Ultimate Fighting Championship
| File:UFC Logo.svg | |
| UFC | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | |
| Founded | November 12, 1993 |
| Founders | |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas, Nevada , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
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| Products |
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| Services | Licensing |
| Revenue | Increase Template:US$ (2024) |
| Increase Template:US$ (2024) | |
Number of employees | ~400 (2016) |
| Parent | TKO Group Holdings |
| Divisions | UFC Apex UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu UFC Fight Pass UFC Performance Institute |
| Website | UFC.com |
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a premier American promotion company specializing in mixed martial arts (MMA), headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. It operates as a subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings, which is predominantly owned by Endeavor Group Holdings. Recognized as the world’s foremost MMA organization, the UFC manages contracts for more than 578 fighters competing across 11 weight categories—eight for men and three for women—and organizes international events governed by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. By 2024, the organization has conducted upwards of 700 events. Since 2001, Dana White has held the position of president and elevated to CEO in 2023, guiding the company's evolution into a multibillion-dollar enterprise.
Established in 1993 by entrepreneur Art Davie, Brazilian martial artist Rorion Gracie, and executives from Semaphore Entertainment Group including CEO Bob Meyrowitz, the inaugural UFC event took place in Denver, Colorado. The original concept focused on identifying the most effective martial art with minimal regulations and no weight divisions. As the sport progressed, rules were refined and fighters began incorporating multiple fighting styles, ultimately shaping contemporary mixed martial arts.
Initially under Semaphore Entertainment Group ownership, the UFC was acquired in 2001 by brothers Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta, who formed Zuffa to manage operations and appointed Dana White as president. In 2016, Zuffa was sold for $4.025 billion to a consortium led by Endeavor (formerly William Morris Endeavor), alongside Silver Lake Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and MSD Capital. Endeavor gained full control in 2021 through a $1.7 billion purchase.
The company expanded strategically through television agreements and market entries in Australia, Asia, Europe, and additional U.S. regions, enhancing its visibility in mainstream media. The UFC generated $609 million in revenue in 2015 and secured a $1.5 billion domestic media rights contract with ESPN spanning five years.
In April 2023, Endeavor revealed plans to merge UFC with wrestling organization WWE, creating TKO Group Holdings with Endeavor as majority owner; Vince McMahon took on the role of executive chairman while Dana White remained UFC president. This merger finalized on September 12, 2023. McMahon resigned in January 2024 amid controversy. In 2025, UFC entered a seven-year agreement worth $7.7 billion with Paramount Skydance Corporation (which operates CBS Sports and Paramount+), marking its complete exit from pay-per-view distribution.[1]
Competition in the Early 1990s
Art Davie proposed an eight-man single-elimination contest called "War of the Worlds" to John Milius and Rorion Gracie, inspired by the Gracie family's "Gracies in Action" videos that demonstrated Brazilian jiu-jitsu overcoming other martial arts. The concept aimed to identify the most effective martial art through unrestricted combat. Gracie agreed to promote his family’s discipline, while Milius took on the role of creative director. Davie developed the business strategy, and 28 investors backed WOW Promotions to transform the tournament into a television franchise.
In 1993, WOW searched for a broadcast partner and approached pay-per-view companies TVKO (HBO), SET (Showtime), and Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG). Only SEG accepted, forming a partnership in May 1993. The UFC was presented as a live-action fighting video game competition. SEG employed Jason Cusson to design the fighting arena; rejecting conventional boxing rings due to safety and tactical reasons, Cusson created the distinctive eight-sided Octagon enclosed by chain-link fencing, setting UFC apart from boxing and wrestling. SEG titled the event "The Ultimate Fighting Championship."
The inaugural event, later known as UFC 1, took place at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver on November 12, 1993, with Art Davie acting as matchmaker. Competitors came from various fighting styles such as kickboxing, taekwondo, savate, karate, shootfighting, sumo wrestling, boxing, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Royce Gracie’s submission techniques dominated the competition, earning him the first tournament championship by submitting three adversaries. The event attracted 86,592 pay-per-view buyers and was a major success.
Although UFC president Dana White later stated that the event was intended as a one-time occurrence that unexpectedly thrived, Davie contests this in his book Is This Legal?, revealing that SEG offered a five-year development contract aiming to establish a franchise rather than just a single show.
Initially lacking weight divisions, fighters often encountered opponents with substantial size differences—for instance, at UFC 3, Keith Hackney faced Emmanuel Yarbrough despite being at a nine-inch height and 400-pound weight disadvantage.
Early UFC events featured a wide range of competitors beyond Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock, including Hall of Famer Dan Severn, Marco Ruas, Gary Goodridge, Don Frye, Kimo Leopoldo, Oleg Taktarov, and Tank Abbott.
Following UFC 5 in Charlotte, North Carolina in April 1995, Davie and Gracie sold their shares to SEG and dissolved WOW Promotions.
Rule Refinements
Although UFC initially promoted itself with the slogan "There are no rules" during its early years in the 1990s, it actually operated under limited restrictions. For instance, during a qualifying bout at UFC 4 between Jason Fairn and Guy Mezger, both fighters agreed not to pull hair. Early UFC events were known for their intense violence.
UFC 5 introduced "The Superfight," a single match featuring a rematch between three-time champion Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock. This non-tournament bout sought to establish the first reigning UFC Champion for tournament victors to challenge; over time it expanded to include both championship and non-championship fights and eventually replaced tournaments altogether.
However, the original "Superfight" was deemed unsuccessful. Shamrock controlled much of the fight within Gracie's guard for 36 minutes with minimal action, resulting in audience frustration and ultimately ending in a draw after exceeding time limits. This controversial result led UFC to adopt time limits, judges for decisions, and empowered referees to restart inactive contests.
In 1996, UFC extended its reach internationally with UFC 8 held in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. This was followed by UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan in 1997—the organization's first event outside the continental United States.
Late 1990s controversy and regulatory changes
The early, aggressive style of mixed martial arts attracted significant attention from U.S. regulators. In 1996, Senator John McCain famously criticized the UFC, labeling it "human cockfighting" and spearheading efforts to outlaw the sport nationwide. As a result, thirty-six states enacted bans on "no-holds-barred" fighting, including New York, which compelled the UFC to move UFC 12 to Dothan, Alabama. Despite restricted visibility limited to DirecTV pay-per-view, the organization continued operating.
In reaction to this opposition, the UFC partnered with state athletic commissions to reform its rules, eliminating the most contentious practices while retaining striking and grappling techniques. Beginning with UFC 12, weight divisions were implemented and fish-hooking was prohibited; by UFC 14, gloves became compulsory and head kicks to a grounded opponent were disallowed. Later events introduced bans on hair pulling, strikes targeting the back of the neck and head, headbutts, manipulation of small joints, and groin attacks. The introduction of five-minute rounds at UFC 21 signaled a move toward legitimizing the sport. These modifications affected fighters’ tactics—for example, Mark Coleman’s ground-and-pound approach diminished after headbutts were outlawed.
With commissioner Jeff Blatnick and referee John McCarthy leading regulatory collaboration, the UFC strengthened its relationship with athletic commissions. Together with matchmaker Joe Silva, they formulated detailed policies and codes of conduct that continue to underpin MMA governance today. Their nationwide educational initiatives helped shift public opinion from viewing the sport as barbaric entertainment to a regulated athletic competition. By April 2000, California became the first state to adopt formalized MMA regulations, soon followed by New Jersey.
As official sanctioning advanced, UFC events began appearing in less traditional sports markets such as Iowa, Mississippi, Louisiana, Wyoming, and Alabama. During this period, SEG encountered difficulties securing home-video distribution for UFC 23 through UFC 29. Concurrently, other organizations sought sanctioning; notably, the International Fighting Championships hosted the first sanctioned MMA event in the U.S., held in New Jersey in September 2000. Two months later, UFC 28 became the first UFC event conducted under New Jersey’s "Unified Rules," representing a critical milestone in establishing mixed martial arts within regulated jurisdictions.
2001 and the start of the Zuffa era
On the verge of bankruptcy in 2000, SEG attracted interest from Station Casinos executives Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta along with their associate Dana White, who proposed acquiring the UFC. In January 2001, the Fertitta brothers purchased the organization for $2 million and formed Zuffa, LLC as its parent company.
Lorenzo Fertitta emphasized that although few tangible assets were included beyond the brand name itself—which held substantial value—the acquisition encompassed a wooden octagon and roughly a dozen fighter contracts. Subsequently, they obtained UFC’s DVD distribution rights from Lionsgate for an additional $2 million.
Utilizing Lorenzo Fertitta’s connections with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Zuffa secured official sanctioning in Nevada in 2001. The UFC then resumed pay-per-view broadcasts with UFC 33, which featured three championship matches.
Survival challenges and organizational turnaround
Following the acquisition, UFC experienced steady growth fueled by enhanced advertising efforts, corporate sponsorship deals, pay-per-view revenue increases, and home video sales.
Dana White acknowledges Donald Trump as an early supporter whose encouragement was instrumental in UFC’s expansion. Hosting larger-scale events at venues such as Trump Taj Mahal and MGM Grand Garden Arena enabled UFC to secure its inaugural television agreement with Fox Sports Net. In June 2002, the Best Damn Sports Show Period broadcast the first MMA fight on American cable television, featuring the headline bout between Chuck Liddell and Vitor Belfort at UFC 37.5.
UFC 40 represented a critical turning point: nearly sold out with an attendance of 13,022 at MGM Grand Garden Arena and achieving 150,000 pay-per-view purchases—twice the average of previous Zuffa-promoted events. The event was headlined by Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz facing former Superfight Champion Ken Shamrock and garnered mainstream media attention from outlets like ESPN and USA Today. This milestone is often credited with rescuing UFC from near bankruptcy; earlier Zuffa events had averaged only 45,000 buys while incurring significant financial losses. The marketing strategy that contributed to this success involved promoting crossover athletes from MMA and professional wrestling, a concept inspired by Japan's Pride Fighting Championships.
Veteran referee John McCarthy has described UFC 40 as the defining moment for MMA’s survival in the United States:
Despite these advances, by 2004 Zuffa had recorded losses totaling $34 million since acquiring the UFC.
The Ultimate Fighter and surge in mainstream appeal
Confronted with the risk of closure, UFC broadened its reach beyond pay-per-view by launching a reality television series. After gaining exposure on American Casino, the Fertitta brothers conceived their own format: The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), a reality competition featuring up-and-coming MMA fighters vying for a lucrative six-figure UFC contract through exhibition bouts. Although initially rejected by networks, Spike TV agreed to air the series after UFC committed to funding the $10 million production cost.
In January 2005, Spike TV debuted TUF 1, scheduled after WWE Raw. The season finale, highlighted by an iconic fight between finalists Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar, achieved a 1.9 Nielsen rating and significantly elevated UFC’s public profile. Dana White credits this breakthrough with saving the organization, noting that a contract for a second season was signed immediately following the finale.
Building on this momentum, subsequent seasons aired on Spike through 2011 before transitioning to FX in 2012. Spike also broadcast additional UFC programming such as UFC Unleashed, live UFC Fight Night events beginning in August 2005, and promotional specials like Countdown.
When UFC entered into a partnership with Fox in 2011, Spike concluded its six-year association after airing TUF season 14. Starting with season 15 in spring 2012, The Ultimate Fighter moved to FX with episodes edited and broadcast within one week of filming alongside live elimination fights to enhance viewer engagement.
Expansion during the mid-2000s
With growing exposure, pay-per-view purchases for UFC events increased substantially. UFC 52, which followed The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 and featured future Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell, attracted approximately 300,000 buys—doubling the prior record set at UFC 40 of 150,000. After Season 2 concluded, the matchup between Liddell and Couture at UFC 57 drew an estimated 410,000 buys.
In 2006, pay-per-view figures continued to climb: UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie, marking Royce Gracie’s first fight in over a decade, earned around 620,000 buys; UFC 61, featuring the Shamrock-Ortiz rematch from The Ultimate Fighter 3, reached approximately 775,000 buys. The organization achieved a major milestone with UFC 66, where Ortiz faced Liddell before more than one million pay-per-view purchases.
To support this growth trajectory, UFC appointed former Nevada Athletic Commission director Marc Ratner as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs in March 2006. Ratner’s role involved lobbying athletic commissions to legalize MMA in additional regions and boosting UFC’s media presence.
In December of that year, Zuffa acquired northern California-based promotion World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) to prevent the International Fight League (IFL) from forming a partnership with Versus (now NBCSN). WEC specialized in lighter weight divisions that complemented UFC’s focus on heavier classes.
Also during December 2006, Zuffa purchased selected assets from Las Vegas rival World Fighting Alliance (WFA), including fighter contracts such as those of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Lyoto Machida despite WFA’s financial difficulties.
The burgeoning popularity of MMA attracted significant interest from sports betting markets; BodogLife.com predicted that UFC would surpass boxing in betting revenue during 2007. Additionally, UFC set new pay-per-view industry records in 2006 by generating over $222 million in revenue—outperforming WWE and boxing revenues that year.
This accelerated rise was reflected in mainstream media coverage as well: Roger Huerta appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, while Chuck Liddell graced the front page of ESPN The Magazine in May 2007.
Acquisition and Integration of Pride
Mixed Martial Arts in Japan originated from "shoot wrestling", a form of professional wrestling emphasizing realism. Before the UFC's establishment, organizations such as Shooto and Pancrase were already promoting authentic hybrid combat events. This foundation led to the launch of Pride Fighting Championships in 1997, which rapidly became the globe's premier MMA organization, attracting vast audiences both in arenas and through free-to-air and pay-per-view broadcasts. In contrast, the UFC struggled with political obstacles, modest pay-per-view sales, and restricted venue options. As a result, numerous leading UFC fighters migrated to Pride seeking enhanced compensation and greater recognition.
Financial troubles beset Pride by 2006 after it lost significant Japanese television contracts following revelations of connections to the yakuza. On March 27, 2007, Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, majority owners of the UFC, acquired the Pride brand. Initially, plans were made for both promotions to remain independent while collaborating on events that featured champions from each organization, aiming to establish an MMA equivalent of the "Super Bowl."
However, Dana White soon concluded that Pride’s operational model was unsustainable and its reputation in Japan had become "toxic," making new broadcast agreements difficult. Consequently, Pride ceased operations, with many elite fighters—including Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Maurício Rua, Dan Henderson, Mirko Cro Cop, and Wanderlei Silva—transitioning to compete under the UFC banner. On October 4, 2007, Pride Worldwide shut down its Japanese office, effectively ending activities under its parent company Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE).
On June 18, 2008, Lorenzo Fertitta stepped down from his role at Station Casinos to dedicate himself fully to expanding Zuffa’s global footprint, particularly focusing on the UFC. His initiatives secured television contracts across markets such as China, France, Mexico, and Germany while broadening revenue streams through ventures including a UFC video game and collectible action figures.
Growth from Late 2000s through Mid-2010s Highlighted by UFC 100
The year 2009 marked a significant rise in UFC’s prominence with events like UFC 90 through UFC 98 culminating in UFC 100. This milestone event generated approximately 1.6 million pay-per-view purchases fueled by marquee fights including Brock Lesnar versus Frank Mir, Georges St-Pierre against Thiago Alves, and Dan Henderson facing Michael Bisping. The success attracted ESPN’s interest, resulting in expanded coverage and the debut of MMA Live on ESPN2 in May 2010.
Despite setbacks during late 2009 caused by multiple fighter injuries and health complications—most notably Brock Lesnar’s severe struggle with diverticulitis—the organization regained momentum early in 2010. Key moments included title defenses by Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva as well as Lyoto Machida’s first defeat to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua for the Light Heavyweight championship. UFC 114 featured former titleholders Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson serving as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, marking the promotion’s inaugural main event headlined by black fighters and drawing over one million pay-per-view buys.
In summer 2010 at UFC 116, Brock Lesnar successfully defended his Heavyweight championship against interim titleholder Shane Carwin before an audience of approximately 1.25 million PPV viewers. Lesnar overcame early adversity to secure victory via arm-triangle choke submission; critics praised the event for its thrilling contests. Following Anderson Silva’s dramatic win over Chael Sonnen at UFC 117, Lesnar relinquished his belt to Cain Velasquez at UFC 121 by first-round TKO.
UFC 129 set new records when held at Toronto’s Rogers Centre—it became the largest North American UFC event ever by selling out all 55,000 seats and generating over $11 million in gate receipts, surpassing previous MMA attendance and revenue benchmarks. The occasion also featured a two-day UFC Fan Expo hosted at the Direct Energy Centre.
On November 5, 2016, after regulatory delays, the UFC conducted its inaugural exhibition in New York City with a high-profile matchup between Conor McGregor and Eddie Alvarez that significantly elevated brand exposure within this critical market.
WEC Merger
In late 2006, Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, acquired World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) and held its inaugural event under new management on January 20, 2007. Shortly thereafter, WEC made its television debut on the Versus Network in June 2007.
On October 28, 2010, Zuffa declared the consolidation of WEC into the UFC. The final WEC event was held on December 16, 2010. This integration brought WEC's bantamweight, featherweight, and lightweight divisions into the UFC's lineup. The reigning WEC Featherweight and Bantamweight Champions at that time, José Aldo and Dominick Cruz, were officially recognized as the first UFC champions in their respective weight classes.
Reed Harris, who co-founded WEC alongside Scott Adams, shared ambivalent sentiments regarding the merger but ultimately expressed pride in the promotion’s development and its assimilation into what could evolve into one of the largest sports entities worldwide.
Strikeforce Acquisition
On March 12, 2011, Dana White announced that Zuffa had purchased Strikeforce. The organization continued to operate autonomously under CEO Scott Coker, who confirmed plans for Fedor Emelianenko’s comeback and ongoing collaboration with M-1 Global for co-promoted events.
After extending operations through 2012, Strikeforce's heavyweight division (with the exception of Grand Prix finalists) was absorbed into the UFC roster, while the Challengers series was discontinued.
Strikeforce staged its concluding event, Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine, on January 12, 2013. Following this event, the promotion was disbanded with fighter contracts either terminated or transitioned to the UFC.
Fox Partnership
| Event | Date | Rating | Share | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Velasquez vs. dos Santos | November 12, 2011 | 3.1 | 5 | 5.7 million |
| Evans vs. Davis | January 28, 2012 | 2.6 | 5 | 4.7 million |
| Diaz vs. Miller | May 5, 2012 | 1.5 | 3 | 2.4 million |
| Shogun vs. Vera | August 4, 2012 | 1.4 | 3 | 2.4 million |
| Henderson vs. Diaz | December 8, 2012 | 2.5 | 5 | 4.4 million |
| Johnson vs. Dodson | January 26, 2013 | 2.4 | 5 | 4.2 million |
| Henderson vs. Melendez | April 20, 2013 | 2.2 | 4 | 3.7 million |
| Johnson vs. Moraga | July 27, 2013 | 1.5 | 3 | 2.4 million |
| Johnson vs. Benavidez 2 | December 14, 2013 | 1.8 | 3 | 2.8 million |
| Henderson vs. Thomson | January 25, 2014 | 1.9 | 3 | 3.2 million |
| Werdum vs. Browne | April 19, 2014 | 1.6 | 3 | 2.5 million |
| Lawler vs. Brown | July 26, 2014 | 1.5 | 3 | 2.5 million |
| dos Santos vs. Miocic | December 13, 2014 | 1.6 | 3 | 2.8 million |
| Gustafsson vs. Johnson | January 24, 2015 | 1.8 | 4 | 3.0 million |
On August 18, 2011, the Ultimate Fighting Championship finalized a seven-year broadcasting agreement with Fox Sports, ending its previous deals with Spike TV and Versus (now NBC Sports Network). This contract included four events aired on the primary Fox network annually, along with thirty-two live Friday night fights broadcast on FX cable channel each year; it also covered twenty-four events following The Ultimate Fighter reality series and six additional Fight Night shows.
The debut UFC broadcast under this partnership—UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. dos Santos—featured a single bout where Junior dos Santos knocked out undefeated heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in just over one minute of the first round (at 1:04). This broadcast reached a peak audience of approximately 8.8 million viewers and averaged about 5.7 million viewers overall, setting records as the highest-rated MMA telecast ever and marking the most-watched combat sports program since Lennox Lewis faced Vitali Klitschko on HBO in 2003.
This alliance also enabled expanded programming such as a weekly UFC magazine-style show; CEO Lorenzo Fertitta suggested potential growth to multiple weekly episodes to increase audience interaction.
Throughout this deal’s duration, UFC retained control over production elements including its commentary team led by Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan; meanwhile, Fox Sports managed pre- and post-fight coverage to enhance viewer engagement and solidify UFC’s presence within mainstream sports broadcasting channels.
Women's MMA
Dana White officially announced on November 16, 2012, that the UFC would include women's mixed martial arts, marked by signing Strikeforce bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. She earned the distinction of becoming the inaugural female UFC champion, the first Olympic medalist to hold a UFC title, and the first woman to successfully defend a UFC championship, achieving six title defenses.
On December 11, 2013, the UFC secured contracts for 11 female athletes from Invicta Fighting Championships to establish its 115-pound Strawweight division. Among these fighters, eight participated in the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter, titled The Ultimate Fighter: Team Pettis vs. Team Melendez, alongside eight additional competitors selected through open tryouts. The season’s victor and Invicta FC Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza became the first UFC women’s strawweight titleholder by defeating Rose Namajunas in the finale. Other prominent fighters included Felice Herrig, Tecia Torres, Joanne Calderwood, Bec Hyatt, Randa Markos, Jessica Penne, and Joanna Jędrzejczyk.
International expansion
The UFC’s inaugural event beyond the contiguous United States occurred in Puerto Rico with UFC 8 in 1996.
Since hosting UFC 83 in 2008, Canada has staged 18 events, highlighted by UFC 129 at Rogers Centre, which set an attendance record of 55,724 spectators. The United Kingdom has also presented 18 events, beginning with UFC 38 in London (2002) and most recently with UFC 304 in Manchester (2024). Ireland was host to UFC 93 (2009) and UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Brandao (2014). On continental Europe, Germany has organized six events since 2009, Sweden three since 2012, and Poland held its debut event in 2015.
Brazil’s first UFC appearance was at UFC Brazil: Ultimate Brazil in São Paulo (1998). After a period without events, the UFC returned in 2011 and has since conducted over twenty shows there, most recently UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Alves. Mexico entered the Latin American scene with UFC 180 (2014), followed by UFC 188 (2015).
Australia has hosted seven events starting with UFC 110 (2010), with the latest occurring in December 2018. New Zealand held its inaugural event in 2014 and last hosted a UFC card in February 2020.
Within Asia, UFC events have been held across five nations. Japan welcomed its first event in 1997 and continued hosting multiple cards until 2014. The United Arab Emirates staged three events between 2010 and 2024. Macau hosted three events from 2012 to 2014. Singapore’s debut event was in 2014, while the Philippines hosted UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Faber in 2015.
The reality show The Ultimate Fighter has expanded globally with editions produced in Brazil (since 2012), Australia (against UK – 2012), China (2013), Canada (versus Australia – 2014), and Latin America (2014).
TRT ban
On February 27, 2014, the Nevada State Athletic Commission prohibited the use of Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). Subsequently, the UFC implemented a ban on TRT across all its events worldwide under its regulatory jurisdiction.
Class Action: Le vs. Zuffa (UFC) Antitrust Litigation
In December 2014, a group of fighters initiated an antitrust lawsuit against Zuffa, accusing the company of limiting fighters' autonomy over their careers and earnings. The case advanced through federal court in Nevada, where a motion by Zuffa to halt discovery of financial documents spanning 15 years was denied.
This development ignited discussions about the management of UFC's confidential data, with MMAFA founder Rob Maysey spearheading advocacy for reforms similar to those established by the Ali Act (2000).
Beginning later in 2015, a 12 to 16-month investigation ensued, during which both parties exchanged over 100,000 documents. Reports indicated that UFC allocated between 16% and 22% of its revenue to fighters, a proportion considerably lower than other major sports leagues such as the NBA, MLB, and NHL, which typically distribute around half of their revenues.
Additional legal actions have challenged UFC's contractual frameworks. In 2020, fighters including Cung Le and Nate Quarry accused the organization of anticompetitive practices that suppressed compensation through exclusive long-term agreements and "champion's clauses." They further alleged restrictions on fighters' image rights and substantial UFC shares of merchandise income. Although initially dismissed, this lawsuit was reinstated on appeal in 2021. On October 1, 2023, the Ninth Circuit court rejected Zuffa's appeal.
On August 9, 2023, U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware certified a class action representing more than 1,200 former UFC fighters who competed from December 2010 to June 2017. These plaintiffs sought between $800 million and $1.6 billion in unpaid wages. Antitrust statutes could triple damages awarded, potentially imposing multibillion-dollar liabilities on UFC. The trial was set for April 8, 2024.
On March 20, 2024, UFC’s parent company TKO consented to a $335 million settlement, deductible for tax purposes. Nevertheless, on July 31, 2024, Judge Boulware declined preliminary approval of the settlement and ordered the case to proceed to a jury trial scheduled for October 28.
=Smith vs. UFC
Leslie Smith, a former fighter, filed suit against UFC alleging breaches of federal labor regulations by designating fighters as independent contractors rather than employees. Although dismissed in 2019, Smith has pursued an appeal against this ruling.
2016 Acquisition by WME-IMG and Subsequent Developments
In May 2016, reports emerged that Zuffa, LLC—the parent company of UFC—was engaged in negotiations for a sale valued between $3.5 billion and $4 billion. At that time, UFC’s EBITDA was estimated at $200–250 million for the year 2015. Potential buyers included Dalian Wanda Group, China Media Capital, and WME–IMG (Endeavor).
The sale was finalized on July 9, 2016, when a consortium led by WME–IMG, Silver Lake Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and MSD Capital acquired UFC for $4.025 billion—then the largest transaction ever recorded in sports history. Flash Entertainment maintained a minority stake of 10%, while Dana White retained his 9% ownership share and continued as president. Lorenzo Fertitta stepped down from his roles as chairman and CEO. In September 2017, WME–IMG rebranded itself as Endeavor. Dana White later disclosed that an undisclosed $5 billion offer was declined in favor of WME–IMG due to an existing relationship with CEO Ari Emanuel.
In October 2016, Endeavor released financial data revealing that UFC generated record revenue of $609 million during 2015. Approximately seventy-six percent of this income derived from "content," encompassing media rights agreements, pay-per-view sales, and subscriptions to UFC Fight Pass; pay-per-view alone represented 42% of content-related revenue followed by domestic and international media rights deals.
ESPN collaboration
In May 2018, UFC finalized new media rights agreements in the United States with Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International and ESPN Inc., taking over from the former deal with 21st Century Fox beginning January 2019. These five-year arrangements are valued at $300 million annually for both digital and linear rights, nearly doubling the amount Fox received in its final year. The contracts include broadcasting 42 events each year across ESPN platforms. Preliminary fights for UFC pay-per-view events air on ESPN's linear channels, alongside 10 annual UFC on ESPN Fight Night events. The streaming platform ESPN+ presents 20 exclusive UFC Fight Night cards annually, each featuring a full lineup of 12 fights, with preliminaries available solely on ESPN+. Additionally, ESPN+ holds on-demand access to UFC's archival content, new seasons of Dana White's Contender Series, and other original shows. Subscribers can also add UFC Fight Pass to their ESPN+ service to stream pay-per-view events.
On March 18, 2019, ESPN extended this partnership by two years and announced that all future UFC pay-per-view events in the U.S. would be exclusively available to ESPN+ subscribers starting with UFC 236, discontinuing traditional TV provider sales. The standard price for PPVs was lowered from $64.99 to $59.99, and new customers have the option to purchase a bundled package including a one-year ESPN+ subscription alongside the UFC PPV.
M-1 Global collaboration
On July 18, 2018, UFC revealed a strategic alliance with Russian MMA promoter M-1 Global, designating M-1 as a developmental league focused on identifying Russian talent for UFC and supporting the promotion of UFC events within Russia. This agreement also granted M-1 champions the pathway to sign contracts with UFC.
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, UFC held its March 13, 2020 event, UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira, in Brasília, Brazil without spectators present. Subsequently, on March 16, UFC postponed the following three events—UFC Fight Night: Woodley vs. Edwards, UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Rozenstruik, and UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris—rescheduling them for later dates.
UFC president Dana White announced that UFC 249, initially planned for April 18 at Barclays Center, would proceed at a different venue with no audience due to New York’s stay-at-home mandate and loss of event sanctioning from the New York State Athletic Commission. After travel bans led to a revised fight card on April 6, White outlined intentions to host UFC 249 and subsequent U.S.-based events over a two-month span at an undisclosed location, including securing a private island nicknamed "Fight Island" to accommodate international athletes.
The alternative location for UFC 249 was identified as Tachi Palace, a tribal casino in Lemoore, California, which lies outside California State Athletic Commission authority, enabling self-regulation. Nevertheless, on April 9, all upcoming events including UFC 249 were canceled following pressure from ESPN Inc., parent company The Walt Disney Company, and California Governor Gavin Newsom.
After Florida classified professional sports as "essential services," UFC 249 was held on May 9, 2020 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida without live audiences. The Florida State Boxing Commission approved comprehensive health measures for the event. Subsequent fights—UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira and UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris—also took place there in May. Middleweight fighter Ronaldo Souza tested positive for COVID-19 prior to UFC 249 and was withdrawn from his scheduled bout; no other positive cases emerged.
In April 2021, UFC hosted UFC 261 at VyStar Arena at full capacity without mask mandates. Although this represented a return to pre-pandemic attendance levels, public health officials voiced concerns about potential health risks amid ongoing pandemic conditions.
Dispute over eye pokes
In March 2021, following a serious eye poke that prematurely ended the headline fight at UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad, the UFC encountered calls to revise fighter glove designs. Unlike other gloves that curve around the knuckles to keep fingers protected, the UFC’s current gloves allow fingers to remain extended. This design prompted fighters, coaches, and analysts alike to demand glove modifications aimed at minimizing injury risks.
Endeavor’s acquisition of Zuffa
On April 29, 2021, Endeavor successfully launched an initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange. Utilizing the capital raised from this IPO, Endeavor proceeded to purchase the remaining shares of Zuffa for $1.7 billion, thereby converting Zuffa into a fully owned subsidiary.
Gambling controversy
Suspicious wagering activity surfaced on November 5, 2022, involving a match between Darrick Minner, who was coached by UFC trainer and bettor James Krause, and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke at UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos. Hours before the fight, Minner’s odds shifted dramatically against him, and during the bout, he appeared to sustain a leg re-injury before succumbing via technical knockout.
An investigation conducted by UFC’s official betting partner uncovered no wrongdoing by fighters or officials. Nevertheless, on November 18, the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended Krause’s license pending further inquiry. Concurrently, the UFC prohibited participation from fighters affiliated with Krause’s gym until the investigation concluded.
In response to these events, the UFC established new regulations barring athletes, coaches, and their immediate family members from placing wagers on UFC competitions.
Formation of TKO through Endeavor-WWE merger
On September 12, 2023, Endeavor combined forces with professional wrestling organization WWE to form a publicly traded entity under ticker "TKO," overseen by Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel. WWE shareholders retained a 49% ownership stake. Initially serving as executive chairman, Vince McMahon stepped down on January 26, 2024, amid allegations involving sex trafficking and sexual assault. The merger valued UFC at $12.1 billion. Dana White continued as UFC CEO, maintaining his leadership role from the previous Endeavor ownership.
On June 6, 2025, UFC introduced UFC Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (UFC BJJ), a sister promotion dedicated to submission grappling and branded as "the world’s premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu live event series." The debut event, UFC BJJ 1: Musumeci vs. Gabriel, was held on June 25, 2025, coinciding with UFC 317 International Fight Week. This launch was complemented by the UFC BJJ: Road to the Title reality web series hosted on YouTube.
Collaboration with Paramount
On August 11, 2025, UFC finalized a seven-year media rights agreement worth $7.7 billion with Paramount Skydance, granting exclusive streaming rights for all UFC content in the United States via Paramount+. This deal covers 13 numbered events and approximately 30 Fight Night cards annually. It marks a shift away from traditional pay-per-view distribution for numbered events by including them within Paramount+ subscriptions at no additional charge; certain marquee events will also be broadcast on CBS. TKO Group CEO Mark Shapiro described pay-per-view as an "outdated" model while Dana White indicated that occasional PPV events might still occur. This contract represents one of the initial major rights agreements following Skydance's acquisition.
On October 28, 2025, UFC and Paramount Skydance expanded their partnership to encompass exclusive streaming access on Paramount+ throughout Latin America. In Australia, all UFC Fight Nights and preliminary bouts for numbered events will be exclusively streamed via Paramount+, with main card broadcasting rights retained by Foxtel.
UFC Apex
The UFC Apex serves as a dedicated venue for live events and production, officially opening its doors on June 18, 2019. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the Apex hosted several UFC events, such as UFC 250, conducted without spectators. Notably, the Octagon within the Apex is reduced in size compared to the traditional UFC Octagon, measuring 25 feet across rather than the usual 30 feet.
UFC Performance Institute
Situated opposite the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, the UFC Performance Institute functions as the premier training and innovation hub for mixed martial arts under UFC’s banner. Established in 2017, it stands as the first facility worldwide exclusively devoted to MMA research, athlete development, and performance optimization. More than 400 MMA competitors alongside professional athletes from the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB have accessed its advanced resources.
A second institute was inaugurated in Shanghai, China, in June 2019. By 2021, UFC had been appointed as the official "high performance advisor" to the Chinese Olympic Committee, designating this Shanghai location as an authorized high performance training center for Olympic athletes in China.
Expanding its global reach further, UFC opened a third Performance Institute in Mexico City in February 2024.
Drug policy efforts
During mixed martial arts' formative years, major organizations such as Pride Fighting Championships and the Ultimate Fighting Championship maintained minimal drug testing protocols concerning performance-enhancing drugs. This regulatory gap led to ongoing controversies about steroid usage within the sport, with numerous fighters from UFC and other promotions testing positive. Prominent champions including Jon Jones and Anderson Silva encountered doping allegations that heightened public scrutiny. To address these concerns and uphold competitive fairness, UFC launched a comprehensive year-round random drug-testing initiative starting July 2015.
USADA anti-doping partnership (2015–2024)
On June 3, 2015, UFC formalized a collaboration with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), appointing it as the independent anti-doping authority. The program commenced on July 1, 2015, implementing a minimum of 2,750 annual drug tests—averaging five tests per athlete—and enforcing sanctions for violations. Fighters undergo unannounced blood and urine sample analyses both in and out of competition and must remain in the testing pool for six months prior to fighting.
In February 2017, adjustments to the anti-doping policy were announced effective April 1 of that year: newly signed or returning fighters without recent contracts faced a shortened testing requirement of one month (reduced from four); retired or inactive competitors were subject to six months of testing; voluntary disclosure of prohibited substances by new signees prevented violations; and "in-competition" testing was defined from noon on weigh-in day until medical clearance post-fight.
By September 2018, UFC adopted a policy delaying public announcements of potential doping infractions until after case resolution. This change followed instances involving elite fighters like Anderson Silva and Cris Cyborg, who were exonerated after demonstrating inadvertent ingestion through contaminated supplements. In November 2019, UFC and USADA introduced a certified supplement list aimed at reducing penalties linked to contamination. Additionally, as of January 2021, marijuana was removed from banned substances except when fighters exhibit visible impairment during events.
Sanctions can extend up to four years depending on the substance involved. Frequently detected prohibited substances include weight loss compounds (7-keto-DHEA), estrogen inhibitors (Anastrozole, Tamoxifen), oxygen enhancers (Clenbuterol, EPO), diuretics (Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide), anabolic steroids (Boldenone, Trenbolone, Stanozolol), hormone modulators (hGH, Ibutamoren), and drugs of abuse (Cocaine, Fentanyl).
USADA performed 353 tests in 2015 and increased this number to 2,291 tests in 2016 among 586 UFC fighters; Anderson Silva underwent testing most frequently at fifteen times. Testing volumes rose to 2,818 in 2017 and reached 2,888 in 2018. As of May 16, 2019, USADA had imposed sanctions on seventy-six UFC athletes since initiating the program.
On October 11, 2023, USADA announced that its partnership with UFC would conclude effective January 1, 2024.
Partnership with Drug Free Sport International for Anti-Doping (2024–present)
After the UFC's agreement with USADA concluded at the end of 2023, the organization forged a new alliance with Drug Free Sport International, an entity responsible for anti-doping programs across major leagues such as the NCAA, MLB, NFL, and NBA. The management and enforcement of the UFC Anti-Doping Program are now exclusively overseen by Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD), with former FBI agent George Piro appointed as the independent administrator. This collaboration commenced in 2024 following the expiration of the USADA contract on December 31, 2023.
Anti-piracy initiatives
Since the late 2000s, UFC has been a prominent financial supporter of anti-piracy lobbying efforts within the United States, uniquely addressing both piracy legislation and targeting individual infringers alongside unauthorized streaming platforms. Significant legal measures include a notable 2011 lawsuit against Justin.tv and a $32 million settlement reached with a New York resident in 2014. UFC asserts that illegal streaming results in considerable revenue losses, a viewpoint that has generated discussion within the MMA community regarding its actual effectiveness.
To counteract piracy, UFC introduced its digital subscription platform, UFC Fight Pass, in 2014. Nevertheless, its influence appears modest when compared to the UFC’s broadcast partnership with Fox and declining pay-per-view sales, factors that contributed to Standard & Poor's lowering Zuffa’s credit rating toward the end of 2014.
Insurance coverage
On May 9, 2011, UFC unveiled a comprehensive insurance plan providing year-round protection against injuries for athletes contracted independently by Strikeforce and UFC. This policy, underwritten by Houston-based specialty insurer HCC Insurance Holdings, became effective on June 1, 2011.
Salient features include:
- Protection extended to all athletes signed by UFC or Strikeforce, regardless of their residency inside or outside the United States.
- All premium costs are covered by Zuffa; athletes bear no financial burden.
- Annual injury coverage up to $50,000 during the contract term, encompassing medical consultations, laboratory testing, emergency evacuation, and physical therapy.
- Coverage remains valid irrespective of competition schedules.
- Complimentary life and dental insurance included.
- Coverage extends to training-related illnesses such as staph infections, while minor illnesses are excluded.
Although other combat sports organizations like the International Fight League provided insurance options, Zuffa’s policy marked the first to encompass a large cohort of combat athletes. UFC president Dana White highlighted that establishing such coverage had been a company objective since Zuffa acquired UFC in 2001. CEO Lorenzo Fertitta revealed that it took three years to negotiate terms with insurers before finalizing the policy. Previously, Zuffa offered up to $100,000 per event for injuries sustained during competition only; expenses from non-competition injuries were paid out-of-pocket by fighters.
Examples of notable injuries outside competition include:
- Frank Mir, who was unable to compete for over 20 months following a motorcycle accident in 2004.
- Brock Lesnar, sidelined for several months due to diverticulitis.
Influence on MMA regulatory standards
The foundational rules currently governing UFC bouts were originally formulated by the New Jersey Athletic Control Board in 2000 through collaboration with UFC and other MMA organizations. The inaugural UFC event conducted under these regulations was UFC 28, prior to Zuffa’s acquisition of the promotion. Since then, New Jersey’s Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts have been adopted nationwide by various state athletic commissions, including those in Nevada and California. The UFC maintains strong relationships with state regulatory bodies, particularly the Nevada Athletic Commission, where Lorenzo Fertitta held a board position.
Investigation by the Federal Trade Commission
After the UFC acquired its competitor Strikeforce in March 2011, speculation arose regarding a potential FTC inquiry. By January 2012, it was officially confirmed that the Federal Trade Commission had conducted an investigation and concluded there were no antitrust breaches connected to UFC’s dominance in the market.
2014
On December 16, 2014, fighters Cung Le, Jon Fitch, and Nate Quarry initiated a class action lawsuit against the UFC, accusing the organization of violating antitrust laws. Shortly thereafter, Javier Vazquez and Dennis Hallman filed a second suit, followed by a third complaint from Brandon Vera and Pablo Garza. The UFC swiftly responded, committing to "vigorously defend its business practices and operations." This legal action attracted attention from industry rivals such as Scott Coker, President of Bellator MMA, who expressed interest in the case’s outcome while disputing Bellator’s label as a "minor league." By the close of 2014, UFC reiterated its confidence in prevailing through the ongoing litigation.
2015
On February 7, 2015, Mac Danzig and Gabe Ruediger joined with a fourth lawsuit against the UFC. Around this period, UFC sought to reschedule the hearing from May 7 to March 26 and relocate proceedings from Northern California to its Las Vegas headquarters. Weeks later, UFC filed motions to dismiss these cases on grounds that the complaints lacked detailed factual support for antitrust allegations.
A fifth lawsuit emerged on March 20, 2015, brought by Kyle Kingsbury and Darren Uyenoyama. On April 12, plaintiff fighters opposed UFC’s dismissal motions and venue transfer requests. Following a May 7 hearing, a federal judge authorized moving the case to Las Vegas based on contractual agreements with former employees. This decision also denied UFC’s attempt to restrict discovery of fifteen years’ worth of financial records, igniting debate over access to sensitive corporate information—particularly concerning MMAFA founder Rob Maysey.
UFC proposed implementing a dual-level confidentiality framework—distinguishing between confidential and highly confidential materials—to limit Maysey’s access due to his affiliation with MMAFA. Maysey seeks to advocate for fighters and push for reforms similar to those established by the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000.
By September 25, UFC pursued dismissal of the case in federal court in Las Vegas; however, this motion was rejected. Following this ruling, UFC submitted a formal response. Subsequently, magistrate judge Peggy Leen ruled that UFC could not prevent plaintiffs’ attorney Rob Maysey from examining its most sensitive business and financial records. This decision triggered an expert discovery phase anticipated to span 12 to 16 months (from September 2016 through January 2017), requiring both parties to disclose extensive confidential documentation.
The expert discovery process is designed to address three pivotal antitrust questions: (1) whether UFC possesses monopoly power; (2) if such power was obtained or maintained through exclusionary practices; (3) whether UFC inflicted antitrust injury. This phase involves testimony and documents from numerous prominent figures across MMA and boxing industries, including leading UFC executives, Scott Coker, Bjorn Rebney, Ray Sefo, Frank Shamrock, Fedor Emelianenko, Randy Couture, Ben Askren, Mark Cuban, Oscar De La Hoya, Bob Arum, among others. By year-end 2015, over 100,000 documents had been produced during discovery.
2016
In January, the UFC’s legal team submitted their formal response, rejecting the antitrust allegations brought by the fighters. Subsequently, an amended complaint was filed, largely reflecting the initial December 2014 document but with the number of plaintiff fighters reduced from eleven to six. The plaintiffs who withdrew included Pablo Garza, Gabe Ruediger, Darren Uyenoyama, Dennis Hallman, and Mac Danzig, leaving Cung Le, Nate Quarry, Jon Fitch, Brandon Vera, Javier Vazquez, and Kyle Kingsbury as the remaining claimants. UFC upheld its stance on safeguarding its brand and unintentionally disclosed materials related to its acquisition of PRIDE FC.
In October, the court denied UFC’s motion to dismiss the consolidated complaint.
2017 and 2018
Media attention surrounding the lawsuit waned during this period. Significant developments included the plaintiffs’ February 2018 request for class certification, which UFC opposed, and their September rebuttal against UFC’s motion for summary judgment.
On December 5, 2018, the plaintiffs organized an informational meeting in Las Vegas to provide updates about the lawsuit’s progress.
Hearings held in August and September unveiled critical financial insights about UFC. The litigation involved twelve plaintiff attorneys alongside representatives from Bellator MMA and Top Rank, scrutinizing UFC’s competitive conduct toward rival MMA organizations throughout the 2000s.
Key disclosures were:
- The WME–IMG acquisition of UFC in 2016 was valued at $4 billion.
- Fighter pay ranged between 18.6% and 20.5% (2011–2013), contrasted with Strikeforce’s 63% and Bellator’s 44.7%, with evidence indicating UFC deliberately maintained compensation below 25%.
- Comprehensive annual revenue figures, pay-per-view (PPV) earnings, and financial data during UFC ownership were revealed.
- Negotiation strategies applied to individual fighters were exposed.
- UFC compensated former Pride CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara with $10 million for a seven-year non-compete agreement.
UFC has been accused of monopolistic conduct through both public criticism and formal litigation. Fighters have raised concerns including inequitable pay structures, aggressive tactics against competing promotions, lack of pension or union representation, and other questionable practices. These issues were highlighted by a Federal Trade Commission probe (2011–2012) alongside multiple class action suits initiated in late 2014 and early 2015.
2024
In July 2024, Judge Richard Franklin Boulware II of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada rejected a proposed $335 million settlement related to the Le v Zuffa and Johnson vs. Zuffa lawsuits. A new settlement offer of $375 million was introduced in September 2024.
On February 6, 2025, Judge Boulware gave final approval to the $375 million settlement resolving the "Le vs. Zuffa" antitrust case concerning monopolistic allegations. Between $240 million and $260 million will be allocated to qualified fighters who competed in UFC events from December 2010 through June 2017, with disbursements expected over the subsequent year. An additional $40 million is designated for administrative and legal costs. The related "Johnson vs. Zuffa" lawsuit addressing fighters from 2017 onward remains unresolved and continues independently.
2025
In May 2025, the UFC faced two new antitrust legal actions. One lawsuit, initiated by former competitor Misha Cirkunov, contests the validity of arbitration agreements and class action waivers included in UFC contracts. The other suit, brought forward by ex-fighter Phil Davis, accuses the UFC of engaging in anticompetitive conduct that has prevented fighters outside the UFC from obtaining equitable compensation.
International Fight League
From 2006 through 2008, the UFC and the International Fight League (IFL) were embroiled in a contentious relationship. The UFC accused IFL of misappropriating confidential information by recruiting its executives, while IFL retaliated by alleging that UFC pressured partners, such as Fox Sports Net, to avoid collaborations with IFL. Despite these conflicts, IFL managed to secure a broadcasting agreement with Fox Sports prior to the resolution of the dispute. The rivalry escalated further amid claims that IFL attempted to sign prominent UFC fighters.
In July 2008, speculation arose regarding a possible acquisition of IFL by the UFC. Joe Favorito, formerly IFL’s senior vice president, attributed the organization’s closure on July 31, 2008, to financial difficulties. Unnamed sources corroborated that UFC had acquired IFL, a fact supported by UFC’s use of IFL footage and the signing of several former IFL athletes.
World Fighting Alliance
On December 11, 2006, UFC purchased assets belonging to the World Fighting Alliance and created WFA Enterprises, LLC as a subsidiary tasked with managing these assets along with select fighter contracts. Simultaneously, UFC revealed intentions to acquire World Extreme Cagefighting, planning to maintain it as an independent promotion.
World Extreme Cagefighting
Following its acquisition of World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), the UFC introduced several modifications including changing the cage design, emphasizing lighter weight divisions, permitting events in Las Vegas, and vacating championship titles held by fighters under UFC contracts. Between 2007 and 2010, WEC functioned as a separate entity under UFC ownership, airing events numbered 28 through 53 on Versus in the United States and on The Score in Canada. On October 28, 2010, Dana White announced that WEC would be fully integrated into the UFC early in 2011.
Pride Fighting Championships
On March 27, 2007, Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta—owners of the UFC—acquired the assets of Pride Fighting Championships, which was considered UFC’s most significant competitor at the time, from Dream Stage Entertainment. They formed Pride FC Worldwide Holdings LLC to oversee this acquisition. Although plans to relaunch Pride did not come to fruition, numerous assets including fighter contracts and intellectual property rights have been absorbed into UFC operations.
Strikeforce
On March 12, 2011, Zuffa—the parent company of UFC—completed a $40 million acquisition of Strikeforce. This transaction included licensing rights, fighter contracts, and Strikeforce’s video content library. The purchase was made from Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment, a partial owner of Strikeforce. Strikeforce continued operating independently under Zuffa until January 12, 2013; it was then dissolved following its final event in Oklahoma City, with many fighter contracts transitioning into the UFC roster.
United Glory
Originally established in 2006 under the name Ultimate Glory, the organization was compelled to rebrand as United Glory following a legal dispute with the UFC.
Invicta Fighting Championships
In June 2014, the UFC secured a multi-year agreement to broadcast and archive all events from Invicta Fighting Championships via UFC Fight Pass. This collaboration facilitated the UFC’s expansion of its women's divisions by introducing the strawweight category in July 2014 and signing prominent Invicta athletes such as Carla Esparza and Felice Herrig.
Shooto
Also in June 2014, the UFC initiated a developmental partnership with Vale Tudo Japan, which had been revived in 2012 by the established Shooto promotion. The UFC intended to launch a tournament series concentrating on the 135-pound bantamweight and 145-pound featherweight divisions, with potential plans for a reality TV format similar to The Ultimate Fighter to promote these competitions; however, the project's current status remains unclear.
Rules and features
The UFC’s regulations are based on guidelines created by the New Jersey Athletic Control Board, which formulated the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. These standards have been adopted by other regulatory bodies in states such as Nevada, Louisiana, and California, now serving as the benchmark for professional MMA across the United States.
Rounds
The duration of UFC contests depends on whether the bout is a championship or main event fight. Each round lasts up to five minutes. Title fights and main events are scheduled for up to five rounds, whereas all other matches are capped at three rounds. Notably, UFC 263 marked the first occasion where a non-title, non-main event fight was set for five rounds. Additionally, bouts in the flyweight tournament introduced at UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann include a potential fourth "sudden victory" round if tied after regulation. Fighters receive a one-minute rest interval between rounds.
Cage
UFC competitions take place inside an eight-sided enclosure known as "The Octagon." While initially trademarked by SEG, Zuffa later permitted other organizations to utilize octagonal cages to promote consistency across promotions but retains exclusive rights to the term "The Octagon."
Constructed with black vinyl-coated metal chain-link fencing, the cage measures 30 feet in diameter with fencing standing six feet tall. It is positioned four feet above ground level on a platform and features foam padding along the top edge and between fence sections. Two gates positioned opposite each other serve as entry and exit points. The canvas mat is adorned with sponsor logos and artwork and is replaced for each event.
For venues with limited space, a smaller cage measuring 25 feet in diameter is employed.
Attire
Fighters are required to wear approved shorts without footwear; only female competitors may wear approved tops. Mandatory protective equipment includes padded gloves, mouthguards, and protective cups with jockstraps for male fighters. Gloves must have at least one inch of padding (ranging from 110 to 170 grams or 4 to 6 ounces) while allowing finger dexterity. State athletic officials conduct pre-fight inspections before competitors enter the cage.
In early UFC history, attire varied widely: participants wore everything from tight shorts and boxing trunks to long pants, singlets, or wrestling shoes. Royce Gracie notably competed in a Brazilian jiu-jitsu gi during initial events. At UFC 1, Art Jimmerson appeared wearing a single boxing glove. Since UFC 133, speedo-style shorts have been prohibited following Dennis Hallman’s controversial choice of attire, leading UFC president Dana White to implement stricter uniform regulations.
Reebok uniform
On December 2, 2014, the UFC revealed an exclusive six-year partnership with Reebok as its global apparel provider beginning in July 2015. While the financial specifics were kept confidential, UFC representatives described the contract as the most lucrative non-broadcast agreement ever secured, clarifying that the UFC itself would not directly benefit financially; instead, the majority of revenue, after covering administrative expenses, would be allocated to the fighters.
Originally, compensation was structured according to official UFC rankings, with payment tiers differentiating ranked from unranked competitors; champions were treated as a separate category. Additionally, fighters earned a 20% royalty from merchandise sales bearing their image, including those who had retired. The deal was estimated to be valued at $70 million over six years, averaging about $260,000 per UFC event card.
By April 2015, the payment model shifted from ranking-based to a system based on the number of fights completed (tiers included 1–5, 6–10, 11–15, and 16–20 bouts), with elevated compensation for titleholders and challengers. The official fight kits were introduced on June 30, 2015, featuring athletes’ names and options for either general or country-specific designs; champions received exclusive kit versions.
Starting with fight week for UFC 189, fighters’ apparel and in-cage banners no longer displayed previous sponsor logos during events or media engagements. Training camps were supplied with approved clothing to ensure uniformity in the corner area. Although third-party logos were prohibited from broadcast coverage except for potential major title sponsors, existing sponsors could continue supporting fighters outside of official UFC gear and televised content.
Venum uniform
On July 11, 2020, the UFC announced Venum as its exclusive outfitting partner commencing April 2021, with UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland marking the debut event featuring Venum apparel.
In October 2021, Avex Brasil—the local manufacturer of Venum brand apparel—was appointed as the sole producer and distributor of UFC Replica Fight Kits and Fight Week attire within Brazil. Avex Brasil manages both production and retail distribution of officially licensed UFC merchandise for men and women throughout the country.
New glove
On April 12, 2024, the UFC introduced a new glove engineered to lower hand injuries and reduce eye pokes—which occur approximately once every 14 fights with an average delay of 50 seconds—while preserving dexterity and performance. Tested during season 7 of the 2023 Dana White's Contender Series, these gloves are scheduled for their first use in June 2024. Notable design elements include: a wristband locking mechanism to prevent grabbing; seams repositioned to the palm side to decrease abrasions; removal of finger bindings allowing improved hand closure; additional padding on index and pinky fingers for bone protection; an ergonomically curved wristband enhancing fit; thicker foam padding balancing flexibility with protection; and an authentication chip linking gloves to specific fighters in designated bouts.
The gloves are available in sizes ranging from XXXS to XXXXL and weigh between 3 and 4.9 ounces—approximately 1 to 1.5 ounces lighter than previous versions. Five colors correspond to different event types: gun-metal for standard UFC matches; gold with octagon accents for championship and main events; black for "The Ultimate Fighter"; blue for Dana White's Contender Series; and red for Road to the UFC tournaments.
Nevertheless, on November 12, following persistent complaints from fighters despite only six months of use with the new design, UFC announced a return to the prior glove model starting at UFC 309. UFC President Dana White confirmed this move was made to honor athlete feedback.
Match outcomes
Fights can conclude in several ways:
- Submission: when a competitor physically taps out, verbally concedes, or signals distress, leading the referee to halt the contest. A technical submission is declared if a participant loses consciousness or sustains a severe injury while trapped in a hold.
- Knockout: occurs when a competitor is rendered unconscious by a legal strike.
- Technical Knockout (TKO): the referee intervenes to stop the match if a fighter is unable to continue. Types of TKOs include:
- referee stoppage (fighter fails to defend intelligently)
- doctor stoppage (ringside physician judges continuation unsafe due to injury)
- corner stoppage (fighter’s team concedes defeat)
- forfeit (fighter withdraws or refuses to compete for reasons other than injury)
- Judges' Decision: bouts may be resolved by:
- unanimous decision (all judges score in favor of one competitor)
- majority decision (two judges favor one fighter, one judge scores a draw)
- split decision (two judges favor one fighter, while one favors the opponent)
- technical decision (fight halted due to accidental illegal action; scoring based on completed rounds)
- unanimous draw (all judges score the match as a draw)
- majority draw (two judges call it a draw, one favors a fighter)
- split draw (judges’ scores divided among both fighters and a draw)
- technical draw (similar to technical decision but results in a draw outcome)
- Disqualification: awarded when a fighter deliberately commits an illegal move causing injury or significantly impairing their opponent, granting victory to the injured party.
- No Contest: declared when an accidental illegal action prevents continuation before sufficient rounds are completed for scoring, both fighters are unable to proceed, or if the original result is overturned due to irregularities such as premature stoppage or doping violations.
In draw outcomes, total points between fighters do not have to be identical; however, in unanimous or split draws, each competitor receives equal win assessments from the three judges. Titleholders retain their championship status if their title bout ends in a draw.
Judging criteria
All UFC contests utilize the ten-point must system, where three judges score each round by awarding ten points to the round’s winner and nine or fewer points to the loser. Occasionally, 10–10 rounds are given when a judge finds the round too close to call. Scores of 10–8 reflect dominant performances, while 10–7 rounds are exceptionally rare—having occurred only five times in UFC history. When rounds approach 10–7 dominance, referees usually stop the fight via technical knockout for safety reasons.
Fouls
The Nevada State Athletic Commission identifies the following actions as fouls:
- Head-butting
- Eye-gouging
- Biting
- Hair pulling
- Fish-hooking
- Groin attacks
- Inserting fingers into any orifice or opponent's wound (see Fish-hooking)
- Small joint manipulation
- Striking spine or back of head (see Rabbit punch)
- Throat strikes, including grabbing the trachea
- Clawing, pinching, or twisting flesh
- Grabbing the clavicle (collarbone)
- Kicking kidney with heel
- Driving opponent’s head or neck into mat (see Piledriver)
- Throwing opponent out of ring or fenced enclosure
- Holding opponent’s shorts or gloves
- Spitting at opponent or official
- Unsportsmanlike conduct causing injury
- Grasping ropes or fence intentionally
- Using abusive language inside ring or cage area
- Attacking during referee break or while opponent is under official care
- Striking after round has ended
- Willfully disregarding referee commands
- Timidity such as avoiding contact, dropping mouthpiece intentionally, feigning injury
- Interference from corner personnel
- Throwing in towel during active competition
- Applying foreign substances for unfair advantage before or during fight
- Striking an incapacitated opponent after knockout signal has been given
- Deliberately targeting kidneys with strikes
- Intentionally spitting out mouthpiece
Fouls Involving a Grounded Opponent
- Striking the head of a grounded adversary with a kick (refer to soccer kick)
- Delivering a knee strike to the head of an opponent on the ground
- Applying a stomp to an opponent who is grounded
When a foul is called, referees may penalize by deducting points. If a foul causes a fighter to be incapacitated, the match might conclude with a disqualification if the foul was deliberate, or be declared a no contest if accidental. Should the foul result in the injured competitor being unable to continue at a later time, the bout ends with a technical decision victory awarded to the fighter ahead on points; otherwise, it is ruled a technical draw.
Conduct During Matches
- Following an initial verbal caution, referees have the authority to interrupt and stand fighters up when ground action reaches a deadlock (no clear dominant position or advancement). This procedure is officially known as the stand-up rule in Nevada.
- When paused, competition resumes with fighters returning to their previous positions.
- Grasping the cage incurs warnings; persistent cage grabbing may be penalized as a foul.
- Pre-fight trash talk is allowed to build excitement; however, abusive language during the fight is strictly forbidden.
Development of the Rules
- UFC 1 – Although promoted as having "No Rules," certain prohibitions existed: no biting, eye-gouging, or attacks to the groin. Fights concluded via knockout, submission, or corner stoppage.
- UFC 2 – Groin strikes briefly permitted again; no time restrictions applied; cage design modifications introduced.
- UFC 3 – Referees empowered to halt fights when fighters could no longer defend themselves; regulations on kicks with footwear evolved across events.
- UFC 4 – Required alternates to win preliminary bouts following an alternate’s victory at UFC 3.
- UFC 5 – Established a 30-minute time limit and inaugurated the first Superfight title.
- UFC 6 – Referees authorized to restart bouts standing if action stagnated; formalized 5-minute overtime periods.
- Ultimate Ultimate 1995 – Implemented ban on fish-hooking and reintroduced judging panels; adjusted round time limits.
- UFC 8 – Modified time limits; introduced judges’ decisions eliminating draws.
- UFC 9 – Temporarily prohibited closed-fist strikes to the head due to local laws; hosted final superfight event.
- Ultimate Ultimate 1996 – Enforced "no grabbing of the fence" rule.
- UFC 12 – Divided competition into heavyweight and lightweight divisions; concluded eight-man tournament format; heavyweight championship introduced.
- UFC 14 – Lightweight division renamed middleweight; mandated padded gloves; banned hair-pulling, groin strikes, and kicks against downed opponents.
- UFC 15 – Prohibited headbutts, elbows targeting back of neck/head, and manipulation of small joints.
- UFC 21 – Instituted five-minute rounds; adopted "ten-point must" scoring system.
- UFC 28 – New Jersey sanctioned first UFC event under Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, introducing additional fouls and regulatory measures; established new weight divisions. These rules remain standard across the U.S.
- UFC 31 – Realigned weight classes to current standards; allowed stools and corner assistance between rounds.
- UFC 43 – Resumed fights from positions where they were halted after stoppages.
- UFC 94 – Banned cornermen from applying vaseline; only official UFC cutmen permitted application following controversy involving Georges St-Pierre.
- UFC 97 – Foot stomps banned exclusively for this event.
- UFC 133 – Prohibited Speedo-style trunks.
- UFC 138 – Hosted first non-title main event scheduled for five rounds.
- UFC 263 – Conducted first five-round non-title bout outside main event status.
- UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Albazi – Introduced updated unified rules: (1) forbidding kneeing or kicking the head of grounded opponents when any body part other than hands or feet contacts the canvas; (2) eliminated downward elbow strikes (12-to-6) from fouls list.
The Ultimate Fighter Competition Guidelines
Matches conducted on The Ultimate Fighter are officially recognized as exhibition bouts by the NSAC and therefore do not influence a competitor's professional fight record. To maintain suspense, outcomes are withheld from public release until the episode is broadcast.
For two-round contests, if the score is tied, an additional five-minute "sudden victory" round is implemented. Judges then determine the winner based solely on this extra round unless a stoppage occurs earlier. The number of rounds in exhibition fights varies by season; preliminary rounds generally consist of two rounds, whereas later stages and final matchups adopt the conventional UFC format of three rounds, with a potential fourth round added to resolve ties.
Weight Categories and Current Titleholders
As of November 15, 2025 (following UFC 322), the UFC organizes competition across nine distinct weight divisions:
| Weight Division | Minimum Limit | Maximum Limit | Gender | Titleholder | Date Won | Duration Held | Defenses | -
Welterweight||156 lb /70.8 kg||170 lb /77.1 kg||Men||Template:Country data RUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall Islam Makhachev||November 15, 2025||0||0||TBD |- Middleweight||171 lb /77.6 kg||185 lb /83.9 kg||Men||Khamzat Chimaev||August 16, 2025||0||0||TBD |- Light Heavyweight||186 lb /84.3 kg||205 lb /93.0 kg||Men||Alex Pereira||October 4, 2025||0||0||TBD |- Heavyweight||206 lb /93.4 kg||265 lb /120.2 kg||Men||Tom Aspinall||June 21, 2025||0||0||TBD |} In non-title contests, fighters are allowed a one-pound allowance above the division limit; however, championship bouts require strict compliance with weight boundaries. The Commission may sanction catch weight fights if deemed equitable and competitive—for instance, permitting a maximum weight of up to 177 pounds for certain matchups. There remain five Unified Rules weight divisions that the UFC has yet to adopt: Super Lightweight (165 lb), Super Welterweight (175 lb), Super Middleweight (195 lb), Cruiserweight (225 lb), and Super Heavyweight (above 265 lb). RosterAs of June 14, 2025, the UFC roster comprises 596 fighters representing 71 nations, with American athletes making up the largest contingent at 207 individuals (35%). However, as of June 22, 2025, there are no male American fighters holding championship titles. Fighter salaries and contractsCompared to athletes in comparable sports and other prominent MMA organizations, UFC competitors receive a smaller portion of revenue. Compensation is determined on a per-fight basis and is influenced by the fighter's marketability and event sponsorship deals. Fighters generally earn a "show" payment along with a "win" bonus. Main event participants reportedly gain an extra $25,000 per event. Entry-level fighters might earn approximately $10,000 per bout, whereas seasoned competitors can make between $500,000 and $1 million. For instance, at UFC 202, Conor McGregor earned $3 million and Nate Diaz received $2 million—the highest combined fight purse ever recorded in UFC history. Awards for "Fight of the Night" and "Performance of the Night" typically range from $50,000 to $80,000 and can sometimes surpass contracted earnings for less prominent fighters. Additionally, the UFC distributes undisclosed locker-room bonuses that vary between $4,000 and $25,000. Fighter contracts and merchandising rights have been sources of dispute amid tensions between the UFC and the Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Association. Contracts mandate that the UFC offer each fighter a minimum of three fights annually or provide compensation for any shortfall. Even if a fighter declines a bout offer, it still counts as an offered fight under contractual terms. Beginning with UFC 273, Crypto.com introduced three "Fan Bonus of the Night" awards per pay-per-view event paid in bitcoin: $30,000 for first place, $20,000 for second place, and $10,000 for third place. Fans cast votes during events through Crypto.com/FanBonus. Since 2023, these bonuses have been awarded less consistently without official explanation. UFC rankingsOn January 27, 2020, UFC announced via Bruno Massami's Twitter account that the men's and women's pound-for-pound rankings would be published separately. Men's pound-for-poundThe rankings were last updated on November 25, 2025, following UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker.
Women's Pound-for-Pound RankingsUpdated as of November 25, 2025, following UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker.
UFC eventsCriticism from MMA reporters and enthusiasts often targets the UFC for its high frequency of events, suggesting this approach lessens the overall quality of the product. Nevertheless, UFC executives emphasize robust financial results and notable economic contributions to cities hosting the events. The organization's tactic of scheduling numerous shows is designed to sustain visibility in the market and generate consistent revenue, though debates persist about its effects on long-term brand strength and fan loyalty. Production teamFor most UFC broadcasts in the United States, commentary is delivered by comedian and martial artist Joe Rogan, alongside play-by-play announcer Jon Anik, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, and reporter Megan Olivi. Prior to 2016, Rogan and Mike Goldberg were the primary voices from 1997 onward. The official announcer, known as the "Veteran Voice of the Octagon," is Bruce Buffer. The Octagon girls include Arianny Celeste, Rachelle Leah, Brittney Palmer, Carly Baker, Vanessa Hanson, Chrissy Blair, Jhenny Andrade, Camila Oliveira, Luciana Andrade, Jamilette Gaxiola, and Red Dela Cruz. Each competitor is supported by a dedicated cutman who attends to their needs before and during bouts; renowned cutman Jacob "Stitch" Duran has had a significant tenure with the UFC. Event matchups are coordinated by matchmakers and the Vice President of Talent Relations, Joe Silva and Sean Shelby. UFC records
UFC Hall of Fame
UFC-produced television shows
Guest appearances on other TV shows
Music
Video games
In January 2007, Zuffa granted THQ the exclusive global rights to produce UFC-branded video games for consoles, PCs, handheld devices, and wireless platforms. This contract was originally scheduled to conclude in 2011 but was later prolonged through 2017. By June 2012, the UFC license was transferred from THQ to EA Sports. Round 5The inaugural official UFC collectible action figures were introduced by Round 5 Corporation in May 2008. Initial sets spotlighted fighters such as Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Matt Hughes, Tito Ortiz, and Randy Couture. Later editions expanded to include athletes like Wanderlei Silva, Sean Sherk, Rich Franklin, and Anderson Silva. In July 2009, Round 5 obtained the UFC license through Jakks Pacific and released additional series under both UFC and Pride branding. Their product range grew to feature Octagon cages and Pride ring display stands. Some limited editions included fabric walk-out shirts or distinctive paint schemes with premium packaging. Certain exclusives were made available solely at UFC Fan Expo events. Jakks PacificOn June 10, 2008, UFC entered into a four-year exclusive agreement with Jakks Pacific for manufacturing UFC action figures, with the first releases arriving in November 2009. To date, eight series have been launched featuring Legends, Pride, and WEC designs. Jakks also produced three two-pack series along with several expo and online exclusives. Multiple octagon cage playsets were introduced including the "Octagon Playset," "Official Scale Octagon Playset," and "Electronic Reaction Octagon Playset." Although a Pride-style ring playset was planned, it has yet to be released.
JazwaresIn 2020, the UFC collaborated with the toy manufacturer Jazwares to introduce a new series of UFC action figures, with the initial collection planned for release in the fall of that year. DVDsA number of UFC events have been made available on DVD. While UFC 23 through UFC 29 were initially not accessible on home video within the United States, they were eventually released as part of boxsets containing approximately ten events each, organized in chronological order. PlayStation Network and Xbox LiveDecember 2011 marked the launch of UFC on-demand services on Xbox 360, featuring high-definition pay-per-view events, fight forecasts, and detailed fighter profiles. The UFC Fight Pass application debuted on PlayStation 4 in early 2015 and was subsequently introduced on Xbox One later that year. A dedicated PlayStation app version was released in December 2022. NFTsStarting in August 2021, the UFC began issuing NFTs to celebrate significant bouts and milestones through their official trading card collaborator, Panini America. International broadcastersIn the United States, UFC pay-per-view events are streamed live via pay-per-view, while in the United Kingdom, they are available through TNT Sports Box Office. United KingdomBT Sport aired its inaugural live UFC event on August 3, 2013, featuring UFC 163 headlined by José Aldo versus The Korean Zombie. Prior to BT Sport becoming the main UFC broadcaster in the UK, limited coverage was provided by Bravo, Setanta Sports, and ESPN UK during 2012. As of August 2025, exclusive rights to UFC broadcasts in the UK have transitioned to TNT Sports, which succeeded BT Sport. MexicoUFC programming in Mexico is broadcast live on the Fighting Sports Network via SKY Satellite Pay TV. Tape-delayed broadcasts are offered on free-to-air channels, whereas viewers across Central America can watch events live on Fox Sports and Fox Premium Pay TV services. BrazilIn Brazil, live UFC events are shown on open television through Rede Bandeirantes, covering Fight Night cards and preliminary fights. Numbered events are available on Fight Pass. Previously, from 2011 until 2022, UFC content was aired by Rede Globo via its Combate Channel. AsiaWithin Southeast Asia (excluding the Philippines), Hong Kong, and Papua New Guinea, UFC broadcasts aired on Fox Movies Premium between 2012 and 2013 and later moved to Fox Sports from 2013 through 2021. In India, Sony's sports channels—Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 2, and their high-definition versions—serve as the official broadcasters of UFC content. In the Philippines, UFC coverage was carried by Balls (now known as ABS-CBN Sports + Action HD) from 2009 until 2015. Coverage then shifted to platforms operated by Sports5 until 2018. Since October 2021, UFC events have been broadcast on TAP Digital Media Ventures Corporation's cable channel Premier Sports. In Sri Lanka, UFC broadcasts have moved across various networks over time including Dialog TV and PEO TV. Since January 15, 2018, Sony Sports Ten 2 has been the principal English-language broadcaster. Additionally, residents can access live streaming and on-demand content through UFC Fight Pass. In Indonesia, since January 15, 2018, UFC programming has been shown on tvOne. Before this period, broadcasts were available via RCTI and iNews from 2012 until late 2017. United Arab EmiratesUFC programming started airing on Abu Dhabi Media as of April 13, 2019. PolandSince 2018, Polsat Sport has held the official UFC broadcasting rights in Poland, taking over from former broadcasters Orange Sport and Extreme Sports Channel. Prominent UFC commentators in Poland include Andrzej Janisz and Łukasz "Juras" Jurkowski. CanadaIn 2024, Rogers obtained multi-year broadcasting rights for UFC events on its Sportsnet network. Prior to this, UFC content was available on Sportsnet and the French-language channel TVA between 2011 and 2014. RussiaFrom 2022 onward, UFC events have been televised on Match TV, a sports channel under the ownership of Gazprom Media in Russia. See also
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