UFC
Based in Las Vegas, the Ultimate Fighting Championship is an American mixed martial arts promotion company, which is owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC.
The first UFC event was held on November 12, 1993, and featured kickboxers, karate experts, boxers, and even a sumo wrestler. In 1996, Senator John McCain led a campaign to ban UFC, calling it "human cockfighting." This led to 36 states banning "no-holds-barred" fighting. By the late 00s, UFC was on the brink of bankruptcy when casino executives Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, along with business partner Dana White, purchased the UFC for $2 million.
The UFC went on to gain popularity under the new leadership, holding events in major venues such as the Trump Taj Mahal and MGM Grand. By 2006, UFC 60 featuring Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell hit 1 million pay-per-view buys. During that time other fighters such as Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre, and Robbie Lawler came into prominence.
In 2005, Spike TV launched The Ultimate Fighter reality show. By the mid-2010s, UFC was garnering millions of pay-per-view sales and selling out arenas. In 2016, after years of being banned, UFC made its debut in New York City with the Connor McGregor vs. Eddie Alvarez fight.
Zuffa went on to purchase World Extreme Cagefighting and Strikeforce and announced a broadcast deal with FOX in 2011. In 2012, Dana announced the first female MMA fight, with Ronda Rousey becoming the first female UFC champion.
In 2016, UFC was sold to WME–IMG for $4 billion. In 2021, Endeavor bought Zuffa's other owners at a valuation of $1.7 billion.
Founded: 1993
UFC President: Dana White
UFC Men's Divisions:
- Strawweight (115lbs)
- Flyweight (115-125lbs)
- Bantamweight (125-135lbs)
- Featherweight (135-145lbs)
- Lightweight (145-155lbs)
- Welterweight (155lbs-170lbs)
- Middleweight (170-185lbs)
- Light Heavyweight (185-205lbs)
- Heavyweight (205-265lbs)
UFC Women's Divisions:
- Strawweight (115lbs)
- Flyweight (115-125lbs)
- Bantamweight (125-135lbs)
- Featherweight (135-145lbs)
All-time UFC Champions:
- Heavyweight: Randy Couture, Cain Velasquez, Stipe Miocic
- Light Heavyweight: Jon Jones, Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell, Khabib Nurmagomedov
- Middleweight: Anderson Silva, Israel Adesanya, Chris Weidman
- Welterweight: Georges St. Pierre, Kamaru Usman, Tyron Woodley, Matt Hughes
- Men's Featherweight: Jose Aldo, Max Halloway, Alexander Volkanovski, Connor McGregor
- Men's Flyweight: Demetrius Johnson, Henry Cejudo, Deiveson Figueiredo
- Women's Featherweight: Amanda Nunes, Cris Cyborg
- Women's Bantamweight: Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, Amanda Nunes
- Women's Flyweight: Valentina Shevchenko
- Women's Strawweight: Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Rose Namajunas, Zhang Weili
Net Worth: $10 billion
Latest UFC News and Updates
Conor McGregor Lost His Sexual Assault Case Against Nikita Hand, So Is He Going to Jail?
Conor was ordered to pay the victim, Nikita Hand, $257,000, but will he also have to serve jail time?
José Aldo Made an Epic Return to UFC in 2024 — and Fans Are Still Curious About the Scar on His Face
José Aldo is one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time, but many recognize him for the scar on his face.
Dana White Stormed Off Howie Mandel's Podcast After Less Than a Minute
"Thank you for all the kind words, I appreciate it. I am so f--king tired of doing podcasts. I am literally done with them. I am not doing any more podcasts.”
UFC Welterweight Leon Edwards Lost His Father When He Was Just 13 Years Old
Leon Edwards's dad was shot and killed in a nightclub over a dispute about money in 2004. Leon was only 13 years old when he lost his father.
Former UFC Fighter Brendan Schaub's Baby Girl Is Battling a Life-Threatening Illness
Comedian and former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub revealed that his infant daughter is facing a serious illness. How are his wife and kids faring?
UFC Fighter Sean Strickland Is Opening Up About Growing Up With an Abusive Father
UFC fighter Sean Strickland got vulnerable during a recent podcast appearance, leading many to wonder what happened to him as a kid.
Is Conor McGregor a Billionaire? He Made $50 Million From Just One Fight
After collecting roughly $100 million from his fight with Floyd Mayweather, Conor McGregor's net worth has skyrocketed. But is he a billionaire?
UFC Fighter Alistair Overeem Is Retiring, and He Lost Tons of Weight to Prove It
After years and years as a professional fighter, UFC veteran Alistair Overeem has announced his retirement, and also lost a bunch of weight.
Conor McGregor Has Been Accused of Sexually Assaulting Someone at the NBA Finals
UFC star Conor McGregor has been accused of sexually assaulting someone during an NBA Finals game. What did he do? Here's what we know.
Francis Ngannou Has Been Released From UFC After Failed Contract Negotiations
News recently broke that Francis Ngannou was released from his UFC contract. What happened that led to the split? Here's what we know.
UFC Fighter Rob Font and Girlfriend Kathryn Frias Take Their Love to Instagram
Rob Font and girlfriend Kathryn Frias wax romantic about one another on Instagram. Learn more about the UFC star’s longtime relationship.
Marlon Vera’s Daughter Is All Smiles These Days, Thanks to a Fan-Funded Surgery
Marlon Vera’s wife and kids are four of his biggest cheerleaders. Read more about the UFC star’s family ahead of his bout against Rob Font.
Colby Covington Has Reportedly Earned a Decent Amount of Money With the UFC
Colby Covington has used his furious in-cage pace and personal brand of trash talking to secure himself a serious net worth in the UFC.
UFC Fighter Colby Covington Claims Opponent Jorge Masvidal Got a PPP Loan
Did Jorge Masvidal get a PPP loan, as opponent Colby Covington alleged at their UFC 272 press conference? Learn the backstory behind the trash talk.
UFC President Blasts Jake Paul and His Advisor Nakisa Bidarian
Nakisa Bidarian, Jake Paul’s advisor, has been dragged into the boxer’s feud with UFC President Dana White, who called Nakisa a “scumbag.”
Does Brian Ortega Have a Girlfriend? Here's What We Know About His Love Life
UFC champion Brian Ortega is currently dating UFC women’s flyweight contender Tracy Cortez. Here's what we know about Brian's former relationships.
Jake Paul Posts $100,000 "Sleepy McGregor" Diamond Necklace to Troll UFC Star
What did Conor McGregor say to Jake Paul before losing his UFC 264 rubber match against Dustin Poirier?
Addison Rae Gives Update on Her UFC Reporting: "Y’all Got Me Fired"
Was Addison Rae fired, or was the TikTok star’s UFC reporting job never a thing to begin with? Read about her posts and the backlash they sparked.
Conor McGregor Comes After Dustin Poirier's Marriage in Latest Vague Tweet
Conor McGregor posted a screenshot of what appears to be a DM request from Dustin Poirier's wife on social media. And now there's drama.
Justin Bieber Challenged Tom Cruise to a UFC Fight and People Don't Like His Chances
In a tweet, Justin Bieber challenged Tom Cruise to a UFC fight at the Octagon Arena — so why does Bieber want to fight the Scientology actor?
Jake Paul Insults Conor McGregor's Wife on Twitter While Challenging Him to Fight
Jake Paul hopped on social media in a bid to try and secure a boxing match against Conor McGregor after making a mockery of the sport.
Born and Bred in Louisiana, Dustin Poirier Knows a Thing or Two About Hot Sauce
Dustin Poirier pulled a brilliant marketing move when he handed Conor McGregor a bottle of his hot sauce after their UFC 257 staredown.
Conor McGregor's Come a Long Way From Freaking Out Over $50,000 Fight Bonuses
Former UFC feather and lightweight champion Conor McGregor is the biggest MMA draw in the world, but how much money did he make?
Dana White's to Reveal if Khabib's Actually "Un-Retiring" for Final UFC Bout
Dana White held a closed-door meeting with Khabib Nurmagomedov in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 15, 2021. Once done, he planned a special announcement for ABC.
Said and Khabib Nurmagomedov Aren't Brothers, but They're Part of an MMA Dynasty
Is Said related to Khabib Nurmagomedov? Learn more about the Russian MMA cousins and their famous family.
The Daughter of UFC Heavyweight Frank Mir Is Making Her MMA Debut
Frank Mir's daughter is definitely a chip off the old block. Isabella signed with First Round management and is riding a lot of hype.
Conor McGregor Gets Accused of Sexual Assault for the 2nd Time, No Charges Filed
MMA mega star and the UFC's top draws, Conor McGregor, was detained in Corsica by French officials in response to sexual assault allegations.
UFC Reporter Laura Sanko Met Her Husband, Nathan, Quite Some Time Ago
Laura Sanko's husband is a businessman, company founder, and angel investor. So, what else is there to know about the mystery man? Read on for more.
The Father and Coach of UFC's Greatest Champion Dies of COVID-19 Related Illness
Khabib Nurmagomedov is the first one to attribute his Octagon success to his father and coach, Abdulmanap, who recently died due to COVID-19.
26 Memes for Anyone Who's Happy Conor Mcgregor Lost to Khabib
The aftermath of their fight was insane. So were the memes.
Tai Tuivasa Says He's Been Cut From the UFC — Where Will He Fight Now?
Is Tai Tuivasa really cut from the UFC? The Australian native said as much to his fans but is he telling the truth? Here’s what we know about it.
Conor McGregor Is Engaged! Learn All About His Fiancée and Their Adorable Kids
The retired UFC champion may be known as "The Notorious," but he's also very much a family man. Learn all about Conor McGregor's kids and fiancée.
Mike Tyson Says He Would Kick Conor McGregor's "A--" in a Fight
Mike Tyson announces he's coming out of retirement and says he would kick retired UFC fighter Conor Mcgregor's "a--" in a fight. Details inside.
Draymond Green Started Beef With Conor McGregor for Wearing a Warriors Jersey
Conor McGregor has beef with lots of folks, even Draymond Green. Here's everything we know about how the bad blood between the two men started.
Fight Island: This Is What UFC 251's Commentary Team Will Be
Will Joe Rogan be present at UFC 251 for its inaugural Fight Island event to lend his commentating services? Here’s what we know about the comedian.
Donald Trump Just Made Dana White and Mark Cuban White House Economic Advisors
It's no secret that Dana White and Donald Trump have been longtime pals, now it looks like Trump's relying on Dana to lead the US economy.
Khabib Nurmagomedov Gets the UFC's Support Amid Father's Health Battle
Khabib Nurmagomedov's father, Abdulmanap, had a serious health scare recently — here's what happened to Khabib's dad amid UFC support.
UFC President Dana White Has Been Married to His Middle School Sweetheart for Decades
Who is Dana White's wife? Dana is the current president of the UFC, but behind the scenes, he's a married father of three. Details on his private life.
A Rundown of the Most Dangerous UFC Fighters
Who is the most dangerous fighter in the UFC? That's a tough call to make because the roster is filled with such immense talent. Keep reading.
What Did Jorge Masvidal Bank for Winning the BMF Title at UFC 244?
Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz put on a heck of a show for their BMF title challenge at UFC 244. "Gamebred" won, but how much did he make?
Where Is Dana White's Private "Fight Island" and Will UFC 249 Take Place There?
Dana White announced that he has a "private island" which will be the location of future international UFC fights, but where is it?
Did Conor Mcgregor's Aunt Pass Away Because of Coronavirus?
The UFC's biggest star, Conor McGregor, wrote an emotional post about his family, his country, his aunt, and the coronavirus on Instagram.
Has the UFC Middleweight Division's Boogeyman, Yoel Romero, Ever Been Finished in a Fight?
When it comes to scary UFC fighters, Yoel Romero is pretty much at the top of the list. Although he's lost before, has he ever been finished?
James Krause Steps in Last Minute to Save Match on Epic Jon Jones UFC 247 Card
Jon Jones is making huge headlines for his match-up against Dominick Reyes, but James Krause is the unsung hero for UFC 247.
Conor McGregor Dedicates His UFC 246 Bout to His Mom After Apologizing to Fans
Conor McGregor is known for his brash fight promotions, but a seemingly humbled fighter shouting out his mom took the stage at the weigh-ins.
Is Nate Diaz Really Retiring? UFC Fans Are Not Convinced
Is Nate Diaz retiring? After losing to Jorge Masvidal at UFC 244, Nate announced he is out of the fight game – but fans aren't convinced.
Fans Want to See Jorge Masvidal Fight Connor McGregor at UFC 244
Now that Nate Diaz pulled out of UFC 244, fans want to see Jorge "Gamebred" Masvidal fight Connor McGregor