It's selling millions of dollars worth of merchandise and with all of the companies involved there is a billion dollar market. It's Mixed Martial Arts. The question for many who fantasize about standing under the lights and in front of the cameras is; "how do I become a Pro MMA fighter."
The "Ultimate Fighter" TV show has deceived many, who believe that you can just show up and ask a promoter to give you a fight. Years ago during the Pay Per View broadcast of the very first Ultimate Fighting Championship, I remember telling my brother; that that is what I was going to do one day. Of course he and my best friend at the time laughed at me and that was the fuel to get me where I am today. But before you can be a pro in any combat sport there are some steps to take.
Step 1 Find a trainer
You will never get a fight from any sane promoter without experience. I know, I know everyone says, "well Kimbo did." Kimbo was a tool that was used for marketing and a one in a million chance. Who knows it is possible to make videos of yourself fighting bunch of street chumps and getting millions to watch on Youtube. Maybe you can do that, and hope you don't get a felony for assault and be put in jail. Maybe someone from CBS or whatever other promotional corporation will pick you up, because you are the next best thing!
I doubt it, but it is possible. You will need a trainer who teaches MMA. If you were boxing you'd learn boxing, if you were kickboxing you'd need a kickboxing trainer. The sport is Mixed Martial Arts, and you will need to learn the arts of Boxing, Wrestling, Kickboxing and Jujitsu in order to play in this sport. Start by going to the yellow pages and looking under Martial Arts schools. Beware, because MMA is so big today all Karate studios are "MMA" academies. If they don't teach all aspects of the sport leave.
You may also want to check local gyms to see if they train MMA fighters. Training and getting a sound background is important. Don't fool yourself and think because you took a few Karate classes your Frank Shamrock. Be sure that you not only know the techniques, but are in condition as well. A good trainer will focus on training and conditioning. A good trainer will give you guidance on when you are ready to compete.
Step 2 Get experience
In order to become a pro you will have to start out as an amateur. Once your trainer says you are ready to go to the next level; it's time to find a promoter. A good trainer will have a list of promotions and organizations to work with. Once in contact with the promoter you will get a date set and an opponent. After that you will begin a training camp to prepare for the fight, get blood work done and state required exams. Then you begin your amateur career. Fighting as an "Ammy" will give you some idea of what it's like to be a pro and should help you to make the decision of weather to go to the next level. You won't get paid as an Ammy and may be required to pay for long distance travel and lodging or registration fees just to fight. Typically after 5 good wins and you have a winning record as an Ammy; fighters who want to go pro do. There are many pro fighters out there who went pro too quickly and often times regret the transition.
Step 3 Be prepared for the life of a fighter
I love the UFC. They always show the fighters in the best gyms, with nice cars and houses and all the sponsors a fighter can ask for. This is not reality; unless you are in the UFC. Most of us are guys who have to work at least a part time job, train and deal with the home life drama. We train in Garages, local gyms and wherever we can. We scrounge for training partners and have to practically beg for sponsorship. We are self promoted and spend what ever time not working in the gym. Guess what? Our families hate us for it.
MMA is a 4 Dimensional Sport that requires training on many levels and the intensity goes up as you get into the pros. If you can't afford a manager or a publicist, you promote yourself; which means wrangling and dealing with promoters and sponsors. Beware, because the promoter is going to try to pay you as little as possible; not that it's about the money, but a man has got to eat and take care of his family. Sponsors are going to deliver as little as possible, so don't expect to get paid sponsorship as a new fighter.
Getting your pro card takes a lot of work, time and dedication. Once your pro it doesn't get easier; but for those who really enjoy the heat of battle, and like to legally kick the snot out of someone. It's all worth while!!! MMA in my opinion is the best sport on the planet; I love it. The competitors are awesome and the sportsmanship is the best of any sport. I personally love the fact that I can go 3 rounds with a guy, we both pound the crap out of each other and when it's all over go to dinner and introduce eachother's families to one another over a beer. There is of course a lot of little details in going pro I didn't write about, but this is how to do it in a nutshell. Remember this if it was easy everyone would be doing it.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Curtiss
The "Ultimate Fighter" TV show has deceived many, who believe that you can just show up and ask a promoter to give you a fight. Years ago during the Pay Per View broadcast of the very first Ultimate Fighting Championship, I remember telling my brother; that that is what I was going to do one day. Of course he and my best friend at the time laughed at me and that was the fuel to get me where I am today. But before you can be a pro in any combat sport there are some steps to take.
Step 1 Find a trainer
You will never get a fight from any sane promoter without experience. I know, I know everyone says, "well Kimbo did." Kimbo was a tool that was used for marketing and a one in a million chance. Who knows it is possible to make videos of yourself fighting bunch of street chumps and getting millions to watch on Youtube. Maybe you can do that, and hope you don't get a felony for assault and be put in jail. Maybe someone from CBS or whatever other promotional corporation will pick you up, because you are the next best thing!
I doubt it, but it is possible. You will need a trainer who teaches MMA. If you were boxing you'd learn boxing, if you were kickboxing you'd need a kickboxing trainer. The sport is Mixed Martial Arts, and you will need to learn the arts of Boxing, Wrestling, Kickboxing and Jujitsu in order to play in this sport. Start by going to the yellow pages and looking under Martial Arts schools. Beware, because MMA is so big today all Karate studios are "MMA" academies. If they don't teach all aspects of the sport leave.
You may also want to check local gyms to see if they train MMA fighters. Training and getting a sound background is important. Don't fool yourself and think because you took a few Karate classes your Frank Shamrock. Be sure that you not only know the techniques, but are in condition as well. A good trainer will focus on training and conditioning. A good trainer will give you guidance on when you are ready to compete.
Step 2 Get experience
In order to become a pro you will have to start out as an amateur. Once your trainer says you are ready to go to the next level; it's time to find a promoter. A good trainer will have a list of promotions and organizations to work with. Once in contact with the promoter you will get a date set and an opponent. After that you will begin a training camp to prepare for the fight, get blood work done and state required exams. Then you begin your amateur career. Fighting as an "Ammy" will give you some idea of what it's like to be a pro and should help you to make the decision of weather to go to the next level. You won't get paid as an Ammy and may be required to pay for long distance travel and lodging or registration fees just to fight. Typically after 5 good wins and you have a winning record as an Ammy; fighters who want to go pro do. There are many pro fighters out there who went pro too quickly and often times regret the transition.
Step 3 Be prepared for the life of a fighter
I love the UFC. They always show the fighters in the best gyms, with nice cars and houses and all the sponsors a fighter can ask for. This is not reality; unless you are in the UFC. Most of us are guys who have to work at least a part time job, train and deal with the home life drama. We train in Garages, local gyms and wherever we can. We scrounge for training partners and have to practically beg for sponsorship. We are self promoted and spend what ever time not working in the gym. Guess what? Our families hate us for it.
MMA is a 4 Dimensional Sport that requires training on many levels and the intensity goes up as you get into the pros. If you can't afford a manager or a publicist, you promote yourself; which means wrangling and dealing with promoters and sponsors. Beware, because the promoter is going to try to pay you as little as possible; not that it's about the money, but a man has got to eat and take care of his family. Sponsors are going to deliver as little as possible, so don't expect to get paid sponsorship as a new fighter.
Getting your pro card takes a lot of work, time and dedication. Once your pro it doesn't get easier; but for those who really enjoy the heat of battle, and like to legally kick the snot out of someone. It's all worth while!!! MMA in my opinion is the best sport on the planet; I love it. The competitors are awesome and the sportsmanship is the best of any sport. I personally love the fact that I can go 3 rounds with a guy, we both pound the crap out of each other and when it's all over go to dinner and introduce eachother's families to one another over a beer. There is of course a lot of little details in going pro I didn't write about, but this is how to do it in a nutshell. Remember this if it was easy everyone would be doing it.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Curtiss