Westside Gym Expansion Bridges Generations of New Mexico Fight Training
“Lando and I have been to the big show. KRQE reported that Kingdom Muay Thai is launching a brand-new mixed martial arts program led by former UFC fighters Condit and Lando Vannata, marking a major expansion for the facility ahead of its official November 2 grand opening at 4471 Irving Blvd. NW.”
What started inside owner and operator Mark Entenberg’s garage during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has steadily evolved into a full-scale training hub. It took nearly six years of planning and overcoming logistical hurdles to bring the physical location to life. “It will be about four years to the day of when I walked this lot and met with the architect with what we were going to do,” Entenberg said. “There has been a lot of hardship with it in terms of the logistics side of things, but we are here now, and we are here to stay.”
Old-School Grit Meets Modern Evolution on Irving Boulevard
The addition of Condit, a Westside native, and Vannata aims to bridge the gap between traditional discipline and modern fight dynamics. “One of the things that’s beneficial with me and Carlos is that we came in the intermediary area between the old school and the new school,” Vannata explained. “So, we have some of that old-school mindset of hard work and discipline, and some of the new-school mindset of creativity.”
That combination is already drawing regional attention. The newly formed fight team has wasted no time building momentum, with seven Kingdom athletes scheduled to step into competition on a major U.S. fight card on November 14. The gym's head coach recently competed for a WBC National Title, showing that the program intends to be competitive immediately.
Collaborative Community Vision Across New Mexico
While the facility boasts high-level ambitions and professional coaching pedigrees, leadership insists the gym is designed to support, rather than compete with, existing local training centers. Entenberg emphasized a collaborative approach aimed at lifting the state’s entire combat sports ecosystem through cross-branding and regional partnerships.
“If this can be the biggest destination spot for every program we offer, then that’s what we are here for, and that’s what this place is built for,” Entenberg said. “It’s not to shut down or hurt any other programs. It’s cross-branding and working with all different gyms in New Mexico.”
Before regular class schedules get underway for athletes ranging from casual beginners to professional competitors, the facility will host an Open Spar-B-Q event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering food and activities for all ages ahead of the official November 2 launch.
