Matthew Powell: The Unsung Coach Behind Louis and Tommy King’s Rise

When people talk about the success stories of Louis and Tommy King, the conversation often revolves around their titles, televised fights, and their prominence on the UK MMA scene. But behind their early achievements stands a man whose dedication laid the foundation for their careers — Matthew Powell of Colosseum Gym.

Building Champions from the Ground Up

Matthew Powell began training the King brothers in around 2005–2006, long before the bright lights of Sky Sports or the attention of major promotions. From those early days through to roughly 2012–2013, Powell was their coach, mentor, and strategist — and he did it all for free.

“The thing that’s always annoyed me with Louis and Tommy’s success,” Powell explained, “is that I trained them from 2005 or 2006 all the way through to 2012–2013 — completely for free. All of Louis’s big titles came when he was with me.”

Under Powell’s guidance, Louis King became a dominant force in the UK MMA scene. Competing across light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, he captured multiple titles, including UCMMA and Cage Rage UK belts. Many of his most memorable victories took place while representing Colosseum Gym.

Major Milestones Under Powell

Louis King’s amateur and early professional achievements are a direct reflection of Powell’s coaching. He won titles at CSMMA — Powell and Gary Bond’s show — under Powell’s cornering, and he also claimed the Extremely Brawl amateur title under Jeremy Bailey’s events, later winning again on the pro stage.

Powell also played a key role in securing one of Louis’s biggest breakthroughs: getting him onto Sky Sports. At the time, Sky Sports featured prominent UK MMA events run by Dave O’Donnell.

“It was a big thing when I managed to get them onto Sky,” Powell recalls. “I said to Louis, ‘I promise you, because you’re the first one going pro from my camp, I’ll get you on Sky Sports.’ Dave O’Donnell came to me and said they had Colin Wilby, who was meant to be their ‘Gogeta,’ and I said, ‘Yeah, we’ll take the fight.’ Louis smashed him.”

Louis went on to remain undefeated during his early run, racking up around 8–10 fights and going 10–0. Among his notable wins was a victory over Mark Weir — at the time, a fighter known for having one of the fastest knockouts in UFC history.

Tommy King’s Rise

Tommy King followed closely in his brother’s footsteps, turning professional through Powell’s coaching. Like Louis, Tommy claimed a CSMMA title under the Colosseum Gym banner and fought on major platforms, including Sky Sports. Powell also coached other notable fighters during this period, such as Joshua Lappin and Grace Anderson, bringing them up through the amateur ranks and into professional competition.

Setting the Record Straight

While Louis and Tommy’s later careers involved different camps, Powell is clear about where their foundational skills and early success were forged.

“Later on, around 2016–17, Louis had other fights with minimal training at different camps — and they always get all the glory. But they didn’t coach him. All of his real coaching came from me. Because they’re the more popular gyms, they get mentioned, but the groundwork was done at Colosseum Gym.”

Now retired from coaching, Powell isn’t seeking fame — but he does want the truth of that era to be remembered. His commitment to training fighters for free, building their skillsets, and getting them opportunities on major platforms was instrumental in launching the King brothers’ careers.

Conclusion

The story of Louis and Tommy King is one of talent, hard work, and high-level competition — but it’s also a story of a dedicated coach who gave everything to his fighters before the cameras ever rolled. Matthew Powell’s work at Colosseum Gym was the foundation upon which the King brothers built their success, and his contributions deserve recognition in the history of UK MMA.