MMA has been played for centuries in the world and is very popular up to this very day. Currently, MMA has more than 1.3 million viewers round the world, who watch via TV channels or stream the fights online.
MMA promoters have done a great job in sponsoring and preserving the sport. They look for and train potential, and organize and sponsor shows monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly depending on their budget.
Best MMA Promotions and Organizations
So this article will reveal to you the top 15 MMA promotions in the world. We ranked them according to the kinds of events they organized and their top fighters.
1. Ultimate Fighting Championship
UFC is the top on our list. The MMA promotion firm is the biggest, best, most popular, and highest in the world.
Established in 1993, the American-based MMA promotion firm has its headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada USA.
UFC is the foundation of the renowned fighters: Tito Ortiz, Chris Leben, Miguel Torres, and Ken Shamrock, and several others. They’ve hosted more than a thousand matches in more than 500 events. Their website is ufc.com
UFC Top Fighters includes:
- Jon Jones
- Petr Yan
- Israel Adesanya
- Amanda Nunes
- Alexander Volkanovsk
- Khabib Nurmagomedov
- Kamaru Usman
UFC Fights are broadcasted on UFC Pass and ESPN.
2. Bellator MMA
Established by Viacom in 2008 with its headquarters in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California USA, Bellator is an American-based MMA promotion firm that is esteemed highly as UFC.
Their Top Fighters include:
- Ryan Bader
- Patricio Pitbull
- Leu Macfarlane
- Cris Cyborg
- Douglas Lima
The website is bellator.com
Their fights are broadcasted in USA Paramount Network and also other selected local channels.
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3. Absolute Championship Akhmat
ACA was formerly known as ACB; Absolute Championship Berkut. The MMA promotion firm was founded in 2014 and its headquarters is at Grozny, Russia. Their website is aca-mma.com
ACA Top Fighters includes:
- Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov
- Tony Johnson
- Salamu Abdurahmanov
- Deivi Daniel Oliveira de Almeida
- Azamat Kerefov
- Abubakar Vagaev
The fights are broadcast on Match TV and are streamed on both YouTube and Facebook.
4. AMC Fight Nights
Formerly known as Fight Nights Global. AMC Fight Nights is a Russian-based MMA promotion firm established by Kamil Gadzhiev in 2010 and its headquarters is in Moscow, Russia.
AMC has hosted many martial arts events including K-1
5. ONE Championship
This Singaporean-based promotion is the most prominent promotion in Asia. It was founded in 2011 and its headquarters is Downtown Core, Singapore.
ONE Championship Top Fighters include:
- Aung La N Sang
- Brandon Vera
- Roman Kryklia
- Kiamrian Abbasov
- Christian Lee
- Reinier De Ridder
Website: onefc.com
Fights from the promotion are broadcasted on Fox Sports Asia and are streamed on YouTube.
6. RIZIN Fighting Federation (Rizin FF)
RIZIN FF is a Japanese MMA private promotion firm established in 2015. Its headquarters is Tokyo, Japan. The promotion firm has about 60 fighters and is popular in Japan and Asia.
Top Fighters:
- Seo Hee Ham
- Ayaka Hamasaki
- Hiromasa Ogikubo
- Shintaro Ishiwatari
- Bob Sapp
- Osunaarashi
Their fights are broadcasted internationally on FITE TV or is watched on SKY Perfect TV or streamed on YouTube.
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7. Invicta Fight Championships (IFC)
IFC is the most popular all female MMA promotion worldwide. It was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Enka Village, North Carolina, USA.
This promotion firm has hosted more than 40 events and their fights are broadcast on UFC Fight Pass and watched on YouTube.
IFC Top Fighters:
- Alesha Zappitella
- Kanako Murata
- Vanessa Porto
- Julija Stoliarenki
- Pam Sorenson
8. Pancrase
Pancrase was established by Minoru Suzuki and Masakatsu Funaki in 1993. Its headquarters is in Shinjuku City, Tokyo, Japan.
They are the top and most populous MMA promotion in Japan. With so many years of experience in this field, they have made a name for themselves by using unique tactics and fighting techniques.
Their fights are broadcast on Tokyo MX and UFC Fight Pass for foreigners.
9. M-1 Global
M-1 is a Russian-based MMA promotion firm that was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. There are well known in the whole of Russia. Their website is m1-global.com. Their fights can be streamed on their website.
Here are their top fighters:
- Sergey Morozov
- Nate Landwehr
- Roman Bogatov
- Shavkat Rakhomonov
- Bruna Silva
- Khadis Ibragimov
- Alexandar Volkov
10. Legacy Fighting Alliance
LFA was founded by Ed Soares in 2017 where its headquarters is located in Houston, Texas.
This American-based MMA promotion has organized over 85 events. Their fights are broadcast on AXS TV Fights and you can stream them online via UFC Fight Pass and on YouTube. Follow them on their website at lfa.com
Top Fighters include:
- Vannessa Demopoulos
- Zvaid Lazishvili
11. World Fighting Championship Akhmat
WFCA is located in Russia. This great MMA promotion claim that their 900 fighters have competed in 754 fights under 70 events.
Their Top Fighters include :
- Rakhman Dudaev aka The warrior
- Abubakar Vagaev
- Beslan Ushukov
- Ahmed Shervaniev
12. Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki
KSW was founded in 2004. Its headquarters is in Warsaw, Poland.
They are well known around Europe and they hosted their KSW 59 championship earlier March this year.
Their Top Fighters include:
- Mamed Khalidov
- Phil De Fries
- Michal Materla
- Lukasz Jurkowsk
- Antoni Chmielewski
Their fights are being watched on Polstar Sports. However, foreigners can stream their fights via KSWTV and YouTube
13. Deep International
Deep International was founded in 2001 and has its headquarters in Nagoya, Japan. Like Road FC, it is among the best and populous MMA Promotions in Asia.
Notable fighters who started with Deep International include :
- Ryo Chonan
- Chan Sung Jung
Their Top Fighters include
- Sumimura Ryuchirou
- Koji Takeda
- Yamitsu Dominator Satoshi
- Mizuno Tatsuya
You can watch ther fights on Abema TV
14. Road Fighting Championship
Road FC was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Wonju-si South Korea. They are among the best and populous MMA Promotions in Asia.
Road FC has produced some renowned players who excelled in MMA. Some of which includes; Siala-Mou Siliga, Aorigele
Siala-Mou Siliga is popularly known for winning six fights out of his last seven. Aorigele did same and was called A Heavyweight Supernova.
Road Fighting Championship (Road FC) Top Players include:
- Yang Hae-Jun
- Mansour Barnaoui
- Lee Jeong-Yeong
- Kim Min-Woo
- Mighty Mo
- Ham SEO-HEE
They have broadcast deals with MBC Sports, some Korean media agencies and their fights can be streamed via YouTube.
15. Cage Warriors Fight Championship
CWFC was founded by Dougie Truman in 2002 and had its headquarters in London, UK. Their debut event Armageddon happened in the same 2002.
Their top fighters include :
- Jack Cartwright
- Jake Hadley
- Agy Sardari
- Morgan Charriere
- Nathias Fredrick.
CWFC has organized so many events since its inception, more than 140 counted so far and many more subsequently. Their fights have been broadcasted by BT Sportsband by UFC FightPass, alongside more than 15 media firms worldwide who will televise and broadcast their events.
Flagship fighters include:
- Bigfoot Silva.
- Michael Bisping
- Conor McGregor
Now that’s it! 15 incredible promotions. Hope your favorite promotions were mentioned? If not, you can mention them on the comment section. Also stay tuned because we will regularly update you fans with: mma fights tonight results, current mma fighters net worth, Newly joined or Recent women’s mma fights stars and more highlights on ufc results based on winners. Also history of mixed martial art matches, especially about those who won rounds back in the days, all would be updated subsequently.
FAQs for Top Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Promotions in the World
These FAQs provide a detailed overview of the top MMA promotions worldwide, helping fans and enthusiasts navigate the landscape of the sport and choose which organizations to follow.
1. What are the top MMA promotions in the world?
The top MMA promotions in the world include the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Bellator MMA, ONE Championship, Professional Fighters League (PFL), and Rizin Fighting Federation. These organizations are known for hosting elite fighters and high-profile events.
2. What makes the UFC the leading MMA promotion globally?
The UFC is the most recognized MMA promotion worldwide due to its high-quality production, large roster of top-ranked fighters, global reach, and significant influence on the sport’s mainstream popularity. The UFC also hosts the majority of MMA’s biggest and most-watched events.
3. How does Bellator MMA differ from the UFC?
Bellator MMA, while similar to the UFC in its promotion of top-tier MMA talent, differs in its tournament-style events and focus on both veteran and up-and-coming fighters. Bellator also offers unique matchups that aren’t often seen in the UFC.
4. What is ONE Championship, and why is it significant?
ONE Championship is Asia’s largest MMA promotion, known for its diverse fight cards that include MMA, Muay Thai, and kickboxing bouts. It has a strong following in Asia and is significant for its efforts to promote martial arts as a global sport with deep cultural roots.
5. What is the Professional Fighters League (PFL), and how does its format differ from other promotions?
The PFL is unique in its league format, featuring a regular season, playoffs, and championship, similar to traditional sports leagues. Fighters earn points in the regular season to qualify for the playoffs, where they compete for a million-dollar prize.
6. Where does Rizin Fighting Federation fit in the global MMA scene?
Rizin Fighting Federation, based in Japan, is known for its grand, spectacle-driven events that hark back to the pride era of Japanese MMA. It features a mix of MMA, kickboxing, and grappling matches, attracting both local and international fighters.
7. Are there any other notable MMA promotions worldwide?
Yes, other notable promotions include Cage Warriors in Europe, KSW in Poland, Invicta FC (which focuses on women’s MMA), and LFA (Legacy Fighting Alliance) in the United States, which is known for being a feeder organization to larger promotions like the UFC.
8. Which MMA promotions are best for up-and-coming fighters?
Promotions like LFA, Cage Warriors, and Invicta FC are excellent platforms for rising fighters to gain experience and visibility. These organizations have a strong track record of developing talent that moves on to larger promotions like the UFC and Bellator.
9. How can I watch events from the top MMA promotions?
UFC events can be watched on platforms like ESPN+ (U.S.) or UFC Fight Pass globally. Bellator is available on Showtime in the U.S. and BBC iPlayer in the U.K. ONE Championship broadcasts on various networks in Asia and globally via their app and YouTube. The PFL is available on ESPN and Rizin on FITE.tv.
10. What factors should I consider when choosing an MMA promotion to follow?
Consider the quality of fighters, the type of events hosted (e.g., tournament style vs. single fights), the promotion’s global reach, and your access to broadcasts. Additionally, personal preference for certain fighters or fighting styles can guide your choice.
