It is fair to say that MMA attracts some absolutely huge personalities and sometimes more eccentric people. You may already be thinking of some of the top names in the sport (and one particular Irish star).
MMA has rocketed in popularity and it wasn’t so long ago that it was something of a minority sport (well, compared to today). Over the last 30 years or so we have seen some key figures whose contributions have shaped its history and elevated it into the global spectacle it is today bringing millions of pairs of eyeballs to the sport.
Dana White: The Visionary Behind the UFC
Owners of sports franchises and those working “behind the scenes” don’t always become such big celebs, but Dana White’s name is practically synonymous with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) which is seen by a lot as the premier organization in MMA.
White took over as president of the UFC in 2001 when the sport was on the fringes, struggling with a lack of regulation and mainstream acceptance. White, with his no-nonsense attitude and relentless drive, saw potential where others saw controversy.
White’s leadership transformed the UFC from a niche spectacle into a multi-billion-dollar empire. Both securing critical TV deals and bringing in some money, plus his ability to build storylines around fighters turned the UFC into the leading brand in MMA.
White is a big personality and has shown it off in a lot of interviews. No longer directly involved in the sport, he’s taken to loads of podcasts and spoken about his time leading the sport.
Dana White is often in the public eye and this could be said to have boosted the profile of MMA altogether – he’s not afraid to do interviews and be interviewed by huge names like Joe Rogan where he has discussed the sport.
White has become very well-known as a gambler and is known to play gambling games – even sharing his own strategy for playing blackjack in the past. People have called him the “Blackjack king” and some of his games have been focused on in the media. White is among some of the stars of MMA who are known to play online blackjack games. This is a popular form of entertainment for people involved in combat sports. It is a hobby for their downtime but also allows people to test out strategies, and fits with the lifestyle of some of the stars of MMA. Gambling locations have also been part of the actual growth of MMA and with White’s time at the helm, booking shows in locations where gambling was also an option for players helped to link the two hobbies and potentially reveal MMA to a new audience.
Conor McGregor: The Showman of the Octagon
It is no surprise that Conor has made our list. No discussion about MMA icons would be complete without mentioning Conor McGregor and whether you love him or hate him, the Irish fighter took the sport by storm.
Famously, he went on a journey from being an apprentice plumber in Dublin to one of the biggest stars in sports and the Irish wit is there to be seen – he’s known for his sharp humor and charisma which meant McGregor brought a new level of showmanship to MMA.
In the octagon, he was doing incredible things in his prime. His 2015 knockout of José Aldo in just 13 seconds to become the featherweight champion remains one of the most iconic moments in UFC history.
On top of this rivalry with Nate Diaz, and later his historic boxing match (yes, he tried his hand at boxing) against Floyd Mayweather, added to the Irish myth and legend.
“We’re not here to take part; we’re here to take over,” was a saying introduced by McGregor and became part of the sport’s lore. Even those who don’t follow MMA know his name, which is a testament to his influence both in and out of the octagon. He doesn’t even have anything close to the best record in the sport and has plenty of losses in his career record but he is still an undisputed icon.
Ronda Rousey
Another big name, Ronda Rousey, needs some recognition as one of MMA’s most influential figures, particularly in the sport of women’s MMA.
Women in combat sports have had some challenges and when Rousey burst onto the scene it is fair to say women’s MMA struggled to gain the same recognition as the men’s side of the sport. Her dominance and personality changed everything.
Some people remember Rousey’s judo background (she won Olympic medals) and undeniably her first attempt at a combat sport made her a force to be reckoned with in the octagon and she relied on a lot of these skills. Her streak of first-round armbar victories made her an instant star and she became the first woman to sign with the UFC. Silverware seemed easy for Rousey to come by in her prime.
Rousey’s crossover appeal was immense too like the other figures mentioned in this post and she became a massive name inspiring a new generation of female fighters. Although her MMA career eventually hit a rough patch, Rousey’s impact on the sport remains significant, particularly in breaking down barriers for women in combat sports.
Conclusion
Combat sports always have big names associated with them. The last couple of decades have seen some massive names come out of MMA and help make UFC and other competitions massive all over the world.