Promotions
The organizations that put fighters in the cage. Each profile covers founding, ownership, weight classes used, rule differences, and the eras of the sport they shaped.
The dominant global MMA promotion. Founded as a no-rules tournament in 1993, it became a regulated unified-rules sport after the 2001 Zuffa acquisition. Owned by TKO Group Holdings.
Asia's flagship combat sports promotion, covering MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and submission grappling under one roof. Known for its athlete-first hydration protocol and broadcast aesthetic.
Long-running #2 US promotion. Founded by Bjorn Rebney, later acquired by Viacom, then by PFL in 2023. Now operates as Bellator Champions Series under PFL ownership.
The only league-format promotion in major MMA — fighters compete on a structured calendar with playoff brackets. Acquired Bellator in 2023, making it the second-largest MMA organization globally.
The premier MMA promotion in Asia from 1997 to 2007. Produced the heavyweight Grand Prix tournaments (Fedor vs Cro Cop, Fedor vs Nogueira) and the Wanderlei Silva middleweight era. Sold to Zuffa in March 2007 for ~$70 million after a yakuza-tied broadcast scandal.
San Jose kickboxing promotion that pivoted to MMA in 2006 and became the major US #2 from 2009 to 2013. Acquired by Zuffa in March 2011. Notable for the women's 145-lb tournament, the heavyweight Grand Prix featuring Fedor Emelianenko, and the careers of Daniel Cormier, Ronda Rousey, Tyron Woodley, Luke Rockhold, Robbie Lawler, and Gilbert Melendez. Final card January 2013; rosters absorbed into UFC.
Japanese MMA revival promotion founded by former PRIDE executive Nobuyuki Sakakibara. The spiritual successor to PRIDE FC, retaining the ring format, walkout theatrics, and permissive rules. Notable champions include Kyoji Horiguchi, Tofiq Musayev, and Manel Kape. Annual New Year's Eve card is the largest combat sports event in Japan.
The premier women's-only MMA promotion. Founded by Shannon Knapp; broadcast partnership with UFC Fight Pass since 2014. The development pipeline for women's MMA — Rose Namajunas, Joanna Jędrzejczyk, Tonya Evinger, Cris Cyborg, Jessica Penne, Carla Esparza, Tecia Torres, and many UFC contenders all came through Invicta.