MMAnWEED

It took me 6 bouts before i got noticed but if you look good enough and the word is spread on how good you look, you could be offered a contract after your second or third fight.

It can happen either way. The Belmar promotion came looking for me but there are some promotions you can actually apply for believe it or not such as the Alaskan fighting club... i think thats the name of it?

I earned 1000 dollars overall in a fairly simple one fight contract. Its not until you get to a big organization where you have to look out for anything tricky.

Squirrelfighter

Well as an aspiring fighter I only train "part-time." That is to say I work to supplement my training. But when I look at it: I work 8 hours a day, I'm awake 18 hours a day. That's 10 total hours before and after work where I'm more than able to workout. Its just a matter of actually working out for as much of those 10 hours as I can, and still having something describable as a social life.

I make enough working to pay any bills I may have and to put some away for the future. Also they offer health insurance where I work, I declined it this year, but next year I may take it. Frankly, if at my current training level I can compete successfully, why change it? If it ain't broke don't fix it right?

For now I'm training to compete at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio in American Kickboxing. If I can succeed there, and develop a legitimate amateur record, I can move on to bigger and better things, i.e, serious grappling training, and innevitably MMA. If I fail miserably there, the only option is to go back to the drawing board to reassess my abilities, and my motivation. Like I said before if I can succeed at my current training level I won't change it, however, epic failing during competition is what I would define as being "broke" so at that point I very well might become what's more appropriately described as a "full-time" fighter and work even less, just enough to keep my "I'm broke and need fixedid" insurance!

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RoeNoMo

I'm just an MMA fan. Its embarrassing, but I've basically never been good at any sport I played. I was OK at lacrosse for a while, but never really dominated. AKA, I'd never actually set foot in a fight. I just like to sit back and observe, making sometimes snarky comments =p

kantowrestler

Yeah I am more of a fan than a fighter but I have tried it. Though as I've mentioned before I'm just basing this on my underground experience!

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petestock

Squirrelfighter, I think that's great what you're doing. To be honest, I know a lot of people who are in the same situation, and I have found that those who stay focused usually can maintain a job while also training.

You bring up a good item to be addressed though, and I have seen this from others.

Are there any other setbacks that can hold fighters back from making the transition from "part-time" to "full-time" fighter, i.e. family, social-life, money? Is there a tipping point for you guys?

kantowrestler

Yeah I'd have to be fulltime in order to fight!

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