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Mixed martial arts (MMA) combines elements of boxing, wrestling, and martial arts in a sport that has been rising in popularity since the early 1990s when the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) began hosting competitive events.

The UFC is the premier professional MMA organization in the United States and legal and regulated Michigan retail sportsbooks now allow you to bet on the sport. Mobile sportsbooks offer a full slate of UFC betting markets surrounding every event.

The UFC also launched an in-game betting product in late 2019 promising even more betting opportunities inside matches, including new props on knock downs, submissions, takedown attempts, and takedowns landed.

Read on to find out everything you’ll ever need to know about UFC odds in Michigan, including the best UFC bets and where you should place them.

Best Michigan Sportsbooks for Betting UFC

Legal UFC betting sites in Michigan

Legal sports betting launched in Michigan in March 2020 with the three casinos in Detroit all opening retail sportsbooks with others launching since then at a variety of Michigan tribal casinos. The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) permitted the state’s first online sportsbooks to start taking wagers in January 2021.

The best UFC betting apps in Michigan include DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM.

Here’s why:

• DraftKings Sportsbook: DraftKings offers a huge range of UFC betting options including everything from moneylines to total rounds and winning method bets. Plus, you’ll find live UFC betting, UFC parlays, futures, and props you can bet on.
• FanDuel Sports Betting: FanDuel offers basic UFC fight betting including moneylines for every fight. It also runs promotions surrounding the largest UFC events on the calendar.
• BetMGM Sports: BetMGM offers a wide range of UFC bets to allow you to wager on everything from the winner of a fight, to the winning round, the total number of rounds, and the winning method. Live UFC betting is also available through the mobile app.

How UFC betting odds work

UFC betting is easy. For the most part, you bet on who you think will win a fight, how it will end, or how long it will go. Although, there other props and in-fight betting options as well.

Here’s a look at the basic UFC betting lines available at Michigan sportsbooks:

Moneyline: Pick a fighter to win and lock in the bet at currently posted odds. You’ll see either a negative or positive number listed by the fighter. It’s negative for favorites, showing how much you need to bet to win $100, and positive for the underdog, showing how much each $100 you bet can get you.

In 2018, most sportsbooks had it:

Khabib Nurmagomedov -170 and Conor McGregor +140.

That meant you would have had to bet $170 on Nurmagomedov to win $100 plus your bet back. Plus, every $100 bet on McGregor would have earned you $140 plus your bet back if he won. Nurmagomedov won.

Total rounds: Bet on whether the total number of rounds in a fight will go over or stay under a line set by oddsmakers.

Winning method: Bet on whether a fight will end by knockout, submission, or judge’s decision, no matter who wins.

Parlays: Two or more basic UFC bets combined into one and paying better than individual bets because you have to win every leg.

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UFC props, futures, and live betting

• UFC futures where you can bet on a fighter winning a title
• UFC props combining various bets
• In-fight betting allowing you to bet on basic lines that change with the action in the middle of a fight. Plus, advanced live betting options, including knock downs, submissions, takedown attempts, and takedowns landed (these live-action bets are best with mobile betting apps)

Michigan betting sites vs. offshore sites

Now that you can legally bet on the UFC at Michigan sportsbooks, there’s no good reason to take your UFC action to offshore and illegal sportsbooks.

Michigan sportsbooks using official UFC data can offer more betting lines, better customer service, and security for your money. State regulation guarantees that if something goes wrong you have somewhere to turn.

If you’ve been betting on UFC fights with offshore and illegal sportsbooks, now is the time to change. Legal Michigan sportsbooks offer a safer, more secure, and trustworthy option.

UFC betting tips

UFC betting is fun, especially when you win. The best UFC betting strategies involve watching fights and gathering as much information as you can about fighters.

The following basic UFC betting tips can also help.

• Get to know the fighters: Carefully consider who is involved in a fight and how they might match up against one another. Study what fighting styles they employ and what works against what.
• Bet total rounds: Find out if a fighter plays a lot of defense or just tries to knockout or submit opponents fast. Defensive fighters go the distance while aggressive fighters don’t and you can tailor total rounds bets around this.
• History will repeat itself: The history of the fighters involved will almost always tell you how a fight will end. Two fighters who often go the distance are probably headed to a judge’s decision, but two brawlers with a history of knockouts are probably not. You can tailor winning method bets around this.
• Discipline is key: UFC fighters are very often experts in one or two fighting disciplines or styles. Familiarizing yourself with different fighting disciplines can help you see what style matches up well against others and you can pick winners based on that.

What are the top spots for betting on UFC in Michigan?

Heading out for a big fight night can always be a good time, and it’s made even better now that you can place bets while doing so. Here are some of the best spots to catch UFC live while finding the latest odds and lines in Michigan.

MGM Grand Detroit / BetMGM Sports Lounge

• Name: BetMGM Sports Lounge
• Address: 1777 3rd Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
• Phone: (877) 888-2121
• Sportsbook hours: 7 days – 9 a.m – 11 p.m
• Lounge hours: 7 days – 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Online sportsbook:BetMGM Michigan

The BetMGM Sports Lounge was one of the first retail sportsbooks to open up in Michigan. Visitors can place their wagers at six betting windows or on 14 self-serve kiosks throughout the casino. Features include 60 HDTV’s and a full-service bar.

MotorCity Casino Hotel / FanDuel Sportsbook

• Name: FanDuel Sportsbook
• Address: 2901 Grand River Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
• Phone: (866) 782-9622
• Sportsbook hours: 7 days – 9 a.m – 12 a.m.
• Online sportsbook:FanDuel Michigan

FanDuel Sportsbook has become a top destination in the Detroit area, and it’s not tough to figure out why. There are 67 HDTV’s on site to catch the action, a dedicated sports ticker, and six betting windows or 54 self-serve kiosks to get your bets in.

Little River Casino Resort / River Rock Sportsbook & Grill

• Name: River Rock Sportsbook & Grill
• Address: 2700 Orchard Hwy, Manistee, MI 49660
• Phone: (231) 398-3976
• Sportsbook hours: M-Th: 2 p.m. – Midnight. F/S/S: 10 a.m. – Midnight
• Bar hours: 7 days – 10 a.m. – 2 a.m.
• Online sportsbook:BetRivers Michigan

There are betting windows right inside the restaurant at River Rock, as well as a dozen terminals that are open for business 24 hours. This spot has a great sports bar ambience and a full menu for patrons to enjoy as they catch all of the latest action.

There are several other solid places to go out and catch all of the UFC action while getting in some wagers. For example, you can check out the Onyx Sportsbook by William Hill. You can find it in two spots: Leelanau Sands Casino in Peshawbestown and Turtle Creek Casino in Williamsburg.

How to watch UFC events in Michigan

UFC pay-per-view events are generally available across the country with early prelims on UFC Fight Pass, ESPN and ESPN+, prelims on ESPN and ESPN+, and maincards on ESPN+.

UFC Fight Night cards are generally broadcast on ESPN and the ESPN+ streaming service.

The five biggest fights and best knockouts in UFC history

Holly Holm vs Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 on Nov. 14, 2015:Women’s UFC fighting has come a long way in just a few short years. The first female UFC fight was in 2012. Three years later, Ronda Rousey proved female fighters could draw crowds. In fact, her UFC 193 Main Event versus Holly Holm drew a live record 56,000-plus fans in Melbourne, Australia. Rousey (-900) was a big favorite over Holm (+600), but Holm landed a kick to the side of Rousey’s neck, knocking her out and handing Rousey her first-ever UFC loss.

Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor at UFC 229 on Oct. 6, 2018: Khabib Nurmagomedov was UFC Lightweight champion and undefeated, but UFC fans absolutely love former featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor. They proved it with a record 2.4 million pay-per-view buys for the main event. McGregor (+140) was coming off a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr., which helped entrench Nurmagomedov (-170) as the favorite. In the end, Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor in the fourth round. A brawl broke out after the fight, which has really only helped UFC fans love McGregor even more.

Nate Diaz vs Conor McGregor 2 at UFC 202 on Aug. 20, 2016: The UFC considers the Nate Diaz versus McGregor rematch one of its top 25 fights of all time and at the time It set the record for the most pay-per-view buys with 1.65 million. The original fight had Diaz submitting McGregor in the second round, but the moneyline on the rematch sat at McGregor -130 and Diaz +100. The fight went the distance with McGregor winning by judges’ decision in what is now considered a UFC classic.

Conor McGregor vs. José Aldo at UFC 194 on Dec. 12, 2015: This fight marked McGregor’s fastest-ever knockout. He landed a left hook on Aldo’s chin just 13 seconds in, dropping the other fighter to the canvas. McGregor threw two more shots at a defenseless Aldo before the referee stopped the fight. This was the fastest finish to a UFC title fight ever and made McGregor the UFC’s biggest star.

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Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva at UFC 162 on July 6, 2013: Silva was already a legend and, as the UFC Middleweight Champion, he was heavily favored to beat Weidman. Weidman got off to a fast start and, before anyone knew what was happening, recorded a second-round knockout. Silva probably regrets mocking him a little right before Weidman landed a left hook that ended Silva’s seven-year winning streak. Weidman even went on to break Silva’s leg in two spots when he took the win in their rematch.

UFC history

The UFC started as a bit of an experiment. It was an eight-fighter single-elimination tournament in Denver, Michigan, on Nov. 12, 1993, designed to figure out which fighting discipline was best.

Experts in various martial arts squared off in an octagon-shaped cage and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Royce Gracie beat three others to win.

The UFC continued using this format with no weight classes, time limits, and very few rules, but by 2000 things changed. Weight classes, rounds, and gloves were added. Judges were hired and a unified set of MMA rules were established and implemented.

The UFC was more than just boxing, but the fights began to appear more and more like sanctionedmatches than the free-for-alls they once were, although the octagon-shaped cage has remained.

In 2001, Station Casinos executives and brothers Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta bought the UFC for $2 million. Fight manager DanaWhite was named president and helped make the UFC the fastest-growing sport in America over the next 15 years.

A testament to how big the UFC had grown came in 2016 when it was bought by a group led by Endeavor (formerly William Morris Endeavor Entertainment) for $4.025 billion. The UFC had suddenly gone from a barely-legal fighting contest to one of the country’s most popular sports.

Superstar fighters drove further growth and popularity and the UFC now produces events all over the world drawing larger pay-per-view numbers than boxing. The popularity of wagering on the UFC has come along with it and continues to grow as more states adopt legal sports betting.

UFC betting traditionally accounts for less than 5% of most US sportsbook’s handle, but the numbers are growing. Previously, in-fight betting accounted for just 8% of all UFC bets, but with more options now available, this is an area where the UFC believes it can grow substantially.

As the premier brand in the sport of MMA, the UFC has experienced a massive growth spurt since its inception back in 1993. The growth has kicked into overdrive in recent years. It’s safe to say that the rise of the UFC has been one of the biggest stories in the sporting world over the past decade.

Boxing Betting App

Betting on the UFC is in the midst of its own surge. What was once the domain of Las Vegas and risky offshore operators is now within reach for many folks across the US. The legalization of sports betting in a number of states has opened the doors for scores of folks, many of whom are starting their own love affair with UFC.

Our betting guide details how to bet online, upcoming fights and UFC odds as well as the top betting apps with UFC lines.

Best UFC Betting Sites in the US

Those in legal sports betting states looking to get in on the action, we’ll cover everything you need to know right here. We’ll begin by taking a look at the top spots to place your bets.

Top UFC betting apps for 2021

The legal sports betting environment continues to take shape. A number of operators are battling for their piece of the pie in legalized states, but some are emerging as the leaders of the pack.

• DraftKings Sportsbook: The industry leader in the world of DFS is making huge strides in the sports betting industry. Users who sign up via our exclusive links get $50 free plus up to $1,000 in bonuses. Use DraftKings Sportsbook online in: VA, MI, NJ, PA, CO, IN, WV, NH, IA, IL, & TN
• FanDuel Sportsbook: FanDuel is another company that made its bones in DFS. They’re taking the sports betting world by storm as well with a user-friendly platform and enticing promos. Signing up for an account via our exclusive links gets you a risk-free bet up to $1,000. Use FanDuel Sportsbook online in: MI, NJ, PA, IN, WV, CO, TN, IA, IL & VA
• BetMGM Sportsbook: The mobile platform for gaming giant MGM Resorts International, BetMGM is making tons of headway in legal and regulated sports betting markets. Click on our exclusive links to create an account, and you’ll be rewarded with an up to $600 risk-free bet. Use BetMGM Sportsbook online in: VA, MI, NJ, CO, TN, WV, NV, PA, IN & IA

Each of these operators offers UFC betting among a wide array of other markets. You can keep it simple and just bet on fighters to win, or explore a wide range of prop betting choices. In addition, live betting opportunities are available on each, and mobile is a perfect complement to take advantage of all that’s offered.

How UFC betting works

The most basic UFC bet will look familiar to those who are experienced with the moneyline, but there are also several other bets that are unique to the sport.

Let’s take a look at the standard ways that you can bet on the UFC.

• Moneyline: A bet on which fighter will win outright. The favorite will be designated with negative odds, while the underdog’s will be positive, e.g., Khabib Nurmagomedov -155, Conor McGregor +135
• To go the distance: A wager on whether the fight will go the distance, e.g., Yes +120, No -140
• Over/under on total rounds: A bet on how far you think the fight will go, e.g., Over 2.5 Rounds +130; Under 2.5, Rounds -110
• To win in specific round: A wager on a fighter to win in a specific round, such as Jose Aldo to win in Round 1 +140, Round 2 +120, Round 3 +110
• To win in range of rounds: A bet in which you’re trying to pinpoint in which round the fight will end, e.g., Round 1-2 +130, Round 2-3 +110
• Winning methods: A wager on how the fight will end, e.g., Knockout +140, Submission +120, Stoppage +150, Decision +110

How to bet the UFC live online

The betting doesn’t stop once the bell rings in UFC. Live online sports betting affords users the opportunity to place wagers as the action unfolds in real time. Odds and markets move fast, but that only helps to enhance the appeal.

During a UFC fight, you’ll see a number of opportunities to take advantage of, such as how long the fight will last and updated moneyline odds for the outright winner based on what has happened so far.

Beyond being potentially profitable for those who have a good feel for momentum, live betting also allows you to hedge your bets. For example, let’s say that you dropped a wager on Jon Jones to win in advance of his upcoming fight.

After round one, Jones just doesn’t look like himself, and you wouldn’t be surprised if he wound up losing. You can mitigate the damage of your original wager by placing a new bet on his opponent. If the odds and stake are in range to your original wager, you’ve somewhat covered your position instead of just taking an outright loss.

To fully take advantage of all that live betting has to offer, a mobile sports betting app is the way to go. You can bet from your phone at any time during the fight as long as you’re in a legalized state.

There’s no need to be at a sportsbook or locked in front of your computer. You’ll be able to go out and enjoy fight night and know that you can quickly take advantage of opportunities as they arise throughout the card.

Is it legal to bet on the UFC?

It wasn’t too long ago that legally betting on the UFC online was a mere fantasy. Today, it’s a reality. You don’t need to take a trip to Vegas to get in on the action, nor do you have to take any unnecessary risks with an unregulated and risky offshore operator.

You can find all of the UFC betting action you need right from the comfort of your own home in legal sports betting states. The lines are just as good as what you’ll find in Sin City, and you’ll find many more wagering opportunities than you would find at an offshore operator.

The legalization of sports betting not only means that more folks have access to a safe means of wagering, but it also translates into better product offerings. That means there’s real customer service to deal with if any questions come up, a number of different ways to fund your account and awesome platforms that are a breeze to navigate around.

Perhaps most importantly, the legal sports betting environment provides users with real protection and regulation. Operators that have hit the ground running in the US market are well aware of what they need to do from a legal standpoint.

For sports bettors, that results in some extra peace of mind that allows them to focus on betting without worrying about legal gray areas. For more niche sports you can bet on at legal US sportsbooks, check our guide here:

Is UFC available for Daily Fantasy Sports players?

Sports betting isn’t the only way to get in on the action with UFC. DraftKings and FanDuel both offer DFS games that have proven to be quite popular with users.

There are a number of different ways to play daily fantasy sports, such as tournaments and 50/50s, which are all made available at numerous price points to fit any budget. On the tournament front, a big fight night can attract thousands of users gunning for some eye-popping prizes.

The object of the game is to pick a lineup of fighters from those scheduled to compete on the card. Each of the fighters has a salary attached — ranging from high for top stars to low for unknown commodities — and your final lineup will need to remain under the cap.

Fighters earn points based on how they perform, and scores are tallied up as the action unfolds. Once the final fight on the card is in the books, the highest scoring lineup wins. DFS is completely legal and safe to play in 40+ states. Outside of Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada and Washington, you’ll be good to go.

5 betting tips for MMA / UFC betting

There’s a learning curve for betting on any sport you may be unfamiliar with, but it’s far from insurmountable. When beginning with UFC, stick to the basics and work toward devising a strategy that fits your style. Here are five simple tips you can use to get the ball rolling.

1. Understand what the odds are telling you: Oddsmakers are quite good at what they do. There’s plenty of data behind the numbers they release to the public, so trust what they are telling you. For example, a big favorite indicates a skill gap that you simply have to factor into your decision. That said, don’t let that scare you off from betting on the underdog when you can justify it.
2. Know your fighters/styles: As you learn more about UFC, you’ll come to see that the fighters come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some are great grapplers, others are fantastic strikers and plenty excel in some areas and come up short in others. When breaking down a card, take some time to understand the styles of those involved to help spot any potential matchup advantages.
3. Go beyond career record: Fighters with stellar career records always look impressive at first glance, but don’t let that be the final word. Dig a bit deeper and take a look at how they built their record. What was the quality of their opponents? The same applies for those with poorer records, as they may be better than they appear if they gained a ton of seasoning against stout competition.
4. Study recent form: Just like athletes in all other sports, fighters trend up and down. Spend time examining how the fighters have fared in their last three fights, but make sure to go beyond the won-loss record. How long did the fights last? Has there been a significant gap since the last time they fought? Did they dominate opponents or escape with close victories?
5. Weight, travel and news: In advance of fights, public weigh-ins take place. While these may just seem like press events and part of the show, you need to pay attention. Fighters who are adding or cutting a good deal of weight can be impacted, so pay attention to major fluctuations. In addition, keep an eye on news surrounding the fight and consider the travel aspect. For example, is one fighter locked in while the other is making headlines with out-of-the-ring stuff? Is the fight taking place several time zones away from a fighter’s home base? Little nuggets such as these can make a big difference.

Once you have mastered the basics outlined above, you can begin spending more time on more detailed information such as fighter stats and dive even deeper into the matchups.

Getting up to speed on the UFC is nowhere near as intimidating as it may seem, and you’ll learn lots along the way to boot.

Top five fighters in UFC history

The UFC has a rich and storied history, and there have been a number of impressive fighters who have had lengthy careers inside the octagon. Picking the best of the best is no easy task.

However, there are five who have enjoyed lengthy careers and headlined numerous pay-per-view events along the way. These fighters not only sold tickets and racked up impressive buy rates for fight cards, but also collected hardware along the way.

1. Randy Couture: A six-time champion, Couture is one of the most legendary figures in UFC history. He held the heavyweight crown three times, the light heavyweight title twice, and also served as interim champ in the light heavyweight division. Couture’s all-time record in MMA is 19-11, with seven of his wins coming by knockout. He headlined 18 PPV events, competed in 16 title bouts, and made an estimated $3 million in his illustrious career.
2. Anderson Silva: Just behind Couture on the list of most PPV events headlined is Silva, who was in the main event at 17 UFC events. His career record in MMA stands at 34-10-1, with 24 of his victories coming by knockout. Silva is a former middleweight champion and holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history at 2,457 days. He also set a record with 16 consecutive victories over that span. Silva earned over $8 million in the UFC.
3. Tito Ortiz: Ortiz was the UFC light heavyweight champion from 2000 to 2003. He received top billing at 16 PPV events, and holds a career MMA record of 20-12-2. Among his claims to fame is a trio of memorable fights versus Chuck Liddell, Ken Shamrock and Forrest Griffin in 2006. Ortiz earned over $4 million in his UFC career and has continued fighting with appearances for Bellator and Combate Americas.
4. Jon Jones: The current UFC light heavyweight champion, Jones is considered one of the best to have ever stepped inside the octagon. A career mark of 26-1-1 does nothing but bolster his case. Jones has headlined 15 UFC events, most recently with a unanimous decision over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. He continues to climb up the career earnings list with over $6 million thus far.
5. Georges St-Pierre: A pound-for-pound legend, St-Pierre won titles in both the middleweight and welterweight divisions during his time with UFC. He vacated his middleweight crown due to health issues. A career record of 26-2-1, main event status for 13 PPV events and career earnings of over $7 million are further testament to St-Pierre’s status as one of the best of all time.

Worst five fighters in UFC history

Let’s be clear: if you make it to the UFC, you’re doing something right in your fighting career. That said, there are some fighters who have records that leave a lot to be desired. Here’s a look at some of the worst won-loss records among those with more than 25 fights under their belt.

1. Jeremy Stephens: 15-16 record with one no contest over 32 fights.
2. Andrei Arlovski: 17-13 with one no contest over 31 fights.
3. Clay Guida: 15-13 record for 28 fights.
4. B.J. Penn: 12-13-2 over 27 fights.
5. Ross Pearson: 12-13 record with one no contest over 26 fights.

Stephens is third on the all-time list for most UFC fights. Donald Cerrone and Jim Miller are the current leaders with 34 fights apiece. Cerrone has a career mark of 23-11, while Miller is 20-13 with one no contest.

Most famous UFC fights of all time

There have been a ton of legendary fights inside the octagon during the 27-year history of UFC. Naturally, some of them have stood out as being the best of the bunch. Here’s a trio of UFC fights that quickly come up when the conversation turns to the most memorable and famous fights of all time.

• Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor: The record holder for UFC PPV buy rate, the hype for this UFC lightweight championship tilt was off the charts. The scene was UFC 229 at the T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip, and the event also set records for biggest live gate in MMA history. Nurmagomedov won the battle in round four via submission, taking home $2 million for his troubles. McGregor earned $3 million in defeat.
• Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm: Heading into this fight, Rousey was in the midst of her dominant run and expected to add another pelt on the wall. Things would turn out much differently. Holm shocked the world by defeating the heavily favored Rousey by knockout in round two. Rousey had successfully defended the UFC women’s bantamweight crown six times beforehand with relative ease, so the result was quite stunning.
• Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz: This was the second meeting of the two foes, and the interest level was off the charts. UFC 66 was held on Dec. 30, 2006, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The event produced the largest PPV buy rate to date for the UFC, but the number has since been surpassed several times. Liddell took down Ortiz by TKO in round three in one of the most memorable battles in UFC history.

How to stream UFC live for free

The biggest UFC cards are found on pay-per-view. You can purchase the broadcast from your cable or streaming provider, or head to a sports bar that’s broadcasting the fights.

ESPN has the broadcast rights for UFC. The majority of events will be found on ESPN+, a subscription-based channel that has a slew of UFC content. If you get the UFC Fight Pass via the UFC app, you’ll also be able to stream events on mobile.

Additionally, certain sportsbooks have streaming capabilities and provide live feeds of events. Consult your operator for the events you can stream via the sportsbook app.

History of UFC

The Ultimate Fighting Championship made its debut on Nov. 12, 1993, from the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver. The event aimed to answer the long-standing question of which fighting style was the best.

Initially attracting a niche following, the UFC continued a steady rise before exploding in popularity for good after the turn of the century. Along the way, there were a number of controversies and legal challenges surrounding the violence of the competitions.

UFC managed to weather the storm and is now one of the more popular sports in the land, as evidenced by its broadcast partnership with ESPN. Prior to joining forces with the gang in Bristol, UFC’s TV home was with the FOX Sports family of channels.

Dana White’s influence on the UFC brand

The UFC brand loved by so many could easily have found itself out of business at one time. By the end of 20th century, the UFC was struggling financially, and considered close to bankruptcy. Dana White, along with his business partners – the Fertitta brothers (Lorenzo and Frank III) – formed Zuffa LLC.

White’s investment of $2m within the acquisition package was considered a huge personal risk, but with his business expertise, White was able to justify it. In the early 2000s, following the UFC’s agreement to adopt rules set by the New Jersey State Athletic Commission, the UFC brand grew rapidly, and developed some extremely charismatic, PPV buyout-boosting talents.

Amongst them were Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, who formed what many consider to be the UFC’s ‘breakout’ rivalry. Ken Shamrock, a former WWE King of the Ring winner, was also a popular figure of note. Shamrock’s bout with Tito Ortiz in November 2002 (at the Las Vegas-held UFC 40) rates as one of the most important in UFC’s entire history.

White’s determination to make the UFC brand as uncompromising as possible has been unrelenting. This was reflected in his reaction to the mass cancellation of sports events in early 2020, with White stating his intention to hold UFC 249 in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. His talk of hiring an island just to stage the event was met with particular incredulity and amazement from UFC fans, but in the end, the event was postponed.

Though not the headline of the original card, Ferguson and Gaethje went into UFC 249 as a fascinating, and very evenly-matched pair of opponents. They kept even the most astute of bettors guessing until the starting bell, and did not disappoint on the night.