International Dominance in MMA: An Analysis of the Nations with the Greatest Presence
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is solidifying itself as a truly global sport. With two of the main promoters, UFC and PFL, boasting champions from 10 different countries across their 17 divisions, MMA exhibits unprecedented diversity. This number falls short when considering the nearly 100 countries of origin of the fighters who make up the rosters of both organizations.
Within the framework of UFC International Fight Week, which culminated at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with UFC 317, Alofoke Deportes analyzes the current landscape to determine which nations stand out in the world of MMA. A team of experts evaluated the countries based on several criteria: current champions, fighters ranked in UFC and PFL, the flow of young talent, and the total number of representatives in the main promotions.
The 10 Countries with the Greatest Influence in MMA
- United States: With a UFC champion, but with a large amount of talent in its ranks, the United States continues to be a powerhouse.
- Russia: Home to legends like Fedor Emelianenko and Khabib Nurmagomedov, Russia continues to make its mark, with Islam Makhachev as the current number one pound-for-pound.
- Brazil: With deep roots in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Brazil has produced iconic champions like Anderson Silva and Amanda Nunes.
- Georgia: Despite its size, Georgia has a strong presence in the UFC, with Merab Dvalishvili and Ilia Topuria as prominent figures.
- Australia: With Alexander Volkanovski and Jack Della Maddalena as champions, Australia has demonstrated its ability to produce elite talent.
- England: With Tom Aspinall as heavyweight champion and Dakota Ditcheva in PFL, England has a strong presence in the sport.
- Mexico: Although currently without champions, Mexico has prominent figures like Brandon Moreno and Alexa Grasso, and a growing number of young talents.
- China: Zhang Weili, UFC strawweight champion, leads the Chinese representation, which continues to grow in the sport.
- Nigeria: Although Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman found their success elsewhere, Nigeria has contributed world-class talent to MMA.
- New Zealand: With Volkanovski as champion, although he trains in New Zealand, the country has an elite gym and several promising contenders.
MMA is a constantly evolving sport, and the representation of each country can vary. However, this list offers an overview of the nations that currently dominate the MMA landscape.
