SIMEONE POWELL is trying to engineer a route to the top of the Professional Fighters League – and the million dollar prize that comes with it.
The light-heavyweight contender is signed to the American promotion, which stands as MMA’s only league format.
And next year, Powell hopes to join their winner-take-all season, where the champion in each division bags a life-changing $1m prize cheque.
It would cap off a remarkable career journey for the British prospect, who is still 23-years-old.
When Powell made his pro debut last year, he was a trainee engineer, whose fight purse did not even cover his petrol costs.
He told SunSport: “My pro debut, I think I got paid £250. That it didn’t even cover my fuel expenses for the month.
READ MORE IN SPORT
Tommy Fury vs Jake Paul free bets and sign up offers for crunch boxing clash
Baseball legend Alex Rodriguez invests $30MILLION in MMA league PFL
“You take losses in this game but I had the vision that I would get to a position like this.
“In the early days especially, it’s not about the money, it's about building and putting on great performances, so that people talk about you.
“That’s what matters, the money at first, you’re going to take a loss.”
Powell is still learning the mechanical trade, but far prefers the fight game.
Most read in MMA
BARING HALL 
Paige VanZant wows in near-naked camping pics after hanging out with Bryce Hall
McGregor is distant relative of Kim Kardashian and UFC star is delighted
Ray Cooper won TWO $1m PFL cheques but admits doesn't know where his belts are
MMA star MacDonald earning 'much more money' after LEAVING the UFC for PFL
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
He said: “It was pretty full on. I’m still doing it, still working but I’m coming out of it, just got to get my qualifications.
“I’m a handyman, I like the tools, but I like beating people up more.”
Fighters in the PFL season have two regular season bouts, where points are earned for your method of victory.
The top four then qualify for the play-offs, a semi-final where the winning two progress to the finale.
What follows is a dramatic five-round fight with the PFL’s $1m cash prize up for grabs.
So while Powell was willing to make a loss at the start of his career, one successful PFL season more than makes it a worthwhile roll of the dice.
He said: “I say, ‘It’s not about the money’ but now it is a lot about the money as well.
“We are prizefighters at the end of the day, we don’t fight just for the fun of it, but we’re trying to make a living out of it.”
Read More on The Sun
My neighbour painted their side of the fence without telling me & I’m fuming
I’m mid-size & ALWAYS have to buy different sized jeans in Primark
“The moment I stepped into the gym, I knew this is what I wanted to do. It’s about making good calculated decisions.”
“Yes I do other things outside of the cage but my true love is MMA. It was a gamble, but I’m all in.”
Source: Read Full Article
