Is MMA a Good Lifetime Career? Exploring the Pros and Cons
MMA has exploded in popularity over the past two decades. The sport combines techniques from boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and various other disciplines into a thrilling combat sport that captivates millions of fans worldwide.
Drawn by the fame, fortune, and glory of the octagon, many young people dream about making it big in MMA. However, as with any career path, it’s important to know the benefits against the potential drawbacks.
The Lure of MMA: What Attracts Fighters?
MMA offers several appealing aspects that attract athletes from various backgrounds. These include:
1. Fame and Recognition
Fighters like Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, and Anderson Silva have become household names. The allure of achieving such fame can be incredibly motivating. MMA fighters often enjoy significant media attention and a dedicated fanbase.
2. Faster Rise
MMA is still developing and if you have what it takes to succeed, you can rise to the top much faster than in most other sports. There are always opportunities for talented fighters to rise to the top within a few years, which you won’t see in boxing or wrestling.
Israel Adesanya, Khamzat Chimaev and Alex Pereira are just some of the examples.
3. Financial Rewards
Top-tier MMA fighters can earn substantial incomes. Pay-per-view (PPV) events, sponsorships, and fight purses can bring in millions for successful fighters. For example, Conor McGregor’s earnings have skyrocketed due to his success in the UFC.
3. Technical complexity
MMA is the most complex combat sport and its fighters are considered to be the ultimate athletes. There are so many variables and ways you can win or lose a match and many young fighters are attracted by this style diversity and challenges.
Why MMA Is A Bad Career Choice?
Despite the appealing aspects, pursuing a career in MMA comes with significant risks and challenges. These realities often overshadow the benefits, making it a questionable long-term career choice.
1. Physical Toll and Injuries
MMA is an incredibly demanding and dangerous sport. In fact, it has the highest injury rate of all other combat sports.
Fighters regularly endure severe injuries, including concussions, broken bones, and joint damage. These injuries can have long-lasting effects on health and quality of life. Repeated head trauma, in particular, can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a debilitating brain condition.
Apart from having an impact on your career, these injuries can potentially have long-term damage and destroy your life.
2. Unpredictable Career Longevity
Unlike more stable career paths, the career longevity of an MMA fighter is highly unpredictable. A single severe injury can end a fighter’s career abruptly.
Even without significant injuries, most fighters have a relatively short competitive lifespan, often retiring in their 30s. This leaves a short window to achieve financial stability and fame.
Unlike in boxing or kickboxing, the sport is far more unpredictable and the risk of losing is much higher both on the lower and the upper level of competition. Due to the style diversities and all the variables, it is much harder for an individual to methodically build a career and succeed.
This is just one of the reasons why most MMA fighters, including UFC champions, have more than a few losses on their records.
3. Financial Instability
While top fighters earn impressive sums, the majority of fighters struggle financially. Entry-level fighters in smaller promotions often earn small paychecks, insufficient to cover training costs, medical expenses, and living expenses.
In fact, the majority of UFC fighters from the lower and mid-tier struggle to keep their dreams running because their incomes are low. Entry level fighters get between $10–15,000 to show up, while mid-tier athletes get a few dozen.
The problem is — they compete once or twice a year. When you add taxes, gym expenses, nutrition expenses, manager fees and other costs, you get that most fighters, including the famous ones, are struggling. That’s why a lot of them actually have a full-time job beside their career.
4. High Competition and Limited Opportunities
The MMA landscape is highly competitive, with thousands of fighters vying for limited spots in major promotions like the UFC and Bellator. Only a select few reach the pinnacle of the sport, leaving many fighters in a constant struggle to break through.
5. Lack of Benefits and Job Security
Unlike traditional careers, MMA fighters do not enjoy benefits like health insurance, retirement plans, or job security. This lack of support exacerbates the financial and health risks associated with the sport.
For instance, UFC fighters are independent contractors. They are not actually UFC employees and they don’t enjoy the benefits that come with this legal status. No, they actually provide services to the UFC.
Post Career Struggle
For those who do manage to have a successful MMA career, transitioning out of the sport presents additional challenges. Retired fighters often face difficulties finding new career paths due to a lack of formal education or work experience outside of fighting.
Furthermore, the physical and mental toll taken by years of fighting can complicate this transition.
1. Limited Career Opportunities
Many retired fighters struggle to find new careers that provide financial stability. Some may transition into coaching, commentary, or personal training, but these opportunities are limited and often do not provide substantial income.
2. Health Issues
Retired fighters frequently deal with chronic health issues stemming from their fighting careers. These health problems can limit their ability to work and enjoy a high quality of life in retirement.
3. Financial Challenges
Without a steady income or benefits, retired fighters often face financial difficulties. Those who did not achieve top-tier status or manage their earnings wisely may find themselves in precarious financial situations.
Alternatives to Pursuing an MMA Career
Given the numerous risks and challenges associated with a career in MMA, it is wise to consider alternative career paths that offer more stability and security.
1. Professional Coaching and Training
Many former athletes find fulfilling careers in coaching and training. This path allows them to stay connected to the sport they love while enjoying a more stable and less risky profession. Coaching can be a lucrative and rewarding career for those with the right skills and experience.
2. Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy
For those interested in the health and wellness aspect of sports, careers in sports medicine and physical therapy offer excellent opportunities. These fields provide stable employment, good income, and the chance to help athletes achieve their best performance safely.
3. Business and Entrepreneurship
Some fighters leverage their fame and connections to start businesses or enter entrepreneurial ventures. With the right business acumen and support, this can be a highly successful path, offering long-term financial stability and personal fulfilment.
4. Media and Broadcasting
With the rise of sports media, many former fighters have transitioned into broadcasting and commentary roles. This career path allows them to use their expertise and remain in the public eye without the physical risks associated with fighting.
Some of the most famous examples are Dan Hardy, Michael Bisping and Daniel Cormier.
Conclusion: Is MMA Worth Pursuing as a Lifetime Career?
Ultimately, while MMA offers the allure of fame, financial rewards, and personal fulfillment, the significant risks and challenges make it an unsuitable lifetime career for most.
The physical toll, unpredictable career longevity, financial instability, high competition, and lack of benefits all contribute to a precarious and often short-lived career.
For those passionate about combat sports, there are alternative career paths that offer more stability and security while allowing them to stay connected to the sport they love. Professional coaching, sports medicine, business ventures, and media roles provide viable options that mitigate the risks associated with a fighting career.
In conclusion, while the dream of becoming an MMA champion may be enticing, the harsh realities of the sport suggest that it is not a good lifetime career choice. however, for the few that roll the dice and win, have their lives changed forever.
