About Us
You can do it! What are your goals?
Savannah Combat Club welcomes anyone looking to build fitness, confidence, and real martial arts skills.
Whether your goal is competition, self-defense, getting in shape, or simply trying something new, our training is designed for all experience levels and everyone is encouraged to work at their own pace. We start with fundamental boxing and expand into other disciplines such as Muay Thai, no-gi grappling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Mixed Martial Arts, along with occasional specialty classes that keep training fresh and fun. Led by retired professional fighter Stephen “Big Fish” Bass, our gym offers practical instruction, a supportive community, and a great workout. Come try a free class and experience Savannah Combat Club for yourself. 🥊
Meet Stephen "Bigfish" Bass
Meet your Head Trainer, Stephen “Big Fish” Bass, a veteran of 30+ MMA, Muay Thai, and boxing fights, along with countless grappling competitions.
A few years after graduating high school, Coach Bass stepped away from the conventional path to pursue martial arts excellence. He quit his job, foreclosed on a home, and has spent the last 20+ years training, studying, and practicing fighting and hand-to-hand combat.
During his early competition career, he helped put Savannah back on the combat sports map, steamrolling through MMA competition on his way to an undefeated professional record.
In 2011, his big opportunity came after making it through several interviews, grappling tests, and pad tryouts. He secured his place on Season 14 of the UFC’s hit reality show after winning a qualifying fight via triangle choke. Unfortunately, after an 18-month injury layoff due to three hernias, the increasingly tough competition meant he ultimately didn’t make the final cut.
Returning to the drawing board, he went on to form Savannah Combat Club, focusing on the skills he considered most important in combat sports: MMA, boxing, and submission wrestling (wrestling, judo, and jiu-jitsu).
Coach Bass continued his drive to become a world-class fighter until 2016, when he finally hung up the gloves. Since then, his focus has been running the Combat Club full time and developing the next generation of combat athletes—not only as skilled fighters, but as strong, disciplined leaders.
Coach Bass still runs most of the sessions at the Combat Club in order to service the competing athletes that train in the program. Come on in and introduce yourself!
*Remember the gym is for everyone, you don't have to want to compete to come learn safely & get in shape!
