The past year in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has been packed with jaw-dropping fights, record-breaking gates, and massive pay-per-view (PPV) numbers, dominated by the UFC. From Alex Pereira’s knockout spree to Dricus Du Plessis’ grudge match Down Under, here are the top 5 biggest MMA events from March 14, 2024, to March 14, 2025, ranked by PPV buys, gate revenue, attendance, and general impact. Some beleive the product hasn’t been at its best recently. We’ll let you decide.
1. UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill – April 13, 2024
- Main Event: Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill (Light Heavyweight Title)
- Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Key Stats: $16.5 million gate, 20,067 attendees, estimated 1 million+ PPV buys
- Why It’s #1: UFC 300 was a historic milestone, boasting a stacked card with Pereira’s second-round KO to defend his title and Max Holloway’s BMF title win over Justin Gaethje. With a $16.5 million gate, it’s one of the highest-grossing UFC events ever, making it the biggest MMA event of 2024.
2. UFC 303: Pereira vs. Procházka 2 – June 29, 2024
- Main Event: Alex Pereira vs. Jiří Procházka (Light Heavyweight Title)
- Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Key Stats: $15.9 million gate, 19,858 attendees, estimated 800K-1M PPV buys
- Why It’s Huge: Originally hyped for Conor McGregor’s return, UFC 303 pivoted to Pereira’s stunning second-round KO of Procházka after McGregor pulled out. The last-minute drama and Pereira’s star power kept it among the top MMA fights of 2024.
3. UFC 306: O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili – September 14, 2024
- Main Event: Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili (Bantamweight Title)
- Location: The Sphere, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Key Stats: $22.1 million gate, 16,024 attendees, estimated 700K-900K PPV buys
- Why It Stands Out: Dubbed “Noche UFC,” this event was the first sporting spectacle at The Sphere. Dvalishvili’s upset decision over O’Malley, paired with a $22.1 million gate (third-highest in UFC history), made it a groundbreaking moment in MMA.
4. UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Moicano – January 18, 2025
- Main Event: Islam Makhachev vs. Renato Moicano (Lightweight Title)
- Location: Intuit Dome, Los Angeles, California
- Key Stats: Estimated $10M+ gate, ~18,000 attendees, 600K-800K PPV buys (projected)
- Why It’s Notable: Kicking off 2025, Makhachev defended his lightweight title against short-notice challenger Moicano after Arman Tsarukyan’s injury. Early reports suggest strong turnout and buzz, placing it among the biggest MMA events of the year.
5. UFC 312: Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 – February 8, 2025
- Main Event: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland (Middleweight Title Rematch)
- Location: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia
- Key Stats: Estimated $8-10M gate, ~15,000 attendees, 500K-700K PPV buys (projected)
- Why It’s Big: This heated rematch saw Du Plessis stop Strickland with a fourth-round TKO, breaking his nose in front of a roaring Aussie crowd. The rivalry and stakes made it a top UFC fight of 2025.
What do you think? Has the standards and quality of the UFC dropped in recent times?
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