When an MMA fighter retires from the sport, they generally have a few different career paths afterwards. They can become coaches or trainers and pass on their knowledge to the next generation of athletes. If the fighters are high-profile, they might even get on television as actors or analysts. However, the only job that doesn’t require any real qualifications is a public office job. Over the years, various fighters have left the professional MMA world to fight in the political world. In this article, we will have a look at 10 former MMA fighters who turned politicians after retirement.
10) Genki Sudo
Genki Sudo is a former MMA fighter who appeared in promotions like K-1, Hero and UFC. He had a successful career that ended with a 16-4 record. After retirement, Sudo started a band, acted in many films, released several books and much more. In 2019, he decided to join politics as his next career. Genki was elected to the Japanese House of Councilors as an independent member in 2019 and remains politically active today.
9) Jeff Monson
Jeff Monson is one of the most amazing MMA fighters who has had a very long and great career. He retired with a 61-26 record. Jeff moved to Russia in 2015 and became a citizen. Since 2016, he has had several different political roles in his adopted home. Last year, Monsoon was also elected to the state assembly of the Republic of Bashkortostan in Russia.
8) Rosi Sexton
At one point, Rosi Sexton was one of the biggest pioneers of MMA. She started her professional career in 2002. She fought in various promotions like BodogFight, Bellator and UFC and faced big stars like Gina Carano and Joanna Jedrzejczyk. In 2019, Sexton decided to become a politician in the United Kingdom. That year, she was elected as a Green Party councilor for Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. The following year, she ran for the party’s leadership position but came in second.
7) Paddy Holohan
Paddy Holohan was one of the biggest names in the flyweight division until 2016. He fought in promotions like Cage Contender, Chaos FC and UFC. Unfortunately, Holohan was forced into retirement due to medical problems. He retired with a 12-2 record in the sport. In 2019, Holohan was elected as a South Dublin county councilor for Sinn Fein. He became a very controversial figure in his home country, Ireland and has been repeatedly criticized by his own party for offensive comments. He even parted ways with Sinn Fein in 2021.
6) Mirko Cro Cop
Mirko Cro Cop is mostly known for his great MMA career, but many people don’t know that before entering the professional MMA world, he worked in an anti-terrorism unit. During his peak, Mirko decided to take up another job. In 2003, he was elected to the Croatian Parliament as a member of the Social Democratic Party. His term ended in 2008, but Cro Cop has shown no interest in returning to politics.
5) Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Emelianenko is considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. Even though he never stepped in the UFC octagon, he still faced some of the best fighters of the company and defeated them. In 2010, “The Last Emperor” began to get involved in politics. That year, in October, he was elected to a five-year term as a Belgorod deputy. Two years later, he was named a member of the Russian Council of Physical Health and Sports.
4) Alistair Overeem
Alistair Overeem quietly announced his retirement from the sport last year. Just one year after facing Badr Hari in a kickboxing ring, he was done. With that retirement announcement also came the announcement of a run for public office. Overeem ran for the Netherlands House of Representatives for the Belang Van Nederland party but was unsuccessful.
3) Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei Silva is one of the most dominant fighters to ever step in the MMA octagon. However, after a knockout loss to Quinton Jackson in 2018, “Mad Dog” decided to retire from the sport, but he didn’t formally retire until 2022. In 2018, the Brazilian ran for federal deputy of Parana but did not gain more than 13,000 votes. Four years later, he ran for the same position but again lost.
2) B.J. Penn
B.J. Penn is considered one of the greatest legends in MMA history. Although the end of his career was brutal, he was an absolutely dangerous fighter at his peak. “The Prodigy” retired from the sport in 2014. In 2022, Penn ran for the Republican nomination for the Hawaii gubernatorial election. He came in second place to Duke Aiona, but he has announced plans to run for city council in 2024.
1) Tito Ortiz
Tito Ortiz is one of the most high-profile fighters ever to transition from the MMA world to politics. In 2020, he ran for Huntington Beach City Council and won a seat. Over the next six months, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” made headline after headline. Ultimately, he left the role as Mayor Pro Tempore of his hometown after only six months. However, Ortiz has been very active politically.
