Ghost Arena Genas: the forge of MMA and BJJ champions
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In Genas, just outside Lyon, Ghost Arena is far more than a gym. It is a forge. A place where men and women of every level come to work, to suffer, to progress — and sometimes to win world titles. Ghost Arena has established itself over the years as one of the French references in MMA and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, affiliated to the French MMA Federation (FMMAF).
Esprit Boxe had the privilege of contributing to the project by fitting out a 60 m² fight area: high-density floor mats, MMA panels and wall padding customised in Ghost Arena's colours. A space built to meet the demands of professional training, from the recreational member to the high-level fighter.
Fatah Menane: coach of the year 2025
Behind Ghost Arena there is one man. Fatah Menane, founder and head coach, is the backbone of everything the club has built. Driven by a complete view of fighting, he has developed his own methodology over the years, centred on strategy, on reading both the stand-up and the ground phases, and on building a coherent game for each athlete.
In 2025 his work was rewarded: Fatah Menane was voted coach of the year. A distinction that surprised nobody in the sport — his results had been speaking for a long time. Producing world champions while keeping a gym open to everyone, welcoming and demanding at once, is precisely what few coaches manage. Fatah Menane is one of them.
A record that places Ghost Arena among the best gyms in France
Mehmet Borhan — IMMAF world and European champion. An MMA and grappling coach within Ghost Arena, he embodies the club's philosophy: learn, progress, and give back. His double role as active athlete and coach makes him an essential pillar of the gym.
Yanis Ghemmouri — professional MMA fighter in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), one of the toughest MMA organisations in the world. A finalist in the 2025 PFL MENA tournament, he is one of the most promising faces of French MMA on the international stage.
Kais Nazih — European champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. A grappling reference developed in the Ghost Arena rooms, illustrating the club's ability to produce champions across every discipline.
Océane Samson — MMA fighter and one of the brightest prospects in French women's MMA, on a steep rise. Her path at Ghost Arena makes her one of the most closely followed athletes of her generation.
Ilian Marab — MMA fighter developed at Ghost Arena, whose technical progression is drawing attention across combat sports.
Hugo Guillon — active MMA fighter, a product of the Ghost Arena methodology combining striking, wrestling and ground work.
Noah Gugnon — MMA fighter with Arès Fighting Championship, a leading French organisation. A representative of the new Ghost Arena generation building momentum on the national scene.
A fit-out by Esprit Boxe
When Ghost Arena wanted to create a fight space worthy of its ambitions, Fatah Menane turned to Esprit Boxe. We designed and installed a complete 60 m² fight area: high-density floor mats built for falls and takedowns, MMA panels for cage work, and wall padding customised in Ghost Arena's colours.
A fit-out thought through in every detail to give athletes the best possible training conditions — safely, with a professional finish worthy of the biggest organisations.
It is that shared standard — equipment in the service of performance — that has linked Ghost Arena and Esprit Boxe since the start of our collaboration.
Discover our MMA and gym fit-out equipment:
