UFC BJJ champion Mason Fowler spoke in a press conference about how holding the title has changed his financial situation and allowed him to pull back from the constant seminar circuit that most professional grapplers depend on to make a living.
When asked whether he still has hunger as a defending champion, Fowler connected his current lifestyle directly to the belt.
“I’ve really have enjoyed this past year of being able to really focus on training and hone in on being an athlete full-time,” he said. “And part of this lifestyle that I’ve been living is because I’m the UFC BJJ champion. So, in order to continue doing what I’m doing, I need to make sure that I keep the belt.”
Fowler described how his priorities shifted in 2026 compared to previous years, noting that younger and less established grapplers, including himself not long ago, depended on seminars as their main income.
“When I was a little bit younger, I used to just do way too much. I would go right into training camp and then I would go right into like seminar tour, flying all over the place,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve taken a flight since the last match. So, I’m 100% focused on getting my routines dialed in.”
“I’m more locked in my life, my personal life, than I ever have been in my entire athletic career. All of my routines, all of my habits are better than they’ve ever been. So, I definitely do think that getting my whole life dialed in and getting all my routines dialed in, I think that I’m the best version of myself.”
He gave a direct picture of what the financial reality looks like for a professional grappler without title money.
“Last year 2025 and you know the five years before that I was just I was traveling so much because we make our money doing seminars. We make our money on the road. We’re like freaking standup comedians. We’re on the road every weekend.”
“And really that’s not the best way to live your life if you’re an athlete. The best way to live your life is to go to sleep at the same time, eat the same foods, you know, wake up in the morning, stretch, not be like flying all the time.”
Fowler was clear that the pay that comes with holding the UFC BJJ title is what gives him the option to stay home and protect his training.
“This year I’ve really been focused solely on being an athlete and one of the reasons I’m able to do that is because I’m the champion and the pay is good so I don’t have to, you know, travel and do as many seminars. So yeah, this year been really focused.”
