The fight game is known for its glitz and glamour, with top-level combatants earning several millions of dollars over the course of their careers. However, unbeknownst to most casual fans, these top MMA stars have been through some pretty rough times in their lives, toiling through their day-to-day life and doing odd jobs in order to make ends meet.
Now although several fighters such as Stephen Thompson, Jon Jones, Alistair Overeem and others were born with a silver spoon, so to speak, the sport of MMA has many other competitors who weren’t as privileged growing up. Said fighters worked low-paying jobs in their teens, their youth and in some cases even as children to support their families. Top MMA organisations like the UFC are replete examples of such hard-working men and women. Today, we look back at a few such true warriors and the unlikely professions they tried their hand at, before making it to the big-time in the UFC.
#5 ‘The Notorious Plumber’ Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor is one of the biggest names in MMA and the UFC’s highest-grossing PPV star as of today, however, that wasn’t the case a few years back when ‘The Notorious’ worked in cold, dark kitchens and bathrooms in the remote rural areas of his Ireland. In 2006, after moving with his family to Lucan in West Dublin, McGregor commenced a plumbing apprenticeship, something that he had no desire to do whatsoever, but was forced to owing to meeting his daily needs.
While in Lucan, ‘Notorious’ met future UFC fighter Tom Egan and it’s his friendship with Egan that led to him training in martial arts. Shortly after being introduced to the sport of MMA on one rainy night in Ireland, Conor, sick to his stomach of his plumbing job, got into a car and just drove away from his workplace; quitting the plumbing profession forever, vowing never to look back.
Furthermore, till his UFC debut in February 2013, McGregor was still collecting welfare checks in Dublin, due to him quitting his plumbing job, much to the chagrin of his parents. From collecting welfare checks in Ireland to getting mobbed by fans in the States, McGregor has come a long way.
After smashing his way to the top of the UFC in a matter of a couple of years, McGregor has been one of the organisation’s biggest money-makers since 2015. Add to that the fact that boxing’s ‘Richie Rich’ Floyd Mayweather Jr., is gunning for a $100 Million boxing showdown against the Irishman, I think it’s safe to say that Conor was right in quitting his previous job. That brings us to MMA’s legends and their shocking job profiles...
#4 Anderson ‘The Spider Clerk’ Silva
Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva is considered to be one of the best Mixed Martial Artists of all time, having held the UFC Middleweight championship for 7 years (2006-13) with a UFC record of 10-title defences to his name. Silva is one of the UFC’s most famous millionaires, however, his childhood and teenage life were the exact opposite of the lavish lifestyle that he leads today.
Growing up in abject poverty in Sau Paulo, Brazil, ‘Spider’ started training in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu at a young age, even though he’s stated that during those days BJJ was considered to be an activity exclusive to the rich and elite.
Nevertheless, Silva watched the rich kids in his neighbourhood roll around on the mat and would go on to replicate their BJJ sparring sessions by himself and eventually with other sparring partners. After training in Taekwondo, Capoeira and Muay Thai in his late-teens, Silva began working at a local McDonalds outlet and also as a file clerk an adult. Here’s the Spider’s emotional speech after victory over Derek Brunson at UFC 208-
In fact, the MMA legend is so attached to his former employers that to this date he follows his tradition of cheating on his fight-week diet with a McDonald's burger. Mac and Cheese for the win! Up next we take a look at an old Silva foe and his unlikely background...
#3 Rich ‘Ace’ Franklin- The World’s Most Dangerous Teacher
Rich ‘Ace’ Franklin is best known for his pair of fights with Anderson Silva and for fighting at ‘Catchweight’ ‘Franklinweight’. He’s also known for being a highly respectable professional in the teaching profession, having taught mathematics at the Oak Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, earning high praise from both his co-workers as well as students. In fact, February 21st, 2006 was officially declared ‘Rich Franklin Day’ by the mayor of Cinncinati, owing to his work in the sport of MMA.
‘Ace’ graduated from William Henry Harrison High School, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and then later earned a Masters degree in Education at the University of Cincinnati. Often referred to by UFC commentator Joe Rogan as an ‘Angry Jim Carrey’ (owing to Rich’s resemblance to Hollywood actor Jim Carrey), Franklin is also referred to as the most badass teacher of all time. Well, with a teacher like that you’d better not bunk classes! Here’s the math genius hanging out with Bas Rutten at a One FC promotional event last year-
As of now, ‘Ace’ is the Vice President of Singapore-based MMA promotion One FC, where he’s been doing a phenomenal job in promoting local as well as international MMA stars alongside Asian MMA’s blue-chip prospects. Whatever job ‘Ace’ takes up, he absolutely aces. That brings us to ‘The World’s Scariest Engineer’...
#2 Shane ‘The Engineer’ Carwin
Shane Bannister Carwin is a former Interim UFC-Heavyweight champion and the 1999 NCAA Div-2 Heavyweight wrestling champion, however, regardless of his wrestling credentials, MMA fans know him best for his mind-numbing knockouts inside the Octagon. Sporting the ‘Engineer’ moniker, Carwin is known for being the only man to wear bigger gloves than Brock Lesnar inside the Octagon, owing to his gigantic 5xl sized fists of diamond.
Carwin received his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Technology from the Western State College. Before making his in-cage debut in October of 2005, he worked extensively as an engineer whilst simultaneously training his boxing and wrestling skills and preparing himself for a career in the sport of MMA.
In fact, Shane is one of the few high-level MMA competitors to have successfully juggled a full-time job whilst competing as a top fighter simultaneously. Through thick and thin inside the cage, ‘The Engineer’ stayed true to the Engineering profession on the one hand and slayed UFC veterans such as Frank Mir and Gabriel Gonzaga en-route to UFC gold on the other. That brings us to a true pauper-turned-prince tale...
#1 Junior Dos Santos- A true rags-to-riches story
Junior Dos Santos is one of the nicest guys in the face-punching business- humble, down-to-earth and a true champion. Which in turn makes you wonder where ‘Cigano’ gets this grounded behaviour from?
Raised by a single mother in Cacador, Santa Catarina, Brazil, JDS’ spent his childhood as well as most of his teenage years in poverty. In fact, at the age of 10, he started working as an ice-cream vendor on the streets and later on began working a second shift as a newspaper boy. After struggling to make ends meet right from his childhood to his late-teens, at the age of 21 Dos Santos met Yuri Carlton and began training under him in the art of BJJ. After winning a few BJJ-tournaments in Salvador, Cigano was invited to train in Mixed Martial Arts at a local institution where he met boxing coach Luiz Dorea; a coach who led him to the UFC Heavyweight title.
Furthermore, after a brief split with his former team, JDS is once again training under Dorea at the world-famous American Top Team (ATT) gym in Coconut Creek, Florida, preparing for his upcoming UFC 211 Heavyweight title matchup against old foe and current UFC champ, Stipe Miocic. Considering all the odd jobs Cigano has done to overcome obstacles throughout his life, a HW title fight seems to be no big deal at all!
Every profession deserves respect and as proved by our MMA icons and UFC champs, talent and hard-work are the only friends that’ll help you wade through life’s peaks and troughs. As always keep up with our combat tradition and write to me about fighters who think deserve mention on our list.
Till then, keep training and regardless of your profession, give it your all!
send us news tips at [email protected]
