UFC middleweight star Dan Ige came into the UFC from the familiar route of Dana White’s Contender Series back in 2017. Putting his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt to good use, the Hawaii native caught his opponent Luis Gomez in a rear naked choke hold to win a UFC contract.

After entering the world’s biggest combat sports promotion, Ige changed his nickname to make it known exactly who he was as a fighter and what he wanted to do in the UFC. In this article, we take a look at the story behind his moniker and why he changed it.

Why did Dan Ige change his nickname to ’50k’? What is the meaning behind it?

Dan Ige’s original nickname was ‘Dynamite’. However, after he won his first $50k ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus for his fantastic first-round submission over Danny Henry in his fourth fight in the promotion on a Fight Night card back in 2019, the Hawaiian decided it was time for a change of nicknames.

That is how his new moniker, ’50k’ was born. And what a nickname it is. It not only represents what type of fighter he wants to be but also rhymes well with his last name. ’50k Ige’, after all, has a great ring to it. Not to mention it tells everyone- the fans and fellow fighters- what to expect when he fights- excitement and finishes.

And that, of course, is exactly the type of fighter fans and Dana White like to see, win or lose. To be fair, Ige does have a few losses in his time in the UFC. Going into UFC 308, he has won ten of his seventeen fights in the Dana White-led promotion and has earned three $50k bonuses. But what about his old nickname?

Why was Dan Ige called ‘Dynamite’?

While it is not clear exactly why he had this moniker, it was likely because of his bar-brawler, throw-the-kitchen-sink style of fighting. In short, Ige is as explosive and dangerous as they come when inside the octagon, which is most likely why he adopted that nickname.

Even though he has changed his nickname to ’50k’, he has still kept ‘Dynamite’ in his Instagram profile, showing that he has a deep and abiding affection for his old nickname too. And why not, after all, ‘Dynamite Dan Ige’ is not only a great alliteration but indeed does represent what kind of a fighter he is or at the very least wants to be.

And now, at UFC 308 on October 26 in Abu Dhabi Ige will take on exciting, undefeated, up-and-coming middleweight prospect Lerone Murphy on the main card. A win here will probably mean a clash against a top-ten opponent next, especially if Ige can live up to his new moniker and put on a $50 performance bonus-worthy performance. Which of Ige’s monikers do you like more?