According to MMA portal Tapology.com listings, there are hundreds of mixed martial arts (MMA) promotions producing MMA events around the world. There are hundreds of MMA training facilities throughout the world as well.
This is a list of the current most notable MMA promotions worldwide, companies that produce MMA fighting events.
Since the UFC came to prominence in mainstream media in 2006, and with their 2007 merger with Pride FC and purchase of WEC (2006) and Strikeforce (2013), no companies have presented significant competition, and the UFC has under contract most of the top ranked talent. The UFC broadcasts their fights on Fox Sports and others.
Outside of the UFC, the current secondary major MMA organisations that also have on their roster at least 3 top 15 ranked fighters are: JSSL Mizoram India.
Bellator MMA. Based in Newport Beach, California, United States. Broadcasts their fights locally on Spike TV and other networks around the world.
ONE Championship. Based in Kallang, Singapore. Broadcasts their fights locally on ESPN Star Sports and other networks around the world.
World Series of Fighting. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Broadcasts their fights locally on NBC Sports and other networks around the world.
Invicta FC (all female MMA). Based in Enka, North Carolina, United States. Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass online subscription service.
Though ranked #20 promotion overall; Japanese, all female MMA promotion JEWELS (DEEP JEWELS) which formed a strategic partnership to cross-promote with Invicta FC since 2012, has many top ranked fighters in their female Atomweight division.
Fighters usually get contracts in the above promotions including the UFC after competing successfully in other MMA organisations from around the world.
Some MMA organizations tend to exist more to build up prospects while others have a good mix of prospect/veteran. Some exist only to be feeder leagues to the bigger promotions, others exist to try and be the best in the world. Some organizations only do 4 shows a year while others are doing them monthly.
The top 50 regional MMA organisations in the world, have been evaluated by how much talent the promotion currently has, has had in the past, and how notable their fighting venues are while doing so. Popularity has some influence as well.
1. Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW). Based in Warsaw, Poland. Broadcasts their fights locally on Polsat Sport and on Fight Network internationally.
2. Jungle Fight. Based in Manaus, Brazil. Broadcasts their fights locally on SporTV and ESPN Deportes in the USA.
3. Absolute Chamionship Berkut (ACB) - Grozny, Russia
4. M-1 Global (M-1 Challenge). Based in St. Petersburg, Russia. Broadcasts their fights locally on Russia-2 and on Fight Network internationally.
5. Pancrase. Based in Tokyo, Japan. Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass online subscription service.
6. DEEP/JEWELS . Based in Tokyo, Japan.
7. British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA). Based in London, England. Broadcasts their fights on Spike TV UK.
8. Cage Warriors Fighting Championship (CWFC). Based in London, England, UK. Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass
9. Shooto/Vale Tudo Japan. Based in Tokyo, Japan. Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass online subscription service.
10. Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA). Based in Kearney, Nebraska, USA. Broadcasts their fights locally on AXS TV Fights.
11. Legacy Fighting Championships (LFC). Based in Houston, Texas, USA. Broadcasts their fights locally on AXS TV Fights.
12. Titan Fighting Championship. Based in Kansas City, Kansas, USA. Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass online subscription service.
13. Shooto South America (Shooto Brazil). Based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass online subscription service.
14. Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC). Based in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA (Alliance MMA, Inc.). Broadcasts their fights on CBS Sports Network.
15. Ring Of Combat (ROC). Louis Neglia's Ring of Combat is Based in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.
16. Pacific Xtreme Combat (PXC). Based in Mangilao, Guam.
17. Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC). Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. [DEFUNCT]
18. Tachi Palace Fights (TPF). Based in Lemoore, California, USA.
19. Xtreme Fighting Championships (USA) (XFC & XFC-i) Based out of Spring Lake, MI USA with offices in New York, Ft. Lauderdale, São Paulo, & Buenos Aires. Broadcast in Latin America on Rede TV.
20. Australian Fighting Championship (AFC). Based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
21. Fight Nights (Russia). Eurasia Fight Nights (EFN, Fight Nights Global, FNG) is Based in Moscow, Russia. Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass online subscription service.
22. Classic Entertainment and Sports MMA (CES MMA). Based in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. Broadcasts their fights locally on AXS TV Fights.
23. Nitrix Champion Fight. Based in Santa Carina, Brazil.
24. Extreme Fighting Championship Africa (EFC Africa). Based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
25. Showdown Fights. Based in Orem, Utah, USA.
26. King of the Cage (KOTC). Based in Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA.
27. Cage MMA. Based in Helsinki, Finland.
28. Road Fighting Championship. Based in Seoul, South Korea.
29. Made 4 The Cage. Based in Sunderland, England, UK.
30. West Coast Fighting Championship (WFC). Based in Sacramento, California.
31. Circuito Talent MMA. Based in São Paulo, Brazil.
32. Unified MMA. Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Broadcasts their fights on GFL: GoFightLive online subscription service.
33. Pro FC. Based in Rostov-on-don, Russia.
34. Bitetti Combat. Based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
35. European Mixed Martial Arts (EUMMA). Based in Copenhagen, Denmark
36. Coliseu Extreme Fight (CEF). Based in Maceio, Brazil
37. Hoosier Fight Club. Based in Valparaiso, Indiana, USA.(Alliance MMA, Inc.)
38. Dakota Fighting Championships. Based in Fargo, North Dakota, USA.
39. MMA Super Heroes (MMASH). Based in São Paulo, Brazil.
40. Far Eastern Federation Of Modern Pankration (FEFoMP, MFP). Based in Khabarovsk, Russia.
41. Victory Fighting Championship. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass online subscription service.
42. Nitro MMA. Based in Logan City, Queensland, Australia.
43. Inka FC / Peru FC / 300 Sparta / Fusion Fighting Championship (Peru). Based in Lima, Peru.
44. Xtreme Kombat. Based in Tijuana, Mexico and Mexico City, Mexico.
45. Cage Sport. Based in Tacoma, Washington, USA. CageSport has begun co-promoting with Indian promotion Super Fight League and streaming fights on YouTube.
46. 100% Fight. Based in Paris, France.
47. Final Fight Championship. Based in Zageb, Croatia.
48. New England Fights (NEF). [Old name: Fight Night MMA] Based in Lewiston, Maine, USA.
49. Island Fights (aka Square Ring Promotions, SQP). Based in Pensacola, Florida, USA.
50. Superior Challenge (SC). Based in Stockholm, Sweden. Broadcasts live on Viaplay in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, and on TV10 in Sweden.
Note: #10. Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA). Based in Kearney, Nebraska, USA and #11. Legacy Fighting Championships (LFC). Based in Houston, Texas, USA. Have announced they will merge in 2017 Forming one major feeder League, (LFA) Legacy Fighting Alliance.
-Right now this list is being built up, please help add to these and put in order of: 1. Promotion’s worldwide name recognition, 2. Time as a pro mma promotion, 3. Number of top high level Pro fighters.
EuroFC (European Fighting Challenge) - Based in Finland, CEO Jarno Kukila (The first-ever All-European MMA promotion)
RIZIN Fighting Federation based in Japan and founded by the former Pride FC president.
WSOF-Global (World Series of Fighting - Global, WSOF-GC) - World Series of Fighting has eight owners two of them use their International Branding Rights to create this separate promotion that focuses on only international shows. WSOF-Global affiliates with 13 current partner promotions.
TOP FC. Based in Seoul, South Korea.
BRACE MMA - [old name: Brace For War] runs most of its shows in Sydney, Canberra, Newcastle and the Gold Coast Australia. Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass online subscription service.
Eternal MMA (EMMA) - Based on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Eternal MMA holds events in 2 states and 3 cities in Australia. Regular PPV events and popular Youtube channel
World Fighting Championship Akhmat (WFCA, Akhmat Fight Club, AFC, Akhmat Fight Show) - Grozny, Russia (backed by Chechen Republic leader Ramzan Kadyrov)
Combate Americas - The first U.S. Hispanic MMA franchise, founded by UFC co-creator Campbell McLaren. Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass online subscription service.
TKO MMA (TKO Major League MMA) (CAN 2000-08 returned 2016) (Stéphane Patry). Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass online subscription service.
Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) (aka: Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye) - Tokyo, Japan
Kunlun Fight - China
Venator FC - Bologna, Italy
Triumph Fighting Championship (TFC) - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Veteran MMA fighter Victor Valimaki's new promotion.
Art of War Fighting Championship (AOW) Beijing, China. Last event 2009 returned 2016.
Respect Fighting Championship - Herne, Germany
Parma Fights - Syktyvkar, Russia
Alaska Fighting Championship (AFC) - Alaska, USA. Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass online subscription service.
Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) - Manila, Philippines
1st Round Combat (1st RC) - Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Real Fight Championship - [Old name: Real Fight MMA Championship] Japanese-managed MMA promotion based in Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
Aspera Fighting Championship (AFC, Aspera FC) - Santa Catarina, Brazil
Full Metal Dojo (FMD) - Phuket, Thailand
Desert Force Championship - Amman, Jordan
Snow Leopard Fighting Championship (SLFC) - Founded by Kakail Nuristani. Based out of Kabul, Afghanistan , And Have More foreign Fighters From Russia and all over the world.
Abu Dhabi Warriors FC (ADW,UAE) - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirites
Xtreme Fighting Organization (XFO) - Chicago, Illinois, USA. Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass online subscription service.
GRACHAN - Tokyo, Japan
Professional League of MMA (PLMMA, Profesjonalna Liga MMA), Created by Mirosław Okniński - Poland
Tech-Krep Fighting Championship - Krasnodar, Russia. Broadcasts their fights on UFC fight-pass online subscription service.
Real Xtreme Fighting - Romania
Gladiator Championship Fighting - Czech Republic
World Warriors Fighting Championships - Moldova
Shamrock FC - St. Louis, Missouri , USA
Ligue d'Arts Martiaux Mixtes du Québec (LAMMQ) - Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Hard Knocks Fighting - Calgary, Alberta, Canada
BAMMA USA - Commerce, California, USA
American Predator Fighting Championships - Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA
Battlefield Fight League - British Columbia, Canada
Battlegrounds MMA - Norman, Oklahoma, USA
Ultimate Challenge MMA (UCMMA) - London, England
HOOKnSHOOT - Evansville, Indiana, USA
Mix Fight Combat (MFC) - Kstovo, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia 2009-2011 Promotion went defunct returned Dec 25, 2015.
Fight Time Promotions - Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA. Unfortunately, their owner and boxing legend Howard Davis Jr recently passed away. It's unknown what will happen from this point on. Broadcasts their fights locally on CBS Sports Network
Mr. Cage Championship (MR CAGE) - Manaus, Brazil
Driller Promotions - Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Dynasty Combat Sports (DCS) - Nebraska, USA
Atlas Fights - Biloxi, Mississippi, USA
Provincial Fighting Championship - London, Ontario, Canada
Gladiator Challenge (GC) - California, USA
Havoc Fighting Championship - Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
Arena Tour - Buenos Aires, Argentina
Extreme Challenge MMA - Des Moines, Iowa, USA
The Hill Fighters - Gramado, Brazil
Watch Out Combat Show - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Counter Combat Club - Birmingham, England
MMA Down Under - Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Xtreme Fighting Championship (Australia) - Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
OneSilat Championship - a hybrid of MMA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Cage Titans Fighting Championship (CTFC, Cage Titans FC) - Boston, Massachusetts, USA
ZST - Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Explosive Fight Promotions (EFP, Caged Madness, CM) - Akron, Ohio, USA
Gladiator Championship Fighting - Prague, Czech Republic
Strength & Honor Championship - Geneva, Switzerland
Fair Fighting Championship - Herne, Germany
Legion/Gladiator Fighting Championship - Grunsfeld, Germany
Xtreme Kombat - Mexico City, Mexico
Hip Show: Arena Combat - (2-On-2 Fighting) - Moscow, Russia
Max Fight - Sao Paulo, Brazil (different, Max Fight in Bulgaria)
Heat - Aichi, Japan
Storm MMA - Canberra, Hume, Australia
California Xtreme Fighting (Lights Out Promotions) - Califoria, USA
Sugar Creek Showdown (SCS) - Oklahoma, USA
King of the Cage Canada (KOTC Canada) - Alberta, Canada
Kingdom MMA - Hawaii, USA
Ultimate Warrior Challenge (UWC) (Essex, England) & another: Ultimate Warrior Challenge (Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico)
The Zone Fighting Championship (ZFC, The Zone FC) - Gothenburg, Sweden
Storm FC - Rome, Italy
Battle of Botnia (BOB) - Umeå, Sweden (Run by UFC veteran Tor Troeng)
Predador FC (PFC) - Sao Paulo, Brazil
Tenkaichi Fight (TF) - Okinawa, Japan
Minotaur MMA (Melbourne Fight Club) - Melbourne, Australia
Xcessive Force Fighting Championship (XFFC) - Alberta , Canada
Rage in The Cage (RITC) - Phoenix, Arizona, USA (Legendary promoter Roland Sarria quit under new management Nathan and Nolan Hyland)
International Fighting Championship (IFC) - Tuolumne City, California USA (Howard Petschler's IFC was the first MMA organization to create a cruiserweight division.) note: a different International Fighting Championship, in Austria and another in Barcelona, Spain that does MMA, boxing & K-1 events.
Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Entertainment (AMMAE) - Arizona, USA
MMA Berlin - Berlin, Germany
Absolute Action MMA (AAMMA, Absolute Action) - Kentucky, USA, Kentucky's Number 1 MMA Promotion. Founded in 2010
IMPI Fighting Championships - Southron Station, Hong Kong
Lappeenranta Fight Night - Lappeenranta, Finland
Warrior Nation Fight Series (WNFS) - Ohio, USA
Bushido Lithuania (BL) - Lithuania
Destiny MMA - Hawaii, United States
Immortal Fighting Championship (IFC) - Donegal, Ireland
Slugfest - Witkowo, Poland
V3 Fights: Based in Memphis, Tennessee: Nick Harmeier, founder and president (Alliance MMA, Inc.)
Shogun Fighting: Based in Baltimore, Maryland (Alliance MMA, Inc.)
(COGA) Combat Games MMA: Based in Kirkland, Washington (Alliance MMA, Inc.)
Evolution of Fighters (EOF) - Sao Paulo, Brazil
Redemption International Fight Night (RIFN) - Karachi, Pakistan
S-1 Fighting - Quebec, Canada
Fight Exclusive Night (FEN) - Wrocław, Poland
Fight Night (Canada), (Z Promotions) - Alberta, Canada
Serbian Battle Championship (SBC) - Novi Sad, Vojvodina, Serbia
Ambitions FC - Ekaterinburg, Russia
Clan Wars - Belfast, Ireland
Shock N Awe (SnA) - Hampshire, England
Bush Cree Promotions (BCP) - Colorado, USA
Ansgar Fighting League (AFL) - Barcelona, Spain
Conquer FC (CFC) - Richmond, California, USA
Venom Fight League - Nippon Training, Dietikon, Switzerland, Switzerland
Iron Man Vale Tudo (IMVT) - Amapa, Brazil
Potiguar Combat - Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
Iowa Challenge - Waterloo, Iowa, USA
International Ring Fighting Arena (IRFA) - Sweden
Midwest Cage Championship (MCC) - Des Moines, Iowa, USA
World Cossack Fight Federation (WCFF) - Ukraine
Caribbean Ultimate Fist Fighting (CUFF) - Port of Spain, Trinidad
Open Fight - Moscow, Russia
SteelFist Fight Night (SFN) - Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Malaysian Invasion MMA (MIMMA) (Star Cruise-line fights) - Malaysia
The Fight Club (TFC) - was Alberta, Canada moved to Asuncion, Paraguay
Kombat League - Pedavena, Italy
MMA Koszalin - Koszalin, Poland
Sparta Combat League (SCL) - Denver, Colorado USA
Egyptian Fighting Championship - Cairo, Egypt
Next Level Fight Club (NLFC) - North Carolina, USA
Absolute Fighting Championship (AFC) - Hollywood, Florida USA
Prestige FIght Club MMA (PFC MMA) - Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada
Chiang Mai Fighting Championship (CMFC, Chiang Mai FC) - Chiang Mai, Thailand
Scottish Fight Challenge (SFC) - Stirling, Scotland
Rei da Selva Combat (RDSC) - Amazonas, Brazil
Soul Fighting Championships - Poland
Dragon House (DH) - Zhong Luo's Dragon House is in San Francisco, California, USA
Fight UK MMA (FUK) - Leicester, England, UK
Real Fighting Championships (RFC) - Tampa, Florida, USA
We Love MMA (WLMMA)- [old name: Free Fight Association Germany] - Dresden, Germany
Legend Japan (LJ) - Japan
Alpha Fighting Championship (AFC) - Sarawak, Malaysia
Ultimate Beatdown - Johor Bahru, Malaysia
North American Allied Fight Series (NAAFS) - Ohio, USA
Pancrace Fighting Championship (PFC) - France
Tribe Tokyo Fight (TTF) - Tokyo, Japan (Owned by Ryo Chonan ex-UFC, PRIDE, DEEP, DREAM, Pancrase, World Victory Road fighter)
International Martial Arts Tournament (IMAT) - Moscow, Russia
Jeremy Horn's Elite Fight Night (JHEFN) - Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Jeremy Horn - Early pioneer fighter, with over 108 fights & counting.
League S-70 (S-70, S70) - Sochi, Russia
Strike Fighting Championship (Brazil)(SFC) - Belem, Para, Brazil
Predador Fight Championship (PFC, Predador FC) - Sao Paulo, Brazil
BlacKOut Fighting Championship (BFC) - Kansas, USA
Brave (Brave Fight) - Saitama, Japan
Wardog Cage Fight (WCF) - Osaka, Japan
Philoctetes Niigata (PN) Once a year event Held every November - Japan
Demolition Xtreme Fighting Championship (DXFC, Demolition) - Japan
Carelia Fight (CF) - South Karelia, Finland
World Fighting Championships (WFC) - Nevada, USA
Freestyle Fullcontact Fight Championship (F3, F-3 Championship) - Malaysia
Chosen Few Fighting Championships (CFFC, Chosen Few FC) - Wisconsin, USA
Circuito Team Nogueira de MMA (CTN, Circuito Team Nogueira) - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Dead Serious MMA (DSMMA) - Lincroft, New Jersey, USA
FightForce Mixed Style Fighting (FF, FightForce) - Montana, USA
Fight to Win Promotions (FTW, Fight to Win) - Denver, Colorado USA
Apocalypse Pitbull Fight Championship (Apocalypse Pitbull FC) - Roma, Italy
Summit Fighting Championships (SFC, Summit FC) - Mississippi USA
Copa Striker's House (SHC, Striker's House Cup) - Curitiba, Parana, Brazil
Strike Hard Productions (SHP) - Alabama USA
Superstar Fight (SF) - China
Fighter Gala (FG) - Copenhagen, Denmark
European Combat Sambo Federation (ECSF) - Kiev, Ukraine
World Cossack Fight Federation (WCFF) - Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Fighten Decagon MMA Championship (FCMMA, Fighten Championship) - Londrina, Parana, Brazil
FIGHT4PRIDE Championship (F4P) - Laval, Quebec, Canada
Trophy MMA (TMMA) - Sweden
Tayta Fighting Championship (TFC) - Lima, Peru
Fighter Soul Promotions (FSP) - Georgia, USA
Sporty Walki Gostyń (SWG) - Gostyń, Poland
Mix Fight Events (MFE) - Valencia, Spain
The Clash MMA (TCMMA) - Utah, USA
Battle Arena - Oxford, England
Princesses of Pain (POP) - Women's MMA based out of Auckland, New Zealand
Carnage in the Cage (CITC) - Mackay, Queensland, Australia
Warrior Fight Series (WFS) - London, England
Capital Fight (CF) - Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
Centro de Treinamento De Atletas (CTA, CTA Combat) - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Worldwide MMA Alliance Championship - Location: Tokyo, Japan
WBK - Jiangdong, China, China
Full Contact Championship - Mumbai, India
MMA Pro Ukraine (MMAPU) - Ukraine
ICE Fighting Championship (ICE FC) - Greater Manchester, England
Shinobi MMA FC - Queensferry, Clwyd, Wales
Slam Fighting Championship - Italian Mixed Martial Arts Promotion Company based in Florence, born in 2008 and created, owned, managed by italian fighter Marco Santi.
Nauas Combat - Brazil
All American Fight League [1] - United States
Caged Aggression - United States
GetDown Promotions - United States
ExciteFight - United States
Purgatory Fight Series - Toledo, Ohio
World Fighting Federation [2] - United States
Amazon Fight Combat - Brazil
Americas Fighting Championship - Brazil
Batalha MMA - Brazil
BH Sparta - Brazil
Big Way Fight - Brazil
Brasil Fight - Brazil
Brazilian Fighting Championship - Brazil
Cage Brasil Championship - Brazil
Clube da Luta - Brazil
Combate Extremo - Brazil
Face to Face FC - Brazil
Fatality Arena - Brazil
Floripa Fight - Brazil
Imortal FC - Brazil
Impact MMA - Brazil
Imperium - Brazil
JF Fight Evolution - Brazil
Limo Fight MMA - Brazil
Noxii Combat - Brazil
Recife FC - Brazil
Ronin MMA - Brazil
Bragging Rights - Australia
Centurion Mixed Martial Arts - Australia
Hex Fight Series - Australia
Local Kombat - Romania
Scandinavian Fight Nights
Underground Battle Mixed Martial Arts Championship UGB MMA - Philippines
WLF E.P.I.C - China
JSL - Mizoram , India broadcast by Zonet and Organised by MISMA.
JSL will be renamed as Mizoram Fight League (MFL)starting June 2017, The League is the fastest growing MMA promotional Company in India.
This is a list of now defunct MMA promotions:
Pride Fighting Championship (Pride FC) (JAP 1997-2007) - (acquired by Zuffa/UFC)
DREAM (JAP 2008-2012) - (acquired by Glory (kickboxing))
Strikeforce (USA 2006-13) (acquired by Zuffa/UFC)
Elite Xtreme Combat (Elite XC) (USA 2006-08) - (most of their assets acquired by Strikeforce)
World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) (USA 2001-10) - (acquired by Zuffa/UFC)
Affliction Entertainment (USA 2008-09)
International Fight League (IFL) (USA 2006-08) (Kurt Otto & Gareb Shamus)
BodogFight (Canadian Calvin Ayre, held HQ in Antigua 1994-2007)
Battlecade Extreme Fighting (EF) (Rick Blume) (NY,USA 1995-1997)
Cage Rage Championships (UK 2002-08) - (acquired by Elite Xtreme Combat) ·
Smackgirl (JAP 2001-08)
Spirit Martial Challenge (Spirit MC) (S. Korea 2003-2010) - (acquired by Elite Xtreme Combat))
Sengoku Raiden Championship (SRC) (aka..World Victory Road (WVR)) (JAP 2007-2011) (Naoya Kinoshita)
International Vale Tudo Championship (IVC) (BRA 1997-2012)
World Vale Tudo Championships (WVC) (BRA 1996-2002)
Greatest Common Multiple (GCM): Cage Force & Valkyrie, old name Demolition Octagon Gear (D.O.G.) (Jap 2005-2010 added women's MMA Valkyrie in 2008)
ICON Sport aka. SuperBrawl (SB) (Hawaii, USA 1996 -2008) (Jay Thompson) (acquired by Elite Xtreme Combat))
Hero’s (K-1 Hero's) (JAP 2005-2008 merged with DREAM)
World Fighting Alliance (WFA) (John Lewis)
World Extreme Fighting (WEF) (GA, USA 1998-2011)
X-treme Cage Championship (XCC) (Camuy, Puerto Rico 1997-1999)
International Absolute Fighting Council (IAFC) (RUS 1995-2010)
Adrenaline MMA (AMMA) (Monte Cox) (USA 2007-2009)
Legend Fighting Championship: (China 2009-2013) Asian tournaments focuses exclusively on native Asia-Pacific fighters Legend was co-founded by Mike Haskamp and Chris Pollak.
SLAMM!! Events (Netherlands, 2006-2012)
Shark Fights (USA 2008-2011)
Brazilian Vale Tudo Fighting (BVF) (BRA, 1996-1999)
Finnfight or Scandinavian open NHB Championships (SNC) (1998-2008)
Rio Heros (Brazil 20007-2008) (Jorge Pereira)
Rumble on the Rock (Hawaii 2002-2010 ) (Sadaharu Tanikawa) Started in 2002, this promotion was based in Hawaii and run by J.D. Penn, brother of mixed martial artist BJ Penn
Worldwide Fighting Championship (WFC) (Phoenix, USA 2005-2008)
Urban Conflict Championship (USA 2010-2011)
YAMMA Pit Fighting (USA 2008-2008) YAMMA Pit Fighting held 1 event. Attempt by Robert "Bob" Meyrowitz to come back he had started Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG) and helped co-create the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He was the owner of the UFC until he sold it to Zuffa in 2001.
HDNet Fights (USA 2007-2007) (Mark Cuban)
Iron Ring BET TV (USA 2008-2008)
Score Fighting Series (SFS): (CAN 2011-2012)
Fightclub Berlin (GER 2003-2011)
Desert Brawl (USA 2001-2011)
Dangerzone (USA 1999 - 2007)
MARS - (Tokyo, Japan 2006-2008)
Brass Knuckles Promotions (Medford, Oregon USA 2001 - 2011)
California Xtreme Fighting (CXF) 2006-2009 Formed by Mike Rush and Val Leedy.
Extreme Fighting Challenge (EFC) - (Columbus, Ohio 2002-2010) &
Extreme Fighting Challenge (EFC) - (British Columbia, Canada 2002-2010)
Fight Festival (Helsinki, Finland 1998-2013)
Elite Fighting Championship (UK 2010 - 2011)
Freestyle Fighting Championship (FFC) (Biloxi, Mississippi USA 2001- 2005) Founded by Lee Coates and Rob Braniff.
Gracie Fighting Championships (GFC) (USA 2006- 2007)
Universal Fighting Arts Organization (UFO) (JAP 1999-2002)
Warrior Fighting Challenge (Kentucky USA 2006-2008)
Fury FC - (São Paulo, Brazil 2006-2008)
Warriors War (Kuwait, 2001) Warriors War has held 1 event.
Ultimate Women Challenge, a NBC Reality Show based on TUF:(USA 2010) was hosted by Bas Rutten and model and Dancing with the Stars competitor Joanna Krupa.
Ironheart Crown (IHC) (Hammond, Indiana, USA 1998-2008)
MMA Big Show (USA 2006-2011)
Warrior-1 MMA (W-1 MMA) (Quebec, Canada 2009-2011)
Iroquois MMA Championships (Ontario, Canada 2008-2009)
Xtreme MMA (XMMA) (Quebec, Canada 2007-2009)
Ohio Xtreme Fighting (OXF) (Ohio, USA 2007-2009)
Astra (event) by J-Rock Promotions This was one time event on April 25, 2010, in Tokyo, Japan. A farewell for MMA star Hidehiko Yoshida. Fighters from various promotions such as Dream and World Victory Road were on the card.
Shine Fights - (USA 2009-1010) held three events COO Jason Chambers
Valley Fight League (VFL) - (Virginia, USA 2007-2013)
Cage Fighting Championship (CFC) - (Sydney, Australia 2007-2012)
Moosin - (USA 2009-2010) Moosin held only 2 events
Absolute Fighting Alliance (AFA) - (Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA 2009-2012)
Armageddon FC: (Owner: Darren Owen) (Colwood, British Columbia, Canada 2009-2011) Held 7 events. - (Merged with Aggression FC)
Aggression MMA: (Owner: Moin Mirza) (Alberta, Canada 2009-2012) Held 9 events. - (Merged with Aggression FC)
AX Combat: (Owner:Steve Fader) (Alberta, Canada 2011) Held 2 events. - (Merged with Aggression FC)
Aggression FC (Alberta, Canada 2012-2013) (Owners: Darren Owen, Moin Mirza, Steve Fader) Held 14 events - (became WSOF Canada)
Martial Arts Super Sport (MASS) - (Pennsylvania, USA 2011-2012)
Industry of Combat New Zealand (ICNZ) - (Auckland, New Zealand 2009-2012)
TPI Fighting Championship (TPI) - (Jakarta, Indonesia 2002-2005)
Champion MMA Pro Fights (CF, Champion Fights) - (Salvador, Bahia, Brazil 2012)
Chicago Cagefighting Championship (CCC) - (Chicago, Illinois, USA 2010-2011) 4 Events
Storm Samurai (SS) - (Parana, Brazil 2003-2007)
Superior Cage Combat (SCC) - (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA 2011-2012)
Superfight Australia (SFA) - (Northbridge, Western Australia 2011-2012)
Extreme Brawl UK (EB) - (England 2002-2011)
Tear Up MMA Championship (TU, Tear Up) - (Bristol, England 2009-2012)
Supremacy Fight Challenge (Tyne & Wear, England 2011-2013)
ST Fighting Show (ST) - (Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan 2012-2013)
Steel City Rumble (SCR) - (Pueblo, Colorado, USA 2008-2013)
StandUpWar (SUW) - (Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland 2011-2013)
Standout Fighting Tournament (SFT) - (São Paulo, Brazil 2013) Held 2 Events
SportFight X (SFX) - (USA 2010-2012)
Sportfight Scotland (SFS) - (Scotland 20016-2011)
SportFight (SF) - (Oregon, USA 2005-2011)
Pain Pit Fight Night - (Wales, is now Cage Warriors Wales. Richard Shore still in charge working under the guidance of Graham Boylan.)
Black Trunk Fight - (Brazil, closed 2012)
Tocantins Fight Combat (Brazil, closed 2013)
Vale Fighting Championship (Brazil, closed 2011)
This is a list of MMA promotions in limbo:
Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC) (CAN 2001-2014) - A top 15 promotion
Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation (RUFF). Based in Shanghai, China. (Last event held Jun. 7 2014)
Championship Fighting Alliance (CFA) (Florida, USA 2011-2013)
Cage Contender (CC) (Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland 2009-2014) (CEO John Ferguson)
10th Legion Championship Fighting (10th Legion) (UK 2008-2014) (Alan Orr)
Oplot Challenge (OC) (Kharkov, Ukraine, 2012-2015)
RINGS (Fighting Network Rings) (Akira Maeda) (JAP Tournaments 1995-2014)
Pink Fight (PF) (Pink MMA Fight) (Brazil women MMA) (BRA 2012-2013) Held three events (Wallid Ismail)
RisingOn Fighting Championship (ROFC) (Jap 2005-2013)
MMA Raju (Tartu, Estonia 2009-2014)
GRABAKA - (Tokyo, Japan 2011-2013)
Canadian Fighting Championship (CFC) (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 2009-2013)
Warriors Realm Fighting Championship (WR, WRFC) (Queensland Australia 2004-2013)
Ring Wars (RW) (USA 2001-2014)
Fearless Fighting Championship (FFC) - (Asia/USA 2006-2014)
Cage Fight Series (CFS) - (Graz, Austria 2007-2014)
Abu Dhabi Fighting Championships (ADFC) - (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirites 2010-2014)
Roshambo MMA - (Queensland, Australia 2013-2014) held 5 events
Twenty Four Seven Entertainment MMA - (Midland, Texas, USA 2011-2014)
Survivor Fighting Alliance - (Missouri, USA 2014) One event, Owners: RFA matchmaker Scott Cutbirth & Titan FC matchmaker Joe Wooster, "it’s about recognizing survivors of all likes (Cancer, war, autism, etc). We have overcome obstacles in our lives, and it’s important to recognize and help those who need support.”
SMASH Fight - (Curitiba, Parana, Brazil 2013) Held three events
Maximum Impact Fighting (MIF) - (Adelaide, Australia 2014) Held 1 event.
Meca World Value Tudo (MWVT) - (Brazil 2000-2014)
Muskelkater Fight Night (MFN) - (Mainz, Germany 2013) Held 2 events.
Nakamura Fight Championship (NFC) - (Goias, Brazil 2013-2014) Held 8 events.
Ox MMA Event - (Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil 2013-2014)
Praetorian Fighting Championships (PFC) - (Schaumburg, Illinois USA 2013)
Real Fight - (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2004-2014)
Prestige Fighting Championship - (Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada 2010-2014)
RawWar Fighting Championships (RWFC) - (Tamp, Florida USA 2013) Held 1 Event
Sparta-X (SX) - (Castrop Rauxel, Germany 2013-2015) Two events years apart.
Kombat Komplett (KK) - (Baumholder, Germany 2004-2013)
Into The Cage (ITC) - (Andover, Hampshire, England 2010-2014)
Lebanese Mixed Martial Arts Federation (LMMAF) - (Beirut, Lebanon 2013-2014) Held 3 Events.
Pitbull Fighting Championship (PFC) - (England, UK 2014) Held 1 Event
Polski Gladiator (PG) - (Legnica, Poland 2014) Held 1 Event
Pandemonium (MEZ) - MEZ Sports (Los Angeles, California, USA 2010-2013)
Praetorian Fighting Championships (PFC) - (Schaumburg, Illinois USA 2013)
Bellator Viam Vitae MMA (BVV) - (Denver, Colorado USA 2013)
Best of the Best (BOB) - (Belem, Para, Brazil 2012) Held 2 Events.
Big Bully MMA (BB) - (Ohio, USA 2012-2013) held 3 Event.
Black Dragon (BDMMA) - (Andrychów, Poland 2009-2012)
Valley of Kings MMA Championship (VOK, Valley of Kings) - (Cardiff, Wales, UK 2011-2013)
Valhalla Cage Fighting (VCF) - (Minnesota, USA 2013) Held 3 Events
Dare Fight Sports (DFS, DARE) - (Bangkok, Thailand 2011-2014)
Circuito de Lutas (CL) - (São Paulo, Brazil 2014) 2 Events
City Invasions (CI) - (Richlands, Virginia, USA 2013)
Club Angura (CA) - (Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada 2013-2014)
Fresquez Productions (FP) - (Albuquerque, New Mexico USA 2011-2013) 3 Events
Fight Ikon (FI) - (Salford, Greater Manchester, England 2009-2013)
Shine Mixed Martial Arts (SMMA) - (Minnesota, USA 2013-2014) 5 Events
Superior Fighting Championship (SFC, Superior FC) - (Germany 2010-2013)
Substance Cage Combat (SCC) - (Ontario, Canada 2013-2014)
Submission Promotions (SP) - (Ontario, California, USA 2013) Held 2 Events
Street Combat System (SCS) - (Germany 2012-2013)
Stoke Fight Factory (SFF) - (Staffordshire, England 2013-2014) Held 2 Events
Spartakus MMA (SMMA) - (Rzeszów, Poland 2014)
Fighters Xpress Promotions (FXP) - (Dandenong, Victoria, Australia 2011-2014)
Fighters Arena (FA) - (Poland 2010-2014)
South American Fight Toeikan (SAFT, Toeikan) - (Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 2014) Held 1 Event
Celtic Gladiator (CG) - (Dublin, Ireland 2011-2014)
Some may have one or two pro fights but their focus is on AMMY.
Aftershock MMA - Australia
World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA) - Russia
International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) - Göteborg, Sweden
Tuff-N-Uff - Spring Valley, Nevada USA
RMMAF Series - Romania
Fivestar Fight League (FFC) - Canada
Up and Comers Unlimited (UPC,UP & COMERS MMA) - Madera, California, USA
Fighters Source (FS) - USA
Xtreme Fighting Nations (XFN) - Miami, Florida, USA
Amateur Fighting Championship (AFC) (PLMMA's AMMY division) - Poland
KnockOut Promotions (KOP) - Muskegon, Michigan
New York Fight Exchange (NYFE MMA) - New York, NY USA
Aggressive Combat Championships (ACC) - New York, NY USA
TNT Fight Series - NY USA
Sprawl N Brawl - Richmond, Va
Art of Combat - Elmira, New York, USA
Kaged Kombat Fighting Championship - Saratoga Springs, New York, USA
Kings of New York: Amateur MMA tournament - New York, NY USA
Amateur Combat Club - Lima, Peru (Owner: Johnny Iwasaki)
Smoker Fight (SF) - Davao City Philippines (Owned by Dr. Vicente)
Budofights (BF) - Oregon, USA
United States Amateur League (USAL) - Tampa, Florida, USA
More MMA (MMMA) - Chicago, Illinois, USA
Supreme Cage Fighting (SCF) - Indiana USA
ICON Sports Association (ICON) - Austin, Texas, USA
Heroes Combat League (HCL) - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
CDM Promotions (CDM) - Houston, Texas, USA
Warrior Xtreme Cagefighting (WXC) - Detroit, Michigan USA
Slovenska Liga Amateruv MMA (SLAM – Slovakian Amateur MMA League) - Bratislava, Slovakia
Superior Combative Championships (SCC) Galveston, Texas, USA
Stellar Fights (SF) Delaware USA
Michigan Battle League (MBL) - Three Rivers, Michigan USA
Spar Star Promotions (SSP) - California USA
CageworX MMA (CX) - Port Angeles, Washington, USA
Gateway Fighting Series (GFC) - St. Charles, Missouri USA
Rise of Champions (ROC) - Romford, UK, Owned by Brad Pickett & his coach Mickey Papas
USA-MMA (USA 2007-2012)
Office to Octagon (OTO) - (Boston, Massachusetts USA 2013-2014) Held 2 Events.
Stateline Warriors (SW) - (Wisconsin, USA 2010-2014)
Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Championship Series (Canada 2013-2014)
Academie Impak MMA - (Beloeil, Quebec, Canada 2013-2014) 4 events
Amateur Sport and Professional Fight League - (Connecticut, USA 2014)
Amateur Fight League - (North Carolina, USA 2013-2014)
Amateur Fight League - (Washington State USA 2014)
Summum MMA Amateur Fight League (SMMA, Summum) - (Brossard, Quebec, Canada 2010-2011)
Super Fight (Quebec) (SF, Super Fight)- (Quebec City, Quebec, Canada 2012-2013)
Super Fight au Saguenay (SFS) - (Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada 2011-2013)
Submission Fighting Challenge (SFC) - (Repentigny, Quebec, Canada 2010-2013)
Team Legion (TL) - (Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada 2007-2013)
Extreme Adrenaline Championships (EAC) - (Fredericktown, Ohio, USA 2013-2014)
Supreme Promotions (SP) - (Chicago, Illinois USA 2011-2014)
St. Jean Fight Club (SJFC) - (Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada 2013-2014)
Steevie Boxe (SB) - (Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada 2013)
Spirit Fighting Championship (SFC) (New York USA 2013-2014) Held 5 Events
Speedy Gym (SG) - (Granby, Quebec, Canada 2012-2013)
Central Pennsylvania Warrior Challenge (WC, Warrior Challenge) - (Pennsylvania USA 2009-2013)
These are the current top 10 MMA Gyms in the world based on how many top 15 ranked UFC fighters they currently train. There are 160 fighters who train at over 80 different gyms at the top 15 rankings in the UFC 10 divisions. The rankings are based on a system where a champion earns their gym a score of 25 points. A #1 contender is worth 15 points, a #2 contender is worth 10 points with a decrease in ranking equaling a decrease of 1 point until the ranking reaches #10. From there, rankings 11-15 are each worth 1 point. (updated July 2015):
1. Nova União located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2. Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA located in Albuquerque, New Mexico
3. American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) located in San Jose, California.
4. Team Alpha Male located in Sacramento, California.
5. American Top Team (ATT) located in Coconut Creek, Florida.
6. Kings MMA located in Huntington Beach, California.
7. Blackzilians located in Boca Raton, Florida.
8. Serra-Longo located in Long Island, New York.
9. Glendale Fighting Club located in Glendale, California.
10. Black House (Team Nogueira) based out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
According to SB Nation (mmamania.com) September 2014 rankings, these are the top MMA camps in Asia:
Evolve MMA Based in Singapore.
Tiger Muay Thai Located in Phuket, Thailand.
Busan Team M.A.D. located in Busan, South Korea.
Tribe MMA located in Tokyo, Japan.
Korean Top Team Located in Seoul, South Korea.
Xi'an Physical Education University located in Xi'an China.
Team Lakay located in Baguio, Philippines.
Notable mentions:
AKA (Thailand) located in Phuket, Thailand
Team Quest (Thailand) located in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Bangkok Fight Club located in Bangkok, Thailand
Web data traffic ranking leader Alexa Internet lists 50 online media outlets under its "MMA news and media" website category. As of October 17, 2015: the top 10 most popular websites covering the sport are:
1. Sherdog.com (most likely sherdog forum)
2. MMAFighting.com (SB Nation)
3. UFC.com
4. MMAjunkie.com
5. MMAMania.com (SB Nation)
6. Bloodyelbow.com (SB Nation)
7. Mixedmartialarts.com (most likely their forum)
8. Espn.go.com/mma
9. Foxsports.com/ufc
10. MMAWeekly.com
