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Rumors have been swarming around the MMA world that the heralded Blackzilians MMA Camp will be closing it’s doors in 2016. The Blackzilians started in 2011 when Jorge Santiago, Danillo Villefort, Yuri Villefort, and Gesias Cavalcante decided to leave American Top Team and successful Business owner and millionaire Glenn Robinson decided to form a team later to be known as the Blackzilians. Soon after opening the Gym, Glenn purchased the clothing brand Jaco and the original members of the team all own a percentage in the company.
Now 4 years later, it looks like the project has come to an end. The rumor first came to us from this video below where Sherdog journalists Jordan Breen mentions Glenn Robinson‘s money troubles. So we contact a Blackzilians UFC fighter who asked us to keep his name anonymous for this story.
Quote:
Smackhisface:
There’s a lot of rumors going around that your team, the Blackzilians are on the verge of a shutdown, is this true?
Fighter:
“Yea things have been going down hill for a little while now, management has been trying to keep it quiet but eventually everything will come out. From what I know, Glenn is trying to sell Jaco (MMA Clothing Line) and the assets of his tool company, because he owes most of the trainers money still.”
Smackhisface:
What about the gym? Is it up for sale also?
Fighter:
“I’m not 100% sure but I think so, I have a feeling some guys knew before the rest of us and that’s why they left the team earlier this year. A lot of us have already contacted other gyms and management companies. It’s not the best time right now because there are guys here that moved to Florida from all over the world to train with the team. I feel bad for them and because of the beef with (American) Top Team, I heard they already turned down a few names.”
Smackhisface:
That sounds pretty bad, what gyms have you contacted and when do you plan on leaving?
Fighter:
“I’d rather not say until it’s 100%”
Smackhisface:
In your mind, what went wrong? Why do you think it’s ending this way
Fighter:
“Umm, it seems like a lot of things. They made some big investments that didn’t really pay off, like with (Alistair) Overeem, (Vitor) Belfort, Jaco…
Smackhisface:
What happened with Jaco?
Fighter:
“Jaco, Jaco seems like the biggest reason, that was the money maker. Man I was hearing all kinds of shit about how much money Jaco was making. We had a few guys literally retire from fighting and solely work on the Jaco business side. The big problem was the Reebok deal. That kind of fucked them cause before that, Jaco was on a fighter in almost every UFC fight. That was their market, since the Reebok takeover you haven’t seen Jaco anywhere, and I mean anywhere, Bellator, World Series, nothing. That was a big blow.”
