Glenn Robinson, owner of the Blackzilians, today announced that Jake Bonacci, who coached Randy Couture through two successful title defenses, is the new Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Blackzilians, the Boca Raton-based team of professional fighters that train out of JACO Hybrid Training Center.
Bonacci, one of the most respected Strength and Conditioning coaches in mixed martial arts, holds a BS in Science from Wisconsin Superior University (2006) and a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology from the College of St. Scholastica in Minnesota. The former Strength and Conditioning Coach for Xtreme Couture Training Center in Las Vegas, he was instrumental in preparing UFC athletes for over 100 fights to date, chief among them: Vitor Belfort; Randy Couture; Forrest Griffin and Martin Kampmann, among others.
“Professionally, joining the Blackzilians is a great move for me and is the one and only opportunity that could get me to leave Las Vegas,” said Bonacci. “I immediately clicked with the whole group of coaches, and Glenn Robinson is willing to do whatever it takes to make his team successful. There is so much potential with the Blackzilians, we all see it, and I am so excited to begin building better fighters and their overall athleticism through my structured strength, endurance, and conditioning programs.”
“Jake Bonacci is a huge addition to the team and I am thrilled to welcome him to the Blackzilians,” said Robinson. “As with any professional sports team, you have to constantly assess what’s working and what’s not working, and make adjustments, changes and improvements to stay competitive. In the last month, I’ve brought on fighting legend Dr. Pedro Diaz, hired the decorated and respected Kenny Monday, and now I have Jake Bonacci, who in my opinion is on the same level as his fellow coaches, and will work seamlessly with them to start racking up wins and more titles for the Blackzilians. Starting now.”
Bonacci’s move to Florida was fueled by Glenn Robinson’s vision for the Blackzilians, and also by his observation in how ineffective it is for athletes to move around to different gyms and train under different coaches as they prepare for fights. Like Robinson, Diaz, Monday and Hooft, he agrees that having everyone under one roof where athletes are fully supervised by a team of intelligent, professional and like-minded coaches is the MMA training camp of the future.
Bonacci is relocating to Boca Raton, Florida and will be working with Vitor Belfort, Rashad Evans and Abel Trujillo in their upcoming UFC fights, along with all the Blackzilians at JACO Hybrid Training Center.
