Would you want to be an MMA fighter?

[KarateYeah]

If there was an MMA gym that existed when I was younger, absolutely.
Now?...no sir.

How old are you? 60?

 

['Rocky']

I grew up doing kickboxing, starting at age 5. I started training with Joe Stevenson in 2010 or 2011, along with Dominick Reyes' older brother Alex. At the time, MMA wasn't paying well at all, you basically had to be an Anderson Silva caliber fighter to make a good living under it. I ended up getting out of it because of how unlikely it is for someone to not only make it to the UFC, but to be elite. However, now that I've had time to reflect, it was a good decision to get out of it not because of the money, but because I never got a rush or a high from kicking people in the head. I trained for a major portion of my life but I never enjoyed the act of hitting people, and that mentality will get you killed if you're going up against a guy who would relish smashing your skull in.

 

[Killer Kadoogan]

maybe in the early 90s, but thats it

 

[StonedLemur]

How old are you? 60?

Fuck you lol

 

[KarateYeah]

Fuck you lol

Lmfao. Love ya

 

[r-harper-1]

I’ve been punched in the face hard twice ….didn’t like either time

 

[Lord Pyjamas]

I grew up doing kickboxing, starting at age 5. I started training with Joe Stevenson in 2010 or 2011, along with Dominick Reyes' older brother Alex. At the time, MMA wasn't paying well at all, you basically had to be an Anderson Silva caliber fighter to make a good living under it. I ended up getting out of it because of how unlikely it is for someone to not only make it to the UFC, but to be elite. However, now that I've had time to reflect, it was a good decision to get out of it not because of the money, but because I never got a rush or a high from kicking people in the head. I trained for a major portion of my life but I never enjoyed the act of hitting people, and that mentality will get you killed if you're going up against a guy who would relish smashing your skull in.

Yeah. No one will read that.

 

[fedorthegoat777]

Now?
Absolutely not, zero percent chance. If you become one of the top ten best in the world, you should get paid and respected. Not crapped on by your boss.

When I was a testosterone fueled teen with nothing going on? Yes, did it before (Ammy boxing) would do again.

 

[fedorthegoat777]

The average UFC fighter makes less than half of what a public school teacher makes in my home town. Teachers also get a big pension after 30 years, fighters get brain damage and depression.

Also factor in fighters pay for their own camps so they lose a third of that.

 

[StonedLemur]

Lmfao. Love ya

Backatcha sir lol

 

[PlayTheGame]

In addition to the terrible ratio of money made to the amount of permanent damage suffered, I would also add limited future career opportunities. Like, you're still young when you retire, but then what?

If you were a somewhat famous retired soccer (or, let's say, tennis) pro, you could choose from dozens of countries to live in very comfortably if you decide to be a coach or a TV pundit. The MMA world is simply not that big, so lots of these guys end up either coaching in their hometowns or working for the same handful of orgs.

Basically, even as a former UFC champ, you're most likely not gonna be rich enough to kick back and chill for the next 30 years (especially if you have kids and want to raise them properly), and not famous enough to leverage your achievements into a new cushy career (unless you're one of Dana's favorite pets).

 

[StonedLemur]

I’ve been punched in the face hard twice ….didn’t like either time

Lol

 

[Khaosan]

Unfortunately no weight class exists for Sherbros in any organization.

 

[orca]

nope i value my health.
alot of naive people here think that fighters dont use steroids
but they are
imagine cutting weight dehydrating your body
using peds
those stuff will damage your body your internal organs

also cte
but hey there are people like them that would trade that
for money fame and glory

 

[Ormendahl]

The pay is so shitty it’s almost not even worth it. The odds of actually making good money are too low. Although maybe that’ll change soon with PFL but I dunno.

 

[Goutfather]

it isn’t worth it to me. but people who fight aren’t only motivated by money. for most musicians, playing in a band isn’t worth it, but they do it anyway. similar idea with fighters.

 

[Davidjacksonjones]

I voted yes, but only by some hypothetical way I make a load of cash

Buy truth be told, I'm 40 and don't fancy getting beat up or training 25 plus hours a week for pennies

I was gonna vote yes, but I remember in the Gospel of Saint Jones chapter 7 we are taught to spread love and kindness, and learn to hug people instead of fighting

 

[muaythaibeast]

Fuck no. I trained with a guy who had the skills in my early 20s, and couldn't understand at the time why he didn't want it for a career and just decided to keep it as a hobby.
Now I'm in my 30s I understand that he absolutely made the right call.

 

[TheTickG]

Say if you had the abilities to be a very good to even perhaps a great MMA fighter. Would you pursue it?

Or it's not worth it you think? For whatever reasons.

Looks alluring, but I don't know.

I would like to have a career like Bisping, DC, or Chael. Champion fighter who retires into a comfortable life of terrible commentary and constant shilling.

 

[sonofjay817]

Thank you for sharing your insight and your personal story.

My pleasure sir. Thank you for the intriguing question.