5 Tips for Beginner MMA Fighters · 4 min read
The fight game has changed considerably in the last 20 years. The way prizefighting operates in MMA is completely different now. Mostly due to the UFC monopolizing this sport but that's another blog article for another time. I would love for this sport to switch to a free market but that might not happen anytime soon.
If you're a new fighter or considering getting into the game, here are five things you need to know. This is a blueprint that'll help you navigate the current system.
1. Train to peak on fight night.
One problem I see with young fighters is overtraining. They battle hard every day like it's fight day. Banging out ten rounds of sparring every day doesn't allow your body to heal. By the time you get to fight night, your body is useless and puts the body at higher risk for injuries which could lead to a canceled fight. This can also affect cardio health and development. As you progress through training camp, you need to increase the cardio workouts leading up to the fight gradually.
In regards to grappling and sparring time, there isn't a reason to train longer than you're going to fight. If you are going to fight three rounds then you should only spar and grapple three rounds. Your body will learn to identify this time as a sprint. Hard sparring and grappling aren't the only aspects of training. Make sure to include drilling. It's one of the best ways to improve cardio health and technique simultaneously.
2. Learn how to listen to your body.
This tip is important for newbs. When you're fresh in the game and eager, overtraining and accepting any fight thrown your way is easy to do. A good work ethic is required in this sport but not at the expense of your health. I've done a lot of stupid stuff, so I know from experience. If you have an injury it's best to take it easy. If you want a long career you have to take care of your body.
If something hurts then adjust your workout. For example, if you injure your wrist then work on your kicks until it heals. If it continues, take time off and focus on mental and visualization training. Keep a training journal so you can track how your body feels daily and your mental state when training. You'll be able to reference it to identify any patterns.
Self-awareness helps us avoid overtraining. Learn to listen to your body. Some signs of overtraining include sleeping issues and feeling exhausted after warming up at the gym. Instead of pushing through it and risking serious injury, take a day off. Allowing the body to recover will have you back to training faster.
3. Promoters are not your friends.
This might be a hard pill to swallow, but you'll need to understand this if you are going to have a successful career. Promoters may act friendly towards you but never let yourself think it's anything other than a business relationship.
Promoters no longer need to invest as much into promoting their fighters. They aren't in the business of long term investment, they only care about how much they can make off of you right now. Your average UFC fight career is less than one year and that statistic doesn't include fighters who've only had one fight.
Usually, promoters will sign on a fighter with already established notoriety and profit off of it. Lower level promoters avoid marketing their fighters because if they establish enough notoriety, they jump ship to a larger promotion. The fact that MMA promoters don't actually promote anymore is why the next tip is key in this industry.
4. You have to promote yourself.
That's right. You’re going to have to be your promoter. In the game of prizefighting, it's always been about notoriety. More notoriety means bigger fights and paychecks. In most sports, you establish notoriety by winning.
Luckily, technology makes it easier to promote yourself, create a personal brand, and network. As an up and coming fighter, you have to use all the tools available to you. You'll have to do a lot of it yourself until you can afford to pay other people to do it for you.
Having a strong social media presence will give you leverage in negotiating contracts and get you more significant and lucrative fights. A bigger social media following allows the opportunity for sponsorships and paid posts.
Develop a strong email list to create a community of supporters. You can promote personal training, seminars, appearances, make affiliate sales, and even sell some of your products. This also keeps you from being financially dependent on the promoters. Having this kind of freedom will keep you from making bad decisions in your fight career because you need the money.
5. Winning is EVERYTHING.
No matter what anyone tells you, winning is everything in MMA. It's the only way to increase pay from the next fight, build notoriety, and get better matchups. The promoter will try to convince you into thinking that they will take care of you- win or lose. That's absolute B.S. Plenty of fighters have been told this and they believed it and ended up broke with CTE.