Fighters who compete in competitions like the Ultimate Fighting Championship dedicate themselves to their craft. However, there are obviously times when recovery is needed, and they simply need to switch off from an upcoming bout in the Octagon. That’s where many UFC athletes turn to video games, with some huge names from the sport playing a wide variety of titles when they’re looking to rest their battle-hardened bodies.
These days, gaming-mad fighters certainly aren’t short on products to tackle either. In fact, some fighters are so obsessed with specific releases that they even take their beloved consoles with them for their hotel stays before a big fight night in the UFC. In the same way that fans who attend press conferences place bets on fights and explore real money slot games like Cash Spree Dragon, some martial artists de-stress and unwind through a plethora of virtual adventures. Below, we highlight just some of them.
Demetrious Johnson regularly streams online
When he isn’t recording podcasts and revisiting his days as a fighter by training with some current professionals, the legend that is Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson regularly streams his online gaming marathons to his millions of fans. On both Twitch and YouTube, you can find one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time taking down enemies and enjoying some adventures in the gaming sphere. After a hugely successful career, MMA fans clearly like seeing Demetrious Johnson enjoying himself away from what is a tough sport.
Brian Ortega is an avid gamer
Brian Ortega is a respected UFC fighter you’ve undoubtedly heard of, particularly as the featherweight has been involved in some epic battles over the years. While he might be declining in the Octagon somewhat, Ortega is still a force to be reckoned with in the gaming sphere. The American has always been a proud gamer, with the battle royale title Fortnite being his preferred game to session, although he’s also partial to other releases.
Max Holloway has always been a gamer
Max Holloway is a UFC legend in his own right, but when he decides to hang up his gloves and retire from the sport, he could make even more of a name for himself in the streaming world. From the various Call of Duty games to the iconic Grand Theft Auto releases from over the years, the fighter from Hawaii plays games with his son and shares his triumphs with fans online. With a huge following on Twitch, Max “Blessed” Holloway clearly earns good money while sharing another one of his passions with his community.
Paddy Pimblett adores Football Manager
Following his recent loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324, Paddy Pimblett has undoubtedly been recovering from the bout with a Football Manager 26 session. A diehard fan of the iconic soccer management games, the Liverpool supporter has shared his love of the game on numerous occasions, even playing it before massive fights in the past.
Sean O’Malley also streams his gameplay
Another fighter who streams his gameplay to his community of fans, Sean O’Malley is a unique personality in the UFC who has undoubtedly needed to escape the noise that has surrounded him in the past. The former champ switches off through podcasting and a variety of other ventures he has going on, but gaming remains one of his favorite hobbies to tuck into. This enigmatic figure has streamed a number of gaming marathons online, with fans from all over the world tuning in.
Other MMA fighters who play video games in their spare time include Robert Whittaker, Quinton Jackson, Mark Hunt, Stephen Thompson, and Israel Adesanya.