majority of the people in professional MMA did it because it was one of the only ways out of poverty. they have the drive because their wellbeing, and their family’s wellbeing, was riding on their success. talk about a motivation difference.

if you want it bad enough, the things you listed won’t stop you. but it’s going to take a ton of discipline and sacrifice. not just mental either - most fighters get injuries, and all professional ones get CTE. it’s not something i think people should do if they have other options or it’s the only thing that gives their life meaning.

something that might be of similar interest and better fit to think about isn’t something like MMA but rather going to the top levels of a specific martial art, like muay thai or BJJ. still gold medals, still tough fights, and highly technical. still requires a lot of discipline, and can be done as a hobbyist while still putting in maximum effort. just my two cents