Training MMA and sport Jiu jitsu competition as well as street self defense for over 20 years.
"We offer serious yet unpretentious guidance to beginners who want to explore both the self-defense and fitness aspects of MMA."
Our school’s focus is to provide a comfortable and friendly facility to allow the MMA Athlete to develop their Martial Arts creativity and skill. Whether its competition, self-defense, or simply a more healthy and balanced mind and body, our POPOVITCH/YANEZ based curriculum has been designed to provide the tools necessary for you to reach your individual goals.
We offer classes in the Fundamentals of Mixed Martial Arts as well as classes that focus exclusively on Gi and No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, boxing / Muay Thai, Submission Grappling, and Wrestling. Also, we believe in the importance of free form practice and offer plenty of Open Mat training.
Professor Mike Yanez
1st degree Brazilian Jiu Jitsu BLACK BELT under Pablo Popovitch
MMA Coach/manager
Owner and Founder of HIGHLANDER MMA TAMPA, New Orleans, Louisville
"Earning my black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from legendary world champion Pablo Popovitch and his father Jorge Popovitch – I firmly believe that my training qualifications and career résumé speak for themselves; no trainer wins 101 of his first 131 fights on a fluke. The Mixed Martial Arts are my one true passion, and I’m 100% dedicated to transforming dedicated fighters into unstoppable world champions."
"A rising superstar trainer like Mike Yanez don’t come around every day. It’s not just the lineage of his BJJ black belt that makes him so special – it’s his uncanny ability to motivate young talent, instill his technical mastery in his pupils, and develop a program that wins nearly 80% of its matches. Look, there might not be any shortcuts to success in this sport, but Yanez sure makes the path a heck of a lot shorter." -MMA JUNKIE
"Mike is like a brother to me. He is a great coach and doing a fantastic job in Tampa. To have so many successful students brings me great joy." - Pablo Popovitch
