The Cost Of Being A Fighter
There has been a lot of discussion lately about the New Uniform proposal from the UFC. I wanted to share a few thoughts on what sponsors mean to myself and my Team. I spent 9 years as an amateur athlete , and in my Sport of Muay Thai, there was no funding of any kind. To compete around the World as I did , the cost was in the tens of thousands per year. Now that I have become a Pro MMA Athlete , things are not much different. I want to share what an average Fight costs myself and my family.
This is a typical 10 – 12 week fight camp …
– Gym fee’s = $440
– Coach Fee’s and Privates = $500
– Gas for travel to the gym = $900
– Diet & Supplements = $900
– Fight Outfit and printing = $175
– Fight banner = $150
-Time off Work 4 days = $400
– Percentage fights fee’s to my Coaching team & Manager = 20% of my purse
– Misc during a 4 day fight weekend = $ 200
– Medicals & all postage and Business end of things = $100
Total = $3765 Per fight Times 4 fights a year = $15060
This is a very conservative number based on my 13 years in this sport.To put into perspective, I work at my job full time as Banker, and this number represents over 40% of my wage.
Now people will say , yes but you get paid to fight . This is true… as of recently I do get paid to compete. The average Female fighter receives a purse of $1000 to fight and $1000 to win . Some do better then this and of coarse the majority do much less. But with these calculations you can see how a fighter at my level needs approximately $ 4000 per fight just to break even .
So going back to the point of this post…. I am so lucky to have built some amazing relationships with great sponsors over the years . And with out their financial support , there is no way I could continue in the sport I love so much . The extra few hundred dollars that these amazing companies are willing to sponsor me for in exchange for their name on my shorts or banner… makes all the difference in the world .
Now I realize that some athletes at my level and at the UFC level do get paid substantially more, but with that , the cost of training at this level goes way up to . The fact is 90% of MMA Athletes , both men and women have to work full time jobs. Consider how much the cost of each athlete goes up if they don’t work… you can add another $7000 per fight cost to their tab.
Bottom line is 95% of all Athletes in this sport need the support of local and National Sponsors, and I don’t believe this avenue should be taken away us.
Sincerely
Charmaine “Not So Sweet” Tweet
Huge Thank you to …
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