEST EXERCISE TO IMPROVE STRENGTH FOR MMA | Long Island MMA

Rob Labiento Long Island MMA's head strength coach teaches us how to do a RDL or a Romanian dead lift.

Rob explains how and why this is the single best exercise you should add to your routine if you are interested in MMA or are an active hobbyist.

Check Rob out in this video!

The BEST MMA GYM on Long Island New York | Long Island MMA

     I am sure that most of us have heard the term “McDojo” before. It is a term used to describe a chain or individual martial arts establishment that lacks legitimacy or one could even say is poorly managed. As the sport of Mixed Martial Arts exploded into mainstream entertainment the martial arts world experienced a flood of these so called McDojos attempting to hop on the band wagon of Mixed Martial Arts popularity. To the untrained eye it is hard to tell a legitimate school from a farce, especially when they are toting flashy equipment and a clean facility. But time has shown that simply hopping on the popularity train does not prove enough to maintain a successful gym. Schools were opening under individuals with martial arts experience but no business sense, vice versa.

     When the dust settled from the excitement of the opportunity that MMA presented, schools were failing due to lack of business experience, or lack in legitimate training credentials. Certain gyms were forced to downsize and some even forced to close. But there are always exceptions to the norm. These came in the form of gyms run by professional trainers or fighters themselves; those that had the passion, experience and love of the sport. These gyms excelled where others failed. Long Island Mixed Martial Arts is one of those gyms and is a prime example of the criteria previously stated. They first opened their doors in November of 2011 and have been steam rolling the New York MMA scene ever since. Owned by now current UFC Welterweight Ryan LaFlare and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blackbelt/ MMA Coach Gregg DePasquale; Long Island MMA was bred of a true love for the sport of Mixed Martial Arts and it truly shows in the way that members experience their training.

      There are other successful gyms in the Long Island area however, a key point that sets Long Island MMA apart is the fact that everyone that comes in to L.I.M.M.A. receives attention and is treated with equal priority. This is likely a big part of why the team of amateur fighters at Long Island MMA is so talent rich. Everyone has potential and the coaches at Long Island MMA make it their mission to bring out the best in all of their students! Aside from the more than qualified coaching staff another key part of running a gym, like any business would be an education in such an area. While Ryan LaFlare is a professional athlete, he also has a college education. Ryan graduated from Farmingdale State College with a business degree; a degree which has helped turn his once small gym from Lindenhurst into a massive 12,000 square foot facility located in Farmingdale NY. It is the business know how of its owners that has kept Long Island MMA constantly growing and improving, rather than downsizing like so many other schools have had to do.  At Long Island MMA classes are constantly being improved; be it adding more of them or simply improving existing ones. Needless to say, with the foundation and care that makes up Long Island MMA the only place that it will be going is forward to even greater things!

Dennis Bermudez VS Jeremy Stephens | Long Island MMA

UFC 189 is set for July 11 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and it is already being predicted as a “summer blockbuster”. What better fighter to have on such a blockbuster than Dennis “The Menace” Bermudez. Fighting out of Long Island Mixed Martial Arts, the tenacious Bermudez is coming off of a loss to Ricardo Lamas. However, he fully intends to bounce right back into the win column with an impressive victory over his next opponent, Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens. Stephens is a true veteran of the sport with 34 total professional contests with 23 of them being victories. He is aggressive and certainly packs a punch; if the fans are to expect a blockbuster then this fight is one that they should certainly be looking forward to.

   
“Lil Heathen” is coming off of two consecutive unanimous decision losses so it is likely that he will return to the cage with purpose. Both fighters possess extremely dangerous striking and explosiveness. As far as overall style is concerned these men are very similar which certainly bodes for a war! However, Dennis Bermudez likely possesses the advantage in the wrestling department so it should be interesting to see which direction the fight will take. Will “The Menace” chose to initiate the takedown, or will they choose to slug it out? That is a question that is absolutely worth getting an answer for by watching UFC 189 on July 11. 

6 Key Factors in Finding a Legitimate MMA Gym | Long Island Mixed Martial Arts

With the rapid increase in MMA’s popularity it is extremely important to be sure that when seeking instruction you are able to find a legitimate and well equipped facility. For someone who is new to Mixed Martial Arts training it may be difficult to tell just who is really worth training with, especially when certain academies may be quite expensive.

6 Key Factors in Finding a Legitimate MMA Gym

1) Experience: Above all things, finding a gym that has experienced and accomplished coaching staff should be a top priority. Before signing up to train always be sure to do some research as to who will be training you! Ex: state/national champion Wrestling, Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, Professional MMA fighters, etc.

2) Diversity: MMA is based on diversity. Not only is it important to find an experienced coach but to find coaches that are specialists and work together to train you. Ex: Wrestling/Muay Thai/ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu/Strength Training. Learning from coaches that specialize in certain areas will help you become able to compile ideas and have a well-rounded experience.

3) Proper Equipment: When training in MMA it is important that your gym be able to supply the proper equipment. This is key for effective and especially safe training. For example: there is a specific reason why MMA predominantly uses the cage as opposed to a ring; it is a safety issue! If you or your training partner were to roll too close to the edge of a ring you run the risk of injury where as a cage would keep both of you from falling. This is besides the fact that the cage looks extremely cool.

4) A Strong Team of Competitors: Even if your goal isn’t to become a fighter and compete, it is important that your gym has a strong team. This proves that the techniques you are being taught have been tested and are effective. This also ensures that there is a system of growth. Every fight your team mates have there will be something new to learn based on legitimate combat, those corrections and adjustments to training by your team will benefit you even if you would rather not step into the cage yourself.

5) Social Environment: What are your teammates like? You want to surround yourself by positive individuals that are focused on becoming better martial artists and better people. Having a positive environment to train in builds a sense of camaraderie and helps to make coming to training something that you will look forward to doing!

6) Cleanliness: Last but certainly not least is cleanliness. Mixed Martial Arts is a sport that involves getting up close with your training partners. Having this type of close contact on a regular basis makes it extremely important that your facility is clean. Are the mats cleaned regularly and are they cleaned properly? Are there showers on site? Keep this in mind when searching for a place to train, even though you are working out your health could be at risk if the facility is not kept in proper order.

Honorable Mentions

- Great music being played during training

- Children’s programs

- Sauna (Cutting weight? No problem!)

- Open Mat Times (Why let class times restrict you? Train when you want to!)
-Enough bags for everyone.

Al "M0ther#ucker" Jones' Next Fight | Long Island Mixed Martial Arts

     Long Island Mixed Martial Arts has been putting out very impressive talent since their arrival on the MMA scene. One of the newest fighters out of Long Island’s premier MMA facility to make his professional debut was none other than Alfred Jones. Alfred had carried an undefeated amateur record of 7-0 before his move to the professional stage. Each of these bouts labeled him as someone to be feared. Each fight was a showcase of his vicious striking ability and all ended via KO or TKO. Alfred Jones made the decision to turn pro and compete for the CFFC (Cage Fury Fighting Championships) at their 41^st event. Alfred shocked the fans by not only showcasing his enhanced wrestling abilities, but his superior grappling! He won his professional debut against Noel Arcibal via Brabo Choke in the third round of the bout.

     Alfred Jones next fight for the CFFC will be taking place at CFFC 44 This will be Al's second Professional Fight with this organization. This opponent undoubtedly has their hands full with a fighter as well rounded as Jones. Alfred trains with  world class coach Gregg DePasquale whom also trains the likes of Chris Wade and Dennis Bermudez,  who are both UFC fighters. He is surrounded by a tough team and having proven in his debut that he is not only a striker one can imagine the statement that sent to the division. Whereas some might have once said “Al Jones is a dangerous striker” they now say “Al Jones is dangerous” and he will continue to prove he is a dominant force in the division come CFFC 44.

Ryan LaFlare Vs Rick Story | A fight for the fans

The world’s highest profile Mixed Martial Arts organization, the UFC, showcases the best fighters from around the world. The organization is full of fighters that have dominated their respected regional level shows and have had the privilege of having all their hard work, dedication and sacrifices validated when invited to compete on the big stage. One of the most talent filled weight divisions is the UFC’s welterweight division, once controlled by George St. Pierre, is the home of some of the best fighters on the planet.

Recently there has been a lot of movement in the official UFC rankings especially in the 170lb class

because of a combination of fighters winning, losing and injuries. One fighter that has ended up in the UFC



top 15 ranking is Rick “The Horror” Story (18-8) of The MMA Lab. Rick jumped to  the 12^th spot after his split decision win over the highly respected Iceland native Gunner Nelson at UFC Fight Night on October 4^th. Story is a tough fight for anyone; he entered the octagon the underdog and escaped with a victory. Story used his wrestling and punches to solidify the win and his spot inside the UFC “Top 15” rankings. Prior to Story and Nelson stepping in the cage, Nelson was scheduled to fight fellow undefeated UFC welterweight Ryan LaFlare. LaFlare for several years prior to the UFC destroyed the northeast in the New Jersey based promotion, Ring of Combat, going 7-0 with all stoppages while capturing and defending the ROC Welterweight title before the call up. Once in the UFC LaFlare racked up 4 unanswered wins in his first year including wins over Court McGee and John Howard. Unfortunately, due to a knee injury LaFlare was sidelined and the battle of the unbeaten welterweights never took place.  

Now with Story coming off his victory and LaFlare appearing to be getting prepared for his return to the cage I believe a match up with these two would make sense for both men.  A win for Story would show he belongs in the top 15 and that the “peaks and valleys” of his career are past him and he has turned a corner in his career. If LaFlare’s hand is raised I believe it means much more. The Long Island MMA fighter, LaFlare, would show the world that this injury is just a bump in the road on his journey to the top. LaFlare was one of the biggest prospects in mma throughout the country even during 2010-2013 time frame when working through injuries and launching one of New York’s best mma gym, Long Island MMA in Farmingdale, New York mixed martial arts insiders still spoke of him in the highest regard.

I believe if the fight takes place, it will be a great fight and a true test for both athletes but ultimately LaFlare’s hand will be raised and he will stay undefeated. In the Nelson Fight a key to Story’s victory was stuffing his takedowns. I do not believe he will be able to stuff LaFlare’s shot and underrated Jiu Jitsu. I believe LaFlare will be able to take down his opponent the same way he has throughout his UFC career thus far. As for the striking department Story can pack a stiff punch but LaFlare is great at avoiding taken damage as well as using his longer frame and extending his reach. This fight will hopefully  happen and I believe  it will be the fight that launches LaFlare into the mainstream!

The Best MMA Gym On Long Island | Long Island MMA | Long Island Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

                Long Island MMA is growing more elite by the day. We have many professional fighters under one roof, and many amateurs that are on the rise towards there professional goals. Some of our elite athletes include UFC fighters Ryan LaFlare, Dennis ‘The menace’ Bermudez, and Chris Wade.

              


             Ryan Laflare competes in the UFC’s Welterweight division and is currently on a 3 fight winning streak (11-0 total). Ryan was the Ring of Combat welterweight champion, a huge promotion here on the east coast, before getting called to the Ultimate Fighting Championships. Ryan is one of the main coaches here at Long Island Mixed Martial Arts, always offering his superior knowledge and years of experience in each class he teaches. LaFlare Co-owns the gym alongside Greg Depasquale who is also a main instructor here at our state of the art facility.

                 
               Greg (also known as coach Depo) is a high level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and one of the best overall mixed martial arts coach’s around. Long island MMA is widely known for constantly winning at many local and east coast competitions , a high percentage of that is due to coach Depo’s dedication to the gym and hands on training during his classes.

              
                Chris Wade who recently had his UFC debut last month, and finished his opponent in quick and devastating fashion, also is a wrestling and MMA coach here at the Farmingdale facility. Wade has been wrestling all his life and was an All-American. Wade is currently a 8-1 overall mixed martial artist with a bright future. Chris always dispenses his knowledge, showing great techniques in each class taught to his students. Anyone that takes Chris’s classes can tell the love and passion he has for competition and for the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.

        
               Also we have one of our undefeated amateurs and striking stand out Al Jones making his professional debut Oct 11^th in the CFFC promotion located in Pennsylvania. Al is known for his impressive finishes and entertaining fights. Come show your support by buying tickets or staying updated on LiMixedMartialArts.com

                Anyone looking to get into fighting , get in shape, or just want to learn self defense is more than welcome to come down to 590 smith street for a tour of our facility and to have a chance to meet some of our professional athletes. Get a good workout, good sweat, and walk around with confidence! Schedule a FREE introductory lesson today and take the first step to change your life. Call 631-592-8339

Dennis Bermudez would beat Conor McGregor | Long Island MMA

On Saturday, September 27^th The Ultimate Fighting Championship held one if it’s most highly anticipated events in some time, UFC 178, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event was filled with a title fight, the return of Cat Zigano and Dominick Cruz and the UFC debut of Eddie Alvarez. After all these great fights, one of the most talked about moments from UFC 178 is the Irishman Conor McGregor stopping Dustin Poirier in the first round. Before the fight there was a lot of back and forth between the two featherweights via twitter. After 1:46 of the first round and some good punching combinations, Herb Dean had seen enough calling a halt in the action. At the post fight interview UFC president Dana White said” The UFC has never seen anything like this”,” He is bigger than Brock Lesnar and George St. Pierre” when speaking about pay per view buys and ticket sales.   

With a lot of hype and a string of impressive victories over some of the division’s toughest competitors, what’s next for McGregor? I believe a great fight that would really solve the questions regarding the top tier of the UFC featherweight division would be putting him across the cage from fellow fan favorite “The Menace” Dennis Bermudez.  The Long Island MMA fighter Bermudez brings a full arsenal of high level skill whether standing or on the mat he is always a threat.

I believe with Bermudez’s endless gas tank and iron chin he would smother the Dublin native with constant pressure. The Menace’s striking game is always evolving looking crisper and more dangerous every time he steps inside the cage. We all have seen Bermudez in wars and see how he pushes through adversity, how he reacts in the deep end, when other men’s will breaks Dennis is just getting started. The main reason I believe after the fight Bermudez’s hand would be raised is old fashion pure American wrestling. Dennis was ranked 22^nd in the nation at the NCAA division 1 level, he then became a college free-style all- American in Akron, Ohio. Many fans might not be aware of this because most of his fans see him standing in the middle of the cage exchanging leather. There are many high level wrestlers in the division few can mix up their striking and grappling as seamlessly as Bermudez, he masks his takedowns leaving his opponents uncertain if he will be throwing strikes or taking a shot at a takedown. Another reason I believe Bermudez will have the upper hand is training. Dennis resides and trains in Long Island, New York home of some of the best fighters. He coaches and fights out of Long Island MMA in Farmingdale, NY alongside fellow UFC fighters Ryan LaFlare and Chris Wade as well as countless others.      

If this fight takes place after Bermudez is victories over Ricardo Lamas at UFC 180 I believe the winner will receive a title fight against the champion. After beating Lamas, according to UFC current rankings, that should catapult Bermudez into the top 3 of the division. I believe Conor ‘s striking although very effective in his past fights would not be a threat to Bermudez. “The notorious one” McGreggor stands 2 inches taller than Bermudez and his striking stance is a more erected stance, standing more straight up than traditional mma stance he shows his background in Karate.   While exchanging on his feet he also has a very wide stance leaving his lead leg out in front him. This will all play into what I believe is Bermudez’s strengths, with his quick head movement he will be able to get around punches and get in on the inside and right under McGreggor’s chin. In his past fight Bermudez has set up some of his most effective punching with chopping his opponents lead legs with powerful leg kicks. If Bermudez wants to take the fight to the mat, which is where I believe he would win this fight, I believe he will be able to take McGreggor down at will given his superior wrestling pedigree and his opponents stance.     

Long Island MMA

Ron from Long Island MMA tells us about his experience training at Long Island MMA.

Ron from farmingdale tells us his experience at Long Island MMA.

www.limixedmartialarts.com for more information

Training Jiu-Jitsu at Long Island MMA has changed my life for the better.  Jiu-Jitsu was the best thing I ever could have done in my life and finding the proper facility to train at was a blessing. I have to say I was nervous to enter a mixed martial arts gym and take on a new journey but as soon as I scheduled my free introductory lesson, talked to the staff, and met the coaches who taught at the facility, I knew this was a great environment to train at. I thought I would feel out of place, not knowing any form of martial arts and starting from scratch but Long Island MMA welcomed me in with open arms and made me feel right at home. I am not the quickest of learners or the most coordinated of all people but the hands on training here by the coaching staff  helped me grasp techniques better than I thought I would and let me learn at a pace that was suitable for me. I have made a home for myself here at the gym and met many great friends along the way. If I can recommend picking up a hobby to anyone it would be Jiu-Jitsu here at LIMMA. One of the many great things about Jit-Jitsu and this gym is there is no such thing as an ego on the training mats, all egos are left at the door when entering the gym. You must be humble and respect all members on the mats that are trying to better themselves. When training during a class, its great, everyone feels and is welcome! All people of all ages, different careers, and ethnicities join together, and are forced to interact, workout, and better there techniques. We have everyone under one roof from actual UFC fighters (like Dennis Bermudez and Ryan LaFlare) to doctors, students, union workers, and ext., its great!

                               
(check out Billy one of the black belts at Long Island MMA show us an advanced pass)

             Not only has this gym helped me create lifelong friends, and teach me how to defend myself but it has bettered me not only in the gym but in every aspect of my life. I cannot say I was in the best of shape upon beginning my journey here at LIMMA. I was overweight and self-conscious. As I began to train I watched the extra pounds I was holding shed off like crazy. I can now say I am in one of the best shapes of my life and still going strong! I am not as self conscious anymore, both because I not only look better now but the classes that I started taking at the facility forced me to slowly interact with other members and learn how to engage in conversation more. The most important benefit I have received throughout training Jiu-Jitsu is it has actually helped me become a better person, I am more humble now. I am constantly being put in a bad position while training Jiu-Jitsu and it forces me to either find an answer for the bad position I am put in or tap out, much like different situations that life gives up. I am able to look at my own personal problems in my own life now and look at them with a more level headed perspective than I might have previously done before starting my training. I also do not get as mad as easily as I might have because I am constantly working out my stress through training and the gym.

                                If I can recommend one thing to any person of any background, or anyone looking to make changes in their life, it would be to schedule one of the free introductory lessons Long Island MMA has to offer and see what I am talking about for yourself. 

Long Island MMA is located at 590 Smith St Farmingdale NY 11735.

is Long Islands Chris Weidman the best fighter in the world? | Long Island MMA

Chris Weidman defeats Lyoto Machida to retain the UFC’s middleweight title at UFC 175. With a  big victory for Weidman, this win extends Chris’s unbeaten streak to twelve straight wins, with notable victories over top competitors such as Anderson Silva (twice) , Mark Munoz , Demian Maia , and of course Machida.

                Weidman, originally from Baldwin New York, has helped tremendously by putting New York MMA on the map alongside other top competitors from the island such as Ryan LaFlare, Dennis Bermudez, Matt Serra, and we also have many more up and comers that are on their way.

Weidman wrestled division 1 at Hofstra University where he became a two time division 1 All-American and took 3^rd in the NCAA tournament.  He quickly took to Jiu-Jitsu and progressed fast having come from a strong wrestling foundation. After just three professional fights Weidman took the Ring Of Combat middleweight belt by defeating Uriah Hall via strikes in the first round, an organization where many top pro fighters from the east coast find themselves competing before getting called to the big show, located in New Jersey.

                 Once Weidman got to the big show there was no stopping him and he began to rise up the rankings. After defeating Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva to retain the UFC’s middleweight title, Chris was crowned with “ Knockout of the year” honors and the match was deemed  “Biggest upset of the year” as well. Quickly After Weidman was crowned the champion of the division people started to notice a trend within Long Island as other big names started making their way up the ladder , such as number 15 ranked and highly regarded welterweight prospect Ryan LaFlare who recently defeated TUF winner Court McGee and a dominant performance win over John ‘Doomsday’ Howard. Ryan is a Co-Owner of Long Island Mixed Martial Arts, another great school located in Long Island where a lot of highly regarded fighters are working their way towards the UFC or up the UFC rankings such as top featherweight contender Dennis ‘The menace’ Bermudez who is on a six fight unbeaten streak and takes on fellow contender Clay ‘The Carpenter’ Guida in an epic 145LB matchup. A Big win for Bermudez can catapult him high up the featherweight rankings and can help the Long Islander work towards a potential title shot.

With so many big names coming out of Long island it is hard to deny that New York is a breeding ground for MMA fighters. With so many top school around the state and Island, anyone that puts the time and effort into training will undoubtedly excel in the sport, being taught by the right coaches and having the right team around them.

Are you the next UFC champion? Come down to Long Island MMA and find out if you have what it takes! Click Here: 60 days FREE

Long Island MMA is located in 590 smith street farmingdale ny 11735