MMA in Almere: training, fighters and WFL history

FightBase story

Introduction

History of this sport

The World Fighting League. Melvin Manhoef founded the World Fighting League in 2014. The organization brought professional kickboxing and MMA events to the Topsportcentrum Almere. According to the organization's overview on Wikipedia, the events were broadcast on Spike. This gave Almere a platform where Dutch fighters faced national and international opponents.

The first WFL MMA event. On May 27, 2017, the first World Fighting League MMA event took place at the Topsportcentrum Almere. Dutch Fight Network described a packed venue, despite an outdoor temperature of 32 degrees. Brian Hooi was one of the fighters who won that night. The event marks a specific moment in Almere's MMA history.

MMA events in 2018. On March 24, 2018, WFL MMA 2 followed, featuring Dion Staring against Nills van Noord, among others. On September 23, 2018, the WFL MMA Grand Prix final was held in Almere. The day before, the WFL Final 8 kickboxing event was scheduled at the same venue. For a whole weekend, the Topsportcentrum was the center of two different combat sports.

From events to the training mat. Alongside WFL events, Almere has its own combat sports offering. Remy Bonjasky opened the Bonjasky Academy in the city in 2010. The school lists boxing, MMA, and fitness in addition to kickboxing. This means MMA in Almere has a history both as a professional competition sport and as part of the local class offering.

Local connections

Almere and Arnhem. Arnhem MMA veteran Dion Staring fought Nills van Noord on March 24, 2018, at WFL MMA 2 in Almere. The Topsportcentrum brought fighters from different parts of the Netherlands together on one fight card.

Almere and Rotterdam. Rotterdam’s Brian Hooi earned a victory in Almere at the first WFL MMA event in 2017. His participation shows how the city, as an event venue, connected with the wider Dutch MMA circuit.

Almere and Tilburg. Agy Sardari from Tilburg won at the Topsportcentrum Almere in September 2018. Two years later, he became Cage Warriors champion. Almere was therefore a stop on his journey toward an international title.

Kickboxing and MMA at the same Topsportcentrum. The World Fighting League organized both kickboxing and MMA events in Almere. On September 22 and 23, 2018, the WFL Final 8 kickboxing gala and the MMA Grand Prix final followed one another. The 2017 bout between Remy Bonjasky and Melvin Manhoef is also part of Almere’s kickboxing history.

Martial arts facts

First WFL MMA in Almere: 27 May 2017
Kickboxing and MMA in one weekend: September 22–23, 2018
WFL lightweight title in Almere: 23 September 2018

FightBase in this city

Clubs and training locations

Training in this city

MMA and complementary disciplines. The Bonjasky Academy lists MMA, kickboxing, boxing, and fitness among its offerings. MMA combines stand-up fighting, clinch work, takedowns, and ground fighting. Ask which elements are practiced in MMA classes and which additional classes fit your membership.

Training at Markerkant. The Bonjasky Academy is located at Markerkant 14-11 in Almere. According to the academy’s own information, it has more than 1,200 square meters of training space. Before your first visit, check the current class times and discuss which group suits your experience.

From technique to contact training. Discuss with the trainer how technical drills, partner work, and sparren are structured. Clear instruction and a suitable training partner are important for your first MMA class. If you already have experience with boxing, kickboxing, or grappling, you can work specifically on the transitions between the different elements.

Practical preparation. Ask in advance what clothing, gloves, and protective gear you’ll need. Also ask about loaner equipment and trial class options. Plan your training schedule around recovery, travel time, and other commitments so that training regularly remains manageable.

Choose a club

Set your training goal. Do you want to learn MMA recreationally, improve your fitness, or prepare for competitions? Ask how the classes are tailored to your experience and goals. Check whether beginners receive clear instructions and experienced athletes have opportunities to develop further.

Compare the classes on offer. MMA combines stand-up techniques, clinch work, takedowns, and ground fighting. Ask how these elements are integrated into classes and what additional training is available. For children and young people, find out how age, experience, and supervision are taken into account when groups are formed.

Pay attention to coaching and safety. Ask about the trainers’ experience and qualifications. During a trial class, look for clear instructions, suitable training partners, and a gradual increase in contact. Ask how sparren is supervised and what procedures are in place for injuries, hygiene, and protective equipment.

Experience the atmosphere during a trial class. A trial class helps you decide whether the training style suits you. Ask in advance what clothing and equipment you need and whether you can borrow gear. Check whether there is room for questions and whether you can take part at an appropriate level.

Choose a sustainable training schedule. Compare class times, travel time within Almere, costs, and membership terms. Ask which classes are included in the membership and what the cancellation or suspension policies are. Choose a training environment you can attend regularly, with coaching that meets your needs.

Discover the clubs

FightBase in this city

Athletes with a connection to this city

Brian Hooi. Brian Hooi won at the first World Fighting League MMA event on May 27, 2017, at the Topsportcentrum Almere. His connection to the city is the event venue; Hooi is associated with Rotterdam. He later competed in promotions including Bellator and KSW and became a world champion at WOW FC.

Pieter Buist. Pieter Buist won the WFL lightweight title in Almere on September 23, 2018. Sherdog's fight record lists a first-round submission victory. The title fight gives him a specific place in the Topsportcentrum's MMA event history.

Agy Sardari. Agy Sardari won by armbar in the second round on the same evening in September 2018. The fighter from Tilburg became a Cage Warriors champion two years later. His fight in Almere is an earlier chapter in a career that went on to the international MMA stage.

Melvin van Suijdam. Melvin van Suijdam won by first-round TKO at the WFL MMA Grand Prix final on September 23, 2018, in Almere. His participation links him to Almere's event circuit and to the same fight night on which Buist and Sardari also competed.

Discover the profiles

FightBase in this city

Trainers with a connection to this city

Remy Bonjasky and the Bonjasky Academy. Remy Bonjasky won the K-1 World Grand Prix in 2003, 2004, and 2008, and opened his academy in Almere in 2010. Drawing on his background as a professional kickboxer, he is connected to the training community in Almere. According to its own information, his academy offers boxing, MMA, and fitness in addition to kickboxing, and caters to both recreationalists and elite athletes.