MMA Fighters
Shane Carwin Net Worth
Shane Carwin only fought in 14 professional matches in his professional MMA career, but made millions by winning the first dozen.

What is Shane Carwin’s net worth?
Net Worth: | $4 Million |
---|---|
Age: | 47 |
Born: | January 4, 1975 |
Gender: | Male |
Height: | 1.88 m |
Country of Origin: | United States of America |
Source of Wealth: | Professional MMA Fighter |
Last Updated: | November 29, 2022 |
Introduction
Shane Carwin is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he won the heavyweight division title.
Prior to joining the UFC, Carwin was part of ROF, World Extreme Cagefighting, and more.
As of May 2023, Shane Carwin’s net worth is estimated to be $4 Million.
Shane Carwin Facts
- Carwin was born in Greeley, Colorado, and grew up in the state.
- He began as an amateur wrestler who was a two-time NCAA Division II runner-up and an All-American football player.
- In 2005, Carwin made his professional mixed martial arts debut with a win against Carlton Jones.
- Three years later, Carwin won his first title by defeating Sherman Pendergarst for the ROF Heavyweight Championship.
- Carwin became the UFC interim Heavyweight Champion after defeating Frank Mir at UFC 111.
Early Life
Shane Bannister Carwin was born January 4, 1975 in Greeley, Colorado and attended the Colorado School of Mines and Western State College.
Carwin excelled as both a wrestler and football player in college, but went into engineering with his college degree after leaving Western State College.
He started to train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and achieved the rank of purple belt, and began his amateur career while still working in engineering.
After being a three-time All-American in wrestling, Carwin made his professional MMA debut with a first round technical knockout victory over Carlton Jones with World Extreme Cagefighting.
Career
Shane Carwin would go on to win many more matches in a row, beating the likes of Justice Smith, Chris Guillen, and Rick Slaton.
Carwin earned his first title shot in 2007 at ROF 31: Undisputed and defeated Sherman Pendergarst for the ROF Heavyweight Championship.
His next match would be his UFC debut, and he knocked out Christian Wellisch to run his record to a perfect 9-0.
Because of his record, Carwin was considered among the likes of Fedor Emelianenko, Stipe Miocic, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in terms of all-time great heavyweights.
Carwin continued his winning ways by defeating Neil Wain, Gabriel Gonzaga, and Frank Mir, becoming the UFC interim Heavyweight Champion in the process.
Over his final two matches, Carwin lost via submission and decision to Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos, respectively, ending his career at 12-2.
Shane Carwin’s Career Earnings & Net Worth
Shane Carwin only had a short run in the UFC, but he was still able to make quite a bit of money as he headlined one of the most anticipated pay-per-views against Brock Lesnar.
There were times when Carwin made just five-figures for his fights, but over the course of his UFC career, Carwin said that he made over $2 million.
Carwin was able to get his biggest paydays against Lesnar and Junior dos Santos, but lost out on the bonuses that he could have made for winning.
Still, winning the UFC Heavyweight Championship was lucrative and the Knockout of the Night bonus earned him even more.
When taking his payouts and endorsements into consideration, it’s estimated that Shane Carwin’s net worth is $2.5 million.
Personal Life
Shane Carwin is currently believed to be single, but has been married twice, including to Lani, whom he met in Colorado.
Along the way, Carwin has had two children with a son named Kamden and a daughter named Alexia who was born in 2010.
He is the youngest of his family, growing up with two brothers who Carwin credits for pushing him into training for mixed martial arts.
Carwin is no longer active on social media as he deleted both his official Twitter account and official Instagram account.
Awards & Achievements
Shane Carwin began collecting awards in sports outside of mixed martial arts as a teen and never looked back.
At the top of his career, Carwin was the best in the UFC heavyweight division, even if for a brief period of time.
Here are some of the awards and achievements from Shane Carwin’s wrestling and fighting careers:
- NCAA Division II Wrestling Heavyweight Division Champion and three-time All-American.
- Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame inductee in 2010.
- One-time Ring of Fire Heavyweight Champion.
- Earned a Knockout of the Night bonus in his defeat of Frank Mir.
- Became the interim UFC Heavyweight Champion in the same fight against Mir in 2010.
Carwin was able to do more in a dozen professional fights than more fighters can in a lifetime.
From battling some of the biggest names in mixed martial arts to become a title holder, Carwin had a full career.
How Does Shane Carwin Spend His Money?
Shane Carwin made a solid amount of money during his UFC career but doesn’t find himself among the richest MMA fighters in the world due to a short career.
Instead of spending on the most expensive houses in the world or most expensive cars in the world, Carwin invested in himself.
In 2016, Carwin opened up his own athlete management agency called the EPU (E Pluribus Unum) Collective after seeing a lot of opportunity.
For the most part, though, Carwin has been saving his money as neck surgery and other back and neck pain procedures have added up.
Highlights
Shane Carwin has reached milestones for most of his life, dating back to his days as a college athlete in wrestling and football.
In another life, he may have been one of the richest NFL players in the world or even gotten into professional wrestling.
As a professional mixed martial artist, Carwin had some memorable moments that will last forever, including title wins.
Here are some of the best highlights of Shane Carwin’s career:
- Won in the first round of his mixed martial arts debut in 2005 at WEC 17.
- Defeated Chris Guillen at Ultimate Texas Showdown 6 to run his career record to 5-0.
- Earned his first title in 2007 after beating Sherman Pendergarst for the ROF Heavyweight Championship.
- Ran his record to 12-0 and earned the UFC interim Heavyweight Championship.
- Finished his career with a record of 12 wins and 2 losses, retiring after his 2011 match against Junior dos Santos.
Though his career has been finished for over a decade now, Carwin is still making memories as a manager and is still a staple of MMA.
Like Ben Askren, Carwin’s resume is short, but extremely impressive as he was able to win a title and amass a 12-0 record before leaving due to neck surgery.
Favorite Shane Carwin Quotes
Shane Carwin has always been open about his career, including his relationship with Dana White and the UFC.
He has had interviews with Joe Rogan, media outlets like Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and more, spilling the details of his career.
Here are our favorite quotes from Shane Carwin:
- ” I’m very overly competitive.” – Shane Carwin
- ” The only reason I fight is because I love it.” – Shane Carwin
- ” I was definitely meant to be a fighter in the cage.” – Shane Carwin
- ” I think (MMA) is the truest sport in the world today.” – Shane Carwin
- ” I love to fight but I would love to fight for millions of dollars.” – Shane Carwin
3 Amazing Lessons From Shane Carwin
Shane Carwin didn’t need to stick around with the UFC for a long time to prove that he was one of the best.
He battled guys like Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar, proving that he belonged in the heavyweight division with some of the biggest names.
Carwin joined the likes of Francis Ngannou and Daniel Cormier as the greatest heavyweight fighters of his generation.
Now that you know all about Shane Carwin’s net worth, much can be learned from the former UFC interim Heavyweight Champion.
Here are some of the best success lessons to learn from Shane Carwin:
1. Take Care Of Your Body
The reason why Shane Carwin wrapped up his career was because he started to feel neck pain that led to surgery.
Carwin could have ignored doctors and gotten back into the octagon, but wanted to be healthy and put his body first.
He’s still not at 100 percent in terms of health, but he’s doing much better than in his late career and is able to care for his children.
2. Keep Working
Shane Carwin was able to manage having a full-time job as an engineer early in his career while training in mixed martial arts.
Though the amount of free time that he got was extremely limited, Carwin knew it would be worth it so he could live out his dream.
The end result was Carwin making enough money to quit his engineering job and focus on MMA on a full-time basis.
3. Show Respect
Everyone that has worked with Shane Carwin is quick to point out how soft-spoken and humble he can be.
That can get you a long way in life as people tend to gravitate toward that type of personality and offer more advancement opportunities.
Carwin is a respectful man in the octagon and on the streets, which is another reason why he became a fan favorite during his career.
Summary
Shane Carwin wasn’t around for very long in the UFC and as a professional fighter overall, but did reach the pinnacle of the sport.
He was able to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship and got to compete against the likes of Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar.
Along the way, Carwin made a lot of money during his stint in the UFC and has been able to enjoy retirement for more than a decade.
As of May 2023, Shane Carwin’s net worth is estimated to be $4 Million.
What do you think about Shane Carwin’s net worth? Leave a comment below.
MMA Fighters
Alexander Gustafsson Net Worth
Alexander Gustafsson is among the greatest mixed martial artists to come from Sweden, as well as one of the greatest to never win a title in the UFC.

What is Alexander Gustafsson’s net worth?
Introduction
Alexander Gustafsson is a Swedish mixed martial artist who has been a member of the UFC since 2009 as part of the light heavyweight division.
Gustafsson has had many memorable matches with the promotion, including one that was enshrined into the UFC Hall of Fame.
As of May 2023, Alexander Gustafsson’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million.
Alexander Gustafsson Facts
- Gustafsson was born in Stockholm, Sweden where he became an amateur boxer.
- In 2007, he made his professional MMA debut with a submission win over Saku Heikkola.
- Two years later, he joined the UFC and won his first match against Jared Hamman via knockout.
- Gustafsson has had three title matches, two of which have been against Jon Jones.
- He has not fought a match with a promotion outside of the UFC since 2009.
Early Life
Alexander Gustafsson was born 15 January 1987 in Stockholm, Sweden and grew up in the city.
Gustafsson started training in boxing and was one of the best youth fighters in all of Sweden where he won several amateur titles.
It seemed that Gustafsson was destined for a career as a professional boxer, but his love for mixed martial arts pulled him into fighting full-time.
Gustafsson would begin his career 8-0 in mixed martial arts, and was then signed to the UFC in 2009.
Career
Alexander Gustafsson would win his UFC debut against Jared Hamman, then go on to seven of his first eight matches.
This included big wins over the likes of Thiago Silva, Mauricio Rua, and Cyrille Diabate during his run in the early 2010s.
When he entered the title scene, Gustafsson had a tough time getting past Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier as he competed for the light heavyweight division title.
After defeating Glover Teixeira at UFC Fight Night in 2017, wins became tough to come by for Gustafsson as he dropped another four matches to bring his record to 18-8.
Alexander Gustafsson’s Career Earnings & Net Worth
Early on in his UFC career, Alexander Gustafsson wasn’t earning much as his payouts were only around $6,000, and that included winning bonuses.
As the years went on, though, Gustafsson’s checks increased, and in 2013 he earned his first six-figure payout in his match against Jon Jones at UFC 165.
The largest payout for Gustafsson came in the rematch against Jones, earning $530,000 in 2018, but would again fall short.
Overall, Gustafsson has made more than $1.7 million in his UFC career, which doesn’t make him one of the richest MMA fighters in the world, but a solid amount.
Between the payouts from his mixed martial arts career and endorsements, Alexander Gustafsson is estimated to have a net worth of $1.5 million.
Personal Life
Alexander Gustafsson has been in a relationship with Moa Antonio Johansson for much of his career, with the couple getting engaged after one of his fights.
Gustafsson and Johansson have had two children together with a daughter born in 2017 and a son born the following year.
He’s been given the nickname of the Mauler, enjoys scuba diving and even started acting by appearing in the 2015 film Johan Falk – Blood Diamonds.
Gustafsson has an official website and is active on social media with an official Twitter account and official Instagram account that are updated regularly.
Awards & Achievements
Like Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz, Gustafsson was first winning awards in amateur boxing.
After he made the jump to mixed martial arts, the awards kept coming for the Mauler as he became a main event talent.
Here are Alexander Gustafsson’s top career awards and achievements from his MMA career:
- Earned Performance of the Night for his match against Jimi Manuwa in 2014.
- Won the Fight of the Night bonus from UFC on four occasions.
- His fight against Jon Jones in 2013 was named the Fight of the Year and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame Fight Wing.
- Named the 2013 International Fighter of the Year at the World MMA Awards.
- Two-time member of the All-Violence Team by Sherdog.
Gustafsson has been named alongside Chael Sonnen and Dan Henderson as the best fighters to never win a UFC title.
It appears that his opportunities to win a title have come to an end, but he has still had a great career.
How Does Alexander Gustafsson Spend His Money?
Alexander Gustafsson made a lot of money in the UFC despite not being the highest-paid fighter, and has saved most of his money.
He has said that the money ahs never been important and doesn’t spend big on the most expensive penthouses in the world or anything flashy.
Gustafsson has said, though, that UFC fighters are underpaid and that contributed to him not spending much money.
Though not among the most expensive cities in the world, Gustafsson does have a modest home in the Stockholm where housing isn’t cheap.
Highlights
The highlights for Alexander Gustafsson start from his time in boxing where he was among the top in his country.
After making the switch, he became a great mixed martial artist that has reached several milestones.
Here are some of the best highlights of Alexander Gustafsson’s career:
- Won his professional MMA debut in 2007 by defeating Saku Heikkola via submission.
- Defeated Jared Hamman in his UFC debut in 2009, knocking him out in 41 seconds.
- Earned his first UFC Light Heavyweight Championship match against Jon Jones in 2013.
- Had two more shots at the Light Heavyweight Division crown, rematching against Jon Jones, as well as Daniel Cormier.
- Won in his native Sweden against Glover Teixeira in 2017 for his 18th career win.
Though he didn’t grab a title in the UFC, Gustafsson still had the same popularity as guys like Forrest Griffin and Colby Covington in the octagon.
He’ll be considered among the best in his weight class out of the fighters in his generation long after he retires, as well.
Favorite Alexander Gustafsson Quotes
Alexander Gustafsson is a very outspoken UFC fighter, though certainly not among the biggest trash talkers like Conor McGregor or others.
Gustafsson has had great post-fight interviews with Joe Rogan and even once proposed in the octagon after a match.
Here are our favorite quotes from Alexander Gustafsson:
- ” You can’t relax even for a millisecond in this sport.” – Alexander Gustafsson
- ” Every fight is a learning experience, whether it’s a win or a loss.” – Alexander Gustafsson
- ” I try to understand the sport more and more as I develop.” – Alexander Gustafsson
- ” As a person, I learned that I could push myself.” – Alexander Gustafsson
- ” That’s what (MMA) is all about – stay busy and don’ tforget to have fun while doing it.” – Alexander Gustafsson
3 Amazing Lessons From Alexander Gustafsson
Alexander Gustafsson has fought some of the biggest names for Dana White and the UFC over the years.
Along the way, Gustafsson has learned some valuable lessons in fighting and life in general.
Now that you know all about Alexander Gustafsson’s net worth, there’s plenty to learn from the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt.
Here are some of the best success lessons to learn from Alexander Gustafsson:
1. Do What You Love
There have been times when Alexander Gustafsson was getting paid just enough to get by, even after being an established name.
Still, he continued to fight because it’s truly what he loved to do more than anything else.
Many were critical over how much Gustafsson was making, and he even chimed in that he should be paid more, but he set out to prove it.
2. Use Your Skills
Growing up, Alexander Gustafsson was one of the best young boxers in all of Sweden, but went a different route.
Gustafsson used the skills he learned in the boxing ring and put them toward mixed martial arts, becoming a professional in no time.
Many fighters have veered off the boxing road, but only the likes of Holly Holm, Israel Adesanya, and Gustafsson have found bigtime success in MMA.
3. You Can Overcome A Rough Upbringing
Alexander Gustafsson didn’t have the easiest childhood, which got him into boxing at a young age when he was getting into fights.
Gustafsson even got in arrested for assaulting a couple when he was 18 years old, but was able to turn his life around and focus on training in martial arts.
The discipline that he learned from martial arts and working multiple jobs helped him to stay on a healthy path that got him a long MMA career.
Summary
You can be one of the greatest fighters of your generation and have an amazing career without being the best.
Many consider Alexander Gustafsson to be one of the top fighters in UFC history to never win a championship.
Even without a title belt, Gustafsson has made a lot of money and has had some big wins during his career.
As of May 2023, Alexander Gustafsson’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million.
What do you think about Alexander Gustafsson’s net worth? Leave a comment below.
MMA Fighters
Yoel Romero Net Worth
Yoel Romero used his wrestling skills to become one of the best middleweight division fighters of his generation in the UFC.

What is Yoel Romero’s net worth?
Introduction
Yoel Romero is a Cuban mixed martial artist who fought for the UFC for seven years before joining Bellator MMA.
During his MMA career, Romero has had several title shots and headlined three pay-per-view events.
As of May 2023, Yoel Romero’s net worth is estimated to be $10 million.
Yoel Romero Facts
- Romero was born in Cuba and represented the country at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.
- He then moved to Germany and began training in mixed martial arts.
- In 2009, Romero made his pro MMA debut with a technical knockout victory over Sascha Weinpolter.
- Four years later, he made his UFC debut with a win over Clifford Starks.
- Romero moved to Bellator MMA in 2021, and has remained with the promotion ever since.
Early Life
Yoel Romero Palacio was born April 30, 1977 in Pinar del Rio, Cuba and grew up in the country where he became a standout amateur wrestler.
Romero proved to be one of the best wrestlers in the world, consistently winning tournaments at the Wrestling World Cup and Pan American Championships.
He even earned the Olympic silver medal at the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia and competed in the 2004 Olympics.
Once his time representing Cuba in wrestling was over, Romero turned his attention to mixed martial arts and trained in Sambo.
Career
In December 2009, Yoel Romero made his professional debut and won his first four matches before being defeated in his lone Strikeforce bout.
Romero would then go on a long winning streak that included victories over Lyoto Machida, Ronaldo Souza, and Chris Weidman.
When the UFC Middleweight Championship was up for grabs, Romero won over Luke Rockhold, but unfortunately missed weight.
Therefore, Romero wouldn’t be named the title holder, then missed weight on his second title shot and lost the third to Israel Adesanya.
After the final bout, Romero switched to Bellator, where he went 2-1 with wins over Alex Polizzi and Melvin Manhoef.
Yoel Romero’s Career Earnings & Net Worth
When he was first starting out, Yoel Romero was earning about $20,000 per match, but that would change when he joined the UFC.
Though he was given just $10,000 to show in his UFC debut, Romero won several bonuses that earned him $85,000 in total.
Over the years, his payouts would increase, and his fight against Tim Kennedy at UFC 178 was his first six-figure payday.
The most that Romero earned in one match was $430,000, which came against Robert Whittaker at UFC 213 in 2017.
Between his time with Strikeforce, UFC, and Bellator MMA, Romero has made over $2.5 million from payouts and bonuses.
When his fight checks and endorsements are taken into consideration, it’s estimated that Yoel Romero’s net worth is $10 million thanks in large part to winning a lawsuit against a supplement company.
Personal Life
Yoel Romero is a devout Christian who has often talked about his spirituality in interviews with media members.
Romero has kept much of his personal details private, including his wife’s name, but he has been married with three children for quite some time.
He doesn’t speak English fluently as he’s from Cuba and speaks Spanish, but he does currently reside in Miami, Florida.
Romero has an official website and is active on social media with an official Twitter account and official Instagram account that are updated regularly.
Awards & Achievements
Yoel Romero started to pile up awards and accolades in his wrestling career, reaching the Olympics twice.
He joined the likes of Kurt Angle and Henry Cejudo as former Olympic wrestlers to achieve mainstream fame.
Here are Yoel Romero’s top awards and achievements in mixed martial arts:
- 2018 Fight of the Year for his performance against Robert Whittaker at UFC 225.
- Earned the 2019 August Fight of the Month award by MMAJunkie for his match against Paulo Costa.
- Five-time Fight of the Night bonus winner, including twice against Whittaker.
- Won the Performance of the Night bonus twice for the bouts against Lyoto Machida and Chris Weidman.
- Had the Knockout of the Night against Clifford Starks in his UFC debut in 2013.
Romero is one of the most accomplished fighters of his generation despite not winning a title in the UFC.
No longer with the UFC, it seems the window is closed, but he could still win a championship with Bellator.
How Does Yoel Romero Spend His Money?
Yoel Romero finds himself close to the list of richest MMA fighters in the world, but doesn’t quite spend like it.
Romero hasn’t shopped for the most expensive homes in the world, instead settling for modest homes in Miami and Cuba.
In 2016, Romero sued a supplement company after one of his test results came back tainted, but the company didn’t show up to court.
Romero was awards $27 million in damages for the case, which included $9 million each for lost wages, reputable harm, and emotional damages.
Highlights
The highlights for Yoel Romero’s career started back when he was an amateur wrestler, making it to the Olympic games.
Ever since then, Romero has hit one milestone after another, including several title matches.
Here are some of the best highlights of Yoel Romero’s career:
- Won his professional MMA debut against Sascha Weinpolter at Fight of the Night 2009.
- Made his UFC debut in 2013 against Clifford Starks, winning via Knockout of the Night.
- Earned his first title shot in 2017 for the UFC Middleweight Division crown, but came up short against Robert Whittaker.
- Had a rematch against Whittaker and another title match against Israel Adesanya at UFC 248.
- Broke a four-match loss streak by defeating Alex Polizzi at Bellator 280.
Romero ranks among the likes of Chael Sonnen and Alexander Gustafsson as the best fighters to not win a UFC title.
Thankfully, he has still had a very fine career to this point, and hopes to continue his winning ways in Bellator.
Favorite Yoel Romero Quotes
Since Yoel Romero doesn’t speak English, it can be quite difficult for him to give an interview.
Still, Romero has sat down for interviews, including with Joe Rogan and Joey Diaz, to talk about his career.
Here are our favorite quotes from Yoel Romero:
- ” No matter what age you are, as a fighter, your obligation is to win.” – Yoel Romero
- ” I have nothing against nobody in the UFC. This is a sport for me.” – Yoel Romero
- ” Doesn’t matter what goes on in my life; I go forward.” – Yoel Romero
- ” The people who critique me are the people who don’t know about the sport.” – Yoel Romero
- ” The only thing that matters is what God wants, what the fans think, and what the UFC asks for.” – Yoel Romero
3 Amazing Lessons From Yoel Romero
Yoel Romero has learned a lot about fighting and life in general thanks to a long career in wrestling and mixed martial arts.
Romero has always been a man of faith and has proven both inside and outside of the octagon that has spirituality has helped him.
Now that you know all about Yoel Romero’s net worth, there is plenty to learn from the Cuban mixed martial artist.
Here are some of the best success lessons to learn from Yoel Romero:
1. Protect Your Family
Yoel Romero is not one of those people that flaunts his family’s personal life on social media, instead letting it be private.
Not many outside of his inner-circle know Romero’s wife’s name or his childrens’ names, which is just how he wants it.
Romero spend a lot of time with his family and practices his spiritualty when not training for his next fight in the octagon.
2. You Have To Believe
When you want to be successful, you have to visualize yourself being successful, no matter what type of career path you’re going down.
This especially goes for fighting, where you have to truly believe that you’re the best that’s in the ring or the octagon during a match.
Yoel Romero holds this belief, and says that everything is possible and you have to focus and believe on being your best.
3. There Will Be Setbacks
Yoel Romero has been able to put together a fine career without winning a title, all while missing weight multiple times.
If it weren’t for missing weight against Luke Rockhold, Romero would have won the UFC Middleweight Championship.
He did not let that deter him from continuing to chase the title and his overall goals as a member of the UFC, though.
Summary
Yoel Romero is one of the greatest athletes to hail from Cuba, and certainly toward the top of best Cuban mixed martial artists.
Even without winning a championship belt in the UFC, Romero has proven that he’s an all-time great.
When you take his lawsuit win and MMA earnings into consideration, he’s also one of the richest Cuban athletes ever.
As of May 2023, Yoel Romero’s net worth is estimated to be $10 million.
What do you think about Yoel Romero’s net worth? Leave a comment below.
MMA Fighters
Michael Chandler Net Worth
Mixed martial artist Michael Chandler has earned an impressive fortune as a three-time Bellator Lightweight Champion and the No. 5 fighter in the UFC Lightweight division.

What is Michael Chandler’s net worth?
Introduction
Michael Chandler is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
He has been professionally fighting since 2009 and has continued to gain notoriety with his numerous wins and championship titles.
Currently, Chandler is ranked No. 5 in the UFC Lightweight rankings, and if he continues performing as well as he has, he may very well become the best in the world.
As of May 2023, Michael Chandler’s net worth is estimated to be $2 million.
Michael Chandler Facts
- Michael Chandler started out as an amateur wrestler in 2004 at the University of Missouri.
- After ending his wrestling career, Chandler started training in MMA and made his professional debut in 2009.
- He made his Strikeforce debut in November 2009, winning a match against Richard Bouphanouvong via technical knockout.
- The following year, he debuted at Bellator 31, defeating Scott Stapp during his first round.
- Chandler made his promotional debut for the UFC against Dan Hooker in January 2021.
Early Life
Michael Chandler was born April 24, 1986, in High Ridge, Missouri, to Michael Sr. and Better Chandler.
Growing up, Michael was on the honor roll every term in high school, and he finished runner-up at the MSHSAA State Championship in wrestling.
Upon graduation, he enrolled at the University of Missouri and joined their wrestling team, where he earned over 100 career wins.
He also earned runner-up honors in the 2008 and 2009 Big 12 Championships and, as a senior, earned DI All-American honors.
After graduating with a major in personal finance management services and a minor in real estate, he left the world of wrestling and started training in mixed martial arts.
Career
After leaving behind his amateur wrestling career, Chandler started training in mixed martial arts at Xtreme Couture, and in 2009, he made his professional debut against Kyle Swadley.
After winning against Swadley by technical knockout, he started a winning streak that lasted until November 2013, when he was first defeated by Eddie Alvarez.
During his winning streak, he won the Bellator Lightweight World Championship in 2011 and successfully defended the title until his defeat by Alvarez.
In 2015, he started a four-match winning streak after defeating Derek Campos, and the following year he won the vacant Bellator Lightweight World Championship.
He lost once more in 2017 in a match against Brent Primus before winning three more consecutive matches and the Bellator Lightweight title once more in 2018.
Chandler faced defeat again in 2019 against Patricio Pitbull and then won three more matches before losing to Charles Oliveira in 2021.
He was defeated in his next match in 2021 by Justin Gaethje, but he won his next fight in 2022 against Tony Ferguson.
However, his last match, which took place on November 12, 2022, saw him lose against Dustin Poirier.
Michael Chandler’s Career Earnings
Michael Chandler may not be one of the richest MMA fighters in the world right now, but if he continues competing the way he has, he may very well become one.
While not all of his earnings have been made public, we do know a bit about how much he has made during his time as a professional fighter.
- For his fight against Rick Hawn in January 2013, he earned $34k.
- He earned $95k for his fight against Eddie Alvarez in November 2013, though he lost the match.
- Chandler earned $253.5k for his fight against Dan Hooker in January 2021.
- In May 2021, he earned his biggest purse yet, bringing home $380k for his match against Justin Gaethje.
He may not be as wealthy as Conor McGregor, but Michael Chandler has earned a substantial amount for some of his biggest fights.
If he continues fighting in the UFC, we expect that his earnings will continue to grow as his reputation and prowess in the ring becomes more renowned.
Personal Life
Michael Chandler started dating Brie Willett in 2013 after talking via email for almost 2 years. The pair married in 2014 and adopted their first son, Hap, in 2017, and their second son, Ace, in 2022.
Outside of the ring, Chandler owns his own MMA gym called Training Camp in Nashville, which has become very popular with people looking to enter the industry.
On social media, he is active on his official Instagram account, where he posts about his matches, his family, and his adventures outside the UFC.
He is also active on his official Twitter account and his official YouTube channel, where he talks about his fights and shows off his fitness routines.
Awards & Achievements
Like Michael Bisping and Jon Bones Jones, Michael Chandler has won many notable awards during his career in mixed martial arts.
Although all of his victories have been substantial, some stand out more than others due to their prestige and overall importance.
Here are some of Michael Chandler’s greatest career achievements and accolades:
- Before entering MMA, Michael Chandler was an NCAA Division I All-American in 2009.
- He won the Hap Whitney Coaches Award and the Ed Lampitt Award in 2009 as an amateur wrestler.
- In 2011, Chandler was named the Breakthrough Fighter of the Year.
- At the Big 12 Championships in 2008 and 2009, he took home a silver medal consecutively.
- His fight against Justin Gaethje in 2021 was named the MMA Match of the Year.
He may not be as accomplished as Tito Ortiz, but he has quickly made a name for himself with his impressive fighting skills in the ring.
While these are only a few of his many achievements, they are some of his most impressive awards and the ones that highlight just how far he has come as a fighter.
How Does Michael Chandler Spend His Money?
Despite being such a large name in the UFC, not much is known about how Michael Chandler spends his impressive net worth.
However, we do know that he owns his own fitness and MMA gym in Nashville called Training Camp, in which he has invested a good deal of money.
Aside from that investment, Chandler hasn’t made a point of showing off riding the most expensive motorbikes in the world or the newest Louis Vuitton swag.
That said, should any information about his purchases be made public in the future, we will be the first to let you know. So, make sure to check back often to ensure you won’t miss anything!
Highlights
Michael Chandler’s career has been filled with memorable moments and incredible matches against some of the best fighters in the sport.
However, some of his milestones stand out over the rest thanks to their overall impact on his wealth, career, and popularity.
Here are some of the best highlights of Michael Chandler’s career:
- Michael Chandler made his Welterweight debut in August of 2009 against Kyle Swadley.
- From August 2009 to November 2013, Chandler remained undefeated, losing his first match and the Bellator Lightweight World Championship to Eddie Alvarez.
- He experienced two more losses after Alverz before winning once more in June 2015 and maintaining his winning streak for another four matches until June 2017.
- Chandler would win three more times in 2018, taking home the Bellator Lightweight title before losing once more in May 2019 to Patricio Pitbull.
- In December 2019, he started another three-match winning streak which ended in May 2021 during a fight against Charles Oliveira.
He may not hold the longest title streak in UFC history like Anderson Silva, but Chandler has maintained some impressive winning streaks nonetheless.
While these aren’t all of his greatest milestones, they are the ones that have stood out during his career the most and helped him become one of the best fighters in the business.
Our Favorite Michael Chandler Quotes
Michael Chandler has dedicated himself to becoming one of the best fighters in the world, and his hard work and persistence have certainly paid off.
Despite all of his victories, Chandler hasn’t gotten complacent and consistently pushes himself to reach his full potential during every match he competes in.
Here are our favorite quotes from Michael Chandler:
- “Sure, fear can protect us from danger—but most of the time, it just keeps us from life’s great adventures.” – Michael Chandler
- “Don’t focus on the wins and losses… focus your efforts on performing to your full potential.” – Michael Chandler
- “It’s not the man who pushes himself the hardest… it’s the man who pushes himself the hardest after it gets painful.” – Michael Chandler
- “Hard work pays off if you’re patient enough to see it through.” – Michael Chandler
- “I don’t want to have a good fight; I don’t want to have an exciting fight, I want to have a finish.” – Michael Chandler
3 Amazing Lessons From Michael Chandler
There is a lot that we can learn from Michael Chandler and his impressive career in professional mixed martial arts.
Now that you know all about Michael Chandler’s net worth, we can take a closer look at what he can teach us about reaching our own goals.
Here are some of the best success lessons to learn from Michael Chandler:
1. Don’t Let Fear Control You
Fear is detrimental to anyone who wants to be successful, and it is something that you should strive to control so that it doesn’t end up controlling you.
Not only can your fears hold you back, but they can spiral out of control and take a toll on your self-esteem, making it much harder to get ahead and find the opportunities that you need most.
Always try to turn fear into something more productive in order to motivate yourself to reach greater heights.
2. Push Yourself Harder
Everyone who wants to be successful needs to push themselves from time to time in order to break the status quo.
While coasting along comfortably can be nice, it can also lead to stagnation if you’re not careful, which can stifle your overall progress.
Whenever possible, push yourself just a little harder to test your limits so that you’ll be able to eventually reach your full potential.
3. Hard Work Pays Off
It may seem cliche, but hard work does eventually pay off, so long as you’re willing to be patient and see it through.
Although it won’t always be easy, it will be ultimately worth it once you are able to achieve even your loftiest goals.
Summary
Michael Chandler enjoys a successful career as one of the most popular MMA fighters in the world, and he has no plans to retire anytime soon.
While he is currently ranked as the No. 5 UFC Lightweight division fighter, it is likely that we will see him continue to rise through the ranks, potentially even becoming No. 1.
Make sure to check back often so that you won’t miss any important updates involving Michael Chandler’s career and growing wealth.
As of May 2023, Michael Chandler’s net worth is estimated to be $2 million.
What do you think about Michael Chandler’s net worth? Leave a comment below.
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