As a UFC fighter that never made that “big money” I highly recommend up and comers be strategic with their journey.

I saw the Sean Strickland thread about what he was advising young fighters and I thought this would be an interesting share. I hope yall dont mind.

First and foremost you have to be fully invested in the fight game. Because EVERYONE IS. The millisecond you get side lined and lose focus, someone will take you out of your spot and thats a lifetime of dedication to MMA down the hole.

You have to have a great support system behind you. Wife, family, coach, mentors, managers, friends, training partners, etc. THIS IS KEY! A shitty support system will be the crash of your career and will dig you a deeper hole.

MUST develop other skill sets on this journey! I am 34 years old and on the tail end of my career. I am blessed to have been around a support system where I learned other skill sets that worked hand in hand with my career. Photography, videography, marketing, sales, graphic design, community work, etc. I had to use these skill sets to set me apart and negotiate for paid sponsorships, selling my own merch, building my own website and other fighters paying me to take their photos for their sponsors and to help build their own websites, eventually sponsors and managers would hire me to shoot their athletes for products etc. It was a win win for me. I didnt need a 9-5 to help with daily bills. I was in the gym working and training for UFC fights.

Lastly, use the UFC as a vehicle to brand yourself or as a marketing tool as notoriety in your area. Now I am transitioning into many other businesses using “THE CRANK” name ive built over the years in MMA and in the UFC.
– CRANKS KNIFE SHARPENING SERVICES (Im a nerd when it comes to sharpening knives. I truly enjoy this)
– CRANKS SUPER SHARP STEELS. I am launching my own knife brand. “CRANK IT UP IN THE KITCHEN”
– Kids Martial Arts Afterschool program and kids program.
– CRANK INDUSTRIES. Over the years of learning to market myself as a fighter using photography, videography, and social media for gaining sponsorships, I have realized many businesses lack the skill and knowledge. So I started a marketing firm that assists businesses with their online marketing. I had to learn all these marketing and coding to build websites because i was a broke fighter that couldnt pay someone to build me an ecommerce site to sell Frank The Crank merch.
– CAUGHT BY CRANK PHOTOGRAPHY. Over the years of taking photos for other fighters for their social media, for sponsors needing product photos and video commercials for Instagram and TikTok and YouTube.

And I have many more businesses in mind I would like to start and run. I am really taking the work ethic and mindset I’ve learned over the years of fighting tough mother fuckers around the world.

Do I wish I could of performed better in the UFC to my full potential??? Of course! I was having way too much fun in my fights when I could of just focused on getting the two checks and climbed up the ranks. Then again, that wouldn’t be living up to the CRANK name. lol. It is what it is though. I enjoyed every fucking second of it. Time for me to move on. I am enjoying competing in jiujitsu competitions. Leading my kids program down the martial arts path. And sending the island Frank The Crank vibe world wide.

Sorry for the rant. KEEP CRANKIN IT UP! I still lurk around here once in a while. I can’t wait to hear from yall. its been a minute.