Conor McGregor, Seth Rollins or Rich Franklin – which UFC or WWE fighter is the better businessman?
Surprisingly, many professional fighters have found spare time for one or more side businesses – wherever for sheer financial gain, the pleasure of crafting something new, or fulfilling long-term goals and aspirations unrelated to physical combat.
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Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor is one of the best-known and most successful MMA fighters in the world. He has won 22 of his 26 fights, and UFC competitions featuring him have attracted millions of pay-per-view fans. Estimates place his net worth at up to US$150 million, with cash rolling in from big buck endorsement deals to eclectic business ventures.
Instead of coasting along on his past successes, McGregor has expanded his skills to include launching a brand of Irish liquor. His whiskey brand, Proper No Twelve, sold six months stock in the US in just 10 days, following its 2019 launch.
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Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins is a former WWE Intercontinental Champion and the only wrestler to hold all three main brand world titles – WWE, Universal and NXT Championships.
Wrestling isn’t the only thing the American athlete is good at. He also has a knack for what some would consider a “calm” business career by opening a coffee shop in his hometown of Davenport, Iowa.
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The venture, which is a partnership with 392 Caffé, is connected to another successful Rollins undertaking, the Black and Brave Wrestling Academy, which he opened in 2014.
Rich Franklin
Rich Franklin made it to the UFC Hall of Fame and MMA Hall of Fame but later realised that he didn’t have the physical capabilities to continue fighting indefinitely. He wisely diversified his sources of income, using the skills he learned from MMA to become a successful motivational and health/fitness speaker. He is also the vice-president of the One Championship organisation and is working hard to expand MMA throughout Asia.
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Adaptability is a valuable attribute that enables individuals to learn new skills and find unexpected growth opportunities beyond their chosen field. As these fighters have shown, with determination, self-discipline and the will to work hard, it is possible to succeed in more than one profession. We can only imagine what will come next for these three fighters who are using their side businesses to generate additional income, as well as fulfilling personal dreams and sharing their knowledge and passion with the world.
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Pro fighters from the worlds of MMA, UFC, WWE and more are branching out into diverse business ventures, from whiskey to coffee to motivational speaking – but when the gloves are off, who’s the smartest entrepreneur outside the ring?