By TXMMA Staff
Wu MMA’s Francisco Corona talks about his passion for the sport and how he wants to help those that want to make it in MMA
HOUSTON, TX, February 26, 2014 – The MMA industry is a tough one to do business in. Basically you have to really love the sport to want to invest in it. Now we’re not saying it’s impossible. All business is hard. But for most entrepreneurs in MMA, their business is also most definitely their passion and that’s what led them to it in the first place.
Such is the case with Francisco Corona. Better known as Paco around the Houston mixed martial arts scene, he’d always taken an interest in martial arts. Even as a kid he was already training and as he grew older his love for traditional martial arts training over into mixed martial arts. And as he grew older he knew that he wanted to somehow be involved with MMA as a means to provide for himself and his family. Now this didn’t come with any delusions of grandeur. He’s proficient in the arts but he was never going to be the next Anderson Silva. And he didn’t want to be the next Dana White either. But even then he wanted to contribute. What he wanted to do was indentify a niche, start slow and build up a clientele, and then establish a real presence those in the MMA community could look for support. And that’s how Wu MMA was born.
A brick-and-mortar retail mixed martial arts store, Wu MMA began a few years ago without a real place to call home. Along with the help of a few others including his brother, Francisco Corona would go from tournament to tournament and fight night to fight night selling his gear. Eventually he able to open up a satellite location but it wasn’t until recently that he’s fully been able to realize his dream of opening up a store location capable of serving the Houston MMA market to the degree that he wanted to. And now he wants to be the premier provider of retail MMA apparel and training gear in the region.
Learn more about Francisco Corona and the Wu MMA story through our interview with him below.
TXMMA Interview – Francisco Corona – Wu MMA
Paco Corona – I’ve always been in involved in martial arts. I have been practicing and competing in martial arts for all my life, and opening a store to somehow be in the game, it has always been the dream of my life.
TXMMA – How did Wu MMA come about? What were you doing before this and why did you want to open up here locally?
Paco Corona – I was a full time student until last semester at UH Main Campus, I was majoring Kinesiology Sport Management, but I had to take a break, in order to dedicate my time to the store for right now. Also I have been bartending in different restaurants and night clubs for years; actually it is how I saved money to start WU-MMA. I still bartend on the weekends but I want to support the fighters in the community too. I really like that they (fighters) have a dream and work very hard for it, especially the ones that are good role models for everyone. I want to do everything I can to help them so that’s one of the reasons we started in this business – so those interested in the sport have a local place they can go for anything they need. Especially here in Houston MMA is growing crazy fast in number and quality (of fighters and events).I love that there are World Class coaches and fighters all around Houston.
TXMMA – You’re right. There are events almost every month now. Do you go to a lot of the fights to promote Wu MMA?
Paco Corona – Honestly I really love to go to all these events period. I’m a fan. Also for Wu MMA I really think it is important to take my products to where the people are. Something else very cool is that I always get to meet great people in all these events and it is a good way people know about us. We’re definitely happy to be a part of this community.
Paco Corona – Okay. Wu MMA is a mixed martial arts supply store. It’s a place for those that train in all kinds of martial arts and MMA. You can get all kinds of gear and accessories here from boxing gloves to MMA shorts, Muay thai shorts, Gis, mouth guards and everything you need to train. If you’re a more of a fan we also have some cool stuff for you also. We produce our own brand WU Pro fighting gear and also we carry a lot of brands like Hayabusa, Venum, Cleto Reyes, Jaco, Ringside, Yokkao, BadBoy, Everlast, Damage Control, Revgear and more.
TXMMA – Where are you guys located?
Paco Corona – WU-MMA “Fighter’s World” is located 6423 Richmond Ave Ste S Houston TX 77057 – less than 10 minutes from the Galleria. It is a very easy to find us so stop by!
TXMMA – How can people find out more about WU MMA? Do you have any special deals for website shoppers or anything else our readers should be aware of?
Paco Corona – You can visit our shop or also check us out online at www.wu-mma.com. If you have any questions feel free to call us at the store at (832) 848-2691 or even my cell phone (832)794-0188. I would be happy to assist you. Also we have a special this month for anyone that finds us about us through this article. Just use the code “txmma” when purchasing. Thanks TXMMA!