Stipe Drviš reveals early career struggles: 'I had to pay to compete'

At the recent Split Sports Festival, a candid discussion unfolded among combat sports luminaries, offering a stark look at the often-unseen struggles behind championship glory. Former world boxing champion Stipe Drviš, a Croatian-Australian fighter, shared his personal journey, revealing the immense financial hardship he endured in the early stages of his career.

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In the first five fights, I had to pay to even compete. Until I started fighting in the UFC, I was getting 300 pounds per fight.

Drviš's account painted a grim picture: he had to pay to participate in his initial five fights and earned a meager 300 pounds per bout before finding success in the UFC. He admitted to contemplating quitting the sport multiple times due to financial instability, especially after having children, but was supported by his family and friends who urged him not to give up on his investment.

Joining Drviš in this honest conversation were current UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and top kickboxer Antonio Plazibat. They echoed similar sentiments, highlighting that significant earnings in combat sports are reserved only for those at the absolute pinnacle of the profession. Plazibat poignantly noted the tragic fate of many former fighters who suffer long-term health consequences, like brain damage, and end up in difficult circumstances in their later years, a stark contrast to the celebrated few like Aspinall who achieve financial success.

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If someone wants to earn money, they should go into football because there's no money in combat sports until you reach the very top.

This discussion, held in Split, underscores a crucial point often missed by international audiences: the immense personal sacrifice and financial precarity faced by athletes in sports like boxing and kickboxing, especially outside the most lucrative leagues. For many, particularly those from regions where such sports are popular but lack major financial backing, the path to success is fraught with peril, both physical and financial. The festival provided a platform to acknowledge these realities, celebrating the resilience of athletes like Drviš and Plazibat who persevered through adversity, while also serving as a cautionary tale about the true cost of pursuing a career in combat sports.

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The worst is if you give too much of yourself and one day everyone talks about how good a fighter you were, and you have brain damage.