Creator credit recorded on the linked source page: Thenotilus123 · CC0
Fernand Lopez
Cameroonian-born French coach who came to MMA through jiu-jitsu and built MMA Factory in Paris, where Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane trained.
Biography
Sources for this profile
Wikipedia, article on Fernand Lopez, page last edited 18 October 2026.(opens in a new tab)
Fernand Lopez was born on 12 November 1978 in the Lekié area of Cameroon.
Where in the source: Infobox, Born field
Accessed:
Wikipedia describes Lopez as a French former mixed martial artist and current MMA coach, listing his nationality as Cameroonian and French; he grew up in Yaoundé.
Where in the source: Lead paragraph; Background, first paragraph
Accessed:
As a boy in Cameroon, Lopez was enrolled by his father in taekwondo, boxing, judo and wrestling lessons so that he could defend himself against bullies.
Where in the source: Background, paragraph on his youth
Accessed:
- Conflicting accounts
Wikipedia says Lopez moved to France in 1997 and worked as an electrical engineer while taking sports science classes at INSEP and playing rugby in the Pro D2 league, until a neck injury sidelined him.
Where in the source: Background, paragraph on his move to France, work and rugby
Accessed:
While unable to move his neck freely, Lopez discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which led to his interest in MMA; he joined Mathieu Nicourt's Free Fight Academy, where he first trained in BJJ and later returned to wrestling and boxing once his neck had recovered.
Where in the source: Mixed martial arts career, first paragraph; Nicourt's Free Fight Academy
Accessed:
Lopez made his professional MMA debut on 11 March 2006, submitting Cedric Deschamps by choke in round one at Xtreme Gladiators 2; his professional career ran from 2006 to 2010 and ended with ten wins and seven losses in promotions including M-1 and Shooto.
Where in the source: Mixed martial arts career paragraphs and record table
Accessed:
- Conflicting accounts
After retiring as a fighter Lopez coached at Free Fight Academy for a few years, then opened his own gym; it opened as Cross Fight and was later renamed MMA Factory. Wikipedia dates the opening to 2013.
Where in the source: Background, last paragraph; Cross Fight
Accessed:
Francis Ngannou, Lopez's most notable student, became UFC heavyweight champion in 2021 by beating Stipe Miocic in a rematch at UFC 260. Wikipedia also lists Ciryl Gane, Ion Cutelaba, Taylor Lapilus, Christian M'Pumbu, Nassourdine Imavov, Jérôme Le Banner and Cédric Doumbé among fighters he has trained.
Where in the source: Coaching career; Notable fighters trained list
Accessed:
Lopez studied sports performance and physical preparation at INSEP and holds state diplomas in four combat disciplines; in March 2023 he co-wrote the book Training Camp with Geoffrey Le Guilcher about Gane and Ngannou's road to the UFC 270 title fight.
Where in the source: Personal life, paragraphs on the book and diplomas
Accessed:
UFC.com feature by Gavin Porter on MMA Factory and Fernand Lopez, 29 August 2022.(opens in a new tab)
- Conflicting accounts
UFC.com says Lopez opened MMA Factory in 2012, years before MMA was legalised in France, wanting a gym where he could teach and train whenever he chose; in his words the government allowed only one or two hours of MMA training at other sports associations because MMA was not an official sport.
Where in the source: Opening paragraphs — opened the MMA Factory in 2012
Accessed:
UFC.com says Lopez named the gym MMA Factory because he and his athletes treated it like a factory, with doors always open and fighters working on their skills around the clock.
Where in the source: Feature text — gym named for a factory with open doors
Accessed:
Ciryl Gane, moving from Muay Thai to full-time MMA in 2018, walked into MMA Factory seeking a gym near his home in Paris; in his own account Lopez had him spar, then try MMA, and then told him he wanted him in his gym. UFC.com adds that Lopez's plan was for Gane to become the face of French MMA.
Where in the source: Gane account; knock at the door
Accessed:
UFC.com says MMA Factory opened a second site in Rungis, outside Paris, in January 2020, also known as the Venum Training Center; it described that facility as home to over 1,000 members and said Lopez coached over 100 professional fighters across the two locations.
Where in the source: Paragraphs on Rungis opening, January 2020
Accessed:
The UFC held its first Paris event, a Fight Night headlined by Ciryl Gane against Tai Tuivasa, on 3 September 2022 at the Accor Arena; Lopez said he had long dreamed of it and had doubted he would see it in his lifetime.
Where in the source: Closing paragraphs on the first Paris event
Accessed:
- Conflicting accounts
Lowkick MMA, Ian Shutts, profile of Fernand Lopez and MMA Factory, page dated 19 December 2021.(opens in a new tab)
Lowkick MMA says Lopez began jiu-jitsu classes at Free Fight Academy in Paris, stayed on there as an assistant coach for some years, and opened his academy in 2013, first as Cross Fight and then as MMA Factory, starting with two students.
Where in the source: Profile text — Free Fight Academy in Paris; only had two students
Accessed:
According to Lowkick MMA, a friend brought Francis Ngannou, who was interested in boxing, to MMA Factory; Lopez offered to train him, and Ngannou reached the UFC after six MMA fights.
Where in the source: Profile section on Lopez meeting Francis Ngannou
Accessed:
MMAnytt, Jim Edwards, feature on Fernand Lopez and MMA Factory Paris, 6 December 2017.(opens in a new tab)
In a December 2017 interview, Lopez said MMA Factory had nearly 700 members, about a tenth of them top-level professionals, and 19 coaches, whereas he had been the only coach when the gym opened.
Where in the source: Interview quotes — nearly 700 members; Now I have 19 coaches
Accessed:
Lopez said he modelled MMA Factory on the UFC Performance Institute, wanting one school that offered everything a fighter might need, from massage and chiropractic care to language teaching and media training.
Where in the source: Section The UFC PI the model gym
Accessed:
MMA Factory was sponsored by Reebok France, one of only three gyms worldwide with a Reebok sponsorship according to Lopez, alongside AKA and SBG.
Where in the source: Quote — sponsored by Reebok
Accessed:
La Sueur, interview with Fernand Lopez, 24 February 2018 (French).(opens in a new tab)
A February 2018 La Sueur interview introduced Lopez as sports director of MMA Factory, with more than 600 students, and reported that he had brought Taylor Lapilus to the UFC at age 23 despite criticism of the risk, and that Cédric Doumbé, a former Glory welterweight champion, had joined the gym in late 2017 with an MMA debut planned for June.
Where in the source: Article text — plus de 600 élèves; Double Impact; Doumbé signing
Accessed:
Leaders League, interview with Fernand Lopez, posted 22 July 2021.(opens in a new tab)
In an interview before Gane's August 2021 fight with Derrick Lewis, Lopez said he had created MMA Factory with five friends as the first venue in France dedicated to MMA, and that it had over 600 members, 18 per cent of them women.
Where in the source: Interview answers — five friends; over 600 members
Accessed:
Lopez described running the Fight Management College, an institute training MMA coaches in combat, nutrition, management and finance; managing fighters such as Ciryl Gane on contracts and endorsements; and acquiring the ARES Fighting Championship with associate Benjamin Sarfati, having helped create it for Vivendi earlier.
Where in the source: Answer on roles — Fight Management College; ARES Fighting Championship
Accessed:
Lineage
No teaching connections are shown on this page.
Open lineage