After winning The Ultimate Fighter 4, fighting for the UFC Middleweight Title, and retiring from  Fighting.  A lot of other fighters open a gym and proceed to never be there. . But coaching the pro fighters or the Black Belts that compete in Jiu-Jitsu is still one of the best parts of my day.

I’m on the mats six days a week teaching advanced classes, rolling with everyone, and making sure the next generation is ready when the cage door closes. At 52, with a 3 level neck fusion and a bad knee. The good one is missing the ACL since 2002). I am there because that’s how real coaching works. You show up. If my name is going to be on the door I think I should be the head coach. No disrespect to the guys that do it the other way but for me I need to be there coaching. 

Why the Pros Train at Team Lutter?

I started Team Lutter back in 1998 with the goal of building a complete MMA program, not just another cardio kickboxing gym. My own path — wrestling in high school and college, adding Muay Thai and JKD, then falling in love with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Carlos Machado. Then training with Guy Metzger  Tra Telligman and the other fighters at the Lions Den. Those experiences showed me what actually works when the fight is real. 

My pro fighters get the full package or students in general. We train everything: striking, wrestling, clinch work, cage work and especially the ground game. Grappling is still the great equalizer in MMA. You can have fast hands and good takedowns, but if you can’t control position or survive on your back, you’re going to get finished. I drill that mindset into every session.

How I Coach the Pros.

•  Fundamentals over everything. No matter how many fights you have, we start with the basics. Position, posture, pressure. The little things win fights when you’re tired in round three.

•  Smart, hard training. We roll live and we roll hard, but we do it with rules. Safety first. I’ve been through too many injuries in my own career to let ego or stupidity ruin someone’s career. Tapping is learning.

•  Well-rounded development. My background is deep in BJJ (just received my 7th degree coral belt from Carlos Machado), so I bring that expertise to the MMA side. But we mix in Muay Thai, wrestling, cage work, and fight-specific strategies every week. No weak links.

•  Mindset matters most. MMA is a lifestyle. I tell every pro the same thing I told myself: hard choices make for an easy life. Show up sore. Eat right. Recover. Handle your business outside the gym. The guys who buy in become more than just fighters — they become better men, husbands, and fathers.

The culture is the same one we built for our Jiu-Jitsu students: no ego, just effort. The pros train alongside serious amateurs and even some of the advanced hobbyists. Everyone pushes each other.

The Results and the Real Wins.

Over the years I’ve coached fighters who’ve made it onto The Ultimate Fighter, won regional titles, and represented Team Lutter in the cage in the UFC. But the biggest reward isn’t just the wins on the record. It’s watching a guy walk in raw, commit to the process, and walk out a professional — disciplined, confident, and dangerous.

I still train hard myself. Aiming at competition again in 2026. If I’m asking the pros to push their limits, I better be doing the same thing.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re an amateur with pro goals or you’re already fighting and looking for a coaching staff that actually shows up and cares, the door at Team Lutter is open.

We have beginner MMA classes for those starting from scratch and a fight team pathway for those ready to go pro. You don’t need to be in shape. You don’t need experience. You just need to show up and put in the work.

Fort Worth gym at 6913 Camp Bowie Blvd, Suite 133.

Call or text 817-781-4243.

The mats don’t care where you came from. They only care if you’re willing to work.

Need to train.

Travis Lutter

Head Coach, Team Lutter Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA

Fort Worth, Texas