Fighting in MMA, particularly in the UFC is a notoriously short lived career. The average career is surprisingly only 3 years and spans 6-7 fights. There are many factors that can limit a fighter’s career such as age, injuries, and family obligations. It has also been said that it is easier to get into the UFC, than to remain in the UFC because the competition is that steep.
Fighter’s have a unique skill-set and many choose to stay around the sport either through coaching, media roles, or starting their own promotions.
These fighters have chosen law enforcement as their second career either during, or after their tenure as MMA fighters.
1. Marlon “Magic” Moraes
“Magic” Marlon Moraes was at one point of the best UFC Bantamweight fighters in the world. He holds wins over UFC champions like Jose Aldo and Aljamain Sterling, as well as three UFC Fight of the Night Awards.
Originally from Nova Friburgo, Brazil, Moraes started his martial arts career as a Muay Thai fighter, earning two Muay Thai National Championship Titles before transitioning to MMA.
Although he was never able to capture a UFC title, his MMA career had moments of greatness where he showed his heart, toughness and skill. Now that he has retired from MMA the former title contender has become a police officer in Davie, Florida.
2. Johny “Big Rig” Hendricks
Before Johny Hendricks even stepped foot into the octagon he was already an accomplish amateur wrestler. Holding two NCAA Division 1 Championships in 2005 and 2006, and a Silver in 2007 wrestling for Oklahoma State University.
He found great success in the UFC becoming a (one-time) UFC Welterweight Champion defeating Robbie Lawler. He also lost a close split-decision against all time great Georges St-Pierre who many thought he should have won, including UFC President Dana White. His UFC accolades includes three Knockout of Night Awards, three Fight of the Night awards, and landed the fifth most takedowns in UFC Welterweight division history (61).
As his career progressed, he had issues with weight cutting which he had done all his life and the adoption of USADA by the UFC made it that much more difficult. After a string of losses, he exited MMA and found his new calling: Police Officer.
The former UFC Welterweight Champion now teaches wrestling to kids in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas and is also a police officer.
3. Josh “Bring the Pain” Haynes
MMA fans will remember Josh Haynes for his appearance in The Ultimate Fighter Season 3. The season was memorable due to the two mutual hatred between the two coaches” Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz as well as the fighters that came out of that season who became staples of the UFC.
The season introduced us to fighters like Michael Bisping (UFC Champion and Commentator), Matt Hamill, and Ed Herman. Josh Haynes was overlooked from the beginning, as many wrote him off as being undersized and under skilled being skilled 2nd to last by coaches. Josh shocked audiences by winning his elimination round and semi-final fight making it to the finale against Michael Bisping.
After a few losses in the UFC and other regional promotions, Josh Haynes transitioned to a career as a police officer with the Las Vegas Police Department.
Notably, Josh Haynes was able to save his rookie partner during the 2017 Las Vegas shootings and earned the rank of Detective withing the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
4. Jimmie Rivera
Jimmie Rivera is a veteran of both the UFC Bantamweight division as well as Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships. He fought in the UFC between 2015 and 2021.
He has notable wins over fighters like: Cody Stamann, John Dodson, Thomas Almeida, Urijah Faber, and Pedro Munhoz.
After his MMA career he transitioned and became a sworn police officer in New Jersey. He works for the Elmwood Park Police Department. As a Tiger Schulman student, Rivera has been able to share his love of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with his department which has had some positive results including: less complaints and a decrease in use of force.
5. Anderson “The Spider” Silva
Anderson “The Spider” Silva is one of the greatest fighters to have ever fought in the UFC. The Hall of Famer is known for having the most title defenses in the middleweight division and the longest title reign.
Spending most of his childhood in with his aunt and uncle in Curitiba, Brazil he saw his uncle go to work everyday as police officer in the Curitiba police force. This may be one of the reasons why he has chosen to begin training as a police officer in California, specifically the Beverly Hills Police Department.
Anderson says that he made the decision because he wanted to find a way to give back. Maybe now that Anderson is a police officer, we can finally get Silva vs. Jones.
Honorable Mentions:
Forrest Griffin
Before Forrest Griffin was the TUF Season 1 winner and gave us the fight that may have saved the UFC. Before he was a UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Forrest was a police officer with the Augusta, Georgia Police.
Chris Daukus
Chris Daukus fought in the UFC from 2020-2024 in both Heavyweight and Lightheavy weight divisions. He has had three Performance of the Night bonuses and memorable fights against Aleksei Olenik, Derrick Lewis, and Khalil Roundtree.
Wilson Gouveia
Wilson Gouveia is a 4th Degree BJJ black belt originally from Fortaleza, Brazil and a member of American Top Team. He had 10 fights in the UFC and had memorable fights with Alan Belcher, Nate Marquardt, and Seth Petruzelli. He is now a police officer in Hollywood, Florida.
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