10 great motivational quotes from MMA fighters

As one of the fastest-rising sports in the world right now, the athletes that sit at the top of the MMA mountain are becoming more and more popular and well-known across the planet. Part of their appeal has to do with their skills inside the cage and ring, but part of it also has to do with their fascinating, sometimes outlandish personalities.

Since the rise of MMA into the mainstream around 15 years ago, professional fighters have become some of the most quotable athletes in the world. As a sport that relies heavily on “trash talk” obviously some of those quotes don’t mean a lot – but sometimes quotes from top MMA fighters can be surprisingly motivational.

Here are 10 of the best motivational quotes from MMA fighters.

#1 Georges St-Pierre

Canadian superstar Georges St-Pierre is commonly recognised as perhaps the finest MMA fighter to ever participate in the sport, and it was his relentless pursuit of brilliance that got him to the top. This quote sums up his insane drive for greatness perfectly.

“There is a difference between a fighter and a martial artist. A fighter is training for a purpose: He has a fight. I'm a martial artist. I don't train for a fight. I train for myself. I'm training all the time. My goal is perfection. But I will never reach perfection.”

#2 Jon Jones

Current UFC Light-Heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones is one of the most controversial figures in the sport’s history, equally well-known for a laundry list of violations including positive drug tests as he is for his incredible exploits inside the Octagon. But even he can sound motivational, as this quote about his transgressions proves.

“If you do something bad, it doesn't mean you're a bad person. It means you had bad judgment.”

#3 BJ Penn

Former UFC Lightweight and Welterweight champion BJ Penn probably should’ve retired years ago; his body is simply too broken down to continue fighting at the elite level now. But then Penn was never a fighter who relied solely on his athleticism, and this quote would be motivational for any non-natural athlete in a sport.

“It's not a certain technique, it's not a skill, it's all in your mind, it's how far you want to go.”

#4 Henry Cejudo

Current UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo is one of today’s most successful fighters, and even more remarkable is that he also won an Olympic gold medal in wrestling back in 2008. It’s pretty clear that Cejudo is a driven person, as this motivational quote proves.

“If you have a dream, don't let anyone talk you out of it.”

#5 Conor McGregor

Arguably the biggest global superstar ever produced by MMA, Ireland’s Conor McGregor essentially parlayed both his skill in the cage and his infectious, sometimes controversial personality to go from humble origins to becoming a worldwide phenomenon. This quote sums up his drive to make it to the very top, no matter what.

“I wish everyone well, but you need to focus on yourself. You need to stop putting your hand out. Everyone wants hand outs. Everyone wants things for free. You've got to put in the work. You've got to grind. You've got go through the struggle, and you've got to get it.”

#6 Ronda Rousey

Although she retired from MMA in 2016, former UFC Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey forced women’s MMA into the mainstream with her dominant run at the top. She was also a highly quotable fighter, and this quote sums up a lot of what it means to be in such a violent sport.

“People say to me all the time, 'You have no fear.' I tell them, 'No, that's not true. I'm scared all the time. You have to have fear in order to have courage. I'm a courageous person because I'm a scared person."

#7 Daniel Cormier

One of MMA’s true “good guys”, UFC Heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier has come through plenty of adversity to make it to the top of the MMA world. This amazing quote from him could essentially apply to any walk of life.

“No matter how bad things get, eventually the sun is going to shine. If you just keep at it, pursuing your goals, eventually good things happen to decent people. For a person who is set on his goals, good things will happen. Everyone deals with adversity; it's how you bounce back from it.”

#8 Donald Cerrone

One of the most popular and exciting fighters in MMA history, Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone is renowned for simply embracing everything on the wild side of life, and having fun doing it. A classic thrill-seeker, this quote from Cerrone sums up his personality and could inspire anyone.

“Just do whatever you want to in life. One day tomorrow won't be there.”

#9 Tyron Woodley

Former UFC Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley might not be the most popular man on the UFC roster, but he’s definitely one of the most eloquent. This quote compares fighting to life in general and is hugely motivating.

“Fighting, especially at this level, is about getting through adversity. You position yourself mentally to go out and take on obstacles that stand in your way. In the Octagon and in life, you face tough situations and have every chance to quit, but the more adversity you push through, the more likely you are to be successful.”

#10 Chael Sonnen

One of the most controversial figures in MMA history, former UFC superstar Chael Sonnen was almost as renowned for his questionable behaviour as he was for his in-ring talents. But nobody can deny his impact on the sport, and this quote – while potentially questionable – makes a fair point.

“If you're not willing to go too far, you'll never go far enough in life.”