YOU MAY WANT TO RETHINK BEING A MMA FIGHTER
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So you think you want to become a professional Mixed Martial Arts Fighter? No surprise there since MMA is the fastest growing sport in the world, and with its new boom of popularity people of all ages male and female are taking great interest in learning about the sport and what it takes to step into the cage. For many of those people it's a rude awakening and a reality check for them when they get their first taste of “becoming an MMA fighter”. Remember all that blood you see on T.V. May some day be gushing out from your head.
Nothing is quite so much fun as latching the door to a fenced in eight sided cage and testing your self against another person who is just as excited to hit you as you are them. Oh, what's so bad about that? Nothing really, it's the days, and months and years of dedication and hard work and injury that are the real test. So much more goes into being an MMA fighter than just being tough and liking to get hit in the face. There is no greater misconception than the idea that those fighters you see on T.V. Are just some random grunts you find in bars and alleys fighting it out, that's actually quite far from the truth. Most of the fighters that make up the body of the sport, are like any other top level athlete, spending the majority of their days, actually their lives training and preparing them selves for the fifteen adrenaline pumping minutes. Don't let appearances fool you, the sport is 10% physical ability, everything else is a blend of dedication and heart, and sheer aggression and desire to be victorious. Now I am starting to rant, so let me stop here about that and get back to the point of down sides to being a MMA fighter. Again like anything that takes years to cultivate, you're are going to have to make sacrifices and choices as to what you really want. The sport has a funny thing about it, maybe it's one of those things that really only gets talked about when your sitting down away from the mat, but doing this year after year can really take a mental tole on you. As burnt out as you can get physically, the mental aspect is the hardest part of the job. For all my time I have spent training and fighting, the people I have come to know and love in the sport are with out a doubt some of the most intelligent and eccentric individuals I have ever met. It takes a certain breed of person to want to go through it all to make it, not just any one wants to deal with all the down sides to the sport.
Have you ever broken a bone? Maybe, most likely yes, probably an arm, ankle one of those common body parts. It's not a rare sight, we are used to seeing thirteen year old boys running around with random body parts casted up. Now when you broke that bone did you know it was going to happen before you engaged in what ever foolish act that lead to its breaking? Again I am going to guess here and say NO! Where am I going with this- When ever you step on the mat and train, let alone fight, you know you are going to get hurt. As that famous cliché goes- “it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when”. I don't know of any one who has been training consistently for more than a few months that has not sustained some sort of injury, whether it's a cracked, or even worse a separated rib, to some thing more severe like a broken neck or back, the later examples being the exception and rare. And it's not like getting hurt is all that bad, but it's a strange addiction, training that is. Training fulfills some sort of primal need to get physical and beat some thing up. It's that urge to train that can lead you to do stupid stuff. When you're hurt, I mean hurt hurt, as in a torn A.C.L. You need to rest, and avoid straining that area, but most any fighter will share a story about how they jumped back into action too soon. Too often fighters and simply enthusiast will train through injury, which is not bad. It's making sure you know when to step away from the mat and take the necessary time to heal that really gets people in trouble. Training when you are too hurt to train leads to aggravating a moderate injury into a severe one, and time off the mat was what you were trying to avoid in the first place. Be smart, know when to ease back.
Sacrifice, everyone makes them. MMA fighters, well they make a shit load of sacrifice. Money, how much do you think an MMA fighter who does not compete in the UFC of some of the other top level shows make per fight? Let me answer that for you, cause you probably don't know. Not enough to live off of. So to be a fighter you have to make it a full time thing, but unless you make it to the top level right off bat, which no one does. You are going to be climbing through the rank of local shows like every one else, and in doing so you might be lucky if you get paid $500 for a fight. Yeah really $500. Remember for a days work not bad, but you're not fighting everyday, and nor would you want to. You would be lucky if you got a fight every month, and even luckier if you stayed healthy enough to fight that often. So here is where the problem comes into focus, if you train full time and do not work, how in the hell are you suppose to live off the money you make from your fights? If you have an answer to that one please tell me, I myself and a bunch of other fighters would love to know! When money is short things like rent, and food, and gas come first. Things like health insurance, and savings seem to be pretty far down on the list. So where does that leave some one who maybe never makes it big, and gets hurt and fizzles out? It leaves them in a pretty bad spot.
Being an MMA fighter most defiantly has a big “cool factor”. It's just simple fun, and that should ultimately be the reason you want to do it, let alone make a career out of it. There is really no real money, no real fame, save you the few lucky ones; and your future, well that's the most dismal aspect of it all. It may and can all work out to be a splendid gig that pays huge dividends, but be weary. The sport will take, take, take...it's up to you to make sure it gives back.
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Very well written article, and so true. Being world champion is, at best, a temporary position even for those we think are invincible.
Very Good ! Go check out mine and let me know what you think.
Good article. Being a previous pit fighter (90's before it was cool) and working some of the roughest areas in the nation, reality needs to be instilled to some before real injury results. After hours in parks or bars really isn't that glamourous either.
im a mma fighter im never going to stop and till i get to where i want to be
Interesting article that highlights the sacrifices and risks that have to be taken i this brutal sport. I for one will stick to watching rather than participating!
Awesome article! I will be 25 in a week, for which i must wait to begin training due to restrictions of parole. Fighting is all i've ever wanted and i am making sure my life revolves around training. I did serious sparing in martial arts for 9 years, and your article simply reminded me of how obsessed i am with taking it to the next level.
i was nervos about my first fight , i wasnt for sure if i wanted to do it or not but i just jumped in there. i lost the fight but i had the most fun of my life. now im training all the time and waiting for the next fight. i dream about winning fights in my sleep i love this sport.
i was nervos about my first fight , i wasnt for sure if i wanted to do it or not but i just jumped in there. i lost the fight but i had the most fun of my life. now im training all the time and waiting for the next fight. i dream about winning fights in my sleep i love this sport.
Well written article! The thing is these fighters are born this way! There are some things in fighting or mma that no one can teach you.
I wanted to become some type MMA fighter. But to tell you the truth, i just dont want cauliflower ear. People say wear earguards, but like u said, its not if, its when. I'll just practice my muay thai!
This I find very helpful. I got two more years until I start competing in local shows. But, I train everyday from the time i'm get out of school until the place closes. I dedicate my heart and soul into this. To me this is more than just a sport its a life style.
Article has a very good point. Physical ability is only 10% of becoming a successfull fighter. Dedication, desire, discipline, drive and determination are essential components of being a good fighter. Also you need to have some kind of ugliness in you.
Well, I think local fighters in my area(Spokane,WA) are into combining sport fighting with drugs.Meth, in particular.
Address in Spokane,WA is 1212 N. Pines RD. they have a cage too, and mats and dummy fighters for practice.They also hit the bags.
Since local fighters can't make enough money with $500.00 per fight, they should look into a government grant.Sometimes a person can recieve 10,000.00$ without having to pay back the government and during that time, if you get a grant, there are rules and laws such as apartment managers cannot deny you housing.I have seen the unemployment rate and times are hard.Make sure you mention with your job application that you are on a grant.Most employers will accept you.(Spokane,WA)
It's a long and tough journey. These professionals dedicate their lives to the sport. Excellent and timely article.
Yeah Ive been training with team valdez in whittier ca. I gotta say Im tired of all these kids wanting to step into my octogon cage and think they can take on me Dean "the mean machine" Ochoa. Ive been training long and hard to get where I am and I guess you can say Ima take it to the next level. I like to call it SUPER EXTREME MMA FIGHTING CAGE MATCH 2010 copyright 2010. So yeah Thats what Im working on.
I like to see my own blood, that's mainly the reason i fight
I've ruptured my ACL from a leg sweep, we were recording our training sessions and to watch them back and see where we could improve. The thing I was most disappointed about at the time was how unimpressive it looked on the footage. It was the first time I had been stopped dead. Normally I'd injure myself and like you say ignore the pain and finish off the fight. This time I stood back up, went for a kick and my leg just buckled and I ended up on the floor again.
I'm from Britian and had to get it done on the NHS which made me wait over a year for the surgery. I finally had it done just before Xmas just gone. But let me tell you, it's the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I've never employ much will power when it comes to listening to my body, I continued playing rugby and training in Muay Thai with my ruptured ACL dispite it frequently giving way, popping, or greatly swelling up. Post surgery I'm trying my hardest to listen to advise and not rush things - but the injury has just fed me with more passion an I know I'd ruin my future if I did anything stupid.
If you go into fighting you have to expect to gt injured. You can't bitch and moan about it, you are putting yourself in that situation, you are choosing that path and the only REAL reason for you to do so is for the love of going toe to toe.
This is exactly why Coal Akida of http://www.fearnopunch.com is being so high lighted in the MMA world, Coal akida claims that after 18 thousand hours of combat training that he has found some of the missing links for the MMA . We our doing mainstream research on Coal and his new training ideas.
Very well put article and thumbs up. A lot of people don't consider this side when wanting to fight in the UFC!
this article is very right i mean i love this this is all i noe fighting its all ive ever done in my life sence very young these assholes just have to pay us more i mean do u see how much boxers get paide they get millions in one fight look at oscar de lahoya last fight he made i think it was like 22 millions or something and boxers dont do nore risk a fraction of waht an mma fighter puts on the line boxer in my oppinion they box not fight we fight cus we are fighters and we dont even get a fraction fraction of how much they make they will make more cash i one fight than eny ufc fighter will in there hole life wether is chuck or anderson silva this is just frikin stupid
this is very true im planning to join the army for 3 years make some money and come back get a small job and train part-full time i would like to know if this seems like a decent plan
Very informative! Thanks for taking the time to write this article!
Wow what a great article, but if you want to really get into fighting right now and you happen to live close to the NJ/NY/CT/PA area, you can go to and Martial max MMA gym and get a free training class. It's pretty sweet, here is some more info on the promotion.
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Great article that's very informative. The consequences of mma does take a toll on the body. Fighting is good for a while but quickly your body will break down.
i have specially put up a mixed martial arts website that has descriptions and history of all the different types of fighting styles so that people can learn more about the origins and maybe make their own unique combinations! http://m-m-a.yolasite.com/
Joining the army is a bad plan if u want to be a fighter.
If u get hit, u will not die, but u wont be able to train as a cripple.
I hate to agree on your blog but everything you have said is true. If you really love this sports you have to be prepared mentally & physically. Conditioning is very important as well as proper nourishment. You have to win yourself first before winning others, 100% discipline. No smoking, no alcohol, sleep enough, good food and train hard.
Yes I agree but you could be talking about any sport!! Soccer, Rugby...you name a sport and you could get badly hurt!
You dont soppos to get hurt
shut up bbaaahhh thats something everyone knows, im not a mma fighter... yet im only 15 but i do shor n ryu its a japanese mixed martial arts im pretty experienced in martial arts this my third one im only a white belt but still there are many times we train or have class or spar and people do get get hurt but the matter is are you willing to get up or just sit there and cry
this page is so stupid
will really be since im still in school/early teen years i plan to wrestle all the way through high school and try to find a camp eathier now/soon or then after high school i workout and lift weight got into a few fights at school i know that doesnt mean much but does anyone have any tips on how to achieve my goal and wear camps are i plan on someday going to the ufc and yeah i jst dont want to be and am not a trash talking fan who thinks its easy and runs through the guys that he can knockout
i was hit by an mma trained fighter in a local pub 2 of my mates with him them and i were talking and he arked up and said have u got a problem then plunged farward and right hooked me putting my tooth thru my lip and badly bruising me i then stumbled backwards a bit tripping over my thongs he then started kicking in to me i was after a pleasant evening no intensions of fighting at all im severely injured what can i do about it want to put him up 4 assault charge tho dont want to be a dog
i was hit by an mma trained fighter in a local pub 2 of my mates with him them and i were talking and he arked up and said have u got a problem then plunged farward and right hooked me putting my tooth thru my lip and badly bruising me i then stumbled backwards a bit tripping over my thongs he then started kicking in to me i was after a pleasant evening no intensions of fighting at all im severely injured what can i do about it want to put him up 4 assault charge tho dont want to be a dog
Jackson in the pub. There was probably a reason u got ur ass kicked people that press charges are bitches. I just beat a guys ass at walmart last week and he whips out a cellphone and threatens to call police? What ever happened to real men ?
I think there's lots of stupid ppl out there wanting to b mma fighters that have no heart or real skill, just becuz u know how to do an amrbar and walk around wearing affliction tees don't mean shit, it takes unwavering determination, outstanding heart, and great skill to fight and win, u have to make it your life not just a weekend hobby.
i want to fight and be really fit and big and be the best i can be i will be the bets and will train 12 hours a day i am willing to do anything to be an mma fighter and want to start asap
Its informative but one thing which I am not able to understand whether you are encouraging people or you are trying to stop them . MMA or WBC is always a brutal & deadly game we all know that . If you dont have the guts U should not step inside the ring there are Pple around the world wanting to become a fighter because they think they can do only thing in life "Fight". MMA is not like Gulf any bump can play just for fun its real man's game. Its not just about money or fame its about Love for the game, a burning desire to be best fighter in the world its about to do what you actually want to do.but it can always be dangerous for the people those who do not have the patience to train & workhard for 5 or 6 years continously before stepping inside the ring. There is no shortcut .......
I got a question. I have never really been into a fight but Ive taken a lot of crap from people where there was times I should have fought. I feel like i have what it takes to be a fighter. I guess I want to know if it's possible to be a good fighter without having any experience.
i just recently started the MMA and im going unbeatin. and but its different in the real world. i have a wife in twin girls lol. i work two jobs MMA and police oficer.
Good article. I'm 15 and currently training for almost a year now. I feel like the article is really discouraging fighters. No it's not about the money, we all know that. No it's not about the fame. It's about your passion for the sport. Your mental strength, your heart, your will to move forward and overcome an obstacle. I study, and I train hard. That's my determination, and I will believe to become a great martial artist. Though I might not become a champion, but in my gym, I will definitely be the best.
Ludacrous article when considering that your mind is to become a realized consciousness. How are you to experience the potetiality of union in God, if your brains are scrambled?
Listen, I once was a promising light heavy in the 70-80's for six years. I boxed at the 5th street gym, Miami beach. I became a Golden Glove,& Sunshine Stae champion, so I am not talking out of turn. I went to a place in nature where I fell in love with the Creator and my ego vanished; thus, leaving me in a celibration - where no words can describe. For you who reads this, perhaps it is you and only you who will see what I prescribe here. Dump that idiotic thing you call a sport and join the celebration that IS.
This is an awesome article. I have trained traditional Martial Arts for over 19 years. I enlisted in the Army at 18, and eight years later I am a disabled veteran (ruptured discs and torn ligaments in my spine and shoulder). Through the pain, I began training MMA as a way to find the ultimate test in my Martial Arts journey. Three months into my training, I fractured my right hand. I now have a titanium plate, four screws and a pin holding my hand together. I was told that striking wasn't an option two months later, I was training with my injured hand wrapped and slid into a glove. Four months later, I tore my medial meniscus. Six months of recovery, wanting every day to jump back in. Now i am fully healed. I write this just to say one thing. NEVER sell yourself short. My own Father told me just this evening, "Give up. You aren't good enough". My response? "We'll see". I look to go Pro, not because it' s 'cool'. Not to be the tough guy on the block. But to prove to myself that I CAN. Pain is temporary, but PRIDE is forever.
I must agree fully with ifuckmachidainass007. It's only a matter of time before one realizes their father is their soulmate. Anywho I ain't gonna badger on but remember the best plumbing service 202 340 2281
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Been training a year or 2 no broken bones here. Stoped reading after that non sense. If you breaking bones in training your in a bad camp or out of shape.
I'm 16 and training for around 1 year, my base is Karate which i train in club and MMA which I train on my own, at least stuff i can do on my own :S Since there are no MMA clubs in my town. I'm training around 2 hours/day everyday of week. Atm I dont even think about letting it go
David Hames 3 years ago
This is all so very true, I am a aspiring MMA fighter thats having to work and train jus to make it through life. But the most important part is that you actually love this shit to do it. If you don't like this type of shit, then no way in hell or earth are you gonna get anywhere with it. You will just shrivel up and die like the rest of the weak.