Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and casino games may seem worlds apart. However, it is not a coincidence that quite a few UFC fighters also enjoy playing casino gaming. Strategic thinking is a central component in both UFC fighting and casino games such as poker. In both cases success requires that the participant to be at least one step ahead of the opponent. Mental concentration is essential in both UFC and casino games. Are you curious to find out how UFC fighters balance their career with casino games? Keep reading as we present below UFC fighters who enjoy casino gaming and discuss the games they like playing in their spare time.
Table of Contents
Conor Mcgregor (Ireland)
Hailing from the green island of Ireland, Conor Mcgregor ranks as one of the most successful UFC athletes of all time. His achievements are spectacular. McGregor became the first UFC fighter to hold two UFC belts at the same time. In addition, the fierce Irishman also accounts for 8 out of the top 10 highest grossing UFC fights of all time.
In his spare time, Mcgregor has developed a big interest in playing casino games, both online and in land-based casinos. Unsurprisingly given his personality and career, he enjoys playing high-stakes games. Mcgregor is reportedly a fan of online slots so we wouldn’t be surprised if he also enjoyed slingo bingo, a popular game that combines slot machine features with bingo. In addition, the Irishman also plays roulette and has posted clips of himself playing in a Las Vegas casino.
Dana White (USA)
American Dana Frederick White is a UFC legend and serves as the President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. With an estimated net worth of 500 million dollars, White certainly does not face any shortage of money to spend in his free time. He is a passionate fan of high-stakes casino games and has reportedly become an accomplished blackjack player. This is certainly no coincidence as great strategic thinking is essential in both blackjack in UFC. White has been so successful in blackjack that he jokingly said that casino gaming has become his second job.
Anderson Silva (Brazil)
Few would dispute that Brazilian-American Anderson Silva is among the top UFC fighters of all time. Growing up in a poor family in the Brazilian city of São Paulo, Silva learned from a very early age to fight for everything in life. These skills became invaluable as he embarked on a very successful UFC career that among other things secured him the record of the longest title reign in UFC history. Silva who retired from UFC in 2020, was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2023.
Silva is also a fan of casino games. Unlike White and McGregor, Silva reportedly prefers playing games with lower returns but with higher chances of winning. Unsurprisingly given his background, Silva also likes the excitement of sports betting.
Terrence Chan ( Hong Kong / Canada)
Terrence Chan grew up in Hong Kong and has pursued a successful UFC career with Canada as his base. Chan is also an avid fan of poker, an interest that he reportedly picked up while once working at the PokerStars establishment. He has over time become a skilled poker player, greatly assisted by his ability to make quick decisions in stressful situations. While slots games are mostly about luck, strategic thinking plays a central role in poker just like in UFC. His self-taught poker skills have earned him 2 WSOP final tables. Chan’s success in poker has generated more than one million dollars in online and offline earnings.
Martin Kampman (Denmark)
The Danish UFC fighter star Martin “Hitman” Kampman has been one of the most successful Europeans in MMA. The retired Danish athlete is a former Cage Warriors World Middleweight Champion. During his career, he defeated UFC stars like Jorge Riveria, Carlos Condit and Thales Leites.
Kampman has also developed a strong interest in casino games with a specific focus on poker games. In fact, the Dane’s talent for poker enabled him to compete at a professional level. In 2014, Kampman won the Poker NV Challenge Main Event, earning him additional 30,000 GBP. Kampman’s ability to maintain his mental focus has reportedly been instrumental behind both his UFC and poker successes.
Lex Veldhuis (Netherlands)
The Dutchman Lex Veldhuis is another European star who has successfully combined a UFC career with an interest in poker games. Following his retirement from UFC, Veldhuis has been able to focus more on his poker games. In 2020, the Dutchman succeeded in winning $62,620 and securing a 15th place in the prestigious PokerStars Scoop Main Event.
Conclusion
Strategy and mental focus are crucial success factors in both UFC and casino games. Leading UFC stars with a successful passion for casino games include Conor Mcgregor, Dana White, Anderson Silva, Terrance Chan, Lex Veldhuis and Martin Kampman. They enjoy playing games such as slots, poker, blackjack and roulette.
