The Immigrant Fighter’s Dream: Making a Living in MMA Far From Home
The octagon doesn’t care where you’re from. The bright lights, the roaring crowd, the locked cage—these remain constant whether you’re fighting in Las Vegas or Lagos. But for foreign fighters who leave everything behind to chase MMA glory in another country, the journey involves challenges that extend far beyond what happens on fight night.
I’ve watched countless fighters arrive on American shores with nothing but a gym bag and dreams. Some become champions. Others disappear without a trace. The difference often has little to do with fighting skill and everything to do with survival outside the cage.
The Invisible Fight: Surviving Between Bouts
When Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Paulo Costa first landed in Florida, he slept on gym mats for six months. “In Brazil, I was teaching classes and had my family support,” he told me last year. “Here, I was nobody—just another hungry fighter trying to prove himself.”
This reality confronts thousands of international fighters. While social media showcases their training highlights and fight night glory, it rarely captures the 3 AM shifts stocking grocery shelves or the language barriers that turn simple tasks into daily challenges.
The Financial Puzzle of Foreign Fighters
For immigrant fighters, making ends meet typically involves a complex patchwork of income streams:
- Gym teaching positions – Often the first lifeline
- Personal training – Requires building a client base from scratch
- Sponsor hustling – Harder without local connections
- Fight purses – Unreliable and infrequent at lower levels
- Service industry jobs – Restaurant and security work common
Nigerian heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou famously worked in a sand mine before emigrating to France, where he was homeless before finding his MMA path. His story isn’t unique—it’s just better documented than most.
Visa Nightmares and Immigration Hurdles
Beyond money concerns, immigration status hangs over many fighters’ careers like a dark cloud.
“I turned down three fights last year because my work visa was in processing,” says Malaysian lightweight Jin Teng (name changed to protect his status). “My American teammates don’t understand why I wouldn’t just take the money. They don’t realize I could be deported if caught working without proper documentation.”
The P-1 visa—designed for “internationally recognized athletes”—requires proof of substantial achievement, creating a catch-22: you need accomplishments to get the visa, but you need the visa to compete for those accomplishments.
Building Your Fight Family
The most successful transplant fighters create surrogate families at their gyms. These support networks become crucial not just emotionally but practically—providing rides when they can’t afford cars, translation help for medical appointments, and guidance through American systems from banking to healthcare.
Legendary coach Firas Zahabi once told me: “When I take on an international fighter, I’m not just coaching them. I’m helping them navigate life in a new country. If they’re worrying about where they’ll sleep or how they’ll eat, they can’t focus on fighting.”
Language: The Invisible Opponent
Being unable to express yourself clearly creates disadvantages everywhere—from negotiating contracts to understanding coaches’ instructions.
Korean fighter Chan Sung Jung (The Korean Zombie) initially struggled with English but made learning the language a priority. “At first, I lost opportunities because I couldn’t communicate in interviews. Fans couldn’t connect with me. Now I can share my story in my own words, and it’s changed everything—better sponsorships, better connection with American fans.”
| Common Challenges | Successful Strategies |
|---|---|
| Language barriers | Language exchange with teammates; dedicated English classes |
| Limited income between fights | Teaching at host gym; online coaching for home country students |
| Visa restrictions | Working with MMA-savvy immigration attorneys; seeking gym sponsorship |
| Homesickness/isolation | Building community with diaspora groups; regular video calls home |
| Cultural adjustment | Finding cultural mentors; gradual adaptation of training methods |
The Sacrifice Behind Every Foreign Fighter
When you see a fighter like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Israel Adesanya, or Amanda Nunes dominating in the UFC, you’re witnessing the end product of immense sacrifice. For every international star who makes it, dozens wash out—not because they lack talent, but because the obstacles outside the cage prove insurmountable.
These fighters miss births, deaths, and countless family milestones. They celebrate holidays through video calls. They endure curious stares and sometimes outright prejudice. Some send the majority of their earnings home to support families they rarely see in person.
The Path Forward: A Blueprint for Success
Fighters who thrive internationally typically share certain approaches:
- Maintain ties to their home market – Creating content in their native language keeps sponsorship opportunities alive
- Embrace their “foreign fighter” identity – Leaning into cultural distinctiveness can create marketing opportunities
- Develop multiple income streams – The most successful fighters rarely rely solely on fight purses
- Invest in English proficiency – Communication skills directly impact earning potential
- Build an American support network – From immigration attorneys to financial advisors who understand the fight business
One Muay Thai champion from Thailand told me his secret was simple: “I promised myself I would learn one new English word every day, and talk to one new American person every day. After a year, I could understand most conversations and had friends who could help me with anything I didn’t understand.”
The Next Generation: Paving an Easier Path
Veterans like Cung Le, Anderson Silva, and Valentina Shevchenko have helped establish support systems for the next wave of international talent. Many gyms now have informal “adoption” programs where established fighters help newcomers navigate everything from grocery shopping to opening bank accounts.
As the sport globalizes further, we’re seeing more fighters maintain training bases in multiple countries—spending fight camps in the U.S. while living in their home countries between bouts, allowing them to maximize earnings while maintaining family connections.
When Home Calls
Perhaps the hardest decision for any immigrant fighter comes when they must decide whether to return home or remain in their adopted country. Success brings opportunities in both places—coaching positions, business ventures, media roles—but rarely in equal measure.
Some, like Japan’s Yoshihiro Akiyama, return home as conquering heroes with enhanced profiles. Others find they’ve become strangers in their homeland after years abroad. Many ultimately split their time between worlds, building businesses that bridge the gap between their birth culture and adopted home.
A Journey Worth Taking
Despite the hardships, the international fighter’s journey remains one of the most powerful paths to change one’s stars. Even those who don’t reach championship heights often transform their lives in ways that would have been impossible had they stayed home.
As one coach put it: “Fighting is universal. It’s the most honest conversation two people can have. That’s why fighters can cross oceans, overcome language barriers, an