5 UFC fighters who became MMA promoters

#2. Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Eagle Fighting Championship

Many fighters launch MMA promotions either after being on the wrong end of losing streaks or after retiring from active competition due to struggling to achieve their goals to capture championship gold. However, Khabib Nurmagomedov abandoned his career as a fighter after defeating Justin Gaethje to defend his UFC lightweight title in what was one of his most dominant victories.

Despite Dana White's attempts to coax him back into the promotion, the Russian great was adamant about honoring his retirement. Instead, Nurmagomedov shocked the world by announcing his intentions to ply his trade as an MMA promoter and purchase Gorilla Fighting Championship, saving it from the brink of bankruptcy.

Rebranding it as Eagle Fighting Championship, Nurmagomedov has already hosted 14 events, even signing UFC alumni Kevin Lee and Junior dos Santos.

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#1. Nate Diaz, Real Fight Inc.

Months ago, hardly anyone could have predicted that Nate Diaz would one day announce his intention to launch his own MMA promotion. The MMA legend has always been known for his self-referent nature and streak of fierce independence. Diaz often scoffed at the idea of being friendly with almost any fighter on the roster due to war-like mentality and assertion that all fighters are rivals in a sport where the objective is to inflict bodily harm on one's opposition.

So it came as a surprise to many when Diaz applied for a promoter's license as he announced Real Fight Inc. to the world. The Stockton legend intends to continue his own fighting career while simultaneously committing to his role as an MMA promoter. Thus far, Diaz's goals with Real Fight Inc. remain vague except for an apparent desire to ensure that his promotion is "real" compared to others, especially the UFC, due to Diaz's feud over its organizational structure.