On the final day of the ESPN era, we look back on the milestones and the athletes that defined the UFC’s time on the network.
The UFC aired their first event on ESPN (well, ESPN+ to be specific) on January 19, 2019 and in doing so ushered in an era that has seen the combat sports powerhouse grow into the juggernaut that it is today. If the transition from SpikeTV to the FOX network was the sign of the band taking off into the big time then one could say the growth from FOX to ESPN saw the UFC become a full pop-culture mainstay.
Were there plenty of events that drew incredible numbers? Of course. Conor McGregor, the biggest superstar in the sport, delivered huge numbers in fights with Donald Cerrone and Dustin Poirier (twice). Other megastars such as his rival Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jon Jones, Max Holloway, and more all headlined their own events that delivered for the network.
But the ESPN era was a lot more than big fights. It was an unquestionable ascension into the public acceptance that the sport of MMA was on par with the major sports of the world. UFC CEO Dana White and plenty of the personalities of the promotion would go on to appear frequently on ESPN programming such as First Take and later the Pat McAfee show just like the stars of the NFL, NBA, and more. For major pay-per-views, the biggest stars of the network like Stephen A. Smith would appear on pre and post-fight programming on a Saturday night in moves that signaled to all that the UFC event was the biggest event to be at in the sports world.
Along the way, the sport saw the transition into a new era of stars that led the way. Few made an impact or defined the era quite like Israel Adesanya. “The Last Stylebender” took the middleweight division by storm and in 2019 claimed the undisputed title in stunning fashion. He went on to become one of the most famous athletes in the sport behind his outspoken personality and dominance as he reeled off five title defenses. In his wake, more stars emerged such as the brilliant Alexander Volkanovski, the now beloved Charles Oliveira, Francis Ngannou, Kamaru Usman, Amanda Nunes, and more blossomed into the faces of the organization. Further, the teammates of the aforementioned Khabib Nurmagomedov followed in his footsteps to become bonafide contenders in their own right. From his childhood friend Islam Makhachev who won belts in two divisions to his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov who is an elite talent in his own right, the dynasty of the Dagestani grapplers truly took shape in the ESPN era.
Perhaps no year was more impactful to the growth of the UFC and the sport of MMA as a whole than 2020. As the global pandemic affected the world, the UFC was uniquely poised. Just small enough to operate with strict regulation and with their recently built Apex facility completed, White made the UFC one of the few sports or entertainment entities to continue production in the early days of the pandemic. The result: a growth in the attention of MMA unlike any other. In the absence of other sporting programming and soon any sort of new programming, the UFC became one of the few new things to watch on television.
It led to some of the most unique scenes ever witnessed in MMA. Fighters competed in front of empty venues in Brazil and Jacksonville, Florida with championships on the line. The empty UFC Apex soon became the most frequently visited destination. It also set the stage for the biggest cultural event the sport had ever seen: Fight Island. Fans heard the name and immediately imagined a private oasis with MMA that would resemble something out of Blood Sport or Enter the Dragon. By the time that cameras reached the cordoned off beach in Abu Dhabi, the fantasies of the fan base had already built up the anticipation to a fever pitch in what became one of the most watched UFC events ever.
The ESPN era saw historic achievements by the athletes. Seven champions went on to capture a title in a second weight class. That brings the grand total of UFC fighters who have become two-division champions to 11 going into the next era.
The UFC hit more milestones for themselves as well in this period. They continue to break records in various venues around the world for gate revenue in a testament to the strength of the brand today. They reached their third centennial and had another seminal night in UFC 300, an event that featured some of their biggest stars of the era in Alex Pereira, Max Holloway, and more.
They also debuted the Mexican Independence Day event: Noche UFC. The second event became the most ambitious UFC broadcast to date. Taking place in the recently built Sphere in Las Vegas, Dana White teased the undertaking for nearly a year before the historic broadcast. Utilizing the full capabilities of the venue, the UFC delivered a one of a kind event that earned the promotion several Emmy nominations (and victories) for the now historic show.
Today, the UFC brand has never been bigger. Where once they fought to be acknowledged as a true sport, the promotion has now become a full enterprise. It’s parent company, TKO, owns not only the UFC but also the WWE and now is in the business of boxing. Does the promotion gain the credibility for such growth without ESPN? Perhaps it would have, but it can’t be understated how much easier it was being on the worldwide leader.
If everything is meant to happen in the right time, then the move to a streamer that is committed to making the UFC more accessible in 2026 is the best way for it to grow in the next era. But at a time when the UFC sought to shatter the containment it was in before, the move to a network respected around the world was the one needed for the previous era.
