UFC Gym Singapore closed both branches suddenly, stranding members who paid up to $3,800

UFC Gym Singapore shut both of its branches, leaving members out of pocket on prepaid packages. The sequence started at the City Square branch, where staff pushed members to renew as their contracts neared expiry. Nguyen Tuan Hung signed a fresh one-year, $1,300 contract in October 2022, tempted by an upfront-payment discount; about two weeks later he learned that branch had gone bankrupt. His account was transferred to the CityLink outlet, which in February 2023 emailed members that it was suspending operations for upgrades, with all memberships on hold and no reopening date given.

There was no notice of an actual closure, members said. Concern set in only when people noticed the CityLink unit had been turned into an Anytime Fitness outlet — posters outside showed the replacement brand — while the gym's own website went inaccessible and only its social media pages stayed up. Members who had bought packages ranging from $1,200 to $3,800 in 2022, plus personal-training sessions, began pursuing refunds. Tung Ka Wai paid $1,296 in February for 12 sessions and attended three before the closure; he said the last he heard from the gym was the renovation email.

Several members lodged police reports and complaints with the consumer watchdog CASE, and the police confirmed at least one report with investigations ongoing. Some filed claims through the Community Justice and Tribunals System portal, which handles Small Claims Tribunal disputes under $20,000; NutriFirst, the parent company of local owner Barnabas Huang, responded to at least one claim. Hung summarized the mood: many members wanted the remainder of their money back, 'but we know it is almost impossible.'

Members held packages of $1,200–$3,800 bought in 2022 plus prepaid training sessions; refunds described as almost impossible.

The gym kept selling and renewing prepaid packages with discounts right up to the closures — including renewals taken weeks before the first branch went bankrupt.

The February email announced a 'suspension for renovations' with memberships on hold, without disclosing the closure or offering refund options.

Members learned the CityLink site had become an Anytime Fitness only by noticing the new brand, after the gym's own channels went quiet.

Prepaid memberships are a debt the gym owes in the future — selling them harder while the lights are going out turns customers into creditors.

Police confirmed at least one report was lodged with investigations ongoing, and complaints were filed with CASE. Some members took claims to the Small Claims Tribunal via the online portal, where NutriFirst responded, but members described refunds as 'almost impossible.' Straits Times photos showed posters at the CityLink unit advertising its replacement by Anytime Fitness. UFC Gym is the fitness franchise of US-based Ultimate Fighting Championship; the Singapore operation was run by Huang, founder of supplements firm NutriFirst and of Huangs Jewelry.