California MMA fighter pension fund is not a proposal. It is already law — signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2023 and operational since January 1, 2024. It is the only state-sponsored retirement fund for MMA fighters anywhere in the world.
Here’s exactly how it works, who qualifies, what it pays, and what the 2026 follow-up legislation could add.
The Law: AB 1136
Assembly Bill 1136 was authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney of San Francisco and signed by Governor Newsom on October 11, 2023. The bill added MMA fighters to California’s existing Professional Boxers’ Pension Fund, administered by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).
The boxing pension fund has existed since 1982. For 41 years, MMA fighters competed in California — the state that hosts more combat sports events than any other — without access to any equivalent retirement benefit. AB 1136 closed that gap.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled that Governor Newsom has signed the MMA Pension Fund into law. This is a monumental victory for the fighters who pour their hearts and souls into this sport,”
Those were the words of Ronda Rousey, former UFC bantamweight champion and the first woman signed to the UFC, who was one of the bill’s most prominent public supporters alongside UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber, top UFC featherweight Josh Emmett, and women’s MMA pioneer Cat Zingano.
How the Fund Is Financed
The MMA Retirement Benefit Fund is not financed by state tax dollars. It is funded entirely through:
● $1 from every ticket sold at MMA events in California
● Sales of MMA-related sports paraphernalia and souvenirs
● California MMA vanity license plates — with all proceeds directed to the fund
Andy Foster, executive officer of the California State Athletic Commission, confirmed the vanity license plate revenue stream in his statement to ESPN after the bill was signed.
California holds more MMA events than any other state by a significant margin. The UFC stages multiple events annually in California. The $1 per ticket mechanism generates ongoing revenue every time a sanctioned MMA event is held in the state.
Who Qualifies and When
Eligibility for the MMA Retirement Benefit Fund is based on competitive activity in California, not the fighter’s state of residence:
Fight requirement: A fighter must have competed in at least 39 rounds in CSAC-sanctioned MMA events held in California. Assemblymember Haney described this as roughly 12 to 14 fights in California — approximately three to four years of active professional competition in the state.
Age requirement: Fighters can begin accessing the fund at age 50.
Distribution: Eligible fighters receive annual checks from the fund. The boxing pension fund — the model for the MMA fund — has paid out 171 checks since 2012, with an average check of $19,000, according to CSAC executive officer Andy Foster.
The MMA fund is administered by the CSAC using the same structure as the boxing fund. Several fighters are granted checks annually. The exact amount per fighter depends on the total fund balance and the number of eligible recipients.
What Andy Foster Said
Andy Foster, CSAC executive officer, called AB 1136 the most significant piece of legislation for retired fighters in the history of combat sports when speaking to ESPN after the bill’s signing:
“We’re full steam ahead on trying to figure out ways to not only help the fighters but to increase the revenue of these funds that will help them more.”
Foster confirmed to ESPN that California had been working on the vanity license plate revenue stream specifically to grow the fund beyond ticket sales alone.
AB 2130: The 2026 Follow-Up
In March 2026, Assemblymember Haney introduced Assembly Bill 2130 — a follow-up to AB 1136 designed to add a new revenue stream to both the boxing and MMA pension funds.
AB 2130 would allow the California State Athletic Commission to place sponsor logos on referee and official apparel at boxing and MMA events in California. Under the bill:
● 75% of sponsorship revenue from referee apparel would be directed to the Boxer’s Pension Fund and the MMA Retirement Benefit Fund
● 25% would support referee training and commission operations
Ronda Rousey again served as the bill’s most prominent public supporter:
“Big brands profit from fight night, but it’s the fighters that are often left to deal with long-term health challenges and economic struggles long after the night is over. AB 2130 is about basic respect. If the people at the top of the industry are making billions, some of that money should be going back to the fighters who gave their bodies and their careers to build it.”
Foster described AB 2130 as “the biggest piece of legislation for retired fighters in the history of boxing and mixed martial arts” — even larger than AB 1136 — due to the potential scale of sponsorship revenue it could direct to fighters.
AB 2130 was pending in two California legislative committees as of April 2026.
Why This Matters: The Context
The California MMA pension fund exists because no other mechanism provides for fighters after their careers end.
UFC fighters are classified as independent contractors. There is no pension. No retirement plan. No post-career medical coverage. The average UFC fighter competes for a career spanning five to ten years before injury, age, or competitive decline ends their time in the sport. They retire with whatever they saved — which for most fighters at the lower tiers of the roster is very little.
The boxing pension fund — the model for the MMA fund — has been paying out checks since 2012. The average check of $19,000 is not a retirement income. But for fighters who spent decades competing without any retirement safety net, it represents the first time anyone has formally acknowledged that their contribution to the sport has financial value after the fighting stops.
No other state has followed California’s lead. No other MMA promotion has created a comparable fund. The California MMA Retirement Benefit Fund is, as Andy Foster confirmed to ESPN, the only state-sponsored pension fund for MMA fighters in the world.
The Bottom Line
California’s MMA fighter pension fund is operational, funded by ticket sales and merchandise revenue, and paying out annual checks to eligible retired fighters at age 50. AB 2130 would add sponsorship revenue from referee apparel to expand the fund further.
It is the only program of its kind anywhere in the world. Whether other states replicate it — as Assemblymember Haney said he hoped they would — depends on political will that has not yet materialized outside California.
For more on what fighters face without these protections, see our post on UFC fighter health insurance at themmalife.org/do-ufc-fighters-get-health-insurance/ and our complete UFC fighter pay guide at themmalife.org/ufc-fighter-pay/
FAQ
Is there a pension fund for MMA fighters?
Yes — in California only. Governor Newsom signed AB 1136 into law in October 2023, creating the MMA Retirement Benefit Fund administered by the California State Athletic Commission. It became operational on January 1, 2024. No other state has a comparable fund. No MMA promotion has created an equivalent benefit.
How do MMA fighters qualify for the California pension?
A fighter must have competed in at least 39 rounds in CSAC-sanctioned MMA events held in California — roughly 12 to 14 professional fights in the state. Eligible fighters can begin accessing the fund at age 50.
How much does the California MMA pension pay?
The fund is modeled after California’s boxing pension fund, which has paid out 171 checks since 2012 with an average of $19,000 per check according to CSAC executive officer Andy Foster. The MMA fund operates similarly, with annual distributions to eligible retired fighters. The exact amount depends on the total fund balance and the number of eligible recipients.
How is the California MMA pension fund financed?
The fund is financed through $1 from every ticket sold at MMA events in California, sales of MMA-related sports paraphernalia and souvenirs, and revenue from California MMA vanity license plates. No state tax dollars are used. Assembly Bill 2130, introduced in March 2026, would add 75% of referee apparel sponsorship revenue to the fund.
Do UFC fighters get a pension?
No — not from the UFC. UFC fighters are classified as independent contractors and receive no pension, retirement plan, or post-career benefits from the promotion. The California MMA Retirement Benefit Fund is the only pension mechanism available to MMA fighters, and only for those who fought in sufficient sanctioned events in California.