Bec Rawlings, a former BKFC champion, has become a trailblazer for combat sports athletes joining OnlyFans, a subscription-based website, to supplement their income, and despite the site’s adult content stigma, many high-profile athletes have followed suit.
Bec Rawlings didn’t really plan on making waves when she joined OnlyFans. Yet, three years down the line, she’s seen a surge in combat sports athletes flocking to the subscription-based platform.
Rawlings found herself grounded in Australia during the pandemic, with her fighting career on hold. She had no real income opportunities, so she decided to join OnlyFans. The site charges fans for access to photos, videos, and other content.
The former BKFC champion managed to keep herself financially stable while waiting to book her next fight. Initially, Rawlings faced a barrage of questions due to the stigma associated with the site, known for its adult content. However, these days, everyone from ex-UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic to Kevin Holland and even the PFL have set up OnlyFans pages.
Rawlings’ reaction? “It’s f****** cool,” she told MMA Fighting. She was particularly thrilled when she saw Floyd Mayweather sporting an OnlyFans logo on his hat. She never really saw herself as a trailblazer, but now she does.
Rawlings never really cared about the opinions surrounding her OnlyFans page. She was just doing what was best for her and her career. Still, she’s been taken aback by the number of high-profile athletes joining OnlyFans. Many have made a decent income from the site, supplementing the sporadic nature of paychecks in fighting.
“Myself and Jessica Penne were just talking earlier, we were the f****** OG’s of that s***,” Rawlings said. They were the first fighters to take the leap and sign up, and everyone was like, ‘Are they doing porn?’ Or, ‘that’s risky,’ this or that. They clarified that it doesn’t have to be porn. It can be mainstream content, too, it’s just exclusive. Now, every fighter and their dog are on OnlyFans.
This Saturday, Rawlings returns to her primary job, clashing with Christine Ferea for the flyweight title at BKFC 56 in Utah. It’s been almost seven months since her last appearance in BKFC. Like all fighters, that’s the only time she’s getting paid from fighting throughout the year.
Meanwhile, OnlyFans has continued to pay off while she’s been out of action. “It’s definitely helped me pay the bills and stay on top, especially when I only fight twice a year this year,” Rawlings said. She enjoys the opportunity to connect with fans on a more personal level, away from Instagram, and to share exclusive content.
As for her upcoming fight, Rawlings is facing Ferea for the second time this year. Their first encounter ended disappointingly, with a doctor stopping the fight due to a cut on Rawlings’ eyebrow. Despite this setback, Rawlings found success against Ferea, who had previously dominated several opponents. Rawlings is determined to finish what she started this Saturday night.
“I think it’s easy to look dominant and look like a bully when the caliber of fighters you’re fighting aren’t that great,” Rawlings said about Ferea. She’s confident that her style versus Ferea’s is a good matchup, and she’s ready to outwork her. Rawlings believes she’s more technical, more of a sharpshooter, and she’s not going to let Ferea bully her. She’s looking forward to a good fight.