Meet the Team.

Six coaches. Over four decades of combined experience. World champions, national competitors, and certified specialists who meet you where you are — from your first day on the mat to your first title fight.

Owner • Head Coach

Betsabe Esparza

Coach Betsabe Esparza is the head coach and owner of Black Widow MMA. With over 13 years of extensive experience in the martial arts world, Esparza brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her team with a primary focus on Muay Thai.

Coach Betsabe started training in Austin at Cooper MMA, but quickly began to travel to train with notable legends such as Saekson Janjira and UFC Coach Kru Bob Perez; adapting to a mix of traditional Muay Thai, modern MMA, and everything in between. Betsabe has also trained with Thai legends Kaensak, Jongsanan and Neungsiam. She has also worked with MMA stars Cris Cyborg, Evangelista Cyborg, Valentina and Antonina Schevchenko, Paulo Tocha, Kevin Ross, Gina Carano and many more.

Coach Betsabe is also a coach for Team USA under the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. Betsabe is also a WBC Muay Thai Team USA coach, taking representatives from our team to compete internationally in Mexico, Italy, and Albania. Coach Betsabe has trained fighters at every level from beginners to professionals.

13+ Years Team USA • IMMAF WBC Muay Thai Team USA Muay Thai • MMA

The Coaching Staff

Train With Champions.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Head Coach

Oliver Taza

Oliver Taza is a Jiu Jitsu Black Belt under John Danaher representing New Wave Jiu Jitsu. Taza is one of the most active competitors in the Jiu Jitsu scene. He is an ADCC European champion, IBJJF World Champion, Pans World champion and three time ADCC veteran.

Taza is also a regular invite on the UFC Invitational and other national competitions. Ranked as one of the top athletes in the world for no-gi Jiu Jitsu, Oliver Taza brings his highly competitive style of Jiu Jitsu to students of all levels at Black Widow MMA.

Black Belt • Danaher ADCC European Champ IBJJF World Champion Pans World Champion 3× ADCC Veteran

MMA Coach

Johnny Gonzalez

Coach Johnny specializes in teaching mixed martial arts (MMA) to both youth and adults by utilizing his background in Muay Thai, Taekwondo, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Johnny is the current two time Texas Clash Featherweight champion, Tap or Scrap Featherweight champion and IKF Muay Thai Champion.

Coach Johnny also combines traditional combat fitness techniques and modern day martial arts exercises during training sessions to bring out the disciplined fighter in his students.

2× Texas Clash Champ Tap or Scrap Champ IKF Muay Thai Champ

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach

Jae Chang

Coach Jae has been training and coaching in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over a decade, and is a Jiu-Jitsu brown belt at Team New Wave, guided under John Danaher. Jae has traveled and taught all over the world and is renowned for his ability to make Jiu-Jitsu accessible at all levels. Jae is also an avid combat sports photographer.

Brown Belt • Danaher Team New Wave 10+ Years Coaching

Youth MMA Coach

Dylan Dickerson

Dylan Dickerson started with us at the age of 15 and has since become one of our most active competitors. Dylan has competed and medaled in Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai in countless tournaments. He is 1-0 as an amateur MMA fighter, winning via TKO.

Dylan teaches the techniques and methods that have made him one of the best examples of someone putting in the work and getting the results. Dylan is a Jiu-Jitsu blue belt under Oliver Taza.

Amateur MMA 1-0 • TKO BJJ Blue Belt MT • BJJ Medalist

Strength & Conditioning • Boxing Coach

Lu Villarreal

Luis Villarreal (he/they), is a native Austinite who’s worked in martial arts gyms since 2011. Lu is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) with a passion for training combat sport athletes. Lu also leads our Queer MMA program — a free class to increase access to combat sports in the LGBTQ+ community. Lu’s training background includes traditional martial arts, boxing, and BJJ. He is currently a Jiu-Jitsu purple belt under Gabriel Martins at Integração Jiu-Jitsu.

CSCS Certified BJJ Purple Belt Queer MMA Lead

Train With Us.

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