'Captain America' Invades Canada; Xtreme Couture opens its doors in Toronto

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Grand Opening of Xtreme Couture in Toronto
Sean McManus

(Video to the left features interviews with the crew who will be running the Xtreme Couture Training Facility!)

The legalization of Mixed Martial Arts in Ontario took a positive turn this past weekend here in Toronto. The city welcomed UFC Hall of Famer, Randy Couture along with his namesake gym – Xtreme Couture. The media alone that showed up to this historic event is evidence of a budding interest outside of the hardcore fans and practitioners of MMA.

At 33,000 sq. ft. it is a massive facility with top of the line equipment, mats, ring and octagon. The gym has a separate health club area sprawling with treadmills, spinners, weight machines and yoga rooms. The gym also has an Xtreme Couture Pro Shop carrying MMA branded clothing along with Gi’s and training equipment. Xtreme Couture Toronto is unlike any other, in that it appeals to the health club mentality along with the hungry MMA students. This behemoth of a gym is located at 700 Kipling Avenue, about 20 minutes outside of downtown Toronto.

Greeting the media in the morning was Robin Black – Canadian rock star and soon to be MMA fighter – who handled the media relations end of the event. ‘The Natural’ was on hand to appease all of the media present and was very gracious with his time. Also on hand were three time UFC veteran, Mark Bocek, IFL veteran, Chris Horodecki and Mark Hominick. These three high profile fighters will be trainers at the new gym. Bocek will handle the BJJ responsibilities and Hominick and Horodecki will be the striking coaches. Also on hand to appeal to the growing women’s side of the sport will be Jenypher Lanthier, who is an accomplished Muay Thai fighter in Canada.

Owner’s Doug and Robert Urch along with Len MacDearmid must be commended on their hard work and dedication to seeing the sport grow and become legitimized in the province. The opening of Xtreme Couture in Toronto succeeded in bringing the sport into mainstream media – Canadian Press and the Toronto Star as examples. Randy Couture is arguably the most recognizable face in the industry and having his gym in Toronto is only going to result in the sport’s steady growth here in Ontario.

For more information on the gym please visit www.xtremecouture.ca.

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