Tony Ferguson is way past his prime by any stretch of the imagination. Eight straight losses in the UFC, or any promotion for that matter, is something that no fighter should ignore. He should retire. But he doesn’t. And, Ferguson is not a unique case. There are many who refuse to stop until the wheels completely fall off. Joe Rogan claims he understands the reason behind their decision to continue.
Rogan explained to comedian Francis Foster that fighters don’t retire for the same reasons that make them champions.
“That’s what fighters do for sure. That’s why they fight way past their prime and it gets really sad they never want to let it go,” he added.
The glory of fighting for your life and being in survival mode, part of our evolutionary past, is just addictive. Fighting no longer remains a sport after a point. It becomes part of a fighter’s existance.
Ferguson, popularly known as ‘El Cucuy’, was a dominant force in the lightweight division. He holds one of the longest winning streaks in UFC history. He even had an interim LW belt against his name.
As time caught up, the boogeyman became a mere image of his former self, fighting solely on his spirit rather than instincts and technique. Now, his legacy is diluted by a dismal losing streak. A stark turnaround. Still, Ferguson isn’t thinking of calling it a day.
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It doesn’t help the ageing fighters one bit that the MMA industry do not pay them well. So, there is no real exit strategy for them to ensure a good retired life with a steady income or fund to bank on. The life of Shane Carwin is a classic example of this.
Tragic Story of Carwin
Former UFC interim heavyweight champion Shane Carwin now finds himself in a precarious position. This despite being a mechanical engineer.
Known for his titanic strength and never-say-die attitude, fighting has left him in a prostrate state. He is unable to even tie his shoes. Years of hard sparring, brutal MMA fights, and blunt force head trauma have taken their toll and now he suffers from concussive symptoms.
Carwin has even reached out to the UFC for support meet basic everyday expenses such as food, shelter, and other necessities. The tragic story came out to the public when his close friend and former training partner Brendan Schaub detailed it in his podcast.
Currently, fighters like Carwin are waiting to find out if Judge Richard Boulware will make a favorable judgement on their $350 million litigation. If that happens, the fighters might get an average payout of $250,000, say the attorneys.
But is that enough? How do you pay for a lifetime of medical bills, and support your family on that? Could it be the reason why nobody wants to retire? Is it a problem with letting go or is it really a problem with what to do once you are done?
It’s why most mixed martial artists would give an arm and a leg to be in a fight, any fight, toward the end of their careers. Why would you otherwise fight someone like Jake Paul, if not for the money?
Very few fighters are in the position to have a second blossoming career in the industry. Like how Chael Sonnen or Daniel Cormier have kept themselves relevant without the need to step into the Octagon again.
