Blackzilians Founder Glenn Robinson Dies

Glenn Robinson, Blackzilians founder
Glenn Robinson Credit: Instagram/@glennmma

Blackzilians founder Glenn Robinson has passed away, leaving behind a legacy that includes a unique season of The Ultimate Fighter, and having founded a team that for a time was one of MMA’s most powerful.

Some sad news, as the founder of noted MMA gym Blackzilians, Glenn Robinson, has died. The news was first posted to Instagram by MMA fighter Nick Salchow, who stated that the cause of death was a heart attack. A number of reporters including Christoper James (via Facebook) then picked up the news, which was later confirmed by Robinson’s daughter, as well as his PR manager.

Robinson was probably most familiar to MMA fans when he got in front of the camera as part of The Ultimate Fighter 21: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians, which pitted the two rival teams against each other. Kamaru Usman, then a Blackzilians member, won the show.

Over the years, the team boasted talent such as Rashad Evans, Anthony Johnson, Tywan Claxton, Volkan Oezdemir, Vitor Belfort, Eddie Alvarez, Alistair Overeem, and others. Of late, however, the team had been on the decline, as Robinson and former coach Henri Hooft had a falling out when Hooft formed Combat Club MMA in Florida.

Robinson last posted on Instagram and Twitter at the start of September, a message supporting noted kickboxer Tyrone Spong.

Our condolences to Robinson’s friends, family, and teammates past and present.