5 UFC fighters who had unexpected jobs before making it in MMA

#1 Anderson Silva

UFC 237: Cannonier v Silva

Anderson Silva, aka 'The Spider', is considered by many to be the best MMA fighter of all time. This particular recognition might have been dented when he failed a drug test, but many fans overlook this transgression due to the level to which he took his career. He held the UFC Middleweight Title for 7 years during which he was undefeated. Currently, he may be known for being one of the most famous MMA millionaires, but his early life was very different from the life he knows today.

Much like JDS, Anderson Silva only knew poverty while growing up in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He trained in BJJ and learned a lot by watching the richer children on the mat. He would copy their training sessions by himself, although he later got other sparring partners. In his late teenage years, Silva worked at a fast food outlet — a local McDonald's — for a long time. When he became an adult, The Spider, who would later be known for spinning intricate webs in the Octagon and defeating ferocious opponents, was a file clerk.

Sticking to tradition, Silva still cheats on his fight week diet with a McDonald's burger. While his legacy may be irreparably damaged following the drug tests, Anderson Silva defines coming from humble beginnings to achieve success of the highest magnitude.

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