“The Machine” is now a full-time fighter.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight newcomer Malcolm Wellmaker stunned the crowd in his debut at UFC Kansas City this weekend (Sat., April 26, 2025), knocking out Cameron Saaiman in the first round inside T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri (watch highlights).
Wellmaker balanced a full-time job as a pipe fitter while competing on the regional scene, continuing until his explosive UFC debut. Thanks to a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for his devastating knockout, he quit his job on Mon., April 28, 2025, to become a full-time fighter.
Wellmaker shared the news on Instagram, writing:
So many people bought into my story, so here’s an update: I just quit my job! Saturday night, I made my UFC debut, scored a first-round knockout, and earned a $50k performance bonus. Today, I became a full-time fighter,” Wellmaker wrote on Instagram.
In 2015 I joined the pipefitters union in Augusta, Local 150 as an apprentice. Since then I’ve worked full time in the trade while chasing my dream.
All my career I swore that if I made it to the UFC and earned a 50k bonus I would quit my job, and today it finally happened.
I will always be grateful to the trade. It helped me mature from a boy to a man, it brought lifelong friends into my life, and I learned a skillset I can always fall back on, no matter what happens.
My goal now is to take full advantage of my time in the UFC by completely committing to fighting, and if everything goes my way I’ll never have to pick up my welding hood again. But if I do, it won’t break my heart because I love the trade and I’m blessed to have done it.
Thank you to everyone I met along the way and all the people who love and support my journey! One more time for Dirty Hands, Clean Money!
Wellmaker improved his record to 9-0 on Saturday, with five knockouts, four in the first round, and plans to hop on the UFC Atlanta card in June.
The 30-year-old is already a well-rounded fighter, and with full-time training, he could quickly ascend the Bantamweight division.
For more UFC Kansas City results, coverage and highlights click HERE.
