---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The UFC doesn't make me. I make them. We…"
description: "\"The UFC doesn't make me. I make them. We make them. That's what no one understands. No one gets it.\" — Al Iaquinta"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/al-iaquinta-5685_make_the-ufc-doesn-t-make-me-i-make-them-we-m_1902997.jpg"
---

#  The UFC doesn't make me. I make them. We make them. That's…

![“The UFC doesn't make me. I make them. We make them. That's what no one understands. No one gets it.” quote by Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/al-iaquinta-5685_make_the-ufc-doesn-t-make-me-i-make-them-we-m_1902997.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/al-iaquinta-5685_make_the-ufc-doesn-t-make-me-i-make-them-we-m_1902997.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/al-iaquinta-5685_make_the-ufc-doesn-t-make-me-i-make-them-we-m_1902997.jpg)

> “The UFC doesn't make me. I make them. We make them. That's what no one understands. No one gets it.”

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Athletes shape their sport’s identity, not the other way around.

**In simple terms:** You create the UFC, not vice‑versa.

Key Takeaway

Own your influence.

Themes

agency identity sports

Mood

confident assertive

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- training
- branding
- team dynamics
- career planning

Key Concepts

self‑determination culture building legacy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you maintain authenticity?
- What legacy do you want to leave?

A Different Perspective

Commercial pressures may limit autonomy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Doesn Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-make/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Make Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-make/) [Make Understands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-understands-2819498/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/them/) [UFC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ufc/) [Understands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understands/) [Understands Gets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understands-gets-2819499/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/)

## Related quotes

> [Money doesn't make me - I make the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/money-doesn-t-make-me-i-make-the-money/)

[Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/)

> [The first fight I saw was back at UFC 53, I got like $250 tickets, which back then got you real close and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/the-first-fight-i-saw-was-back-at-ufc-53-i-got-like-250-tickets-which/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [I don't fight for the UFC. I fight for myself, I fight for my team, for my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-don-t-fight-for-the-ufc-i-fight-for-myself-i-fight-for-my-team-for/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [The top-15 in the UFC, anyone can beat anyone. It's just style matchups and who shows up on a particular day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/the-top-15-in-the-ufc-anyone-can-beat-anyone-it-s-just-style-matchups/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [I love fighting for the UFC. It's the best organization in the world with the best fighters in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-love-fighting-for-the-ufc-it-s-the-best-organization-in-the-world/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [There's more to life than just being a UFC fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/there-s-more-to-life-than-just-being-a-ufc-fighter/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [“Make move or Make excuses”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olawoyeo/make-move-or-make-excuses/)

[OlawoyeO](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olawoyeo/)

> [Life is what you make it, not what others make it for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-what-you-make-it-not-what-others-make-it-for-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Love is what you make it and who you make it with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/love-is-what-you-make-it-and-who-you-make-it-with/)

[Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/)

> [“...words don't make what I make with him...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-walsh/words-don-t-make-what-i-make-with-him/)

[Kate Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-walsh/)

> [You want to know what I make? I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I can make a C+ feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-mali/you-want-to-know-what-i-make-i-make-kids-work-harder-than-they-ever/)

[Taylor Mali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-mali/)

> [Everyone asks, Will he make it, will she make it? You never make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-mizrahi/everyone-asks-will-he-make-it-will-she-make-it-you-never-make-it/)

[Isaac Mizrahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-mizrahi/)

> [“Make it?" Fred echoed. "Make what? The team? The chick? Make good? Make out? Make sense? Make money? Make time? Define your turns. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/make-it-fred-echoed-make-what-the-team-the-chick-make-good-make-out/)

[Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/)

> [I try to make a name off someone before they make a name off me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-ingram/i-try-to-make-a-name-off-someone-before-they-make-a-name-off-me/)

[Brandon Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-ingram/)

> [Our goal has never been to make the most. It's always been to make the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/our-goal-has-never-been-to-make-the-most-it-s-always-been-to-make-the/)

[Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/)

## More by Al Iaquinta

> [I feel like my whole life stops when I fight. I feel like my whole life is just dedicated to fighting. I'm not like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-feel-like-my-whole-life-stops-when-i-fight-i-feel-like-my-whole/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [I used to like the anesthesia. It was like my favorite part of the whole thing, the 10 seconds before you go out. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-used-to-like-the-anesthesia-it-was-like-my-favorite-part-of-the/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [I don't really look at the rankings. That doesn't really hold too much water with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-don-t-really-look-at-the-rankings-that-doesn-t-really-hold-too-much/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [To be ranked No. 10 in the world, in anything, you know how to get good at whatever you do. If I put that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/to-be-ranked-no-10-in-the-world-in-anything-you-know-how-to-get-good/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [A lot of people lose to the guys that I've lost to, and they get almost like it deflates them and it sends them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/a-lot-of-people-lose-to-the-guys-that-i-ve-lost-to-and-they-get/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [There's more to life than just being a UFC fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/there-s-more-to-life-than-just-being-a-ufc-fighter/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [I want to fight anybody ranked above me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-want-to-fight-anybody-ranked-above-me/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [I love fighting for the UFC. It's the best organization in the world with the best fighters in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-love-fighting-for-the-ufc-it-s-the-best-organization-in-the-world/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [At this point, I should be a physical therapist myself. I think I can do knee surgeries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/at-this-point-i-should-be-a-physical-therapist-myself-i-think-i-can/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [I'll purposely break routine to tell myself you work too hard for any superstition or dumb stuff to affect what the outcome is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-ll-purposely-break-routine-to-tell-myself-you-work-too-hard-for-any/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [I would feel very disrespected as a champion if they were putting a belt on someone else in my weight class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-would-feel-very-disrespected-as-a-champion-if-they-were-putting-a/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [The top-15 in the UFC, anyone can beat anyone. It's just style matchups and who shows up on a particular day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/the-top-15-in-the-ufc-anyone-can-beat-anyone-it-s-just-style-matchups/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [I fought in Australia before against Ross Pearson, who is kind of an adopted Australian. I think he lives most of his time spent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-fought-in-australia-before-against-ross-pearson-who-is-kind-of-an/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [I don't have the name. I'm not the former champ. I'm not this or that, but I think I'm just as tough a fighter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/i-don-t-have-the-name-i-m-not-the-former-champ-i-m-not-this-or-that/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

> [Am I going to be able to walk up a flight of stairs with my kids when I'm older? Am I going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/am-i-going-to-be-able-to-walk-up-a-flight-of-stairs-with-my-kids-when/)

[Al Iaquinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

[Explore all 100 Al Iaquinta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/)

## More Make quotes

> [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/)

[Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/)

> [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/)

[Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/)

[Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/)

> [You gotta make sacrifices sometimes. It's just the life that we live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shelton/you-gotta-make-sacrifices-sometimes-it-s-just-the-life-that-we-live/)

[Ben Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shelton/)

> [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/)

[Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/)

> [If you've got some to say to Ric Flair, you come say it to me, and I'll make the translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/if-you-ve-got-some-to-say-to-ric-flair-you-come-say-it-to-me-and-i-ll/)

[Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [There is a broad range of reaction to the work, as there is a broad range of work I make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hodges/there-is-a-broad-range-of-reaction-to-the-work-as-there-is-a-broad/)

[Jim Hodges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hodges/)

> [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/)

[William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/)

> [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/)

[Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/)

> [Imperfections are what make you perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-tell/imperfections-are-what-make-you-perfect/)

[Nia Tellé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-tell/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/)

[LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/)

> [You don't want to fix things that aren't broken, so that kind of stops you from make changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-weidman/you-don-t-want-to-fix-things-that-aren-t-broken-so-that-kind-of-stops/)

[Chris Weidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-weidman/)

[Browse all 16,612 Make quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The UFC doesn't make me. I make them. We make them. That's what no one understands. No one gets it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Al Iaquinta"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/the-ufc-doesn-t-make-me-i-make-them-we-make-them-that-s-what-no-one/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Make"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/the-ufc-doesn-t-make-me-i-make-them-we-make-them-that-s-what-no-one/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/al-iaquinta-5685_make_the-ufc-doesn-t-make-me-i-make-them-we-m_1902997.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/al-iaquinta-5685_make_the-ufc-doesn-t-make-me-i-make-them-we-m_1902997.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/423/al-iaquinta-5685_make_the-ufc-doesn-t-make-me-i-make-them-we-m_1902997.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The UFC doesn't make me. I make them. We make them. That's what no one understands. No one gets it.” — Al Iaquinta",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Al Iaquinta",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-iaquinta/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The UFC doesn't make me. I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/the-ufc-doesn-t-make-me-i-make-them-we-make-them-that-s-what-no-one/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-iaquinta/the-ufc-doesn-t-make-me-i-make-them-we-make-them-that-s-what-no-one/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
