How to Become an MMA Fighter

MMA is becoming one of the most popular and well-known sports out there. There’s no doubt that every fighter is different and has their own style. These fighters put in an incredible amount of work and determination and it pays off.

Some of them become very famous and make a lot of money. If you think you’d like to try your hand at becoming an MMA fighter, there are basic things you should start with. With the right plan in place and proper training, you could eventually build a successful career in MMA.

What Does MMA Stand For?

MMA, or Mixed Martial Arts, is a type of combat sport. It is often considered to be a more modern and integrative practice of different forms of martial arts. During an MMA match, two competitors try to dominate each other.

Unlike other forms of combat sport, MMA allows the fighters to use a range of techniques. These include kicks, punches, chokes, throws and takedowns. A knock-out is the end goal for each opponent, as that means they’ve won.

To signify a knock-out, the dominated opponent will use their hand to tap either the mat or their opponent. As you train, you could eventually go on to fight in the UFC, otherwise known as the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

How to Become an MMA Fighter

Becoming a fighter will require you to develop a number of combative skills. This includes boxing, kicking, takedowns and grappling. To achieve this, you’ll need to have a ton of dedication, discipline as well as endurance.

Here’s how to begin your journey to becoming a fighter:

Find a School or Gym and Train

Becoming a good fighter in MMA is going to take an incredible amount of training. It’s important that you start with a good foundation. You can find a martial arts school or a local gym to practice and find sparring partners.

Depending on where you live, you might even be able to find a gym specifically for MMA training. You’ll want to learn as much as you can about wrestling, boxing and martial arts as you can.

While training, you also need to make sure to work on your strength and conditioning. Learning proper technique and posture is very important. This is a must to help you effectively use what you’ve learned and prevent injuries.

Start Fighting

You’re going to need to getting hands-on experience. It teaches you the feeling of winning and losing and what you need to work on during your training sessions.

You can start with just some boxing matches, local fight leagues, or tournaments. Then, you can eventually enter your first amateur MMA fight – this is your time to get noticed.

Just be sure to keep the fights in the appropriate setting. For instance, getting into fights on the street can destroy your career before it even starts.

Network and Promote Yourself

When getting starting, it’s important to get your name out there if you eventually want to fight in the UFC. You can start a website, post video footage of some of your victories, or even send your stuff straight to the UFC. If they notice you, they might even schedule in a match.

There are many good fighters out there and it can be easy to get lost in the background, so be aggressive when it comes to making a name for yourself. Just one good fight could make your career.

How Much Do UFC Fighters Make?

Getting a detailed number on what kind of money UFC fighters make is complicated. The fighter might not even be completely sure sometimes.

When a payout is made public, it’s really only representative of what the fighter’s contract for the fight guarantees them. They might also be making money from discretionary payments, pay-per-views, or side agreements.

However, to get a general idea of the pay, it really varies depending on the scale of your fight. For example, a fighter like Conor McGregor might average a few million dollars per fight. A lower scale amateur fighter might start at around a thousand dollars per fight.

Famous MMA Fighters

It might seem like a long rough ride, but there are people who have made very successful careers as fighters. They’ve proven that with dedication and willpower, it is indeed possible.

George St. Pierre

St. Pierre claimed the UFC welterweight title on multiple occasions and was 2008 Canadian athlete of the year.

Ronda Rousey

She has won the Olympic bronze medal for Judo and had a 12-fight streak. After a successful career, she retired from fighting to try her hand at a film career.

Conor McGregor

McGregor is one of the most well-known names out there. He has successfully won matches in a range of different divisions. He’s also made the most in pay-per-view money than any other fighter in history.

Quinton Jackson

His nickname is Rampage and he’s one of the strongest fighters out there. In fact, he shows it through his love for punching.

It takes a lot of courage and drive to pursue the path of becoming a fighter. If your dream is to eventually fight in the UFC, there will undoubtedly be some obstacles and challenges to overcome. It’s so important to build a solid foundation in fighting and physical training.

However, MMA fighting in particular is more than just training; it’s about making yourself known. It could become your full-time job, since you’ll need to be marketing and getting your name out there when you’re not in the gym.

However, you need to stick with it no matter what. There are many famous, successful fighters that were once just beginning to learn this stuff – just like you. Remember that everyone has to start somewhere, so don’t give up.