MMA / UFC | Live Scores

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and arguably the most complete test of individual combat skill. Combining striking from boxing and kickboxing with grappling from wrestling and jiu-jitsu, MMA challenges athletes to master multiple disciplines across one of the most physically demanding competitive arenas in sport. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) — MMA's premier organisation — is now the largest pay-per-view sports property in the world.

The concept of combining different martial arts styles in competition is ancient. Greek pankration — a combat sport combining wrestling and striking — was introduced at the ancient Olympics in 648 BC. "Vale Tudo" (Portuguese for "anything goes") competitions were popular in Brazil from the early 20th century, where the Gracie family developed and refined Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu against challengers from different martial arts backgrounds. These Brazilian bouts would directly inspire the UFC.

The modern MMA era began on November 12, 1993, when the first UFC event was held at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado. Promoted by Art Davie and Rorion Gracie, UFC 1 was a single-night tournament designed to determine which martial art was superior. Royce Gracie — smaller than most opponents — won the tournament using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, demonstrating the power of ground fighting and submissions. UFC 1 aired on pay-per-view and shocked audiences with its no-holds-barred format.

The early UFC faced enormous political opposition. Senator John McCain called it "human cockfighting" and successfully pushed for bans in 36 US states. The sport nearly collapsed. The turning point came when Zuffa LLC, led by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta and president Dana White, purchased UFC in 2001 for $2 million. They worked with athletic commissions to establish the Unified Rules of MMA in 2001-2002, creating a regulated, sanctioned sport with weight classes, referee stoppages, and prohibited techniques.

The Zuffa era transformed MMA into a mainstream sport. The reality TV show "The Ultimate Fighter" (2005) generated massive ratings and produced champions including Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar, whose legendary fight at the show's finale is credited with saving the UFC. Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, Conor McGregor, and Khabib Nurmagomedov became global sports figures. McGregor's 2015-2016 rise made him the first UFC fighter to simultaneously hold two divisional championships and generate over $100 million in a single fight.

As of June 8, 2026, the UFC is 33 years old, while MMA as a competitive concept traces back over 2,000 years to ancient pankration. The sport has expanded globally with events in Abu Dhabi, London, Paris, Singapore, and across Asia. Women's MMA — pioneered by Ronda Rousey who became a global superstar from 2012-2015 — is now a cornerstone of the UFC's programming. ZakGT covers all major UFC events and results live.