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In the high-pressure realm of mixed martial arts, a single punch that is delivered properly can completely alter the course of events. A moment of pure, unadulterated power that has the potential to turn a losing fight into a knockout victory, make a champion out of an underdog, and silence an entire arena is a moment of pure power. The excitement of the knockout has not changed, but the science that behind it has made significant advancements. Now, this modern mixed martial arts is not your grandfather’s brute-force brawl. You can see how the modern knockout has changed from being about brute force to being about strategic accuracy by looking at striking data over the last fifteen years. This is a big development that is changing the sport in a big way from how it used to be.

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When the UFC started back in 1993, nobody could have predicted it would turn into a global powerhouse. What began as a gritty tournament in Denver has now become a multi-billion-dollar sports brand watched by millions across continents. From Brazil’s passionate fight culture to the UK’s booming arenas, Abu Dhabi’s state-backed mega cards, and China’s rapidly growing interest, the UFC has mastered the art of planting its flag in new markets.

But how exactly did the UFC break into these countries? And where is the promotion headed next? Let’s take a closer look at how Dana White and company turned MMA from a niche American experiment into a global empire.

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Jake Simmons

Jake Simmons is a combat sports writer and UFC betting analyst. He breaks down fights with a sharp eye for strategy and provides insights on the business side of MMA.

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When you look at today’s UFC champions and top contenders, one thing stands out right away: most of them have a strong wrestling background. From Khabib Nurmagomedov’s suffocating grappling to Kamaru Usman’s relentless pressure, wrestling has become the gold standard for success inside the Octagon.

It wasn’t always this way. In the early days of MMA, you had specialists from every discipline—boxers, jiu-jitsu masters, kickboxers, and karate experts—all testing their styles against each other. Over time, however, wrestling proved to be the most adaptable and reliable foundation. The numbers back it up too. If you scan the history of UFC champions, an overwhelming percentage either wrestled at a high level or built their MMA game around wrestling principles.

So, why exactly are wrestlers dominating modern UFC? And what makes this skill set so hard to deal with? Let’s break it down.

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Jake Simmons

Jake Simmons is a combat sports writer and UFC betting analyst. He breaks down fights with a sharp eye for strategy and provides insights on the business side of MMA.

maincardmoney.com/

Mixed martial arts has come a long way over the last few decades. What started as a niche sport has turned into a global spectacle, drawing fans from everywhere. Some fights stand out more than others, whether for their back-and-forth action, unexpected moments, or just how much was on the line

Growth of MMA

Over the past few decades, mixed martial arts has gone from a fringe sport to one of the most-watched fight formats in the world. The UFC led that shift by creating huge platforms for fighters, signing global broadcasting deals, and holding events across the U.S., Brazil, the Middle East, and Europe.

Today, UFC fighters are household names. But it’s not just fans who picked up on the growth, sportsbooks took notice, too. Nowadays, a wide range of UFC matchups are available for betting, which makes it even more useful to understand how bookmakers operate. Several fights are available for betting every time, and some bookmakers offer bonuses such as the Stake Sign Up Bonus, which can be used on a number of sports and competitions.

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Every UFC fighter dreams of one thing – becoming a champion. Those who manage to pull it off set their sights on the next logical achievement – conquering another division. That said, only a few fighters have succeeded so far and reached double champion status. But who was the first to pull it off, or the first UFC fighter to hold 2 belts?

That’s what we want to answer in this text. We will go through the history of this competition, talk about all double champs in UFC history. We’ll also address current rule changes and answer, do UFC champions get a new belt each win if they switch divisions?

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship has never ceased to be on the frontline in terms of mainstreaming mixed martial arts. Since its rough beginnings in the 1990s and its subsequent skyrocketing success in the 2000s and beyond, the organization has continually refined its strategy for broadcasting, promotion, and audience engagement. The UFC is now gearing up to make its most significant move yet: a historic seven-year agreement with Paramount, which will significantly impact the global MMA viewing landscape.

The deal is set to begin in 2026 and will mark a breakthrough for the UFC, as the organization has long relied on conventional pay-per-view systems. They will instead use Paramount+ and CBS as the new platforms to host UFC content, utilizing a hybrid model that combines streaming accessibility with network penetration. This deal has far-reaching implications for fans, fighters, and the sports industry in general.

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