The world runs on money! In combat sports, fighters risk their lives for it. But the question is: how far are you willing to go to secure that payday? Some, like Conor McGregor, lean on trash talk and verbal jabs heavily. Others, like Floyd Mayweather, build empires through smart business moves. Yet, those aren’t the only paths to bringing home the dollar. Cory Sandhagen, for instance, seems to have found his own perfect source.

The 33-year-old is set to lock horns with UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili on October 4 in the co-main event of UFC 320: Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas. However, ahead of the fight, Dvalishvili stirred up chatter by bringing up Cory Sandhagen’s other source of income. What’s that? OnlyFans, of course! And it wasn’t as big a secret either! 

Cory Sandhagen clears the air on $2 million payout from OnlyFans

Not that long ago, rumors surfaced claiming ‘The Sandman’ had made over $2 million from OnlyFans in just one month. While the figure caught fire online, Sandhagen admitted on The Ariel Helwani Show that the number was inflated, though he confirmed that OnlyFans has been a lucrative side hustle.

“I don’t sell them for a ton,” Sandhagen explained. “Just because the OnlyFans sponsorship makes up for a good chunk of what I was making before.” His page is built around instructional videos, giving fans and aspiring fighters valuable insights into his training methods. Combined with sponsorship checks, it has become a consistent stream of income—proof that fighters can cash in without stepping into the cage.

But in typical Sandhagen fashion, humor wasn’t far from the conversation. He revealed he once pitched his wife a wild idea: charging $200,000 for a single iPhone photo of himself behind a paywall. “If someone buys it, that’s terrific. If not, the joke still worked,” he said. Unsurprisingly, his wife shut it down. Regardless, that’s not the only way Sandhagen is making money.

Sandhagen’s partnership with Chirp

Back in 2024, the UFC bantamweight contender added a new dimension to his career outside the cage, partnering with recovery technology brand Chirp. Introduced to the company through a childhood friend, Sandhagen quickly became a believer after testing its products. “I did, and I loved them,” he said. 

“They make really high-quality stuff. Obviously, I do a ton of recovery and stretching… so it’s been a major benefit so that I could train harder every day.” One tool he swears by is Chirp’s percussive roller, which helps relieve the constant pounding his feet and calves endure during training. 

“That rolling percussive massager is such a lifesaver,” Sandhagen explained. “I can just sit on the couch and let the thing go, and it makes my feet and calves feel great.”

That being said, while Sandhagen indeed made bank from his OnlyFans account, it wasn’t $2 million. Just like the rest of the UFC’s top names, he has partnered with companies to make money. What do you think about Sandhagen’s OnlyFans idea?