Sean Strickland believes the UFC is easy to get into compared to other professional sports.
The UFC has solidified itself as the number-one MMA promotion worldwide. Despite the constant backlash about fighter pay, the UFC changes the lives of fighters by giving them a platform that most promotions can’t. UFC middleweight Ian Heinisch recently posted this intriguing statistic on Twitter:
“FUN FACT: there are currently 578 fighters contracted with the @ufc and about 7.8 billion people on this earth. So that would make it a 1 and 130,494,809 chance to get in the #ufc. #elite #warriors ”
Fellow UFC middleweight Sean Strickland believes Heinisch’s statistic offered a false narrative. He responded on Twitter by saying:
“Why should never believe statistics? Everything about this factually inaccurate and either a sign of a liar or CTE. You would only take people seeking UFC and you could even narrow it down by other factors. Result it is pretty easy to get in the ufc compared to all other sports”
Why should never believe statistics? Everything about this factually inaccurate and either a sign of a liar or CTE. You would only take people seeking UFC and you could even narrow it down by other factors. Result it is pretty easy to get in the ufc compared to all other sports pic.twitter.com/siqCHraUJr
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) February 16, 2023
Sean Strickland agrees with analyst about UFC being the easiest sport to make it in
Sean Strickland wasn’t the only person who believes the UFC is relatively easy to be signed to compared to other sports. MMA Writer Garrett Kerman agreed with Strickland’s claims on Twitter by saying:
“When there are 3-0 and 4-0 fighters making it to the UFC, this is by far the easiest sport to make it in than any other professional sport but it’s also far less lucrative than any other professional sport”
Strickland responded to Kerman’s tweet with an appreciation for someone understanding his point of view:
“Man hit the nail on the head…. If you take average earnings of all fighters, average years spent in the ufc you will find that if you want to be a UFC fighter you’re an absolute fucking idiot. Lmao!”
There is an argument to be made about some undeserving fighters getting an opportunity in the UFC because they are ready at the right time. It’s also fair to say that other sports leagues like the NFL and NBA are statistically harder to get into compared to the UFC.
With that said, signing with the UFC is an honor that shouldn’t be undervalued, especially considering the lack of financial security as a regional MMA fighter. Luckily, other promotions are stepping up and creating more opportunities for fighters to make a sustainable living outside the UFC.
Man hit the nail on the head…. If you take average earnings of all fighters, average years spent in the ufc you will find that if you want to be a UFC fighter you're an absolute fucking idiot. Lmao! https://t.co/bJSE393tlN
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) February 16, 2023
