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Arthur Payton III

@king_a_mt

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@goddess.of.queens 💍
National Kickboxing Champ
International Kickboxing Champ
Regional Muay Thai Champ @kaizen_mma_fairfax

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Born in DC and raised in Fort Washington, MD, Arthur Payton spent years working retail jobs he hated. That changed in 2018 when he moved to Annandale with his wife, Daisy. He wasn’t a big UFC fan until his brother-in-law showed him the TJ Dillashaw vs. Cody Garbrandt rematch. “First proper card I watched… ever since then, I was hooked.”

Then, he saw UFC 245 live—Usman vs. Covington, Nunes, Volkanovski, Holloway. “I remember looking down at the cage and thinking, ‘I’m going to do this one day.’”

At the time, Arthur weighed over 300 pounds. “I was a chubby boy.” Determined to change, he started training, dropping 60-70 pounds. When COVID hit, he kept grinding at Gold’s Gym. At 23, he joined @kaizen_mma and took his first fight just months later. “It was a disaster. The guy had 70 pounds on me. Someone joked I was fighting a water buffalo.”

But Arthur bounced back, winning his next fight by TKO. Under coach Dave Chen, Muay Thai became his true passion. “Once I started working with Dave… everything changed. I didn’t care about MMA anymore.” He lost 100 pounds in total, fighting at super middleweight (170 lbs).

Arthur built a winning record, claiming the TCB Middleweight Championship and, after just 11 fights, was selected for Team USA at the ISKA Championships in Thailand—where he won gold. “Thailand was amazing… my first time out of the country. I still get goosebumps thinking about it.”

His proudest moment? Winning the WKA National Open Championship in 2024, leading Kaizen to a 17-3 record. “Best weekend of my life… Dave’s last hoorah as head coach. We had to do something special for him.”

Now, Arthur is Kaizen’s head kickboxing coach and preparing to go pro. But first—he has unfinished business. On February 22nd, he rematches an opponent from last year in a fight he calls his worst performance.

“I’m not that person he fought a year ago.”

Expect fireworks. “I always put on a show for everyone who buys a ticket, and I give my opponent the absolute best I have to offer.”

Catch Arthur Payton fighting February 22nd at @mittenmuaythai ! Link in bio for tickets & livestream!

#mma #dmv #fighter #muaythai #amateurfighter #kickboxing taken in The Imperial House by @king_a_mt

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2 years ago

Needed a photo of the man who made Sunday's fights happen - Coach Arthur. Congratulations on an outstanding event, and my sincere thanks to you and all the coaches at Kaizen for letting me come and photograph the outstanding athletes that come through your doors every day. taken in KAIZEN MMA by @king_a_mt

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15 days ago

Come watch the Kaizen boys scrap this Sunday at 3PM! by @king_a_mt

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21 days ago

7 Years With My Absolute Best Friend On This Planet. I Love You Beyond Any Words I Could Ever Speak, And More Than Any Breath I Ever Take. Happy Anniversary Mi Amor ❤️❤️ @goddess.of.queens by @king_a_mt

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24 days ago

NEXT SUNDAY!!!!!!!

We’re a week out from a STACKED Kaizen MMA Fight Night Smoker Event. Tickets will be sold at the door. Get there early so that you can ensure a good seat. We have 20 exciting fights with some of the DMVs brightest upcoming stars. Show up and show out for this amazing card!!!!!! by @king_a_mt

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25 days ago

Honored And Privileged To Have Been Selected To ISKA TEAM USA 2026! Nothing Is Stopping Me From Taking Gold Again. Thank You To Everyone For The Support. GoFundMe Link Is Still In My Bio If Anyone Wants To Donate. 2X World Champ Loading 💯
@iska_usa @iskathailand2027 by @king_a_mt

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a month ago

Cruz Nix. WKA National '26 Open Champion. 3-0 for the weekend. by @king_a_mt

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a month ago

PRESENTING: KAIZEN MMA FIGHT NIGHT SMOKER

On September 13th, Coach Arthur will be hosting a Kaizen MMA Fight Night Smoker Event At Our Falls Church Location! All Gyms, All Weight Classes And All Ages Are Welcome And Invited To Sign Up To Compete. Just Scan The QR Code On The Flyer To Register. The Link For Registration Will Also Be Posted In Coach Arthur’s Bio. We Will Have Boxing, Kickboxing, And Muay Thai Matchups. We Will Do Our Best To Match Everyone Up Accordingly. Sign Up Today (With Your Coach’s Approval) If You Are Interested! taken in KAIZEN MMA by @king_a_mt

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2 months ago

Footwork determines who controls the fight, who strikes first, and who comes out on top.

Join @king_a_mt for Muay Thai Fundamentals and make your footwork second nature!

🥊Mondays and Wednesdays: 8:15pm
🥊Saturdays: 10am
#kaizenmma #muaythai #mma by @king_a_mt

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2 months ago

2 Different Types Of Low Kicks. One Kicks More Inward On The Leg For Cumulative Damage, The Other Is Thrown At A Downward Angle Like An Axe For More Damage. Both Effective, With The 2nd Being More Powerful In My Opinion.

#muaythai #kickboxing #muaythaitraining #kickboxingtraining taken in Kaizen MMA Fairfax by @king_a_mt

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2 months ago

We been at this for a minute. From his first exhibition to 30+ fights. National and international championships. Closing in on the amateur chapter. Arthur has his final tournament as an amateur in Spain in November, representing Team USA for ISKA once again. Let's continue to support this man's unwavering pursuit, link in his ( @king_a_mt ) and our bio to help with his international travels. Professional pugilist 2027. by @king_a_mt

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2 months ago

D-Wreck 1st Round KO!!! by @king_a_mt

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2 months ago