Ian Heinisch moves gyms, signs new four-fight UFC deal

Ian Heinisch won’t change promotions anytime soon – but he will change training camps.

The UFC has signed Heinisch (13-3 MMA, 2-2 UFC) to a new four-fight deal, according to the middleweight fighter. Heinisch announced the deal in an interview with TheScore on Monday.

Heinisch’s new contract comes as he looks to snap a two-fight losing skid. After winning his first two UFC fights against Cezar Ferreira and Antonio Carlos Junior, Heinisch dropped back-to-back unanimous decisions against Derek Brunson and Omari Akhmedov.

The signing wasn’t the only announcement he made Monday. The 31-year-old Coloradan also revealed he’s left his home gym of Factory X. He’ll now be training at Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand – a “tough decision,” Heinisch said.

“I felt like there were so many distractions out here,” Heinisch said. “The environment was so different. The elevation didn’t really agree with my body. Yeah, I got good lung power, but my body would never recover here. I was always in pain.

“I went out there (to Thailand) and the training was so good. Just the different environment was a real fighter life. It was a street with two MMA gyms, 12 muay thai gyms, all healthy food restaurants, massage palors. It was so cheap.”