If you are not familiar with ONE Championship (ONE FC) already, you may wonder how good this MMA promotion is. Does it put on the same quality shows as other promotions? Is it better than the UFC? Well, you are about to discover all the answers in this article.

Based in Singapore, ONE FC is the largest and most popular MMA promotion in Asia and is renowned for its distinct rules and event format, which sets it apart from the UFC. ONE FC events feature various combat sports besides MMA, such as Muay Thai, kickboxing, and submission grappling.

Let’s further explore the history of the ONE FC promotion and how it was put together. We will also go deep into the rules, explain how it differs from the UFC, and bring you closer to how this Asian promotion operates.

How ONE Championship Started

After the collapse of the legendary Japanese “PRIDE FC” in 2007, Asia was left without a major MMA organization. There were some attempts to get back to the glory days with the “DREAM” promotion, for instance. But overall, the MMA scene in Asia was in disarray. This situation presented a significant opportunity for an individual with a substantial investment to enter the market and swiftly gain dominance.

This is why Chatri Sityodtong, a former Thai boxer and entrepreneur, decided to launch a Pan-Asian promotion to unite the continent. His mission was to create an MMA promotion that would focus on all the Asian regions and promote the sport of MMA in their own way. His plan was to grow the biggest Asian promotion ever and later expand globally. He put the company headquarters in Singapore, and the first event was held in September 2011.

ONE FC management instantly started investing a lot of resources into promoting their shows through different media channels. But they did it in a different way. ONE FC has chosen to approach event promotion differently from Western promotions, which tend to focus on sensational entertainment. ONE FC made a conscious decision to promote the sport by highlighting important values such as respect, honor, discipline, courage, and other qualities that define a true martial artist.

That’s why fans will never see fighters insulting each other in press conferences, other media events, or fighting during the weigh-ins. Not to mention, insulting each other’s religion, nation, or family is strictly forbidden.

The company quickly established itself in the Asian market thanks to its distinctive event format, regulations, and competitive pay. This drew in several skilled fighters from the U.S. and UFC, which bolstered its roster and credibility even further.

And once it got established as the leader in Asia, ONE FC began organizing more and more events in the U.S. with the mission to become a global brand.

What Makes ONE FC Events So Unique?

ONE FC is a unique organization because it promotes multiple combat sports. Apart from MMA matches, there are kickboxing, Muay Thai bouts, and submission grappling matches. And all of these combat sports take place inside the MMA steel cage. Muay Thai fighters actually compete wearing 4oz open-fingered gloves instead of full-padded boxing gloves.

The event format is also different than in most other promotions. A single ONE FC event often includes different sports on the same card. There can be 3 Muay Thai Fights, 3 Kickboxing fights, and 6 MMA fights on the same card. Despite being unconventional and possibly confusing, this approach of having multiple combat sports on the same card is actually highly effective and popular among fans.

For example, switching between different styles of combat sports adds a new dynamic to the event. Things rarely get boring, and fans always get to see something new and unique. ONE FC’s approach allows all fighters from different sports to receive equal media attention, thereby promoting all sports equally.

Muay Thai matches, in particular, are very exciting and are slowly becoming a core event of the promotion. Because fighters compete wearing 4oz MMA gloves, each match is packed with action, knockdowns, and highlight reel knockouts. It forces each Thai boxer to adapt to new circumstances as they can no longer use big gloves to block punches and kicks and must come up with different strategies.

ONE Championship Rules Explained

ONE uses the famous “Global Martial Arts Rule Set” which differs a lot in every way and makes the matches even more exciting for many people.

General rules

• Gear — includes 4oz open-fingered gloves, hand wraps, mouthguard, groin cup, and shorts.
• Match duration — most matches include 3–5 minute rounds, with a 1–minute break between each round. Championship fights are 5–5 minute rounds.
• Fighting area — steel cage and a five-roped ring.

Scoring

Each ONE Championship event includes three judges sitting beside the cage and scoring the fight following strict criteria. Unlike other combat rule sets, ONE FC judges score the entire match instead of round by round. This means that a fighter who loses the first and second rounds can dominate in the third and take home the decision victory.

ONE FC judges evaluate the match using the following criteria, in this order:

• Which fighter was closer to finishing the match with submission or knockout
• Which fighter did more accumulated or immediate damage
• Who landed a better striking combination and showcased cage generalship through cage control and ground positioning
• Landed and defended takedowns
• Which fighter was more aggressive

Legal/Illegal strikes

According to the Global Rule Set, fighters are allowed to strike with punches, kicks, knees, and elbows to the head and body. In contrast with other rules, fighters are also allowed to strike the grounded opponent with a knee to the head. Demetrius Johnson, a former UFC champion, famously lost the fight after Adriano Moraes knocked him out in this manner.

In terms of illegal strikes, fighters are not allowed to strike the groin area, throat, trachea, back of the head, back, or spine. In addition, fighters are not allowed to head butt, pull hair, or gouge eyes. Previously, a highly controversial leg strike to the downed opponent, also known as a “soccer kick” in MMA, was allowed. However, this technique was banned in 2016, when the promotion began expanding globally.

Weight classes

The promotion uses ten different weight classes, out of which 9 are for male fighters and 4 are for female fighters.

ONE Championship Weight Cutting Rule Explained

ONE FC has a unique weight-cutting policy that sets it apart from other MMA promotions. Unlike fighters in other organizations, ONE FC fighters are prohibited from dehydrating their bodies to cut massive weight in the week leading up to a fight. This rule ensures that they compete at a weight closer to their natural state and prevents any medical issues that may arise from cutting weight quickly.

So what prompted ONE FC to take a different approach to its weight-cutting policy? — In 2015, Chinese fighter Yang Jian Bing tragically passed away due to medical complications resulting from trying to lose weight rapidly by shedding water weight.

In order to avoid another tragedy, ONE FC has implemented a complete ban on weight-cutting through dehydration. They have also introduced a “hydration test” where officials measure the urine gravity of each fighter during fight week to ensure that dehydration is not being used as a weight loss method. Every fighter must pass the hydration test in order to be eligible to fight.

During event week, all athletes will participate in a combined weigh-in and hydration test. Hydration will be checked through a urine specific gravity test in which every athlete will submit a urine sample to a medical technician.

Under the guidance of ONE’s doctor, the technician and doctor will test the sample to ensure the athlete is hydrated with a urine specific gravity value of 1.025 or below. If the athlete passes this test, he or she can weigh-in. The athlete’s weight must be within the restrictions of the contracted weight class or catchweight limit.

ONE FC hydration test policy

As a result, this forces fighters to lose weight by following a strict diet program to reach the required weight, not by flushing water out of their system, which makes the entire weight-cutting process much safer. They would cut their intake of carbs, fats, and other nutrients but must continue to drink fluids.

After the fight, another weight check is carried out to ensure that fighters did not manipulate the hydration test in order to gain an unfair size advantage over their opponent. The post-fight weight cannot exceed 5% higher than the weight class or catchweight limit. If a fighter commits this offense, they will be held accountable under the following rules:

• First offense — receives a warning.
• Second offense — fighters will forfeit 25% of their fight purse.
• Third offense — fighters will forfeit 50% of their fight purse and be immediately disqualified from competing in that specific weight class. They would need to move up in weight and compete in a higher weight class.

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Do ONE FC Fighters Get PED Tested?

Starting from August 2022, ONE FC has teamed up with the International Doping Tests & Management Agency to enhance the testing of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) and promote a cleaner sport. The deal gives the agency the freedom to handle all the testing independently and test the fighters whenever they want on all illegal substances.

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How Good Are ONE FC Fighters Compared to UFC?

The overall strength of ONE Championship roster is not quite there yet to match the strength of the UFC. However, this doesn’t mean that the athletes are less skilled by any means. In fact, ONE is considered a home to highly-talented fighters, not just from Asia but all around the world, and many of these fighters can successfully transition to the UFC and enjoy big success.

Of course, the “ONE vs. UFC: Champion versus Champion” type of event will most likely end with UFC champions winning most of the matches. No one denies that UFC fighters, especially champions and top 5 contenders, have better chances of winning. But, ONE fighters do not fall behind much in terms of skill, and this has been proven on multiple occasions.

For example, a couple of high-level UFC fighters and former champions like Demetrious Johnson, Eddie Alvarez, and Sage Northcut have moved to ONE. Interestingly, they all have suffered severe losses against relatively “unknown” fighters to most UFC fans.

Overall, the UFC champions are considered legitimate world MMA champions. Their road toward winning the title is much longer and more challenging than in other promotions. Each UFC division includes over 50 very skilled fighters, with the majority of them being the best the world has to offer, and beating the best ones makes you the best in the world.

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Key Difference Between ONE FC and UFC

The biggest difference is the rule set and scoring. ONE Championship uses the “Global Martial Arts Rule Set,” while the UFC uses the “Unified Rules of MMA.” These two rule sets are very similar regarding general rules, such as the number of rounds and gear. However, the key difference that stands out the most is in the legal/illegal strikes.

The following pinpoints the key differences between the two promotions:

Knees to the grounded opponent

ONE Championship allows its fighters to strike the grounded opponent with a knee to the head. It doesn’t matter if the opponent is touching the ground with both knees and hands; fighters can blast them with a knee.

In the UFC, however, you are not allowed to knee strike the grounded opponent’s head as long as one of the opponent’s knees or hands is touching the ground. This happened when Petr Yan was disqualified due to an illegal knee strike at UFC 259.

Scoring

The second big difference is the scoring. Both promotions have three judges sitting beside the cage, but how they score the match differs. In ONE, they score the match in its entirety.

In the UFC, matches are scored round by round. Following each round, the official collects scorecards from every judge, adds them up after 3 or 5 rounds, and announces the result.

Weight cutting

The third big difference is weight cutting. ONE Championship forbids weight cutting by dehydration. This means fighters can no longer lose excess weight, which makes the entire process safer and forces them to compete close to their natural weight.

UFC allows weight cutting by dehydration, and fighters can lose close to 15% of their body weight in the week leading up to a fight.

The way the fight is promoted

It is important to note that ONE and UFC have distinct approaches to promoting their respective sports. This can largely be attributed to the cultural differences between the Eastern and Western worlds, as what attracts audiences and drives pay-per-view sales differs between these areas.

ONE Championship upholds traditional and ethical martial arts values that require fighters to conduct themselves as true martial artists and display respect and honor towards their opponents. Instances of fighters crossing the line and engaging in insults or failing to shake hands after a fight are rare.

The UFC has a unique approach where their fighters can promote their fights however they choose. They can opt to engage in smack-talking via social media or show respect by refraining from it, and it’s entirely their decision.

Final Thoughts: How Popular Is ONE Championship?

ONE Championship has established itself as one of the best MMA organizations globally and emerged as a formidable competitor to the behemoth UFC. The numbers confirm this, as the 2022 Nielsen report showed ONE FC secured the top five spot in global TV viewerships with 406 million, while the UFC ranked at number nine with 259 million.

Next, ONE’s videos published on different platforms generated 7 billion organic views, much higher than UFC’s 4.3 billion views.

If you enjoy combat sports, specifically MMA, it’s worth exploring ONE Championship. Although it may not have the same level of global recognition as the UFC, ONE FC events provide high-quality production and feature many underdog MMA stars who are determined to become the best fighter in the world. You are guaranteed entertainment. Be sure to experience the excitement.

Disclaimer: The following information is sourced from various credible media reports. We do our best to get the most accurate information.

Betting on combat sports, particularly the UFC, has become increasingly popular in recent years, both for fans as well as the fighters themselves. It’s not a surprise either – it captivates enthusiasts with the thrill of predicting fight outcomes and potentially reaping financial rewards.

However, betting on UFC fights also carries lots of questions and uncertainties. We’ll address the most frequently asked questions surrounding UFC betting, shedding light on topics such as the legality of betting on UFC fights, the new gambling policy implemented by the UFC as well as whether fighters can bet on fights today, potential consequences for fighters caught betting, and various other nuances.

Are UFC Fighters Allowed to Bet on UFC fights?

As of October 2022, UFC fighters are not allowed to bet on UFC fights, including their own. The policy change was implemented to maintain the integrity of the sport, prevent misuse of insider information, and comply with regulations set by sports betting industry regulators in the U.S.

Prior to this policy change, betting was actually allowed and was not only widespread, but openly promoted by the fighters themselves who used to tweet about their picks and winning bets for example.

What Is the New Gambling Policy in the UFC?

The most recent UFC conduct policy prohibits UFC fighters and their teams from betting on any UFC fights directly or through a third party.

Here is an excerpt of the memo from Hunter Campbell, the chief business officer of the UFC, that was sent out to the promotion’s roster and athlete managers:

“… In order to assist our athletes in understanding their obligations under the laws of the majority of states in which sports betting is permitted, and in further support of these integrity measures, UFC has incorporated a wagering prohibition into the UFC Athlete Conduct Policy expressly prohibiting athletes from wagering on any UFC match.”

Hunter Campbell, UFC Chief Business Officer

Hunter Campbell further explained and cautioned athletes that certain states not only prohibit them from participating in sports betting but also extend this rule to their training teams, family members, and individuals who possess inside information about the athletes and their events. Violation of these restrictions may lead to criminal charges, per Campbell.

Did the James Krause Incident Influence the UFC’s Gambling Policy?

UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell’s memo indicates that no particular incident sparked the new policy change. He claimed the new gambling policy change was made “in light of clear direction that we have received from regulators responsible for the regulated sports betting industry in the United States.”

However, many people believe that a very controversial incident involving James Krause, a well-known MMA coach and former UFC fighter, triggered the UFC to rapidly overhaul its gambling policy in October 2022. Aside from coaching fighters, Krause regularly placed bets on UFC fights.

In the lead-up to UFC Fight Night 214 in November 2022, there was suspicious line movement among sportsbooks for the bout between Shayilan Nuerdanbieke and Krause’s fighter, Darrick Minner. In the final hours before the fight, the odds for a Nuerdanbieke win by knockout/TKO experienced a drastic shift from -220 to -420. This sudden change was primarily attributed to an influx of bets being placed on Nuerdanbieke to win by that method.

The fight ended in a first-round TKO victory for Nuerdanbieke after a leg kick hurt and injured Minner before some elbows finished the job. It was later revealed that Minner had been carrying an undisclosed knee injury into the fight, which likely played a significant role in his early defeat.

Krause’s presence in Minner’s corner raised suspicions about potential inside information and the impact it may have had on the fight’s outcome. In response, U.S. Integrity initiated an investigation, prompting the UFC to conduct a comprehensive review of the betting activity surrounding the fight.

Subsequently, Krause faced suspension and had his license revoked by the Nevada Athletic Commission. New Jersey also prohibited fights involving Krause, and the Canadian province of Ontario banned all UFC-related betting.

The UFC implemented measures to address the situation, including the announcement that fighters coached or training in Krause’s gym would not be permitted to compete in UFC events. As a result of this, many fighters had to cut ties with Krause, including UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno.

Minner was released from the organization, and reports suggested that the FBI became involved in the matter. UFC president Dana White warned his fighters not to get involved in such activities or risk going to prison.

The UFC would later announce U.S. Integrity as its official partner to monitor fight betting activity and all these changes resulted in Ontario later reinstating gambling on UFC fights in January 2023.

What Happens If UFC Fighters Get Caught Betting on UFC Fights?

The recent UFC betting scandal involving James Krause highlights the severe consequences that UFC fighters may face if caught betting on UFC fights. That is, UFC fighters could risk having their contract terminated, having their state license suspended, and even facing criminal charges as potential consequences.

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Can UFC Fighters Bet on Non-UFC MMA fights?

The new gambling policy of the UFC does not forbid its fighters from betting on other MMA promotions such as Bellator, ONE Championship, or the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

“The fighters aren’t prohibited from betting on any other sports or from wagering on other MMA promotions.”

UFC Athlete Conduct Policy updated to prohibit fighters from betting on UFC matches. (n.d.). Sports.yahoo.com.
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As per the memo from Hunter Campbell, the policy only prohibits “athletes from wagering on any UFC match.” Campbell also wrote that fighters are still allowed to have sports betting companies as their sponsors and will help fighters determine the restrictions in their home states.

Can I Legally Bet on UFC fights?

Yes, it is completely legal to bet on UFC fights in many jurisdictions and states, provided you do so through a licensed bookmaker or betting platform. The exact laws and regulations vary by country and even by state or province within countries, so it’s best to check the specific laws and regulations where you are located.

What Happens If You Bet on a UFC Fight and It Is a Draw?

In most cases, if a UFC fight ends in a draw, bets on either fighter to win are usually refunded as the bet is void. However, the specific rules depend on the betting platform and the type of bet placed.

For example, if a draw option is offered as a potential bet, any bet you place on an opponent is effectively settled as a loss as you can choose to bet on the fight ending as a draw.

What Is the Difference Between Minus and Plus Spread?

In betting terms, an easy way to remember what the “minus” symbol indicates is that it’s the favorite and shows how much you need to wager to win a certain amount. The “plus” symbol indicates the underdog and shows how much you could win if you wager a certain amount.

For example, a -200 favorite means you would need to bet $200 to win $100, while a +200 underdog means you would win $200 if you bet $100.

When it comes to the point spread, this is a figure set by oddsmakers to provide a numerical advantage or disadvantage based on the margin of victory or defeat for a given team.

The team that is the favorite — or most likely to win — will be given a negative point spread, meaning they would need to win by more than that number of points. The “underdog” — or least likely to win — is given a positive point spread, meaning they could lose by up to that many points, or win the game, and still cover the spread.

Speaking of covering the spread, this is a betting term which means a team or player has achieved the desired result of the bettor. Another term you may have heard is betting the spread — this simply means placing a bet on whether a team or player will perform better or worse than the point spread.

A lot of MMA fans believe that Taekwondo (TKD) doesn’t have any relevance in cage fighting. But the reality is TKD is more than present in modern MMA. Although the application of this Korean art is quite limited, there have been a number of successful UFC fighters who came from a strong foundation in TKD.

In this article, we bring you the 10 greatest Taekwondo UFC fighters in history. The fighters listed below not only have a strong background in taekwondo, but they have also effectively used taekwondo moves in the cage.

10. Chris Barnett

Rank: 3rd-degree black belt

If you have seen Barnett, he clearly looks out of shape, but don’t let his appearance deceive you because Barnett is actually quite athletic, flexible, and agile. Chris Barnett is an exciting UFC heavyweight fighter who has scored one of the most spectacular spinning kick finishes in recent history.

At UFC 268, he caught Gian Villante with a perfectly placed wheel kick to the head, instantly sending the Canadian down to the canvas. The crowd was shocked as no one expected 5’9″ out of shape looking Barnett to blast 6’2″, very athletic-looking Villante with a wild head kick. But he did it mainly thanks to his strong Taekwondo background.

Barnett grew up in a martial art family, with both of his parents being black belts in TKD. Naturally, he decided to follow in their footsteps and began training at the age of 5. He later switched to wrestling during his high-school days and trained in Judo before finally going into MMA.

Thanks to his hilarious personality and fearless fighting style, he quickly amassed a huge fan base in the UFC. Fans love him mainly because he does not hesitate to execute all types of flashy moves that are very entertaining. In fact, it’s incredible to see how a man of his size and weight can pull off some of the moves he is regularly doing inside the octagon.

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9. Paul Felder

Rank: 2nd-degree black belt

Paul Felder is a former UFC contender in the lightweight division who took on the color commentator role upon retiring from the sport. Although mainly known for his great Muay Thai skills, Felder actually has a strong TKD background, which he showcased on multiple occasions during his career.

Felder started his martial art journey by signing up for TKD classes when he was 12. For years, he would simultaneously train in TKD and karate, where he also holds a 2nd-degree black belt. In his career, he won many medals and competed in the AAU Junior Olympic Games for TKD along with his cousin Niko Portillo. Later in college, he switched to Muay Thai and MMA in his mid-20s.

He fought under the UFC banner on 15 occasions and scored 9 wins against top opponents such as Edson Barboza and Charles Oliveira. Though he suffered 6 losses, bear in mind that four were close split decisions that could have gone either way. He was very talented, tough, durable, and spectacular to watch.

8. Edson Barboza

Rank: Black belt

Edson Barboza is a fan-favorite UFC fighter who has been fighting at the top of the game for many years. What he brings into each bout are exceptional striking skills deeply rooted in Taekwondo and Muay Thai.

He started training in Taekwondo as a kid, where he managed to reach a black-belt rank in a short period of time. Later on, he would switch to Muay Thai and then MMA, where he didn’t need much time to succeed.

With exceptional striking skills and brutal knockouts, he quickly climbed the UFC rankings all the way to the top. Over the years, he added a strong grappling defense, enabling him to keep the fight standing and demolish his opponents with laser-perfect striking.

What stands out in his game are his spinning kicks from TKD. The way he knocked out Terry Etim at UFC 142 with a wheel kick is an ideal example of how practical TKD is in MMA. The other great example of his kicking game was the beatdown he put on Dan Hooker. It was painful to watch Barboza land kick after kick until Hooker couldn’t take it anymore. Though he has faced and beaten many great fighters, Barboza has never won the UFC title.

7. Bas Rutten

Rank: 2nd-degree black belt

Rutten is one of the pioneers of modern MMA who dominated the scene back in the 1990s. He is the former UFC and Pancrase heavyweight champion and one of the very first all-around fighters. The secret behind his success lies in the fact that he was a master of multiple martial arts at a time when the rest were primarily one-dimensional fighters. Although these were the early MMA beginnings, Rutten’s style was advanced even by modern standards.

He started his martial art career in Taekwondo at the age of 14, and he reached a 2nd-degree black belt. But after getting into a couple of street fights, his parents put his martial arts journey on hold for the next few years. Rutten would eventually get back to training in his early 20s, but this time in Kyokushin karate, where he also earned a black belt. His last stop before going into MMA was kickboxing, where he accumulated a record of 14 wins and 2 losses.

What’s impressive about him is that he retired while on a 22-fight winning streak and on top of the game. Shortly after winning the UFC title at UFC 20 against Kevin Randleman, he left the sport to pursue other challenges. He came back 7 years later for one last fight, which he won against Rubel Villareal.

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6. Yair Rodriguez

Rank: black belt

Yair Rodriguez is among the most exciting UFC fighters and a great TKD representative in modern MMA. While most other fighters on this list have all changed and adapted their styles for cage fighting, Rodriguez didn’t. He remained “loyal” to TKD by using TKD techniques as his main weapon in a fight.

And he mastered the art of timing and delivering powerful kicks to absolute perfection. He has, by far, the best kicking skills in the game. What’s amazing about his kicks is the fact that he can throw them from all ranges and angles. Whether it’s a wild wheel kick, jump kick, or spinning kick to the body, Yair can do it all, and he rarely ever misses.

His fighting IQ, speed, flexibility, and spatial awareness are off the charts, and the world has never seen such a dynamic and fluid fighter. In his career, Rodriguez scored many memorable highlight-reel knockouts. But the one that stands out is undoubtedly the beatdown he put on veteran BJ Penn in 2017. This fight showcased the effectiveness of Yair’s TKD kicks in a UFC fight at the expense of BJ suffering a brutal defeat.

5. Rose Namajunas

Rank: black belt

Rose Namajunas is one of, if not THE greatest, UFC female strawweight champions who comes from a strong Taekwondo background.

Growing up in a tough Milwaukee, WI, neighborhood, she witnessed violence from a young age while dealing with her father’s schizophrenia. During this time, Namajunas often got into fights, earning her the nickname “Thug Rose.”

To sublimate all the anger issues, her mother enrolled her in Taekwondo, where she earned a junior black belt rank at the age of 9. She would then switch to karate, where she holds a black belt rank, and BJJ, where she is a brown belt. Considering her background, it’s not surprising that she is probably the most complete female athlete on the UFC roster.

As far as TKD is concerned, Namajunas shines with fast and precise kicks, with her front kick technique being a thing of beauty. In her UFC career, she won the strawweight title twice, and she was the first woman in UFC history to regain the championship after losing it.

4. Valentina Shevchenko

Rank: 2nd-degree black belt and Master of Sports

Shevchenko spent her childhood training in many martial arts, including TKD, in which she enrolled at the age of 5. Her talent, dedication, and skills led her to win multiple World and European championships. But to say that her TKD skills transitioned well into MMA would be an understatement. Inside the cage, she shines with incredible kicking technique, timing, stance switch, power, and prominent finishing instincts. Though she has other skills as well, her TKD defines her style.

Shevchenko made her UFC debut in 2015, and she reached the top in a short period of time. Just three years later, in 2018, she would win the vacant flyweight title and successfully defend it seven times in the next five years. On top of that, she holds multiple records for consecutive wins, knockouts, and takedowns, and she showed dominance in many other aspects of the game.

Over the years, she established herself as one of the most dominant and well-rounded fighters in women’s MMA. She is among the best female MMA fighters in history, according to many fans.

3. Anthony Pettis

Rank: 3rd-degree black belt

Anthony Pettis is a former UFC lightweight champion with a strong TKD background. Apart from being a champion, Pettis is among MMA’s most exciting fighters and best strikers. Most fans primarily know him for his incredible kicking skills, which come from TKD.

Pettis got enrolled in TKD at age five, and by the age of 18, he was already a 3rd degree black belt. At 19, he began his MMA training at Roufusport MMA Academy, eventually becoming a MMA/UFC fighter. He quickly became famous while fighting in the WEC promotion with the famous “showtime kick” he landed against Benson Henderson at WEC 53, which remains one of the most iconic moments in MMA history.

Pettis arrived in the UFC in 2011 as a big prospect. He needed less than two years to win the lightweight title, again by beating Henderson at UFC 164. Throughout his UFC career, he faced and beat numerous top-ranked opponents and was engaged in many memorable battles. Fans loved him because he was always ready to put on a show and was never in a boring match. Whenever Pettis was on a card, you knew you were about to see something spectacular.

2. Benson Henderson

Rank: Black Belt

MMA fans know Benson Henderson as the former UFC and WEC lightweight champion and one of history’s best 155-pound fighters. His mother, who is of Korean descent, decided to enroll him and his brother in TKD so that they could learn more about Korean culture. Benson achieved a TKD black belt after a few years and began wrestling in high school. He went on to become a collegiate wrestler and was twice recognized as an NAIA All-American.

Benson became a pro-MMA fighter in 2006, mainly utilizing his strong TKD background for standup fights and wrestling skills to handle any adversity on the ground. His TKD training gave him flexibility, speed, and accuracy, especially in executing kicks, which he was really good at.

During his prime days, Henderson rarely made any mistakes, miscalculated, or went out of his zone, which is why his nickname is “smooth.” Whether it was grappling or striking, he was good everywhere and comfortable fighting against any style.

1. Anderson Silva

Rank: 5th-degree black belt

Anderson Silva is widely regarded as the greatest UFC fighter of all time. He embarked on his combat sports journey in TKD at a young age. During this time, he also trained in Muay Thai, Capoeira, and Wing Chun. The combination of these striking styles is the reason why Silva was such an unorthodox fighter and so hard to beat. He had too many tricks up his sleeves.

In MMA, he was known as the most dynamic striker. In his prime, this man was untouchable. His unorthodox movement, footwork, timing, accuracy, speed, and combos were laser perfect. It was clear that his fighting style was too advanced for his era, and it took a while for his challengers to catch on.

Silva went on to win 16 fights in a row between 2006 and 2013, winning the UFC title in the process. During this time, he scored 11 finishes and defended his throne 10 times before losing it to Chris Weidman. Despite some setbacks in later years, his impact on the sport remains undeniable.

Professional Fighters League (PFL) has been in the spotlight lately, notably since Francis Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, joined their heavyweight roster. This rise in media attention has increased MMA fans’ curiosity about their unique league format and how it works. Here’s a PFL in a nutshell.

PFL, launched in 2018, is the first major MMA promotion to use a sport-season format where fighters compete in regular-season events to earn points. After the regular season, fighters with the most points compete in the playoffs, where the final two winners face off in the championship.

There you have a quick summary of how PFL MMA promotions work, but keep reading on for a complete guide to understanding PFL MMA.

History of PFL

PFL actually arose from the World Series of Fighting (WSOF) promotion. It all started when McLean, Virginia investors, acquired the WSOF promotion in 2017. WSOF had a TV deal with NBC Sports Network, and its events were broadcasted worldwide.

They hosted events in Canada, Japan, China, and of course, the US. Shortly after the acquisition, they re-branded the business to the “Professional Fighters League (PFL).” And the inaugural event took place in 2018, and they introduced the league model the same year.

Throughout the next few years, PFL primarily focused on finding new investors, putting the system together, getting through COVID restrictions, and boosting their funding. Apart from investment groups such as Ares Capital, celebrities like Marshawn Lynch and Wiz Khalifa also joined PFL as partners, with Lynch getting into the ownership group while Khalifa became an advisor.

The promotion also invested a lot in marketing. They did a good job of following the trends and using strategies to penetrate the market. But above all, they wanted to differentiate their product from other similar ones.

In 2020, PFL became the first sports league to launch a non-fungible token (NFT). Next, it partnered with DraftKings, that, apart from being an official sportsbook partner, also sponsors the pre-fight shows. Next, the “SmartCage” concept relies on real-time data technology, and it is the first of its kind in MMA.

Viewers can enjoy real-time data such as the speed of the strikes, heart rate, and other information. PFL also partnered with the game publisher “Rival Games” to create a gaming community before landing a deal with “millions.co” to promote group streaming of the events.

The “Super Fight” division was created in 2023 and will be aired on pay-per-view. The biggest news, however, is that fighters competing in the “Super Fight” division will receive 50% of the pay-per-view (PPV) revenue, significantly more than what other MMA organizations offer.

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PFL Fighting Rules

Each PFL season includes 72 fighters who compete in 5 weight classes for men and one for women. First, they compete in the regular season, then the post-season, and final championship, where a weight class winner wins a $1 million prize.

• Ruleset: Unified Rules of MMA. The only major difference is the prohibition of elbow strikes. 
• Fighting area: the matches take place in a 10-sided cage called the “SmartCage” because of its technological features.
• Match duration: Each match in the regular and playoffs has 3–3 minute rounds, while the championship is 5–5 minute rounds. 
• Weight classes: heavyweight (limit up to 265 lb), light heavyweight (limit up to 205 lb), welterweight (limit up to 170 lb), lightweight (limit up to 155 lb), featherweight (limit up to 145 lb). Women compete only in the lightweight (limit up to 155 lb) division.

What Is the Season Format of the PFL?

Regular season—includes between six and seven events where 72 fighters compete two times each. The regular season follows a point-based scoring system in which fighters receive points for every win, knockout, and submission.

The winner of the match is awarded 3 points, whether it’s a decision or a finish. On top of that, fighters receive 3 bonus points if they finish the match in round 1, 2 points in round 2, or 1 point in round 3. If the match ends in a draw, both fighters receive 1 point. At the end of the regular season, 4 fighters with the most points in their weight class advance to the playoffs.

Post-season (playoffs)—is where the four best fighters in each weight class compete in an elimination format. The playoffs usually consist of three events. A fighter with the most points is ranked #1, and they fight against the #4-ranked fighter in their division. This means that a #2-ranked fighter will fight a #3-ranked fighter in a three-round match. The winners of these two matchups advance to the championship.

Championship — is the season final where the two best fighters in each weight class compete against each other in a five-round fight. The season winner receives a $1 million prize.

The Key Difference between PFL and UFC

The key difference is the event format. PFL is a league where fighters compete multiple times in a sport-season format, while UFC organizes conventional single events. These two promotions might also visually look the same at first glance. However, there are also many differences; the following is a detailed explanation.

Event format

PFL season is very structured. First, fighters compete in a regular season against opponents in their weight class. PFL employs a point system rather than a ranking system for fighters to advance to the playoff events. For example, after two regular season fights, the athletes with the most points advance to the semi-finals and later the finals. Each event is organized separately, meaning that fighters only compete once in each event.

UFC is different because it includes a ranking system. To climb the rankings, fighters who join the UFC roster must win one fight at a time. Their goal is to enter the official top 15 rankings, earn a title shot, and win the world title. How quickly a fighter is going to rise is based on many factors. The most important ones are the record, finishing rate, and popularity. Back in the 90s, the UFC used to be a tournament, but this is no longer the case.

Legal/Illegal strikes

Both the UFC and PFL have adopted the Unified Rules of MMA. This means that the majority of the rules are the same across both promotions. However, PFL slightly differs as it prohibits elbow strikes to the head and body. This is not new, as other promotions in the past, such as the Japanese PRIDE FC, also didn’t allow elbows.

Elbow strikes are no more dangerous than punches and kicks. However, elbows can easily tear the skin off and cause deep cuts and severe bleeding. These bad cuts often result in premature doctor stoppages. Even if a fighter was winning before the doctor stoppage, bad cuts can force doctors to end a fight early, which can have an impact on the outcome and future careers of the fighters.

Strength of the roster

The UFC roster is much stronger and deeper, as there are more than 700 fighters under contract. Plus, the UFC is regarded as the absolute leader in the industry and is home to the best fighters in the world. Every MMA athlete begins their journey with the dream of winning the UFC title because that means you are a legitimate world champion.

At some point, the majority of talented fighters end up signing with the UFC because they want to test themselves against the toughest opponent. Each of the 12 weight classes has around 50 fighters, much more than PFL.

In contrast, each PFL weight class has 12 fighters. So in total, there are 72 fighters across six divisions and another 12 in the female weight class. PFL fighters are also very talented. However, their roster primarily involves:

• Up-and-coming potentials.
• MMA veterans.
• Former UFC fighters that have passed their prime.

The only major exception is Francis Ngannou, who end up signing with PFL at the peak of his fame.

Cage

UFC fighters compete in an 8-sided steel cage called an “Octagon.” In modern days, the promotion uses two different variations. The original octagon is 30ft (9.1 m) in diameter, has 746 square feet of fighting space, 6 feet-high fence, and is primarily used for big PPV events. The smaller version is 25ft (7.62 m) in diameter with 518 ft of fighting area. It is used for low-profile shows such as “Fight Nights,” hosted in the UFC apex center.

PFL fighters compete in a 10-sided cage. In 2019, a partnership was formed with an SMT company to provide real-time data to viewers. Biometric sensors were installed around the cage to measure various data such as the speed of kicks and punches, heart rate tracking, energy exerted, and more.

Former UFC Fighters Who Joined the PFL

Following is a list of notable UFC fighters who left the UFC to sign with PFL.

Anthony Pettis

Pettis is among the most exciting fighters in MMA history. He is the former UFC lightweight champion and global superstar. After fighting under the UFC banner for nine years and completing his last contract, he decided to move to PFL and try to win a $1 million prize. Although he failed to mimic the same success, Pettis is still a big draw. PFL gained many new fans thanks to his presence.

Marlon Moraes

After losing a bantamweight title fight to Henry Cejudo in 2019, Moraes’s UFC career took a steep dive, and he never recovered from it. He suffered four hard losses in a row and decided to leave the UFC for good. Just as everyone thought he would retire, the news came out that he was signing with PFL. But unfortunately, Moraes would suffer another two back-to-back losses in his first two appearances.

Shane Burgos

Burgos joined the PFL at the peak of his prime. After fighting for the UFC for 6 years, where he put together a record of 8-3, Burgos completed his contract and decided to test free agency. At the time, he was on a two-fight winning streak, and everyone was surprised to see that the UFC let him go, especially considering that he was among the most exciting featherweights. Even Dana White himself stated that letting Burgos go was a big mistake on their part.

Francis Ngannou

Despite nearly two years of negotiations, the UFC and their heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou, could not agree on a new contract. The champion became a free agent, and after months of silence, the news finally broke that Ngannou was joining the PFL roster. It was the first case in MMA history that an active UFC champion was moving over to rival organizations. After Burgos, Ngannou was the second high-profile UFC fighter to sign with PFL.

How Many Times Do PFL Fighters Compete In a Season?

PFL fighters compete a minimum of 2 times in a season, or 4 times if they reach the finals. So the correct answer is based on their performance. During the regular season, all fighters from all weight classes compete two times. If they do well and advance to the semi-finals, or “playoffs,” they fight one more time before the finals.

Bear in mind that each part of the season includes multiple events. The regular season has between six and seven events, and the playoffs have three and the final (championships). Unlike in the early days of MMA, fighters are no longer competing multiple times in a single night.

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Do PFL Athletes Get Tested for PEDs?

On May 9, 2023, PFL MMA announced that it had taken action and partnered with USADA to implement strict drug testing procedures for its fighters, mirroring the UFC’s drug testing procedures.

This comes in light of a PED scandal that has implicated some of its fighters. The PFL has made necessary changes to its PED testing procedures to ensure the safety and integrity of its athletes.