5 most influential people in MMA

MMA is an acronym for Mixed Martial Arts. It’s a sport where you can combine different combat sports and use them to fight your opponent.

Over the decade MMA has appealed a lot to the masses and due to which MMA has been called “the world’s fastest-growing sport”. The rise of MMA is due to the vision of a few people.

UFC in 1993 started the first documented use of term MMA fight. There are many other MMA promotions, like, Bellator, One FC, Pride that has contributed to the rise of MMA and have put the sport there, where it is now.

MMA India Show has chalked out 5 most influential people in MMA, who with their vision made MMA so popular among masses. The list goes like

5. Joe Rogan

Joe Rogan probably is one of the most recognized people in MMA.
His impact over MMA fans is undeniable as the way he commentates helps people understand the intricacy of the fights.

Joe Rogan developed an interest in martial arts in his early teens and took karate at age 14. He started working for the mixed martial arts promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship as a backstage and post-fight interviewer before turning into a color commentator. His first show with UFC took place at UFC 12, February 7, 1997.

Joe Rogan also runs a successful podcast with more than 3.9 million subscribers on youtube.

4. Chatri Sityodtong

Once a Muay Thai fighter with over 30 fights, Chatri Sityodtong is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of ONE Championship.
Due to the vision and leadership of this self-made multi-millionaire, One Championship is recognized as one of the biggest martial arts promotion in Asia. His part in the Asian MMA scene is unmatchable and this is why he was awarded Asia’s Most Powerful Person in Martial Arts (2017).

3. Scott Coker

Scott Coker is the current President of Bellator MMA. He is also the founder and former CEO of MMA promotion Strikeforce. Scott Coker is a student of martial arts and is a 5th-degree black belt in taekwondo.
When Strikeforce became an MMA promotion, Scott Coker, within five years turned Strikeforce into the number two mixed martial arts promotion in the United States.

It is because of his love and dedication to MMA that he has turned Bellator into second-largest MMA promotion in the world.

2. Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor is among those MMA fighters that changed the landscape of MMA. He is the reason many casual MMA fans turned into hardcore MMA fans. Conor McGregor is the biggest pay-per-view (PPV) draw in MMA history.
He has headlined four out of the five highest-selling MMA pay-per-view events.

His last fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 drew 2.4 million PPV buys, most ever in MMA. He is a true student of martial arts and is still evolving as a student. Due to his fighting as well as verbal ability, Conor McGregor is often compared to Muhammad Ali. Conor McGregor is indeed the ‘ Face of the Fight Game’.

Conor McGregor is indeed the ‘ Face of the Fight Game’.

1. Dana White

Dana White is the current President of UFC, the largest MMA promotion in the world. He is one of those people who know the sport of MMA inside out.

Dana White started his career in fighting as a fighter manager. Realizing the potential of MMA as a sport, he convinced two of his friends, the Fertitta brothers and they bought the UFC.

Due to his efforts, MMA has been called “the world’s fastest-growing sport” and because of his part in evolving MMA as a sport, Dana White was awarded “Leading Man of the Year 2017” by World MMA Awards.

This is why he tops our list for the most influential people in MMA.