UFC is the Premier Global MMA promotion. The Gold Standard on running a promotion. Besides there’s ten plus MMA promotions to watch or fight for. Earning solid money, Entertained by watching world class fighters. Created a list of MMA promotions to watch!
Ultimate Fighting Championship
No way UFC is #1 MMA promotion. Of course and it will always will be until Dana White decides to retire. UFC not only the #1 MMA promotions but #4th Sports Business beating NHL. UFC is a worldwide company, TV contracts in Brazil, United Kingdom, Australia. UFC has some of the biggest athletes from Conor McGregor, Israel Adesanya, Jon Jones. Formerly Khabib Nurmagomedov, Biggest Muslim athlete.
UFC signing a deal with ESPN, Skyrocketed there brand value. UFC will only grow from here. Future PPV buys up to 3 million-4 million.
UFC talent better than ever, Stacked divisions from Lightweight, Featherweight and Bantamweight. Bright future ahead of them, Congratulations to Dana White and the UFC.
Bellator
Bellator since Scott Coker (Former Strike Force promoter) took over in 2014. Bellator gradually improved. Bellator moving from Paramount- CBS Sports and now Showtime. Congratulations to Bellator for the broadcast deal move, Definitely will help Bellator move in the right direction.
Great second option to watch, The days of Chael Sonnen vs Tito Ortiz, Kimbo Slice are long gone. New Era of Bellator. Bellator will continue to grow with brand value, Millions of viewers worldwide. Rising MMA stars who can defeat UFC Top Fighters.
Patricio Pitbull, Vadim Nemkov, Douglas Lima, AJ McKee, Yaroslav Amosov, Juan Archuleta, Aaron Pico leading the charge for Bellator. World Class fighters, Some of the best fighters in the world… They just fight for Bellator.
Coker and Rich Chau(Bellator Matchmaker) continues to sign top prospects from Magomed Magomedov, Usman Nurmagomedov, Alexandr Shabily, Justin Gonzales, Jaylon Bates, Many Bohm and plenty of other prospects. Future stars and champions for Bellator.
Watch out for Bellator in these next five years.
One Championship
Lead by Chatri Sityodtong, #1 MMA promotion in Asia. Running since 2011. Broadcast deal with TNT and Bleacher Report. Events in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, China, Japan, Philippines. Now looking to expand in North America.
100’s millions of dollars invested from Investment firms, Backing One Championship to make it grow into a multi-billion dollar business.
Lost millions of dollars in 2020 but 2021 will be a great year for One Championship. Selling out arenas.
One Championship since the start signed world class fighters from Bibiano Fernandes(Dream Bantamweight Champion) Shinya Aoki, Ben Askren, Brandon Vera, Aung La Nsang. Signed Eddie Alvarez, Traded for Demetrious Johnson, Signed Sage Northcutt, Vitor Belfort, John Lineker
Faces of One Championship currently are Christian Lee, Aung La Nsang, Angela Lee, Giorgio Petrosyan( Kickboxer), Bibiano Fernandes, Adriano Moraes, Thanh Le and Kiamrian Abbasov.
Talented divisions from Lightweight, Bantamweight. Bright future ahead of One Championship.
Professional Fighters League
Formerly known as World Series of Fighting, Professional Fighters League promoted by Ray Sefo, CEO Peter Murray and Chairman Don Davis. PFL has a broadcast deal with ESPN.
PFL started in 2018, PFL success won’t happen overnight. Take some time to becoming a Global promotion but love what PFL is doing. Mass potential for Professional Fighters League.
Current stars Lance Palmer, Natan Schulte, Kayla Harrison, Ray Cooper. Lance Palmer one of the best Featherweights in the world.
PFL in 2020 signed Rory MacDonald, Biggest free agent signing for them. Claressa Shields #1 Boxer in the world. 2021 signed Anthony Pettis, Fabricio Werdum, Antonio Carlos Junior, Gleison Tibau. Adding depth to the 2021 roster, Mixing with upcoming prospects.
Exciting year in 2021, Looking forward to the 2021 season. Building PFL brand for the next five years.
KSW
#1 European MMA promotion KSW is a European sensation. Selling out arenas in Poland. Martin Lewandowski KSW promoter is a doing a great JOB running KSW.
Broadcast deal with DAZN, Talented roster from Roberto Soldic, Salahdine Parnasse, Daniel Torres, Mamed Khalidov, Phil De Fries, Tomasz Narkun, Norman Parke.
Polish version of Pride, Mixed with world class fighters who one day will be future UFC fighters. Roberto Soldic is one of the best Welterweights in the world.
If your a European fighter and want to make a name for yourself signing a fight deal with KSW will be the best option.
Fighting in front a MMA hardcore audience, Building your brand in front of millions viewers. Winning a KSW title is a well accomplished title.
By far the most underrated MMA promotion right now but will continue to grow with TV Deals, Signing UFC/ Bellator free agents.
Rizin Fight Federation
Rizin formally was Pride, Nobuyuki Sakakibara former Pride president started Rizin in 2015. Never looked back as Rizin continues to grow. Be a while till it becomes what Pride was but there’s gradual growth.
Several events a year from 2015-2020. Scott Coker because of his love for MMA helped out Rizin doing them a favor, Cross Promotion with Rizin.
“He had the love of the sport, he wanted to take the sport to the next level and build his brand,” Sakakibara said through translator and Rizin executive Shingo Kashiwagi. “The UFC was already a big player in the U.S., and any business needs a healthy competition, so … it was necessary to help [Coker]. It was possible because of the mutual trust and respect that we had between us.” https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/26951089/bellator-rizin-proving-cross-promotion-healthy-mma
Rizin sending over Kyoji Horiguchi to Bellator, Defeating Former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Darrion Caldwell twice! Jiří Procházka defeated Muhammad Lawal. Tofiq Musaev masterfully defeating Patricky Pitbull.
Showing the world Rizin has a talented roster defeating world class Bellator fighters. Rizin needs to continue signing prospects to compete with top promotions on a yearly basis.
Brave Combat Federation
Brave Combat Federation #1 Middle Eastern MMA promotion Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa(Sheikh of Bahrain). Rapidly growing since 2016. Events in Bahrain, India, UAE, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Russia. Taking advantage of the financial backing signing world class fighters and prospects from Ottman Azaitar, Stephen Loman, Jose “Shorty” Torres, Muhammad Mokaev, Bubba Jenkins, Ali Bagautinov and many more fighters.
Brave CF becoming a feeder league for UFC with Khamzat Chimaev, Ottman Azaitar, Amir Albazi signing with UFC. Stephen Loman Brave CF Bantamweight Champion signing with One Championship. Bubba Jenkins signing with PFL.
Brave CF matches up great bouts, Signing world class prospects from all over them world. Bahrain Royal Family loves MMA and will offer you a fair contract.
Expand there brand globally with events in new countries from Africa, Latin America, Italy, United States.
Combate Americas
#1 Latin America MMA promotion, Attracting the Latin American audience. Trying to be the second popular sport behind soccer. TV/Broadcast deals with Univision, DAZN, ESPN(Latin America)
Combate Americas promoting events in Latin America, Mexico, Peru, Texas, Arizona. Focused on building the sport and brand in Latin America. Attracting millions of viewers.
Copa Combate 8 man tournament events with Andres Quintana winning the Featherweight tournament. Levy Saúl Marroquín winning the Bantamweight tournament.
Combate Americas stars are Andres Quintana, Rafa Garcia, Melissa Martinez, Alejandro Flores, Andre Barquero Morera.
Signing Tito Ortiz in a fight deal, Tito Ortiz vs Alberto Del Rio. Never thought that would happen.
Combate Americas will continue to grow in Latin America signing high level prospects who go on to become champions.
Absolute Championship Akhmat
M1 Global used to be the #1 Russian MMA promotion but now it’s Absolute Championship Akhmat!
ACB was founded by Mairbek Khasiev, he is one of the most respected citizens of Chechen Republic. Khasiev a sport activist and a decorated doctor with a lot of notable awards. Thanks to his efforts in 2009 the Berkut Fight Club was founded in Grozny help a lot young fighters get the opportunity to compete in the very highest level.
Mairbek Khasiev bought out promotions Tech-Krep FC, Merged with WFCA. Now ACA is one of the best promotions in the world.
ACA former fighters found success from Petr Yan, Zabit Magomedsharpiov, Askar Askarov, Anatoly Tokov, Yusup Saadulaev.
Many more talented fighters to sign with UFC, Bellator, One Championship and PFL.
Faces of ACA right now are Felipe Froes(ACA Featherweight Champion), Yusuf Raisov(Lightweight contender), Azamat Kerefov( ACA Flyweight Champion) Deivi Daniel Oliveira de Almeida (ACA Bantamweight Champion).
Former ACA Bantamweight Champion, Rustam Kerimov testing free agency. Next version of Petr Yan. Impressed by his talents. UFC or Bellator Bantamweight division is in for a rude awakening.
ACA will continue to grow in Europe, Signing savage Russians who go on to become UFC champions and title contenders.
ACA is one of my favorite MMA promotions to watch.
Overall there’s many MMA promotions besides the UFC where you can watch World Class fighters, Intense entertaining fights. Find a MMA promotion to build a career and earn a lot of money.
Next up is “Under the radar MMA promotions” from all over the world!!
Billy's MMA Blog 