The Sun-Sentinal.com reported on Sunday that UFC champions and friends, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Anderson Silva, will be opening their own mixed martial arts academy this month in downtown Miami.

The academy will be fittingly named, Nogueira and Silva Mixed Martial Arts Academy, and will be located inside Johnny Rock Fitness at 90 SW 8th St., off Brickell Avenue.

The grand opening of the 15,000 square foot training facility will take place on May 16 where a seminar will be held called “What It Takes To Be A Champion”. The seminar will be conducted by the champs of course along with other instructors and will begin at 2pm.

Nogueira and Silva, who already own academies in Brazil and Dallas, will use the new academy to train together for upcoming fights, give seminars and teach adults and children no matter what their age or skill level. Nogueira will also continue his tradition of working with underprivileged kids, ages four to fourteen, as he does at home in Brazil where he says that he works with 160 children.

This will be the first MMA academy to ever be headed by two current UFC champions. Also coaching at the academy will be Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo blackbelt, Daniel Valverde, as well as Nogueira’s little brother, Antonio Rogerio, who is expected to join the crew next summer.

Nogueira plans on making Miami his second home and even compares the streets and people to his native country of Brazil. He also plans to purchase a condo close to the new academy.

For information or details regarding the new academy, call Juliana Nogueira at 305-200-2789.