Arguably the biggest fighting promotion in the world, and perhaps history, the UFC is really the ultimate stage for MMA fighters. UFC Fight Nights are broadcast all over the world, and there are multitudes of UFC fighting bets and props to be had for daredevil bettors who fancy their chances at winning big money on each fight.
UFC fighters come and go, and there are always new athletes who are looking to make their big breaks onto the main cards. But the road to becoming a UFC fighter is not a simple one, and there are many different ways that fighters can acquire contracts from the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Here, we will look at how new fighters can break into the UFC – if you were wondering for yourself, then you are in the right place.
Poaching Fighters From Other Promotions
Established fighters who are already proven in other fighting promotions have an easier job of cracking into the UFC. There are numerous MMA promotions which Dana White has snapped up his top fighters from, and quite a few of these promotions are based outside the US. Fighters from the following promotions can quite easily catch the eye of UFC scouts and may receive invitationals to UFC fights.
- Legacy Fighting Alliance
- Professional Fighters League
- One Championship
- Rizin Fighting Federation
- Cage Warriors
- Invicta FC
- World Warriors Fighting Championship
Previous Promotions
- Bellator MMA (Ended Jan 2025)
Back in January 2025, the PFL announced that they would no longer promote events under the Bellator MMA banner, effectively closing the UFC’s closest competitor that began in 2008. The PFL acquired Bellator MMA in late 2023 and continued to operate it as a separate entity, but have now opted to close the promotion, however, the PFL will absorb Bellator’s roster and crown one PFL new champions in each weight class, as opposed to having the traditional Bellator MMA champions and PFL “season” champions.
But the UFC scouts do not necessarily only look for talents in MMA competitions. They can also entice fighters from non-MMA promotions such as kickboxing networks, karate, judo, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, boxing, bare knuckle fighting, and various other combat sports. A major focus is placed on MMA circuits and networks, but they are by no means the only source to find new UFC potential fighters.
Starting as an Amateur Fighter
Fighters do not need to have a big portfolio behind them to try to catch their big break in the UFC. The organization continuously signs up young fighters to guarantee the future of the promotion, but fighters need to meet the minimum requirements of 3 professional wins for men and 2 for women to be eligible to apply for the UFC.
From an amateur level, a fighter may have to dedicate a good 2-5 years before they will meet the requirements and have enough credentials to be considered. Needless to say, beginners will need to develop their fighting skills, building the mental and physical fortitude to be able to compete at the top level. Choosing the right gym and coach is essential, as these factors can greatly reduce the aspiring athlete’s journey to the UFC. The UFC has youth programs and over 150 affiliated UFC Gyms across the world where new fighters can go to train. This helps prepare any athletes for the big stage, and puts them well within the UFC scouting radar, which can bring them the attention they need very quickly.
Affiliated Promotions and Feeder Leagues
The biggest goal potential UFC fighters have is to acquire a UFC contract, and there are plenty of events where they can obtain them. The UFC has many affiliated shows that call up unknown fighters and can award winners UFC rookie contracts. The most well known of these is Dana White’s Contender Series, an annual fighting series that has brought in a lot of big talents to the UFC. Sean O’Malley and Jamahal Hill are both alumni of the DWCS. Then, there are also series such as The Ultimate Fighter and Road to UFC, through which fighters can similarly get their first UFC contracts. Otherwise, there are lots of UFC Invitationals and call ups, but these generally target more established fighters (as opposed to the DWCS, which targets young and promising talents).
- Dana White’s Contender Series
- Road to UFC
- UFC Fight Invitationals
- The Ultimate Fighter
UFC Contracts and General Career Length
UFC fighters are usually given multiple year contracts, which generally state that the fighter must be offered 3 fights in a calendar year. This may change with exclusive UFC contracts. The UFC offers at least 3 fights to its contracted members, and if it can only supply 1 or 2, then the organization must pay the difference to the fighters. This is because fighters are paid by fight, and how much they earn depends on their level and how much the fight can make in revenue. Generally, new fighters may receive around $10,000 per fight, whereas the top athletes with the biggest marketing potential can earn anywhere from $500,000 up to $1 million and more. Then, there are numerous bonuses and locker-room bonuses that fighters can receive.
In terms of career length, it varies greatly from fighter to fighter. There are those who can still compete in their late 30s, and have a good 12 years or more of UFC fighting. But some leave the organization for other promotions, or retire early through injury or other external factors.
What is the 9-Year Rule?
Even the best UFC fighters cannot keep pulling off wins and beating younger opponents year in year out. The 9-year rule is an observation of how a lot of prime fighters start to decline after 9 years of fighting. It is by no means a death sentence for fighters, but 9 years is a long time in such a physically punishing and relentless sport. Some fighters are capable of extending their prime and continuing well into 11, 12 and even 13 years, but there comes a point when they need to prioritize rest and do more planning for each bout.
The rule, or observation if we can call it that, does not just extend to fighters who debuted in their mid to late 20s. There are athletes who began fighting in the UFC in their early 20s and began to decline by the time they hit 30 (Manny Gamburyan, Forrest Griffin). Absorbing 9 years’ worth of damage can take its toll at any age.
How to Assess New Fighters and Veterans
Betting on the DWCS is a pretty mixed bag, and even our experienced cappers have struggled on occasion to pick a winning moneyline. When a promising fighter with only 5 fights to their name comes along, and pulverizes an accomplished fighter out of a reputable promotion, it is a complete shocker. But in terms of betting value, there is extraordinary money to be made on underdogs in DWCS fights, you just need to be prepared for a good deal of misses in addition to any juicy hits. But that does not mean we don’t chalk DWCS fights – they just need to come at a good value considering the risk.
The age of a fighter is not an important statistic unless the gap between two fighters is around 9 years, where there will be significant differences in the way they approach the fight. Generally, we tend to put more weight on the previous records of two fighters, especially analyzing any head to head bouts (if there are any). Experience can go a long way, especially when we take big UFC Fight Nights with lots of star power. But it always depends on the fight and the fighters.
Here at BettingTools, we have a dedicated team of experts who have been following UFC since the days when it was still a grassroots organization. We make betting predictions for all the big UFC events, and show you different ways to get the best value out of your staked dollar. You can refer back to our UFC Picks page to find our most recent betting predictions, or follow us on X and get notifications every time we post a sharp UFC betting pick.
