Biography
Hello there, I’m Sam Mednick, a professional fighter and coach from Portland Oregon. I’ve been into fitness and sports since I was a little kid, getting dragged along for jogs and bike rides with my mom or trying to beat my dad’s push-up numbers. I didn’t grow up doing traditional sports, but when I stepped into a boxing gym at 14 years old, I fell in love.
That turned into a passion for all combat sports, I started wrestling in high school and by the time I graduated I knew I wanted to be a professional MMA fighter. A boxing gym in Portland hired me that summer, and I started learning how to coach private lessons and group classes, along with completing my NASM personal training certification.
I won my first MMA fight in under a minute on a torn ACL, had to go in for surgery and spent lots of time focusing on my boxing, coaching classes and learning about sports rehab as I recovered.
By the time I was healed up I had enough fights and coaching experience under my belt to get hired at American Top Team PDX, the premier MMA gym in the Portland area; where I was already training. After winning championships in multiple weight classes my coaches turned me pro in 2025.
Fighting gave me some amazing experiences, but after my 3rd professional win I realized I wasn’t in love with the sport anymore and decided to pause my fighting career to focus on coaching. Helping people reach their full potential, gain confidence and happiness by moving their body is more rewarding to me than winning fist fights was, and I’m in love with my job.
Currently I run the boxing program at American Top Team, next door to the strength lab, coaching group classes over there and private lessons in the strength lab and ATT both. Whether you’re looking to change and improve body composition, athleticism or train for an athletic competition, I’m excited to help you achieve those goals!