A mixed martial arts training studio along Columbia Pike has expanded to a new facility nearby — where, for a few weeks, it will soon host a top-ranking French fighter.
Pentagon MMA opened its new performance center last month on the third floor of the Arlington Drafthouse building (932 S. Walter Reed Drive). The new space has a focus on adult classes, training and recovery, with spaces for mixed martial arts and physical therapy — as well as plans to host an international athlete this summer.
French MMA athlete Ciryl Gane has selected Pentagon MMA as his training base camp while he participates in UFC’s Freedom 250 event next month at the White House, co-owner Diana Nakarmi told ARLnow. He plans to train there for three to four weeks while staying in the area.
“[Ciryl’s] brother lives in the area, and he was visiting. He visited different schools, and he just came by and visited us, and he really liked what we had,” she said. “We have the space he needs.”
Gane, a striker currently ranked No. 1 in the UFC heavyweight rankings, is scheduled to square off with Brazilian MMA fighter Alex Pereira on June 14, in a fight that will be broadcast on Paramount+.
The new facility specializes in Muay Thai, boxing, kickboxing, Brazilian jiu jitsu, judo and wrestling. At 8,000 square feet, it’s equipped with two large mat rooms, a boxing ring, gym space and more than a dozen heavy bags for workouts.
The facility is around the corner from the studio’s initial location at 1041 S. Edgewood Street, which is staying open. Co-founding couple Diana and Vivek Nakarmi launched the business in 2012.
“Our classes were kind of getting a little bit large, and we were kind of stuck as far as growth,” Diana Nakarmi said. “We somehow came across [the space], and we thought, well, maybe this is a good opportunity to separate our adult programs and our kids programs, so that both can grow.”
In addition to the workout areas, the space includes a sauna, cold plunge, showers and 2,000 square foot physical therapy clinic hosted through the studio’s partner, MMA & Sports Rehab.
With the additional square footage, Pentagon MMA is able to host nearly 90 classes per week on Columbia Pike — around 60 for adults and 30 for youth. Some start as early as 5 a.m.
“There’s a little bit for everybody,” Diana Nakarmi said. “You know, you can’t really say I don’t have time to train anymore.”
The Nakarmis had been looking for a space to expand for the past four years. The third level of the Arlington Drafthouse building, a former taekwondo studio, had remained vacant since the pandemic following the former owner’s retirement.
“This has been years in the making,” Vivek Nakarmi said. “We didn’t just want to open another gym. We wanted to rethink the entire experience. By creating separate spaces for adults and kids, and combining training with recovery and physical therapy, we’re offering something truly unique for this community.”
With the adult and youth classes split between the two facilities, the studio plans to host more kids’ programs at its Edgewood Street location, including spring and summer camps and an after school program.
Meanwhile Vivek, who is also the regional director for the Muay Thai organization WBC Muay Thai USA, is hoping to bring more tournaments to the D.C. area.
“We can host a lot more competitions in our facility, just more opportunities for practitioners to get more experience, more skills,” Diana Nakarmi said. “There’s just not a whole lot out there, so I think this is also a good opportunity for that.”
The new facility is also hosting a Kick-A-Thon fundraiser for the Arlington Free Clinic at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 31. Participants collect pledges from sponsors to make a flat donation or set a donation rate per kick.
The new studio is currently offering some special discounts to commemorate its opening. New members can receive two free months of training, discounts on gear and access to the facility’s sauna and cold plunge.
