Evan Cutts shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Evan, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
Im building something special, and that’s the people in my community. My business and I exist to build people stronger through fitness and martial arts.
Fitness Fight Factory was founded in 2010 by my business partner UFC and BKFC Champion Johnny Bedford. With his leadership I was able to put together a successful professional career as a Mixed Martial Artist, Coach and Gym Owner.
In 2010 I started with a membership to Fitness Fight Factory and attended the mixed martial art’s classes. As I progressed in Mixed Martial Arts I started to feel less anxious and depressed. I realized that I had the confidence to say NO and the power to enforce my NO. I wanted other people to have the same experience and thats when I started coaching in 2012. I balanced being a coach and professional fighter till 2024. I fought for multiple regional promotions and was ranked as high as #1 in Texas and #9 in North America (according tot tapology.com) I defended my last professional title twice. After my last title defense I kept asking myself what’s the greatest good.
Im certain I can do the most good equipping my local community with practical self defense. For the past two years I have had the honor of working with the local LakeWorth police and Saginaw police teaching defensive tactics. Currently we are offering FREE memberships to local First Responders getting started in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and self defense.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Evan Cutts, I am a gym owner, former professional MMA champion, third degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and defensive tactics instructor. I’m an owner at Fitness Fight Factory in North Richland Hills and Fitness Fight Factory Haslet in North Fort Worth. I’ve been doing martial arts since 2005 and started fighting professionally in 2011. I’m retired from professional fighting, now I’m putting all my focus into coaching and building our community stronger.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
Professional Fighting has served its purpose in my life, but now Ive had to let that go… It’s been a sensitive topic for me when people ask “Why did you retire at the most successful point in my career?” Honestly I can’t successfully balance being a husband, dad of three children, coach, and fighter. One of those things would have to go if I wanted to be truly great in the others. Nobody knows the pressure, time, and energy it takes to fight at the most competitive level till they do it themselves.
I was maxed out training 16-18 hours a week, coaching 18 hours, and I don’t even want to get into the time I put into gym ownership. That doesn’t count drive time, sponsor engagement, social media management.
The purpose of fighting was to build myself stronger and teach me how to do the same with others. I’m proud of how far I took it, the proof that my martial skills work is my professional record. Mixed Marital Arts is the closest thing to simulate a real world assault but still with a controlled setting.
I would highly recommend anyone interested in real self defense find a reputable Mixed Martial Arts or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gym and start competing. Learn how to handle fight or flight. Learn how to defend and deploy defensive tools.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I almost gave up before I every won my first championship fight, but something inside said kept going. In 2013 I did a reality show with Spike TV called Bellator: Fight Master. I won two fights against undefeated professional prospects but I was hurt from my second fight. I chose to fight a third time and I fought a legend of the sport named Joe Riggs and after our fight I knew something was wrong.
At the hospital I learned I had received a frontal sinus fracture and I would need surgery in my face if I wanted to continue in the sport. I chose to get the surgery, I had almost 18months after till my next professional fight. I had plenty of times I wanted to give up. April of 2017 I won my first professional title. It was one of my proudest moment in my life.
I was able to go on and have many more victories and losses with each one of them containing life lesson. I’m so glad I didn’t give up till I was in a much mature place as a champion MMA fighter and coach. I wear my hair buzzed to show off the surgery scar to remember that even the darkest times can be overcome and you can be built back stronger.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest issue I have with some self defense programs is that they will not actually equip someone for a real world assault. Often times belt promotions can come from participation, memorization, and non contact sparring. Those are all great tools for learning self defense but ultimately doesn’t often translate during a physical altercation.
What I love about combat sports is that they give you real feedback on what works and what doesn’t work.
In the words of Mike Tyson “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” Mixed Martial Arts lets you really test your martial arts in a competitive full contact setting but you still have a referee, doctor, and insurance under the promotion you are fighting for. Those who preform well under pain and pressure are better equipped to deal with emergencies.
Not everyone has to be a professional fighter but they should absolutely be pressure testing the self defense techniques they practice.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I’ve been very excited about what we are building. Both of our locations are doing well and we are looking at the possibility of purchasing land this upcoming year. This is a community in were we are blessed to get to watch peoples growth. The last time I was this excited was when I was winning Mixed Martial Arts championship titles.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://FitnessFightFactory.com
- Instagram: @thebutchercutts
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evan.cutts.1
- Youtube: @thebutchercutts
