The popularity of mixed martial arts (MMA) has grown significantly in recent years. Such success can be largely attributed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) which has quickly become one of the most well-known names in combat sports history.
The UFC is one of the most revered and respected MMA promotions currently in existence. There is also always a lot of entertainment in a UFC fight, with fans always scrambling to look at UFC Spreads to make their predictions.
However, there are many other MMA promotions out there that are just as entertaining as the UFC and deserve just as much praise and recognition. Here is our list of the MMA promotions you need to know of.
AMC Fight Nights
Formerly known as Fight Nights Global, AMC Fight Nights is a Russian MMA promotion that has its main headquarters in Moscow. It is one of the largest MMA promotion companies in the whole world and has featured some of the most prominent names in the sport since its inception in 2010.
The promotion has hosted over 80 events in different cities throughout the country. It has also experienced international shows in the USA, EU, and Brazil, showing the level of reach that the promotion truly has.
Throughout its time of operation, the company has featured its fair share of big names including Fedor Emelianenko, Murad Machaev, Alexander Shlemenko, and Andrei Arlovski.
Bellator MMA
Now owned by ViacomCBS, Bellator MMA is one of the most high-profile competitions in the UFC. Since 2008, the promotion has been home to some of the world’s greatest fighters including Gegard Mousasi, Yaroslav Amosov, Michael Chandler, and Cris “Cyborg” Justino.
Bellator is one of the biggest MMA promotions in the entire world and is the second-biggest in the US, directly after the UFC.
Bellator MMA is led by Scott Coker, a combat sports lifer, and airs on Showtime alongside some of the world’s biggest boxing matches. Putting these details aside, it also occasionally promotes some tournaments.
Some of the most recognizable names in MMA history have fought under Bellator including Michael “Venom” Page, Lyoto Machida, Michael Chandler, and Ryan Bader.
Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki
The Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (or KSW) might be a bit of a tough one for non-Polish speakers, but that doesn’t take anything away from the incredible nature of this promotion. In fact, it only adds to the overall appeal.
The KSW translates to “Martial Arts Confrontation” and remains one of the most beloved and exciting promotions in all of Europe (and the MMA) since
Though the world-class fighters in the KSW speak for themselves, the general environment of the promotion is generally all about creating a spectacle from the fights to the explosive walkouts. It’s really all about making any sort of statement.
One Championship
Based in Singapore, this MMA promotion has the Asian market covered. It has a humungous reach and has run some very successful events in places such as Vietnam, China, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand.
In addition to MMA, this specific promotion also has Muay Thai and kickboxing fights scheduled. This is the type of variety that not many other successful MMA promotions offer and is a large reason why this promotion is so well-received by fans around the world.
The roster is also impeccable, with names including Eddie Alvarez, Bibiano Fernandes, and Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson reigning supreme.
Professional Fighters League
Founded in 2012, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) is an American promotion and its concept is a little different. Generally speaking, however, it is one of the top MMA successes with a unique twist that sets it apart from competitors.
The league presents the entire sport in a one-of-a-kind seasonal format with incredible million-dollar prizes, championships, and playoffs available for adoring and enthusiastic fans to enjoy.
All events within the PFL are broadcast on television. Plus, the promotion is very big on innovation — building on technology to enhance the overall viewing experience for audiences everywhere. All fighters compete in a unique ten-sided mixed martial arts cage known as the SmartCage.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Las-Vegas-based UFC has remained the biggest and most prominent MMA promotion for well over two decades. As of today, no other promotions have quite matched their success, or come close to achieving such an achievement.
So much so that many people equate the UFC with MMA, without knowing the many other phenomenal promotions under the MMA umbrella.
The UFC is not only entertaining but is also an extremely prominent brand with a lot of power and influence, especially in the west. Two of the most prominent names in the UFC game right now are Conor McGregor and Jon Jones.
Summary
These are some of the most important MMA promotions that you should know of. These are a few of the more unique promotions scattered throughout the world that don’t yet have the recognition and fan following that they deserve. But with the rising interest in and pursual of all things MMA, it likely won’t be long until other promotions begin following the footsteps of the UFC.