But there have been fighters who’ve forayed into academics prior to/post their careers inside the octagon. It’s always noble to have something to fall back on, in case the MMA dream is cut short and education since aeons, has been considered consecratory.
Here are 7 of the most meritorious fighters in mixed martial arts history:
#1 Chael Sonnen
Arguably one of the most creative trash-talkers in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, you’d wonder where he gets all the fodder for the “verbal whelp” spurts? Turns out “The American Gangster” hails from a sales background.
Armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology from the prestigious University of Oregon, Sonnen, worked in real estate brokerage prior to forging a career inside the octagon. He even tried to make his ingress into the world of politics!
#2 Jeff Monson
Jeff Monson is an accomplished heavyweight who has braved it out in numerous promotions including the UFC. The tough looking grappler has been winning numerous heavyweight championships since he made his debut in 1997.
Prior to throwing his weight around (quite literally) inside the octagon, Monson worked as a mental health professional, being a child and family counsellor as well as donning a crisis evaluation role.
“The Snowman” has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois which he followed up with a master’s accreditation (in stark contrast to his “No Masters” tattoo!) from the University of Minnesota Duluth.
#3 Rosi Sexton
Rosi Sexton’s has been an achiever ever since she burst onto the mixed martial arts circuit. A dominant force with a black belt in both Taekwondo and Jiu-jitsu, Sexton holds the distinction of winning 13 out of her 15 fights.
Sexton also has formidable scholastic achievements to fall back on! She earned a degree in pure mathematics from Cambridge University and continued her education from Manchester University, notching a PhD in theoretical computer science. She is also a practising osteopath!
#4 Rich Franklin
Rich “Ace” Franklin, enjoyed notable success inside the octagon, primarily in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as a middleweight champion.
Outside of the demonic structure, he was a gifted student. The former mathematics teacher holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics (that itself is worthy of eliciting a thunderous applause) which he has coupled with a master’s degree in education!
#5 Shane Carwin
Shane Carwin is a man with a pretty impressive fighting curriculum vitae. The relentless punch-machine stirred quite an impact when he made his MMA debut and was hailed as an indomitable force in the heavyweight division.
Had he not been punching people for a living, Shane Carwin had enough grey matter to make it big in life. Carwin holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s accreditation in Environmental Technology!
#6 Terry Martin
Terry Martin’s rugged childhood saw him embroiled in gang culture from a particularly young age. He then used mixed martial arts to turn his life around, where he made his mark as a formidable middleweight striker.
The fighter known for amassing victories over notable fighters like Ivan Salaverry, Chael Sonnen and Jorge Rivera holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and has a master’s in clinical psychology. He has put his education to good use and works as a reformer for kids in inner-city areas.
#7 Takeya Mizugaki
How does someone jostle between fighting and engineering, that too so effortlessly? Takeya Mizugaki, a proud spokesman of the sport of mixed martial arts and a bantamweight stalwart completed his master’s degree in Electrical Engineering while not compromising on his fighting career. Mizugaki, despite not having a stellar record, has been lauded for being a competitive fighter and has received numerous honours for his feats.
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