How the fuck do I afford to fight?

[Gray]

Some orgs provide event insurance for their fighters. I would try to find one that does.

[Kyle Spalla]

I would ask a hypothetical question. Does the thought of injury cause you to hesitate? I am not talking about cuts or even concussions so much as if it is as you say and you want hold a job for the sake of your families financial stability and still fight. Are you ok knowing that fighting can cause injuries like torn ACL's that have a minimum 6 month rehab on top of a VERY expensive surgery and keep you from functioning in your day job and potentially put your families financial stability at risk? It is sort of an all or nothing racket. You do or you don't. There are no Sunday Driver fighters especially with the rising level of talent entering the sport; multiple time all american wrestlers, NCAA national champions, multiple time Jiu Jitsu world champions, olympic level judoka and wrestlers from all over. Are you willing to put natural athleticism and hard work against possibly someone who has been training their whole life for the chance to smash someone's face in? If you are man, you have my support 150% and I hope you crush your way to the top. I really feel fighting is all in, if it is you and you dig deep enough and still don't have doubts about it. You should already know the answer. Sorry if this is botched up, doing from a phone and freezing my ass off.

[Aaron Gustaveson]

I would ask a hypothetical question. Does the thought of injury cause you to hesitate? I am not talking about cuts or even concussions so much as if it is as you say and you want hold a job for the sake of your families financial stability and still fight. Are you ok knowing that fighting can cause injuries like torn ACL's that have a minimum 6 month rehab on top of a VERY expensive surgery and keep you from functioning in your day job and potentially put your families financial stability at risk? It is sort of an all or nothing racket. You do or you don't. There are no Sunday Driver fighters especially with the rising level of talent entering the sport; multiple time all american wrestlers, NCAA national champions, multiple time Jiu Jitsu world champions, olympic level judoka and wrestlers from all over. Are you willing to put natural athleticism and hard work against possibly someone who has been training their whole life for the chance to smash someone's face in? If you are man, you have my support 150% and I hope you crush your way to the top. I really feel fighting is all in, if it is you and you dig deep enough and still don't have doubts about it. You should already know the answer. Sorry if this is botched up, doing from a phone and freezing my ass off.

The thought of injury causes me to hesitate only because injury = financial impact. In the case of needing an acl surgery in my current situation, I would just have to let my acl dissolve and not have an acl. I have to say though that there are tons of Sunday driver fighters as you put it. I train with plenty of them and there are plenty more fighting in amateur mma show all over the US every weekend. I have no illusions about going to UFC or Bellator nor is it really my goal. (although a guy I train with might be going to Dream and I believe I could fight at his level.) As far as being willing to fight high level guys, if I somehow found a magic lamp and got there, I would fight Jose Aldo tonight if my injuries were covered.

[Aaron Gustaveson]

Some orgs provide event insurance for their fighters. I would try to find one that does.

I'll google around.

[Gray]

You might have to leave Cali to find one, I know Jeremy Horn's org in Utah does it.

[Aaron Gustaveson]

thanks.

[stevenbalmer]

If you're this worried about getting hurt a career in MMA isn't gonna be for you dude, you're already mind fucked

[Aaron Gustaveson]

I dont know how I could have made it any more clear that a career is not my goal or that financial impact is my concern not injury. Did you read any of this?

[bobby rivers]

Its also a mind fuck to consistently destroy those who are successful in mma during training. Its def not a fight but its a pretty good indicator when you always get the better of the local title holder and you know he isn't holding much back.

People are def getting better and there is def a chance you can run into the next Jon Jones or Anthony Pettis while getting concussed in front of 1000 plus people. But there is still a huge skill discrepancy between them and your average pro. Huge.

My main advice would be consistent training with successful athletes. When you're confidence out weighs your fear its time to sign up. Until then as much training and grappling comps as possible. Just my 33 cents.

[Aaron Gustaveson]

Yeah, I know what your saying bobby, I live in a rural area with smaller talent pools but grew up where athletic are very competitive. Thing is tough that all I want to do I local shows really, I mean if something else came of it I'd have to think about it.

Things is I dont necessarily have fears that can be overcome with confidence because my "fears" are not of loosing or getting injured. Also I feel the chances of actually getting seriously injured for me are extremely low. I dont actually imagine losing or being injured so its hard to even say I have fears, I defiantly dont feel anything I would describe as fear or even hesitation. What I have is an acknowledgement that things with very low odds can sometimes happen and I dont anyone but myself to have to take on the repercussions if they did. Ive worked very hard to get a nice lifestyle for us while still finishing a degree and I just want some kind of safety net so that Im the one taking risks not my whole family.