Malcolm Wellmaker finally sees himself as a full-time fighter.
Following the knockout victory that surprised Cameron Ciryman at UFC Kansas City last Saturday, the competitor series veteran has revealed plans to quit his job as a pipe fitter if he gets paid off with a postwar bonus. After he actually received $50,000 for his night award performance, Wellmaker revealed on Monday that he had officially informed him that he was leaving to pay all his attention to his fight.
“A lot of people bought my story, so here’s an update. I just quit my job!” Wellmaker said on Instagram. “On Saturday night I made my UFC debut, recorded my first round knockout and won a $50,000 performance bonus. Today I became a full-time fighter.
“In 2015, I joined Augusto’s Pipefitters Union, local 150 as an apprentice. Since then I have worked full-time on trades, chasing my dreams.
Wellmaker previously told MMA Figng that he works full-time in his work as a pipe fitter, chasing his dreams to become a UFC fighter.
Even after his victory in the Contender series, which won him a UFC contract, Bantamweight prospects still had no way to quit his job, so he was still working crazy hours preparing for his Octagon debut.
“I was going to drive a Bentley because I got that knockout and felt that my life would change overnight,” Wellmaker told MMA Fighting. “I’m still shattering. Most of the time, except that I’m a signed UFC athlete, I’m in the same position most of the time, but it keeps you humble, hungry, and keeps you working hard.
Now that he made that extra $50,000, Wellmaker wasted no time informing his employer that he had quit his job and wasted all his focus on the fight.
“I’m always grateful for the trade,” Wellmaker said. “It helped me mature from boy to guy, it brought lifelong friends into my life, and I learned a skill set that I could always go back to whatever happened.
“My goal now is to make the most of my time in the UFC by being fully committed to combat, and there’s no need to pick up the welding hood again, everything is my way.
Following last weekend’s victory, Wellmakers called for an upcoming UFC Atlanta Card spot in June.
For now, Wellmaker can enjoy a little more freedom as a full-time fighter, celebrating his first official victory in the UFC.