Top MMA Fight Team

Highlander MMA, once the top performing MMA fight team in the Louisville, KY area, has relocated to the Tampa Fight Factory in beautiful Tampa, FL.
The team is lead by Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Black Belt, Mike Yanez, student of World Champion grappler, Master Pablo Popovitch.

Contact us today to sign-up for your first FREE introductory lesson.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is the premier ground-fighting martial art. Made famous by Royce Gracie in the early UFCs in the mid-1990's, it specializes in submission grappling when both fighters are on the ground. Techniques include positional control (especially the "guard" position), and submissions such as chokes and arm locks.

It is worth noting that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu differentiates itself from standard Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for its emphasis on self-defense rather than sports competition. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu students will:

  • Learn to defend against punches and kicks from the standing position
  • Learn to neutralize an attacker’s stand up aggression while taking them to the ground, and maintaining the top position
  • Learn to defend and submit a larger opponent from the bottom position
  • Learn practical self -defense, including chokes, joint-locks, from both the standing and ground position

Testimonials

Master Pablo Popovitch

"Mike Yanez has been my student and friend for 11 years. His dedication and knowledge of competition is top notch. His students are as tough as they come anywhere in the country. His MMA team has a record of 70-17 in its first year and has shown strong Jiu Jitsu in the cage. Mike Yanez is extremely technical and very patient teacher and a great example of a good instructor. He treats everyone like famliy which I'm glad he has kept that tradition from my father and I."

Pablo Popovitch
BJJ Black Belt

2007 World Jiu-Jitsu Champion
2007 USA Grappling Trials Champion
2007 Abu Dhabi World Submission Wrestling Championship - 2nd Place
2007 Atlantic Cup Superfight Champion
2005 Abu Dhabi World Submission Wrestling Championship - 2nd Place
National Champion USA- 10 times
Grapplers Quest Champion- 7 times
2004 USA Grappling Trials Champion
2003 North American World Submission Champion
Casca Grossa Pro division Champion
Music City Pro Division Champion
III Northeast Grappling Tournament Pro division Champion
Texas Submission Pro Division Champion

Highlander MMA News

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Joe Heink Interview following XFC Knoxville

Joe heink

FightTicker.com: How did you feel going into the fight?

Joe Heink: I felt really confident, I’ve been working really hard on my strength and conditioning so I definitely knew that I’d have no trouble bringing it and keeping up the fight for as long as it would take. I was kind of surprised at how quick it was, but I was happy to win.

FightTicker.com: All of your victories before this fight have been by submission – how did feel to get your first TKO?

Joe Heink: It’s kind of cool. I’ve sort of wanted a KO or a TKO for a while, just to switch it up and show I’m dangerous in more ways than one?

FightTicker.com: How did you feel about your opponent?

Joe Heink: I was mostly just going to watch out for his reach, I knew he was long, but he looked a lot smaller, so I knew if I could be aggressive and overpower him that I could win. But I was also watching out for his guillotine as well, because I’ve heard that’s his thing.

FightTicker.com: What’s next for you now?

Joe Heink: I’m going to keep training, train harder than ever. I still have a lot of work to do, a lot of learning to do. I’m going to try and work with some really good guys, step my game up and take some high profile fights.

FightTicker.com: Did you like fighting for the XFC?

Joe Heink: Yeah, they’re a really good promotion and it was a good venue. I’m pretty pleased with how things have been going, and I’d like to go down in Florida where it’s warm and fight for them there. [Laughs]

FightTicker.com: How soon do you think you’ll fight again?

Joe Heink: Probably sometime in the next two months. It all depends on talking with my trainers about it, but you can look forward to seeing me pretty soon.

(PreView’s Note: Heink is currently slated to fight on the upcoming April 25th card – an opponent’s name has not yet been released by the XFC.)

-PreView

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

CT Turner & Derek Schiffer win Abu Dhabi GI Trials in Melbourne Fl

CT DROCK