Lindgren getting ready for professional MMA debut (2024)

Alex Eller

WAHOO- Over the last several years, there have been many long nights for Sean Lindgren, of Wahoo, in the gym. While everyone settles into bed to wind down, Lindgren gets another rep in at the gym or works on drills that help his fighting technique.

The countless hours that the manager of Wahoo Martial Arts has put into perfecting his craft has shown in the octagon and has given him the opportunity to go pro as an MMA fighter.

“One of the great things about martial arts is you can do a lot of training solo, and you don’t always have to be with the team,” Lindgren said. “If you’re doing football, basketball, and a lot of these other sports, if the entire team is not all there, then you’re not going to be able to do the type of work to be successful. A lot of martial arts is done through solo drills, working on a heavy bag, doing shadow boxing, lots of running, solo cardio, and strength training. They are all things you can do anytime.”

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After amassing a 5-0 record as an amateur fighter, promoters of MMA gave him the call that they believed his skills were good enough to go pro. Lindgren accepted the offer but wanted to get one more amateur fight in to work on a few more skills as he dropped down from the Middleweight Division to Welterweight.

That final amateur fight was on Aug. 9 at the Ralston Arena against Sean Krebbs, who is a veteran of the MMA game. Lindgren fell back on his training and earned his sixth win of his career by TKO ( technical knockout) in the second round.

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“That was his 10th fight, so he was definitely an experienced fighter,” Lindgren said. “I would say he is probably the most skilled fighter I have fought yet. We just executed the game plan and came out on top.”

Looking back at the beginning, Lindgren still finds it hard to believe the success he has had in the sport of MMA. His goal in the beginning was to fight once as an amateur and to say he has done it, but now he will be fighting on the biggest stage as a pro.

“This is not at all what I expected,” Lindgren said. “... When you train in the martial arts for long enough it’s kind of a bucket list thing to do an MMA fight and test your skills. Now I’ve done six of them, so it’s just one step at a time. There was never any time I thought this would be a thing.”

Now as Lindgren makes the jump to the professional level, his goal remains the same — he wants to keep pushing himself to his limits. He is excited for the chance to use his skills against even better fighters.

Lindgren knows just like amateur MMA, there are levels to the pro game. He is ready to put in the work to move up the ladder in a new division.

“As a pro, I kind of just want to see the limits I can push myself to,” Lindgren said. “The pro division has many different levels, just like the amateur division does as well. There are levels to this game and as you move up, people are highly trained, skilled athletes, and martial artists. I look forward to testing my skills at a higher level.”

Lindgren doesn’t have an opponent for his pro debut, yet. The fight will more than likely be through Dynasty Combat Sports which is a group that puts on MMA fights in Nebraska.

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Alex Eller

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Lindgren getting ready for professional MMA debut (2024)

FAQs

Lindgren getting ready for professional MMA debut? ›

He is excited for the chance to use his skills against even better fighters. Lindgren knows just like amateur MMA, there are levels to the pro game. He is ready to put in the work to move up the ladder in a new division. “As a pro, I kind of just want to see the limits I can push myself to,” Lindgren said.

How hard is it to get into professional MMA? ›

To rise from amateur status to a position in the UFC, it'll take 2-8 years. If you have UFC connections and/or train at a high-profile gym, you can get there quicker. No matter what, maintain a strong work ethic and a winning record to boost your progress through the ranks.

How much do amateur MMA fighters make? ›

Becoming an MMA coach requires dedication, commitment, and some level of proficiency in MMA fighting style. Amateur fighters can earn anywhere between $100-$350 or more depending on their skill and experience level, how well-known they are, and how effectively they manage to sell their classes on social media.

How to prepare for an MMA fight? ›

The first is shadowboxing. The second is to get a heavy bag to practice striking and kicking. The third is to work on your conditioning, which is essential for every MMA fighter. The last is to videotape yourself and analyze your moves.

What does MMA stand for? ›

mixed martial arts (MMA), hybrid combat sport incorporating techniques from boxing, wrestling, judo, jujitsu, karate, Muay Thai (Thai boxing), and other disciplines.

Is 23 too old to start MMA career? ›

The big question that most people will ask is “how old is too old to start MMA?” The answer is that there really isn't any particular age when it comes to MMA. It is best to start young, but there are plenty of people who start later in life and still do very well in the sport.

Is 21 too old to get into MMA? ›

You are never too old to reap the health, fitness and lifestyle benefits of MMA. Mixed Martial Arts is an excellent workout, helping to improve flexibility, balance, and coordination. It can also be a great way to meet new people and make friends. Improvements in mental toughness & resilience are big benefits of MMA.

What is the lowest UFC salary? ›

The three tiers are low, medium, and high, with the lowest earning between $10,000 and $30,000 and the highest Tier for champions and superstars ranking between $500,000 and $3,000,000 per fight.

What is the best age to start MMA career? ›

Experts reckon that the ideal age to start a MMA practice is between the ages of 13-16, when the adolescent body is growing and learning to identify with the adult body. To start MMA training, the child must have a background in fitness, strong muscles, motivation and strong immunity.

Is 35 too late to start MMA? ›

At both extremes of the age spectrum, there have been several examples of combatants accomplishing great things. World titles have been won by fighters as young as 19 and as old as 48. However, if you look into it further, you're unlikely to be able to become a professional MMA fighter if you're beyond the age of 34.

How many hours a day do MMA fighters train? ›

The amount of training depends on the fighter's competitive level. Some UFC fighters may train for 2-4 hours per day in the lead-up to a fight, while off-season fighters may train 4-8 hours per week. Amateur fighters may need to fit training around their life commitments, so from 2-6 hours per week.

Can you train MMA by yourself? ›

MMA cannot be practiced alone and you definitely need at least one training partner. If you don't have one to train with, I'll tell you how to find him. While striking can be practiced outside or on a hard floor, for wrestling and ground fighting you will need a matted area.

Can you start MMA with no experience? ›

Yes! You can start training MMA without any prior experience. Alta has experienced Martial Arts instructors that will provide you with the basics and fundamentals you need as a beginner. Like any other sport, a professional was a beginner, who had to start somewhere.

Is MMA legal in all 50 states? ›

With the 2013 vote to legalize and regulate MMA in Connecticut, MMA is now legal in forty-nine states and regulated in forty-seven states, as shown in Figure 1 (Marrocco 2013b).

Who is the father of MMA? ›

In 2004, UFC President Dana White would call Lee the "father of mixed martial arts" stating: "If you look at the way Bruce Lee trained, the way he fought, and many of the things he wrote, he said the perfect style was no style. You take a little something from everything.

Can you start MMA at 40? ›

By all means, if you want to try it, go ahead and do it. But the probability of you becoming a pro fighter is very low. On the other hand, I'm bound to be wrong about some of you guys because some of you will become MMA fighters, some of you will become top 10 fighters and maybe even champions, but most of you won't.

Is it hard to go pro in MMA? ›

Unfortunately becoming a professional MMA fighter is a difficult path as any other sport. In some aspects even more so than the others. Although the road may be difficult it isn't completely impossible.

What are the odds of becoming a pro MMA fighter? ›

Some people are born doctors. Some become music artists. Yet a few, less than 1% of the planet are born to become fighters. And 1% of these fighters go on to become UFC fighters, the best and brightest the planet has to offer.

How many years does it take to become a pro-MMA fighter? ›

Also most states require you to have two years of training or two years of background to apply for an amateur license. Beyond this then most states also require you to have four fights to apply for a pro license which will take about another two years based on you fighting every six months or so.

How hard is it to get into UFC? ›

Mainly because of the fame and benefits that UFC provides to its fighters. But getting into UFC is not an easy task. It takes decades to become eligible for UFC. You must win some championships so that professionals can notice you and help you in reaching your goal.

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