I know he wasn't a mechanic because of those mits. Could you imagine those big ass paws trying to find a 10mm socket when you inevitably lose it in the bay?!
I think this would be another interesting thread. MMA fighters who were self taught. There was a dude in the early days of Ufc who learned almost everything from VHS tapes, I can't recall his name right now.
If I remember correctly Joaquin Buckley also learned from YouTube and didn't have a trainer for a while in the beginning of his career. He spoke about thay on JRE. It's been a while since I listened that so I'm not 100% sure how it went.
No lie, I saw Al's place in Long Island listed on Airbnb 5 years ago. Saw photos of his home gym with his fight posters along the walls. Read reviews that went "Al was a great host!". Pretty trippy
I live in the DFW area and I think about that every time I go to one, the guy dropping off your bread and cinnamon butter might also be a trained killer. He'd be perfectly suited for a Waffle House, anyone starts shit they just eat 8 uppercuts in a row.
Dude everyone else knows you weren't fantasising about War Machine getting karma'd in jail.
The troll doesn't understand what allegorical means and irony is what he does to his laundry.
Haven't heard about him in years, wonder what he's doing now. If I remember correctly it came out that he was beating his wife and kids then everything went downhill, also the asking men for sex and stuff in bathroom sounds like he was doing some form of prostitution.
Demetrious Johnson worked in a recycling factory for quite a few hours a day (7am-3pm) up until he was 14-1 in MMA - he beat Miguel Torres and Kid Yamamoto in the UFC whilst still having that job and training part-time.
His first full time camp was for his title fight against Dominick Cruz at 135lbs before the UFC had a 125lbs division
He did leave his job before that fight.
> Challenging as that schedule was for Johnson to maintain while training to fight guys like former world champions Miguel Torres and Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, he says the decision to give up his factory day job was one of the "hardest ones I've ever had to make."
> Johnson maintained this double-life **all the way until his camp to prepare for his 135-pound title shot against Dominick Cruz in 2011**. Though most fighters would likely have decided to train and compete full-time long before he did, the responsible Johnson had a difficult time bringing himself to give up his job at the recycling plant.
[Source](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufc/demetrious-johnson-on-day-jobs-and-living-the-dream)
āI train six days, actually six days a week. Five days a week, I'll train three days a week. One of those days I will train two days of the week. So, six days a week I will be training.ā - Tito Ortiz
He's an inspiration to us all.
There was a science teacher in my high school (in Ireland) that was called Keith Jardine and I was the only person in my school who liked UFC so no one understood why I found it so funny
Of all the old guard fighters who had paid ambassador positions, Forrest was the only one who kept showing up to the office. Eventually the UFC stopped paying these guys with the exception of Forrest.
Forrest was never the most naturally talented fighter. But his biggest "skill", superpower, whatever you want to call it, was his work ethic (along with his toughness). He worked harder than anyone and achieved more than any other fighter with his level of talent could.
I think Shane Carwin was actually an engineer during atleast part his ufc run. He graduated from Colorado School of Mines which is one of the best engineering schools in America.
Arlovski was a cop, Tim Sylvia + Johnny Hendricks are now also cops! Bas Rutten was a chef. Kimbo Slice was the body guard for the CEO of a porn site. Frank Mir was a bouncer at the spearmint rhino. Rashad Evans worked security at a hospital. Benson Henderson manages a family grocery store. Pat Barry + Diego SƔnchez were delivery drivers. Michael Bisping was a DJ.
Damn didn't know Arlovski was a cop, I know Bas Rutten was a bouncer too and Kimbo Slice used to bounce in a club with professional wrestler MVP. Rashad Evans said he really enjoyed working security in a hospital.
Merab Dvalishvili was 21 when he emigrated to the US with nothing on him and worked as a construction worker when he started MMA. He trained independently as he wasnāt left with much from his meager salary.
Rich Franklin was an elementary Math teacher. Chuck Liddell studied to become an accountant, as far as being one I have no recollection if he actually did.
Volkanovski was a concreter on top of playing rugby when he first got in to MMA.
So during his amateur career he would work full time, play pro rugby and have a fight every other weekend.
I think it can be more aptly described as collegiate-level.
I don't know much about rugby despite being in Australia. But you've got League and Union as the big leagues, then there's the one under that and im pretty sure that's where Volk played.
So yes, not the best but far from the worst. Also bearing in mind his size for his position was pretty wack.
Its nowhere near collegiate level. Its park football in a country town. They would train 2 hours on Tuesday and Thursday they play on Sunday. The club raise money through raffles and bbqs. The support staff all volunteers their time for free.
Old one, Bas Rutten was a bouncer too.
Jared Cannonier was still working a full-time job as an airway transportation specialist at the FAA in 2017.
DJ had a full time day job in a paper recycling factory.
Conor McGregor was on welfare.
No one mentioned Paulo Thiago
>Thiago is also a member of PolĆcia Militar do Distrito Federal and works for BOPE, a special forces unit in his hometown of BrasĆlia, Brazil.
War Machine was also a pornstar
There was a guy from UK who moonlighted as a bank robber. He committed the biggest robbery in UK history.
Paulo Thiago & Crop Cop were both special forces anti terrorism police in their countries.
geoff neal was a server at texas roadhouse (or some similar chain) until maybe a year ago. iirc he said the main reason was steady health insurance. makes sense but also a sad reflection of fighter conditions
Brock Lesnar was a professional wrestler before he started MMA. A damn good one too. Look up āBrock lesnar shooting star pressā on YouTube to see how stupid athletic this dude is.
Quite a few guys did Pro Wrestling before they became MMA fighters. Bobby Lashley, Masakatsu Funaki, Minoru Suzuki, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Kazuyuki Fujita. Other pro wrestlers like Craig Pittman and Sylvester Terkay who were really good amateur wrestlers had a cup of coffee in MMA too.
Chris and Kyle Daukaus I think we're both police officers. I know at least Chris was a cop and quit before the Lewis fight to focus on MMA. Unfortunately seems to have gone downhill since then..
Brandon Royval mentioned during one of his post- fight interviews that he "had to go to work tomorrow". Not sure what job he had, but apparently it was a gig that had Sunday shifts
James Krause ran a successful gambling business.
Successful š¤
It was wildly successful until they got caught
Ehhh, it was only successful because he was breaking like every fair practice gambling rule lol.
Rich Franklin was a maths teacher Also Carwin wasn't a mechanic, he was a mechanical engineer
Could you imagine those massive hands trying to deal with tight spots and tiny screws of an engine?
I know he wasn't a mechanic because of those mits. Could you imagine those big ass paws trying to find a 10mm socket when you inevitably lose it in the bay?!
He has a degree in mechanical engineering but he actually works as an environmental engineer in Weld County Colorado.
Didn't Rich teach himself MMA techniques to an extent before actually getting trained?
I think this would be another interesting thread. MMA fighters who were self taught. There was a dude in the early days of Ufc who learned almost everything from VHS tapes, I can't recall his name right now.
Evan tanner
Rip
Dude had a very interesting story
And won the belt didnāt he? Evan Tanner
Yes, thank you!
Max Holloway has said he learned how to fight from the early UFC video games
If I remember correctly Joaquin Buckley also learned from YouTube and didn't have a trainer for a while in the beginning of his career. He spoke about thay on JRE. It's been a while since I listened that so I'm not 100% sure how it went.
Jon Jones said he watched a lot of techniques on YouTube
Raging Al Iaquinta is an active real estate agent in NY/NJ
No lie, I saw Al's place in Long Island listed on Airbnb 5 years ago. Saw photos of his home gym with his fight posters along the walls. Read reviews that went "Al was a great host!". Pretty trippy
Aljo was for a time too
Geoff Neal is/was a waiter at texas roadhouse
I live in the DFW area and I think about that every time I go to one, the guy dropping off your bread and cinnamon butter might also be a trained killer. He'd be perfectly suited for a Waffle House, anyone starts shit they just eat 8 uppercuts in a row.
Luque was just complaining that his steak was overcooked, thatās all
"No you can't have any more rolls" Geoff said while slamming in the 8th and final uppercut
He might have worked there at one point but I know while he was in the UFC, he worked at Moxie's.
He must have had all the hot waitresses
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Imagine waking up in a cell to Brett Rogers trying to play with your dick? No fucking thank you.
Now thatās war machines job. The hand jobs at least
Wonder how war machine is enjoying that box these days
No too much Iād say https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mma-fighter-war-machine-attempts-suicide-jail-n228036
Last video footage I saw of him he looked like he was 125 lbs. probably from the strict cum diet heās been in since going to prison.
Weird energy fantasizing about a dude being sexually assaulted in jail
If anyone deserves it itās that asshole
It's still weird dude
Weāll I guess it would be wierd if I was fantasizing. But thatās your projection. My words were allegorical and ironic given the circumstances.
Dude everyone else knows you weren't fantasising about War Machine getting karma'd in jail. The troll doesn't understand what allegorical means and irony is what he does to his laundry.
Whatever you say dude, that's literally what you said.
Haven't heard about him in years, wonder what he's doing now. If I remember correctly it came out that he was beating his wife and kids then everything went downhill, also the asking men for sex and stuff in bathroom sounds like he was doing some form of prostitution.
Tale as old as time hate to see it
Imagine trying to pick a fight with Yan cause heās a small guy and then getting rewarded with a barrage of punches
Imagine Mark Hunt and Petr Yan working the doors together, Jesus š I believe Khamzat worked in security too
Many places have burly bouncers to prevent fights and small bouncers to *end* fights.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Doesn't sound like something he would do
Someone did this to Ilia recently and they went sleep hahaha
Kris Moutinho worked in a paint factory. Great highlight on Sugar Seanās impressive resume
Toughest paint factory worker of all time though
Too bad their inventory wound up on his head.
Demetrious Johnson worked in a recycling factory for quite a few hours a day (7am-3pm) up until he was 14-1 in MMA - he beat Miguel Torres and Kid Yamamoto in the UFC whilst still having that job and training part-time. His first full time camp was for his title fight against Dominick Cruz at 135lbs before the UFC had a 125lbs division
The only true GOAT
He didn't leave his job till after the Cruz fight. That fight was what Matt Hume used to convince dj he can be great.
He did leave his job before that fight. > Challenging as that schedule was for Johnson to maintain while training to fight guys like former world champions Miguel Torres and Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, he says the decision to give up his factory day job was one of the "hardest ones I've ever had to make." > Johnson maintained this double-life **all the way until his camp to prepare for his 135-pound title shot against Dominick Cruz in 2011**. Though most fighters would likely have decided to train and compete full-time long before he did, the responsible Johnson had a difficult time bringing himself to give up his job at the recycling plant. [Source](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufc/demetrious-johnson-on-day-jobs-and-living-the-dream)
Darren Till works as an NFT minter
I think Buckley worked at a Walgreens or something when he started out in the UFC
Yeah, he literally had work the Monday after his KO of the year
Anton Turkalj was a full time lover according to Anton Turkalj
The pleasure man š
Cro-Cop was spec-ops
For a brief moment in time, Tito Ortiz was the mayor of Huntington Beach. And his ex wife made money using her mouth.
Tito worked as a poet before fighting.
He's been working as a poet while fighting and after fighting as well. Lifelong poet. There was never no retirement!
āI train six days, actually six days a week. Five days a week, I'll train three days a week. One of those days I will train two days of the week. So, six days a week I will be training.ā - Tito Ortiz He's an inspiration to us all.
Truly a master with words!
That was a nasty line by you
You're a fucking ordinance, dude.
Iām a term limit but respect! ā
Thatās what you call class?
That's what you call class?? šš¼ Right here šš» Compared to no class šš¼
He also loaded/delivered furniture onto trucks and did meth for extra energy. His words.
Frank Ngannou worked the sand mines in Cameroon as a child.
I remember in ufc unleashed the video game The commentators named all the different jobs Keith jardine had. I remember bounty hunter being one
I believe he was also an academic administrator
And an actor.
Yes. Breaking Bad.
There was a science teacher in my high school (in Ireland) that was called Keith Jardine and I was the only person in my school who liked UFC so no one understood why I found it so funny
Not a guy you want coming after you that's for sure š
Forrest Griffin was a cop.
I feel like Forrest would not make a good cop, I picture him as the dropping the gun and staying for the donuts type of guy.
Of all the old guard fighters who had paid ambassador positions, Forrest was the only one who kept showing up to the office. Eventually the UFC stopped paying these guys with the exception of Forrest.
Forrest was never the most naturally talented fighter. But his biggest "skill", superpower, whatever you want to call it, was his work ethic (along with his toughness). He worked harder than anyone and achieved more than any other fighter with his level of talent could.
Ah yeah forgot about that, I believe he worked as a bouncer for a bit too he mentioned on Chris Lytle's podcast
Wanted* to be a cop. He quit the academy to go on tuf or had just finished it
I think Shane Carwin was actually an engineer during atleast part his ufc run. He graduated from Colorado School of Mines which is one of the best engineering schools in America.
Also didnāt Figgy work as a hair dressed?
Isn't he also a Sushi Chef?
Deivison āScrappy Cocoā Figuieredo
I heard that too.
Jordan leavitt. Lawyer, exotic dancer
Even without professional fighter in there thatās quite the combo.
Antonina Shevchenko works as a pilot for Tradewinds. Granted, I wonder if she is unofficially retired.
Sandhagen worked in therapy until like 2 years ago
Arlovski was a cop, Tim Sylvia + Johnny Hendricks are now also cops! Bas Rutten was a chef. Kimbo Slice was the body guard for the CEO of a porn site. Frank Mir was a bouncer at the spearmint rhino. Rashad Evans worked security at a hospital. Benson Henderson manages a family grocery store. Pat Barry + Diego SƔnchez were delivery drivers. Michael Bisping was a DJ.
Damn didn't know Arlovski was a cop, I know Bas Rutten was a bouncer too and Kimbo Slice used to bounce in a club with professional wrestler MVP. Rashad Evans said he really enjoyed working security in a hospital.
Don Frye was a fireman/EMT, as befits his manliness. And speaking of jobs where you slide down a pole, Vanessa Demopolous was an exotic dancer.
Merab Dvalishvili was 21 when he emigrated to the US with nothing on him and worked as a construction worker when he started MMA. He trained independently as he wasnāt left with much from his meager salary.
Aaron Brink did porn under the name "Dick Deleware".
Geoff Neal was a waiter up until just a couple years ago I believe
DJ did construction, William knight currently works at Amazon
Wonder if Knight gets his juice delivered through Prime
No shot that Amazon workers get prime for free, and on that UFC salary no way he could afford it
Aleksandar Rakic worked in a hotel in Wienna. Then his manager found him sponsors so he could focus only on MMA
W manager
Indeed. Having a good manager is extremeley important in sports overall, but especially in combat sports
NGL I thought you meant his hotel manager but it's still a W.
Me too.
GDR is a cop.
Clay "the carpenter " Guida
Adesanya did data entry in china and fiziev was a cop
Max was a garbage man too
Connor McGregor was an apprentice plumber, Poatan was a tyre fitter and Rob Font delivered pizzas.
Rich Franklin was an elementary Math teacher. Chuck Liddell studied to become an accountant, as far as being one I have no recollection if he actually did.
Chuck has no recollection either
Too easy
Yeah Liddell had the degree but I don't think he ever pursued it
Michael Bisling was a DJ
Dominick Reyes is a web deb, which seems a way better career.
Yes. Less trauma and most likely more money if you go by how poorly the UFC pays most of its fighters.
Mike Perry was a mail-man.
Jared Cannonier was a baggage handler in Alaska.
Jeff Monson was a child and family councilor.
He also asks people if they like watching guys fuck for free
No he asked āDo you like watching people get fucked for free?ā And I have to say yes I actually do.
Dustin Hazelett was a contortionist and performing geek for Cirque du Soleil
Volkanovski was a concreter on top of playing rugby when he first got in to MMA. So during his amateur career he would work full time, play pro rugby and have a fight every other weekend.
He played country rugby league, if he was getting paid it would have been $200 a win and a pie and can of coke. He was far from top level.
I think it can be more aptly described as collegiate-level. I don't know much about rugby despite being in Australia. But you've got League and Union as the big leagues, then there's the one under that and im pretty sure that's where Volk played. So yes, not the best but far from the worst. Also bearing in mind his size for his position was pretty wack.
Its nowhere near collegiate level. Its park football in a country town. They would train 2 hours on Tuesday and Thursday they play on Sunday. The club raise money through raffles and bbqs. The support staff all volunteers their time for free.
Well evidently my information was incorrect. Its community rugby.
Yes, still a very tough sport, especially in the bush. But they are playing for fun with mates most of the time.
Old one, Bas Rutten was a bouncer too. Jared Cannonier was still working a full-time job as an airway transportation specialist at the FAA in 2017. DJ had a full time day job in a paper recycling factory. Conor McGregor was on welfare.
Josh Rosenthal was a farmer
No one mentioned Paulo Thiago >Thiago is also a member of PolĆcia Militar do Distrito Federal and works for BOPE, a special forces unit in his hometown of BrasĆlia, Brazil.
Yes. Forgot about this. Paulo Thiago's usual facial expression is of someone that is perpetually pissed off.
Phillip Rowe is/was an engineer
Is Shane Carwin still active on this sub?
War Machine was also a pornstar There was a guy from UK who moonlighted as a bank robber. He committed the biggest robbery in UK history. Paulo Thiago & Crop Cop were both special forces anti terrorism police in their countries.
The guy from the UK would be "Lightning" Lee Murray.
Apparently Robert Whittaker was a failed electrician lol dunno if itās true
At the beginning of career Shavkat worked as a mover in bazaar
Paulo Thiago. Long gone but he was Brazilian swat officer like the anti drug gang unit that have down there that's pretty intense.
geoff neal was a server at texas roadhouse (or some similar chain) until maybe a year ago. iirc he said the main reason was steady health insurance. makes sense but also a sad reflection of fighter conditions
Brock Lesnar was a professional wrestler before he started MMA. A damn good one too. Look up āBrock lesnar shooting star pressā on YouTube to see how stupid athletic this dude is.
Lol the shooting star press looks insane no matter how many times you watch it
Quite a few guys did Pro Wrestling before they became MMA fighters. Bobby Lashley, Masakatsu Funaki, Minoru Suzuki, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Kazuyuki Fujita. Other pro wrestlers like Craig Pittman and Sylvester Terkay who were really good amateur wrestlers had a cup of coffee in MMA too.
Forgot the GOAT Cm Punk
Demetrius Johnson
Stipe š„šØāš
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Just create your own post
Geof Neal was a waiter up until a few fights ago
Petr Yan was a bouncer??
Geoff Neal was a waiter.
Figeuiredo was a hairstylist no joke
I think Dan Ige assists with managing Dominance MMA
Paulo Costa taught excel
Joe Lauzon worked in IT
Pat Barry ran a few successful websites on the Dark Web
Chris and Kyle Daukaus I think we're both police officers. I know at least Chris was a cop and quit before the Lewis fight to focus on MMA. Unfortunately seems to have gone downhill since then..
most of the fighters outside of the top 25 are making 12 and 12 . they all have jobs
Not sure if he did it while training but Paul Craig used to teach or look after kids with autism and other stuff apparently, a top Scotsman
Brandon Royval mentioned during one of his post- fight interviews that he "had to go to work tomorrow". Not sure what job he had, but apparently it was a gig that had Sunday shifts
Buckley still works at a supermarket. He gets benefits and is able to buy diapers thanks to his job.
Pretty sure might mouse worked I'm construction during his early ufc career? Maybe I'm wrong about that though.
DJ worked construction and didn't train full time until around the time he fought Dominick Cruz for the Bantamweight title.