A well-known secret in the world of MMA is that a lot of entry level UFC fighters have second jobs. UFC Brooklyn’s Geoff Neal is a waiter on the side, Adam Milstead works on a pipeline—and there are plenty of other examples. 

While featherweight Dan Ige has maintained a job outside of the cage, it isn’t too removed from the Octagon. In fact, he’s managed to find a way to work in MMA while he competes in it. After meeting with famed MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz, Ige began working for Dominance MMA and plays a valuable role in their day-to-day operations. 

“I focus on the entire roster,” Ige told the Top Turtle MMA Podcast on FloCombat. “I’m always looking every morning at who needs fights, who has a fight coming up… I’m just kind of the people guy. I just make sure that everyone has everything that they need.”

And although his first love is fighting in the cage, the pay for a fighter with only three UFC fights under his belt isn’t enough for him to live comfortably. So working as a manager is his way to get by. 

“That’s just how I’m getting by,” he said. “That’s how I’ve got by the majority of my professional career.”

In fact, his second job is one that he could live entirely off of—that is, if he wanted to. 

“Honestly, if I wanted to, I could just manage guys right now,” Ige said. “But I love fighting, love being in the sport, love competing."

Still, he knows fighting isn’t something that lasts forever, and making sure he’s set up for his life after his main love is important.

“I’m just trying to be successful for after fighting,” he said. “I see a lot of fighters that go through their whole career and then after fighting have nothing.”

And while Ige puts forth effort and dedication to his managing position, don't think for a second he's taking his career inside the cage lightly.

“My 100% focus is on fighting right now,” he said.