Founded in 1991, Tristar Gym has proven to be a thing of the past, present and future.<\/p>\n
Coach Firas Zahabi purchased the Montreal gym in 2008 from Alexandre Choko, who bought it from Conrad Pla, Michel Lavall\u00e9e and Ron Di Cecco. While it was already quite established, Zahabi would take it to the next level.<\/p>\n
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Less than two years after Zahabi took over, a young fighter with a couple amateur fights walked through door on an invite from a local promoter who thought he was good enough to give training with the pros a shot. So Nallo called his buddies and let them know he was bailing on plans to take a little trip up to the lake to drink that weekend.<\/p>\n
Nallo wasn’t intimidated. He was starstruck and excited. He saw Ivan Menjivar and David Louiseau. There was Yves Jabouin. Of course, Nallo recalls the aura of Georges St-Pierre in his prime, soaked in sweat, setting the tone with his unmatched work output.<\/p>\n
Before long, Nallo established himself as an integral figure in the Tristar Gym and culture. He wasn’t just seeking out help. His help was being sought out by one of the all-time greats.<\/p>\n
“It was indescribable,” Nallo told MMA Junkie on Friday. “I stumbled into that as a kid. The best fighter in the world was preparing for fights alongside me. I sparred Georges one round for the (Carlos) Condit camp, and he said I\u2019d be a good body type for him. He flew me to New York to train at Renzo\u2019s for a week when I was 18 or 19. It was truly exceptional. I still remember cab rides to training and going to a Russian spa. It was a special time.”<\/p>\n
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