Top 5 UFC Fighters Who Went Into Business For Themselves.

Written By Patrick O'malley.

Intro.

In the way of how businesses works, it's important for a mulitude of reasons that fairness is key, from the front office, all the way down to the talent, it's no secret that some fighters take sponsorship deals, that get ok'd, by agents and managers, but what happens when fighters go against the hand that feeds them, in this list we're going to be running through the fighters who opened up businesses, and those who thought against the industry that made them household names.

5. Randy Couture.

In 1998 the UFC was starting to lose money, this would lead to its eventual sale in January of 2001 to Zuffa, that was owned by the Fertitta brothers. One of its most popular fighters at this time was Randy Couture, and near enough straight from this point, the pair were at odds with one another, this would be an everchanging theme throughout Captain Americas time with the Las Vegas Promotion, that would lead to Randy taking the company to court over unfair payments in 2007. This would last for over a year with both sides claiming that they were right. Randy claimed that when he thought Chuck Liddell for the second time in 2005, and third time later that year, he wasn't on the same pay level, even though during the build to the second time he was a coach on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, and was the Company's Light Heavyweight Champion. My thoughts on the situation are simple, the money at the time, was what it was, but it doesn't mean that both sides couldn't come to the table, and work out these issues. Some have said in press interviews that Randy went into business for himself, and I get why some would think that, especially after he left the UFC, and then went to work for Bellator MMA, but if you ask me, this was a man betting on himself.

 4. Tito Ortiz Punishment Athletics.

It's a known fact that some fighters run businesses, from restaurants, to food, however when fighters concentrate on becoming their own brand, this can lead to problems. Take Tito Ortiz, and his company Punishment Athletics. Tito started off the company and in the early 2000's, and this led to contention with his relationship to UFC Prtesident Dana White. It's been known that when Tito thought he was being clever, he was actually hurting himself and the industry. This would become an evergrowing grudge between the Hunting Beach Bad Boy, and his former employer. White and Ortiz have had a tempestuous relationship over the years, and things like this don't always help. As of April 2026. Punishment Athletics clothing brand has either gone out of business, or is inactive. I get that fighters want to make what they're worth, but it shouldn't come at the cost of the hands that feed them, this is what causes relationships to turn sour, and go south in the process.

3. Rich Franklin Juice Bar.

In the mid 2000's before the days of Anderson Silva running the Middleweight Division, there was Rich Franklin, a man who was the Champion before UFC 77, he would lose to Anderson on this night, and then go on to have varied success in both the Middleweight, and. Light Heavyweight Divisions, this would lead him to take a look at what life would be like after fighting. He would go on to open his own Juice bar called Ze/lin Organic Juice Fusion Cafe in 2013. Rich stepped away from in cage competition, so he could oversee the venture. This wasn't his first trip into business. In 2002 he created with his business partner. Jeff Adler called American Fighter, a clothing apparel brand. In later years he would close down the physical Cafe and step back into the world of MMA, by becoming the President of the ONE Promotion. This just goes to show that there's life after fighting, when the light starts to fade.

2. Connor Mcgregor.

In 2017 you couldn't move in the world of MMA without hearing the name Conor Mcgregor. He had come from nowhere to take on the industry in 2013, and by the time 2015 was done, he had captured the promotions featherweight prize from Jose Aldo, and was keeping his eye on the lightweight crown. It was around this time that he wanted to use his trade mark for his clothing brand. He's tried several times over the years to get this started, and everytime it has back as a fail, this is due to legal issues in europe surrounding trade marking your name for a brand focussing on clothing, footwear, and, hats. This type of case is unusual, but not unheard of. Conor isn't the only athlete to face this issue.

1. Dustin Poirer Lousiana Style Hot Sauce.

The Louisiana native left his gloves in the Octagon last year, after he lost to Max Holloway in his fairwell fight, that ended their trilogy. In the years before Dustin decided to hang up his gloves and boots, he went into the Hot Sauce business. in december of 2020, he launched his own hot sauce, with several variants ranging from original creole which is the mildest, to the KO edition which is the hottest. I've got to admit. I'm not the biggest hot sauce guy, because bbq sauce is my jam, but from what i've heard, his brand of hot sauce is really good, and it regulary gets good reviews on Amazon.

Overview Of This Piece.

If you take anything away after reading this piece, then it should be this. In life we all have to move on from things, whether it's work or relationship related, sometimes you've got to put what is right for you first. Business can be tough, but when you get to the point that you know you've got to walk away, then maybe it's time to say goodbye. This is what is like when you've got to make big decisions.