How do low level fighters survive?

[Fantastic_Man]

Gabe Ruediger was famous?

I don't think so.

He took a pretty infamous beating once.

 

[Heikki Mustola]

so I ask this...why would a fighter wanna burn his hard earned cash on trying to fight? seems illogical to me. To make 3k per month busting your ass and spending half of it on everything to become a fighter to make 1500 every few months in a fight just seems financially counter productive. I dont see how any wife could stand and watch it...I know my woman wouldnt.

Some people love fighting, they truly love it and money is only a second most important thing for them in fighting. They probably have second jobs, which is shame that they need second jobs, because it will make family time and training time harder. I think the top guys make a great amount of money already (sure its nothing compared to boxing but when you get +300k for one fight, sponsors etc. I think thats a big amount of money) but the lower level guys should make bit more. But im glad that UFC has bonus system, sometimes lower level guys can get a good bank by getting SOTN, FOTN or KOTN bonuses

 

[mrsinister]

Back door bonuses are ENORMOUS.

 

[AndreDGiant4eva]

For the argument about pursuing passion versus profit, I think that is a personal choice. There are people making the wrong choice on either side. I have plenty of friends pursuing dreams whose chance of success is .001% and believing that they are going to make it with out ever preparing for the very likely alternative. Equally sad is a person who has a dream but never sees what their chances are.

I think the low level guys that are still young and improving have every reason to see how far they can take it even if it means struggling financially. Once you start to reach the age where caring for your family becomes a priority over following your dream, money has to matter. Providing for a family costs money, there is no way around it.

 

[Edgar Allan Hoe]

Either that or he has a lot of drive and a passion for doing something that he loves.

But that doesn't add hours to the day.

 

[ALAN PARTRIDGE]

they have other jobs obv

 

[jmd69]

Some people have passion, fire and drive to make their dreams come true.

Other people calculate how much it would cost and let their girlfriend dictate their life.

This comment/post in for the win!

 

[submerged88]

Some people dont care about money and are okay just getting by somehow because they are motivated by other forces.

There's this movie from the mid 2000's called Sin City and the Bruce Willis character makes an observation about Marv, saying "Most people think Marv is crazy. He just had the rotten luck of being born in the wrong century. He'd be right at home on some ancient battlefield swinging an axe into somebody's face. Or in a Roman arena, taking his sword to other gladiators like him."

I know quite a few people like that. Some might call them dead enders, losers or whatever, but they aren't cut out to be investment bankers or whatever.

 

[liverkick83]

Its not THAT hard to have a full time job and train 5 nights per week. I do it....

Are u a lower level fighter

 

[Unbreakabull]

But that doesn't add hours to the day.

Sometimes people decide that internet sex sites, x-boxes and eating out is overrated, and instead decide that their 16 hours awake will be spent working towards their dreams. I know it's crazy for you to understand how someone can squeeze a full time job and training into 16 hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week, but just think about it for a while.

 

[cheesus]

now I am from the world of Body Building not fighting so much, and what I can tell you the unsuccessful guys do is either sell drugs, strip, gay for pay male escorting bc very few guys become Jay Cutlers or Ronnie Colemans. So what do unsuccessful fighters do other than rob cash depots ala Lee Murray???

Just because some guys don't have a stellar mma career doesn't mean they have to resort to low life jobs that are generally reserved for junkies..

 

[CorkscrewPunch]

Jon Jones lived in his girfriend's parents' basement. Many of them qualify for SNAP(food stamps) also.

 

[jmd69]

Are u a lower level fighter

Excellent question to that poster and I was wondering the same. I train four times a week but do not fight nor even remotely close to being a low lever fighter. A low level fighter can't or won't just walk away or miss training like I can. A low level fighter has to miss a week of training because of job demands suffers a great deal in the cage later. Not all fighters have the same demands or personal issues to deal with and TS brings up a great topic. Hopefully some real low level fighters can chime in and entertain our curiosity because we are fans.

 

[The Real Pedro]

Some people have passion, fire and drive to make their dreams come true.

Other people calculate how much it would cost and let their girlfriend dictate their life.

Damn. Pretty much this.

 

[JDawg9]

Some people have passion, fire and drive to make their dreams come true.

Other people calculate how much it would cost and let their girlfriend dictate their life.

This, and lol verbal.

 

[LightweightKing**]

They coach, have a second job.

Eddie Wineland is a full time firefighter

The fact that some fighters have full time jobs makes MMA look like a joke sport. I'm sorry cuz I love MMA but the pay is really pathetic.

 

[The Real Pedro]

Don't be a douche. He's making a valid point. Throw kids in the mix and it's even more valid.

And he's made a valid reply. This is how the world is. Ever hear the expression "starving artist"? Being a musician or a writer or a fighter, it takes real sacrifices. You really think the world is going to slow down for me just because I have a wife and kids?

 

[King Fisher]

For the argument about pursuing passion versus profit, I think that is a personal choice. There are people making the wrong choice on either side. I have plenty of friends pursuing dreams whose chance of success is .001% and believing that they are going to make it with out ever preparing for the very likely alternative. Equally sad is a person who has a dream but never sees what their chances are.

I think the low level guys that are still young and improving have every reason to see how far they can take it even if it means struggling financially. Once you start to reach the age where caring for your family becomes a priority over following your dream, money has to matter. Providing for a family costs money, there is no way around it.

Best answer.

Everyone needs to realize that in any part of life, you have to decide when to cut your losses. Failing relationship, bad investments or dead end career choices.

 

[gillygilly**]

Understandable...but some people look at the timetable and see that they are mid-late 20s still making peanuts so likely they didnt make it and bow out honorably instead of chasing pipe dreams well into their 30s and 40s.

That's probably the best thing to do for most of those guys. On the other hand, anderson silva almost did that (almost bough a carwash or something). Just sayin..

 

[gillygilly**]

Sure, some people just settle for the mediocre life. Most people do that.

People who have the drive and will to chase something other then mediocrity are rare.

which is an admirable trait. Having said that, the majority of fighters don't become famous or make a big enough name for themselves to survive off of. Which means it is more probable that you will fail then succeed, and if u have a family that can be an issue.

The decision to stop or continue can be glorified regardless of your choice.