This October, director Benny Safdie and actor/wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson brought mixed martial arts (MMA) to the big screen in A24’s “The Smashing Machine.” 

The film showed a dramatized depiction of the true story of Mark Kerr, a former MMA fighter, as he struggled with addiction and his private life throughout his rise to fame in the pinnacle of his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) career. 

Encompassing such a wide variety of fighting styles, the hype around MMA leagues continues to grow and reach new viewers as the fastest-growing sport in the world, with an estimated 640 million fans worldwide. 

As the largest and most popular MMA organization, the UFC has been a huge contributor to the sport’s growth. The average event is watched by between 300,000 to two million viewers, according to BetMGM. DirecTV reports UFC Fight Night as the fourth most-watched show on ESPN. 

Founded in 1993, the UFC was created as a one-night tournament with a goal to find the
“Ultimate Fighting Champion,” utilizing the trademarked chain-linked Octagon arena for MMA fighters to compete. 

The organization was bought in 2001 by brothers Frank and Lorenzo Fertita with the advice of high school friend Dana White, who went on to become the president of UFC.

White is largely credited with having rebranded the organization into the sensation it is today through his tendency to take risks. The first event under White’s management was UFC 30 in February 2001, held at the Taj Mahal (now the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino) in Atlantic City. The casino and hotel was owned at the time by President Donald Trump. 

Trump and White have kept close ties since that fight, with White using his platform to endorse Trump during his presidential campaign runs and Trump often appearing at UFC events and speaking on his love for the sport. In July, Trump announced plans to host a UFC show at the White House in 2026 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 

“The Ultimate Fighter,” a reality television show about the UFC that started airing in 2004, brought a whole new audience in using the personalities and backgrounds of the fighters, along with popular podcaster Joe Rogan’s enthusiastic involvement. 

Hollywood talent agency WME-IMG bought the company in 2016 for $4 billion, under the condition that White retained a small ownership stake to continue as CEO. 

In August, UFC ended its partnership with ESPN to sign a seven-year media rights contract with the TV network Paramount. This deal could bring more revenue to the sport, ending the pay-per-view model for fans. Instead, viewers will be able to pay a monthly subscription fee to Paramount+ to get all numbered UFC events and UFC Fight Nights starting in 2026. 

This is just the start of White’s plans for the UFC’s global expansion, and his friends in the industry have shown their support. “… it’s a super smart move for Paramount. What a great move to not just have the UFC for seven years, but have it for free,” Rogan commended