While Max Gimenis is a brand new name to fans of the UFC, he hardly is in the world of combat sports. An ADCC qualifier, IBJJF champion and frequenter of big shows like the Craig Jones Invitational – he’s been all over the wrestling world. Although the achievements quickly piled up, part of Gimenis knew this would not be the end result.
“Man, I think I was a kid when I started jiu-jitsu – I started about 10 or 9 years old – but my dad is a big fan of MMA,” Gimenis explained. “I think back in my mind that at some point in my life I was already prepared to fight MMA.”
For years that thought lingered there: in the back of his mind. However, after becoming annoyed with the world of jiu jitsu, he knew he had to go somewhere else.
“I thought that if I live to be 28 years old, I would do at least one or two MMA fights to prove that my jiu-jitsu is good. I kept that in mind and at the age of 28 I fight my last world, an adult division, taking second place,” he said. “They’re having some issues with the brace and I was a little disappointed with jiu-jitsu, so I’m like ‘ah man, that’s what I think it’s time to move on.’
For a time, that was simply running his school, Culture of Jiu Jitsu Academy in Gaithersburg, Maryland. That’s when his business partner and co-owner, Eric Philcox, gave him the push he needed.
“Maybe I’ll just focus on my school. I have a jiu-jitsu school now, maybe I’ll just focus on my school and then focus on other things too. At that time, I also opened a jiu-jitsu tournament with a great friend of mine and we do that together,” Gimenis said. “The next weekend… I was talking to a friend he likes, why don’t you try MMA? Let’s do one fight.”
The rest is history, they say. Now with seven professional fights under his belt, Gimenis is set to make his UFC debut this weekend. He fights Josh Hokit during the prelim portion of UFC Vegas 111. The fight card kicks off at 4:00 PM EST and airs on ESPN+.
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