Malcolm Wellmaker has officially transitioned to becoming a full-time fighter.
Following an impressive knockout victory over Cameron Saaiman at UFC Kansas City last Saturday, the Contender Series alumnus announced his intention to leave his job as a pipefitter if he was awarded a post-fight bonus. After receiving the $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, Wellmaker confirmed on Monday that he had given notice to his employer, dedicating his full attention to his fighting career.
Sharing the significant update on Instagram, Wellmaker stated, “So many people bought into my story so here’s an update: I just quit my job! Saturday night I made my UFC debut, scored a first round knockout and earned a $50k performance bonus. Today I became a full-time fighter.” He elaborated on his journey, adding, “In 2015 I joined the pipefitters union in Augusta, Local 150 as an apprentice. Since then I’ve worked full time in the trade while chasing my dream. All my career I swore that if I made it to the UFC and earned a $50k bonus I would quit my job, and today it finally happened.”
Wellmaker had previously revealed to MMA Fighting that he balanced his full-time work as a pipefitter with his ambition to become a UFC fighter.
Even after earning a UFC contract via The Contender Series, the bantamweight talent lacked the financial security to leave his trade, requiring him to maintain a demanding schedule while preparing for his initial Octagon appearance.
Recounting his thoughts after his pivotal win, Wellmaker said, “I got that knockout and I was feeling like my life was going to change overnight and I was going to be driving a Bentley. I’m still grinding. Still in the same position for the most part, other than being a signed UFC athlete but it keeps you humble, it keeps you hungry and it keeps you working hard. Hopefully after this one, I get to make the change for more success.”
With the crucial $50,000 now secured, Wellmaker wasted no time in informing his workplace of his departure, shifting his entire focus to his combat sports career.
He expressed deep appreciation for his former profession: “I will always be grateful to the trade,” Wellmaker commented. “It helped me mature from a boy to a man, it brought lifelong friends into my life, and I learned a skillset I can always fall back on, no matter what happens.” He concluded, “My goal now is to take full advantage of my time in the UFC by completely committing to fighting, and if everything goes my way I’ll never have to pick up my welding hood again. But if I do, it won’t break my heart because I love the trade and I’m blessed to have done it.”
Following his recent success, Wellmaker publicly requested a spot on the upcoming UFC Atlanta card in June, which is located just a few hours from his home in Augusta, Georgia. UFC CEO Dana White appeared receptive to granting his request.
For the time being, Wellmaker can enjoy his newfound freedom as a dedicated professional fighter, celebrating his impactful debut victory in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
