Malcolm Wellmaker lastly considers himself a full-time fighter.
Following a surprising knockout win over Cameron Saaiman this previous Saturday at UFC Kansas Metropolis, the Contender Collection veteran revealed plans to stop his job as a pipefitter if he was rewarded with a post-fight bonus. After he really obtained $50,000 for a Efficiency of the Night time award, Wellmaker revealed on Monday that he formally gave discover to his job that he’s leaving to place all of his consideration on combating.
“So many individuals purchased into my story so right here’s an replace: I simply stop my job!” Wellmaker stated on Instagram. “Saturday night time I made my UFC debut, scored a primary spherical knockout and earned a $50k efficiency bonus. Immediately I turned a full-time fighter.
“In 2015 I joined the pipefitters union in Augusta, Native 150 as an apprentice. Since then I’ve labored full time within the commerce whereas chasing my dream. All my profession I swore that if I made it to the UFC and earned a $50k bonus I might stop my job, and as we speak it lastly occurred.”
Wellmaker had beforehand informed MMA Preventing that he was working full-time in his job as a pipefitter whereas chasing his dream to grow to be a UFC fighter.
Even after his win on The Contender Collection that earned him a UFC contract, the bantamweight prospect nonetheless didn’t have the means to depart his job so he was nonetheless working loopy hours whereas getting ready for his octagon debut.
“I bought that knockout and I used to be feeling like my life was going to alter in a single day and I used to be going to be driving a Bentley,” Wellmaker informed MMA Preventing. “I’m nonetheless grinding. Nonetheless in the identical place for probably the most half, apart from being a signed UFC athlete nevertheless it retains you humble, it retains you hungry and it retains you working onerous. Hopefully after this one, I get to make the change for extra success.”
Now that he earned that further $50,000, Wellmaker wasted no time informing his employers that he was leaving his job and placing all his give attention to combating.
“I’ll at all times be grateful to the commerce,” Wellmaker stated. “It helped me mature from a boy to a person, it introduced lifelong buddies into my life, and I realized a skillset I can at all times fall again on, it doesn’t matter what occurs.
“My purpose now could be to take full benefit of my time within the UFC by utterly committing to combating, and if every part goes my method I’ll by no means have to select up my welding hood once more. But when I do, it received’t break my coronary heart as a result of I like the commerce and I’m blessed to have completed it.”
Following his win this previous weekend, Wellmaker requested a spot on the upcoming UFC Atlanta card in June, which is just some hours away from his residence in Augusta, Ga. and UFC CEO Dana White appeared like he was serious about making it occur for him.
For now, Wellmaker can take pleasure in just a little extra freedom as a full-time fighter whereas celebrating his first official win within the UFC.
