Home is where the heart is, but for Austin Hubbard, it is also where the combat is. The UFC lightweight from Illinois is gearing up for UFC 307 and amid the preparation, he is not forgetting his family. While Hubbard has been associated with the Elevation Fight Team out of Colorado now he has shifted to the Valle Flow Striking Academy in Bensenville, Illinois. Why? To stay closer to his wife and child.

Despite the pressure of one of the most crucial fights of his career, Hubbard did not lose sight of his family, particularly his wife who has been the solid foundation of their home during his training absences.

Who is Austin Hubbard’s wife? When did they get married?

Known for his moniker ‘Thud’ in the MMA community, the former LFA lightweight champion married Chelsea in 2022. While details of their initial meeting remain private, the couple’s love story is evident through Hubbard’s frequent social media posts. Meanwhile, Chelsea maintains a private Instagram account, allowing glimpses into their relationship primarily through her husband’s public profile.

One thing is clear: Hubbard cherishes his wife and daughter deeply. This devotion was on display when he decided to relocate closer to home for his recent training camp. In an interview with the UFC, he explained,  “It was too hard to go out to Colorado for this camp and be gone for seven, eight weeks. So, I’ve been home, and I’ve been training at Valle Flow Striking in Chicago.”

The former member of the Team Elevation squad further stated, “ There was no drama, no bad feelings between me and my former team. But when my wife Chelsea and I welcomed our daughter, Charlie Jo, into the world in May, it was the right time to decide to return home for camp.”

Hubbard further added, “It’s like a thousand miles a week of driving and it gets old, but it is nice being able to be home and help out with the baby and everything,” Even though he does get out of burping and diaper duties for a while, the UFC lightweight contender loves being a father and a husband. The couple welcomed their first daughter just 5 months ago so let’s see how this changed the fighter’s life!

How many kids do Austin Hubbard and Chelsea Hubbard have together?

After the couple got married in 2022, Hubbard posted adorable pictures of the wonderful day on his Instagram. He captioned it saying, “Some pics from my wedding trip last week and the week before. We had such an amazing time! It’ll forever be a highlight in my life! I typically try to keep my Instagram strictly fight-related stuff but this is too good to not share haha.”

And just when he thought this could not get any better, the couple welcomed their first child, Charlie Jo Hubbard on May 5, 2024! Currently, he is juggling his combat career and father duties together and making the most amount of time possible for his 5-month-old munchkin. “Oh man, it is work, but it is awesome,” said Hubbard to UFC. “She takes a lot of time and attention, but she also provides a lot of motivation, as well. It’s my first newborn, so it’s been a cool experience.”

Charlie Jo’s arrival in their lives marks a new chapter especially when he was struggling before he got the call to compete on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023. Hubbard is one of those fighters who you will want to root for. His undying love for his family coupled with his dedication to his craft makes him a true fighter. So are you excited to see him go against Alexander Hernandez at UFC 307?