I know a guy who went from 5k on the regional scene to over 150k in his first year with the UFC.
The issue is that the UFC pays way more than the regional scene to the point fighters would rather compete on DWCS than some regional promotion. Not to mention, what these guys get paid back at home in Eastern Europe, Brazil or Mexico which is nothing.
That one female fighter Aragapova from Kazakhstan said she was homeless eating pigeons before she signed with the UFC. Someone like that is dime a dozen and would gladly fight for 10k and 10k.
