Today we’d like to introduce you to Bear Fiorda.
Hi Bear, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Bear Fiorda and I was five years old when I stepped into my first martial arts class.
I didn’t join to be great, I joined because I was lost. I had just lost my father and the world didn’t make sense anymore. I was angry, confused, and hurting, and I didn’t know how to talk about it. But on that mat, I found a space where I didn’t have to. I could move, learn, breathe, and slowly start to rebuild something inside myself.
Martial arts didn’t just give me structure, it gave me a way forward. Through every belt, every bruise, every hard lesson, I began to understand what it meant to stand on your own two feet, even when the ground underneath you keeps shaking.
Years later, when I had my first MMA fight, I thought I was ready. I got in the cage and I lost in 47 seconds. That moment hit harder than any punch I took that night. But just like when I was a kid, I had a choice, stay down or get up. I got up. Again. And again. And I kept getting better.
That’s what my life has been, a series of moments where I could have quit, but didn’t. I’ve fought through self-doubt, broken trust, heartbreak, and my own worst instincts. I’ve lost people, messed up more than once, and had to relearn what it means to be a man of character. I don’t always get it right, but I never stop trying.
That’s what led me to create FreeMMA, a nonprofit gym built not just for fighters, but for people like me. People who’ve been through hell and need somewhere to heal, grow, and believe in themselves again. We teach martial arts, yes, but what we really teach are values, respect, perseverance, humility, and heart.
Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to work with companies like the Professional Fighters League and Hayabusa Combat who saw what I was trying to build and said, “We believe in you.” Their support has helped us change lives and it means the world to me, because for so long, I felt like no one believed in me.
This journey isn’t about wins or titles, it’s about becoming the kind of man I needed when I was a scared, fatherless kid walking into a dojo for the first time.
I’m Bear Fiorda, I’ve failed, I’ve fought, and I’m still here, still getting back up. And now, I fight for others who need to remember that they can do the same.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I lost my father when I was young, and that pain is what first led me to martial arts. It gave me direction when I had none. Years later, I opened a nonprofit gym to give others that same chance—but keeping it alive through and after the COVID pandemic nearly broke me. There were nights I didn’t know if we’d make it, but I refused to quit. I’ve struggled in the cage too, taking losses that made me question if I belonged there at all. And through it all, I’ve watched my students go through their own battles, doing my best to be the person they could lean on when life got heavy. Every hardship has been a reminder of why I started—to fight for something bigger than myself.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a mixed martial artist and influencer. I most know for my fight tutorials on social media and I am most proud of my non profit FreeMMA where I teach everyone martial arts for free!
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think in the next few years my industry will become far larger and offer more opportunities for competitors to make a living as the sport of MMA continues to grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://FreeMMAGyms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bearfiorda?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@BearFiorda/?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@bearfiorda?si=i9bcLgTWAaqt-EyW
Image Credits
Tim Vechik
@timvechik
