GITNUXREPORT 2025

Mma Popularity Statistics

MMA popularity soared globally, expanding audiences, fighters, and media engagement.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The UFC has over 675 million fans worldwide

Statistic 2

The average age of UFC fans is 35 years old

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Women make up approximately 24% of MMA fans in the United States

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Over 300 million viewers watched UFC events in 2022

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MMA viewership increased by 25% during the COVID-19 pandemic period

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Women's MMA accounts for about 12% of all professional MMA bouts

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The UFC's viewership in Brazil accounted for roughly 35% of total global viewership in 2022

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MMA ranks among the top 10 most watched sports in the United States

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The average age of viewed fighters in UFC is 29 years old

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Over 60% of MMA fans in Australia are between 18 and 34 years old

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The percentage of youth aged 13-17 interested in MMA increased by 15% from 2018 to 2023

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MMA has the highest engagement rate on Instagram among combat sports, with an average of 4.5% engagement per post

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The latest Nielsen ratings reported over 2 million viewers for major MMA events in the US in 2023

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The fastest-growing demographic of MMA viewers is women aged 18-34, with a growth rate of 30% since 2020

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The number of online MMA betting users increased by 45% in 2022, highlighting betting's role in popularity

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The average number of social media shares for MMA fight clips increased by 35% in 2023

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Over 70% of MMA fans prefer watching live events over broadcasting highlights or replays

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The number of MMA-related discussions on Reddit increased by 40% between 2022 and 2023, highlighting growing online engagement

Statistic 19

The average age of viewers tuning into MMA events on streaming platforms is 32, indicating a young adult audience

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The popularity of MMA in Latin America surged with a 20% increase in event attendances in 2022

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The average number of countries broadcasting UFC is 50, expanding global reach

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The global MMA market was valued at approximately $7.7 billion in 2021

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UFC's pay-per-view numbers surpassed 30 million globally in 2021

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The number of MMA events increased to over 600 globally in 2022

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The average ticket price for UFC events in 2023 was around $150

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The average pay-per-view price for UFC events in 2023 was approximately $70

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The number of MMA fans in Europe reached over 50 million in 2022

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Top MMA fighters earn average annual salaries exceeding $2 million

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The average fight attendance at UFC events in 2023 was around 15,000 spectators per event

Statistic 30

MMA surpassed boxing in global revenue for the first time in 2022

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Major MMA events generate over $100 million in sponsorship deals annually

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The top 10 MMA fighters in 2023 collectively earned over $80 million in their fight purses

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Popularity of MMA has led to an increase in MMA-related merchandise sales, accounting for a $500 million industry in 2022

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The prevalence of MMA-themed video games increased sales by 20% in 2022, driven by popular titles like EA Sports UFC

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The combined social media followers of major MMA organizations exceeded 50 million in 2023

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The popularity of MMA has led to over 1 million YouTube subscribers for top fighters' channels

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The most popular MMA fighter on Instagram in 2023 had over 25 million followers

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MMA content consumption on Twitch increased by 50% during live streaming seasons

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Key MMA organizations like UFC and Bellator have global broadcasting deals, increasing viewership reach to over 200 countries

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The number of MMA podcasts increased tenfold from 2018 to 2023, reaching over 500 active podcasts

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In 2023, over 10 million MMA-related searches were conducted monthly on Google worldwide

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The most followed female MMA fighter on social media in 2023 had over 12 million followers

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The number of MMA viewers on mobile devices has surpassed 50% of total viewership since 2021

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The fastest-growing MMA market in 2023 was India, with a 30% increase in event viewership

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MMA's digital media consumption saw a spike of 50% during major UFC pay-per-view events

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The number of MMA fighters worldwide exceeded 15,000 in 2022

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The number of MMA gyms worldwide surpassed 10,000 in 2022

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The rise of MMA in Asia led to over 1,500 new fighters in the region by 2023

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The number of women participating in amateur MMA competitions grew by 40% from 2019 to 2022

Statistic 50

The growth rate of MMA gyms in India was approximately 20% annually between 2019 and 2022

Statistic 51

The rise of women's MMA in Asia led to an increase of over 40% in local participation in 2022

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MMA has seen a 60% increase in youth participation since 2015 across North America

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The popularity of MMA has contributed to a 15% growth in health and fitness club memberships in countries with high MMA engagement

Statistic 54

MMA training programs saw a 25% increase in enrollment in 2022, indicating rising interest among new athletes

Statistic 55

Fitness kickboxing, a form of MMA training, gained 15% more participants in gyms worldwide in 2022, signaling crossover interest

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Sources

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Key Highlights

The global MMA market was valued at approximately $7.7 billion in 2021
UFC's pay-per-view numbers surpassed 30 million globally in 2021
The UFC has over 675 million fans worldwide
The average age of UFC fans is 35 years old
Women make up approximately 24% of MMA fans in the United States
Over 300 million viewers watched UFC events in 2022
MMA viewership increased by 25% during the COVID-19 pandemic period
The number of MMA fighters worldwide exceeded 15,000 in 2022
The number of MMA events increased to over 600 globally in 2022
The average ticket price for UFC events in 2023 was around $150
The combined social media followers of major MMA organizations exceeded 50 million in 2023
The popularity of MMA has led to over 1 million YouTube subscribers for top fighters' channels
The number of MMA gyms worldwide surpassed 10,000 in 2022

Mixed martial arts is experiencing explosive global growth, with a market valuation soaring to $7.7 billion in 2021 and over 675 million fans worldwide, as its reach expands across continents, genders, and digital platforms.

Audience Demographics and Engagement

The UFC has over 675 million fans worldwide
The average age of UFC fans is 35 years old
Women make up approximately 24% of MMA fans in the United States
Over 300 million viewers watched UFC events in 2022
MMA viewership increased by 25% during the COVID-19 pandemic period
Women's MMA accounts for about 12% of all professional MMA bouts
The UFC's viewership in Brazil accounted for roughly 35% of total global viewership in 2022
MMA ranks among the top 10 most watched sports in the United States
The average age of viewed fighters in UFC is 29 years old
Over 60% of MMA fans in Australia are between 18 and 34 years old
The percentage of youth aged 13-17 interested in MMA increased by 15% from 2018 to 2023
MMA has the highest engagement rate on Instagram among combat sports, with an average of 4.5% engagement per post
The latest Nielsen ratings reported over 2 million viewers for major MMA events in the US in 2023
The fastest-growing demographic of MMA viewers is women aged 18-34, with a growth rate of 30% since 2020
The number of online MMA betting users increased by 45% in 2022, highlighting betting's role in popularity
The average number of social media shares for MMA fight clips increased by 35% in 2023
Over 70% of MMA fans prefer watching live events over broadcasting highlights or replays
The number of MMA-related discussions on Reddit increased by 40% between 2022 and 2023, highlighting growing online engagement
The average age of viewers tuning into MMA events on streaming platforms is 32, indicating a young adult audience

Audience Demographics and Engagement Interpretation

With over 675 million fans worldwide and a surge in youth and female engagement, MMA's explosive global popularity—underscored by rising viewership, social media buzz, and betting—proves that the sport's knockout appeal is landing across all ages and genders, making it a top contender among the world’s most watched sports.

Global Expansion and Regional Trends

The popularity of MMA in Latin America surged with a 20% increase in event attendances in 2022
The average number of countries broadcasting UFC is 50, expanding global reach

Global Expansion and Regional Trends Interpretation

With a 20% surge in event attendances in 2022 and UFC broadcasts spanning an impressive 50 countries, MMA's rapid ascent in Latin America and beyond proves that the sport's knockout appeal is truly going global.

Market Size and Revenue

The global MMA market was valued at approximately $7.7 billion in 2021
UFC's pay-per-view numbers surpassed 30 million globally in 2021
The number of MMA events increased to over 600 globally in 2022
The average ticket price for UFC events in 2023 was around $150
The average pay-per-view price for UFC events in 2023 was approximately $70
The number of MMA fans in Europe reached over 50 million in 2022
Top MMA fighters earn average annual salaries exceeding $2 million
The average fight attendance at UFC events in 2023 was around 15,000 spectators per event
MMA surpassed boxing in global revenue for the first time in 2022
Major MMA events generate over $100 million in sponsorship deals annually
The top 10 MMA fighters in 2023 collectively earned over $80 million in their fight purses
Popularity of MMA has led to an increase in MMA-related merchandise sales, accounting for a $500 million industry in 2022
The prevalence of MMA-themed video games increased sales by 20% in 2022, driven by popular titles like EA Sports UFC

Market Size and Revenue Interpretation

With a global market valued at $7.7 billion and UFC pay-per-view numbers surpassing 30 million in 2021, MMA has KO'd traditional combat sports in revenue, proving that in the fight for fan attention and dollars, this martial arts marvel is delivering a knockout punch.

Media Consumption and Digital Presence

The combined social media followers of major MMA organizations exceeded 50 million in 2023
The popularity of MMA has led to over 1 million YouTube subscribers for top fighters' channels
The most popular MMA fighter on Instagram in 2023 had over 25 million followers
MMA content consumption on Twitch increased by 50% during live streaming seasons
Key MMA organizations like UFC and Bellator have global broadcasting deals, increasing viewership reach to over 200 countries
The number of MMA podcasts increased tenfold from 2018 to 2023, reaching over 500 active podcasts
In 2023, over 10 million MMA-related searches were conducted monthly on Google worldwide
The most followed female MMA fighter on social media in 2023 had over 12 million followers
The number of MMA viewers on mobile devices has surpassed 50% of total viewership since 2021
The fastest-growing MMA market in 2023 was India, with a 30% increase in event viewership
MMA's digital media consumption saw a spike of 50% during major UFC pay-per-view events

Media Consumption and Digital Presence Interpretation

With over 50 million social media followers and a global reach into 200 countries, MMA's explosive digital growth—from a tenfold rise in podcasts to over 50% mobile viewership—signals that the sport has transformed from a niche combat sport into a worldwide entertainment phenomenon, proving that in the fight for popularity, the digital round is now in full swing.

Participation and Gym Growth

The number of MMA fighters worldwide exceeded 15,000 in 2022
The number of MMA gyms worldwide surpassed 10,000 in 2022
The rise of MMA in Asia led to over 1,500 new fighters in the region by 2023
The number of women participating in amateur MMA competitions grew by 40% from 2019 to 2022
The growth rate of MMA gyms in India was approximately 20% annually between 2019 and 2022
The rise of women's MMA in Asia led to an increase of over 40% in local participation in 2022
MMA has seen a 60% increase in youth participation since 2015 across North America
The popularity of MMA has contributed to a 15% growth in health and fitness club memberships in countries with high MMA engagement
MMA training programs saw a 25% increase in enrollment in 2022, indicating rising interest among new athletes
Fitness kickboxing, a form of MMA training, gained 15% more participants in gyms worldwide in 2022, signaling crossover interest

Participation and Gym Growth Interpretation

As MMA's global knockout continues with over 15,000 fighters and 10,000 gyms worldwide—fueled by explosive growth in Asia, a 40% surge in women's participation, and rising youth engagement across North America—it's clear that mixed martial arts is punching well above its weight, transforming from niche combat sport to mainstream fitness phenomenon with a striking 15% boost in health club memberships and a 25% spike in training enrollments in 2022.