At the American Top Team Gym in Doral a young student walks in through the door. Sitting down giving an interview to the Miami Herald is 26 year-old Danillo Villefort, an MMA fighter who has competed in the UFC and WEC. Today he's not here as a fighter, but as a teacher and mentor.

Villefort calls the boy over and asks, "Did you bring me your report card?"

The boy replies, "Why would I bring my report card here?"

The Brazilian fighter holds back laughter and tells him, "Because you need to get good grades to train here, you know that. What grades have you been getting?"

The boy thinks for a moment and answers, "Two A's, four B's and one C. No D's or F's.

Villefort looks at the boy proudly and says, "Good. You keep them up okay?"

He gives him a fist pump salute and off to train goes the boy.

The young man nicknamed 'Indio' nods his head: "They all need to bring me their report cards. They need to keep up their grades."

"If they don't have good grades we talk to the parents, and if they keep doing bad they need a break from here. They like it here, so if they improve they can come back and continue training."

Villefort and his ATT Doral team opened up their doors in May of 2009. Since then the school has had over 180 students, and provides classes that range from ju jitsu and Muay Thai to judo and full-on mixed martial arts.

When Villefort came from Brazil in 2006 he got to the United States with two dreams. One was to become a world champion, a dream he's still working his tail off for. The other was to run a gym, and have an impact on some of the younger members' lives.

"It feels great to knock somebody out, or submit someone, but it's also good when a kid comes in and he's having problems in school, or with drugs, or having behavioral issues and you can turn this kid's life around," Villefort said. "The two things I enjoy the most is fighting and making lives better. That's what we're trying to do here."

Villefort thanks his new country for the opportunity. It's an opportunity seldom seen in Brazil, or other countries in his eyes.

"In the U.S. you can make things happen. In Brazil it's not that easy," Villefort said. "Here with hard work you can buy a house, or open up a business and be successful. In other countries you work hard and at the end of the day you don't see the fruits of your labor. I'm here to live the American dream. That's what I want for me and my family."

Danillo isn't the only Villefort with dreams of making it big. This day his younger brother Yuri is at the gym as well. The 18 year-old was a few days removed from an impressive first-round knockout win against Frank Carrillo. He got a trophy for most outstanding win that night.

"I'm glad I won in impressive fashion and people will now remember me, remember my face," Yuri said. "I'm very young and I'm still learning. I'm taking it one step at a time, and I know with my brother here I will be successful."

It doesn't stop with Yuri either. Douglas Villefort, 22, teaches Muay Thai at ATT Doral and also to professional fighters at ATT Coconut Creek. Marcus, 41, just arrived in the states three days ago and is teaching judo at the Doral facility.

His father was also an accomplished Vale Tudo fighter in Brazil, and his godfather is Antonio Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira, a former PRIDE champion and current UFC heavyweight contender.

"Minotauro helped me a lot. I love this guy," Danillo said. "When I started with the Brazilian Top Team I was very motivated and wanted to learn new things. He showed me stuff, always helped me and took me to Japan to see his fights. I'm very proud to have him as part of my family."

Danillo hopes to achieve what his godfather has in MMA. He got a taste of the UFC in August when he took on Jesse Lennox at UFC 101. Danillo lost in the third round. The fight was stopped because of a cut. For him it was a learning experience, and just a pebble on his path to accomplishing his goal.

"It was an awesome experience. I was really calm and feel like I could've finished the fight in the first or second round if I wanted," Danillo recalls. "I lost the fight. There was an accident but I'll be back. It's not a problem. Almost all the champions lost their first fight in UFC. I'll make it."

When asked what would be more satisfying, becoming champion or training kids, Danillo answered both. For him the joy of training kids comes from being able to make a lasting difference, and is not measured by trophies or wins.

"I don't care if these kids become champs, or win tournaments," Danillo said. "The thing that I most care about is that they learn self-confidence, good character, and be a good person. That's what makes me smile, and makes this experience all the better."

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