The name 'UFC' is almost interchangeable with MMA, which shows how firm the grip of the Ultimate Fighting Championship is on mixed martial arts.
Nevertheless, the UFC and MMA can best be described as a mile wide and an inch deep. While casual fans are studied in the news cycles of Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, you will be difficult to find someone who can tell you who the top five hunters of a certain division are or who the current champions are.
(22/02/2025) This guide will serve as the perfect introduction point for new fans of the UFC. Here is everything you need to know.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
What does UFC stand for and what is MMA
UFC stands for Ultimate Fighting Championship. MMA stands for mixed martial arts. The UFC is an MMA promotion that MMA fights organizes.
MMA consists of wrestling, entry, fighting, kicking, punching, knees and elbows. The most common martial arts that are practiced in MMA and the UFC are Muay Thai, Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Yet many hunters also practice other art forms such as Taekwondo, Sambo, Sanda and Kyokushin Karate.
Who owns UFC
TKO Group Holdings owns the UFC and the WWE. It is part of Endeavor Group Holdings, whose CEO is Ari Emanuel.
Dana White
Dana White is the president and CEO of the UFC. He deals with most public aspects of the company, including press conferences, and is known for his murderous attitude.
UFC rules
The UFC uses the uniform rules of MMA, which cover everything, from illegal techniques to small details such as in-cage clothing.
UFC illegal movements
According to the United Rules, UFC hunters cannot:
Headbutteye Gouge of every friendly or spit on an opponent fish hook an opponent (put fingers in mouth or ears and pull in opposite directions) pull their opponent's hair spike their opponent (hit them on their heads) headstrike or grab their fingers to the face of an opponent or the eyes of the eyes, switch, stamp, or kick a grounded opponent (a grounded opponent Is a hunter who has something other than their hands or feet that touch the ground) holds the gloves or shortholds of an opponent or grab the cage with hands or toes to regulate their body position or opponent or opponent body position manipulation small joints (fingers, toes ) Intentionally place fingers in an opening or injured their opponent, squeeze or turn meat position Avoid contact with opponent (lighthouse) Use of abuse language “Flagrant” ignores the instructions of the referee who has the rules (do not respect or cause unnecessary damage) that an opponent attack after or during a break) to distract or influence the referee's decision
UFC weight classes
The UFC uses 12 weight classes, including nine divisions for men and three divisions for women.
Every division has a champion and 15 arranged hunters. Divisions are separated by weight, usually with 10 pounds, but the opening can be larger in some cases, such as the jump from lightweight to good weight.
UFC ranking
UFC has its own ranking system, which can be found on the official UFC website. Rankings will usually be updated next Tuesday after an event is broadcast on the weekend.
A panel of media members decides the rankings to prevent insider bias of the UFC. Only active athletes can be considered before the lists.
UFC CEO Dana White wants to replace the ranking panel with AI.
UFC Pond-for-Pond Ranks
The Mediapanel also votes for their pound-for-pound UFC hunters. Pound-for-Pond Ranklijst is a way to rank hunters to determine the most accomplished compared to their weight. Fighters deserve a pound-for-pound place by being a champion or winning a lot of fights.
The current pound-for-pound rankings are as follows:
UFC Men's Pond-for-Pond Ranks
UFC Ladies Pound-for-Pond Ranks
Who is the largest UFC hunter ever
The largest UFC hunter is a subjective discussion, but it always comes down to the same hunters.
Jon Jones
Jon Jones is generally considered the best MMA hunter ever. He is a two -division champion and has the best competition reports of three generations of hunters. Jones has won 16 fights at championship level. He would be the best consensus of all time, if not for an abundance of doping violations and run-ins with the law outside the cage.
Has Jon Jones ever lost?
Jones has one defeat on his record, which is a disqualification for Matt Hamill in 2009. Jones was disqualified to use the then illegal 12-6 elbows on Hamill's face. In addition to his no-contest in the Rematch with Daniel Cormier in 2017, the loss of Jones against Hamill remains the only blemish on his record.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov is considered one of the largest UFC hunters ever. 'The Eagle' left the sport with an unbeaten record in 2020. On 29-0, Nurmagomedov steamed his UFC competition and defended his lightweight title three times.
Why is Khabib retired?
Nurmagomedov withdrew after beating Justin Gaethje on UFC 254 in 2020. Before the fight, his father and coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, died and Nurmagomedov promised his mother that it would be his last performance. He kept that promise.
Has Khabib ever lost a fight?
Nurmagomedov never lost a fight in 29 professional performances. The closest Nurmagomedov came to lose against Gleison Tibau in 2012. Islam Makhachev played Tibau in 2018 to avenge that Dicey victory.
Georges St-Pierre
Georges St-Pierre (SAP) is generally regarded as the largest goodweight hunter in the UFC. GSP retired in 2018, after he defeated every man he had confronted in the Octagon. His two losses were against Matt Hughes and Matt Serra, and he cast both.
Demetrious Johnson
Demetrious Johnson flies under the radar as one of the best UFC hunters ever. 'Mighty Mouse' held the UFC Flyweight Championship from 2012 to 2017 and defended it 11 times. He has the record for the most consecutive title defenses.
Johnson was traded in exchange for Ben Askren to one championship in 2018. There, 'DJ' became a dual champion of one Bantam weight and once defended the title. Johnson retired in 2024.
Honorable mentions for the largest UFC hunters include Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, Randy Couture, Dominick Cruz and BJ Penn.
Best female UFC -Hunter
Amanda Nunes
Without an argument, Amanda Nunes is the largest UFC hunter for women. Nunes was the first double champion of ladies in the UFC and defended both titles several times. Nunes withdrew in 2023 with a record of 23-5 and beat Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Holly Holm and Valentina Shevchenko on route to MMA greatness.
Next UFC event
The next UFC event is UFC Seattle: Cejudo vs. Song on Saturday 22 February 2025.
How to view UFC
Fight fans can view UFC on ESPN, TNT -Sport or UFC -Vechtpas. Numbered UFC events, such as UFC 300, require the viewer to buy the main map on ESPN+ or TNT -Sportbox office, usually $ 79.99 in the US, or £ 19.99 in the UK.
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