Issue 211
November 2024
Kyle Dimond delves into the global evolution of MMA, where flags collide, and the fight knows no borders.
The MMA talent pool looks more like an Olympic swimming event - flags flying, fighters splashing, and everyone trying to outswim the sharks. The Stars and Stripes still packs a punch, but these days, it’s rarely an all-American showdown in the Octagon. Just glance at the countries in the UFC’s 2024 PPV headliners to see the cross-country spec: America vs. South Africa, Australia vs. Spain, and America vs. Ecuador. It’s a global roll call that makes the United Nations look underrepresented, and the lifeguard at the talent pool? Long gone, leaving the gates wide open for any country to dive in, but which side of the longitudinal lines will emerge as streamlined for victory, and who will need a lifejacket?
AMERICA VERSUS THE WORLD
In the early days, fewer nations were represented. Initially, it was all USA, Japan, and Brazil, with the occasional Russian. Brazilian fighters have always had a lifetime subscription plan, inspiring multiple generations, with Alexandre Pantoja and Alex Pereira being the carnival kings in the nation’s parade of champions.
With past champs like Aldo and Oliveira, it’s been jiu-jitsu vs American wrestling in a boa constrictor linebacker dynamic. Brazilian fans may not chant their country’s name but will proudly shout, ‘uh vai morrer,’ which translates to ‘You're gonna die.’ These parallels between Brazil and America made them perfect rivals, countering takedowns with submissions and patriotism with intensity. The light heavyweight division was its flagship weight class. It wasn’t until 2020 that a non-American or Brazilian fighter held this belt in the form of Jan Błachowicz. That said, you could argue this is partly due to Jon Jones’s era of dominance at 205 pounds. Before Jones’ 2011 title win, 3 of the 10 champions at light heavyweight were Brazilian (Belfort, Machida, Rua), and the rest were American because if there’s a fight, Uncle Sam’s RSVP is always ‘yes.’ Since Jones vacated the title in 2020, only one of the five champions has been American (Jamahal Hill). Two warring factions dominated the division until Jones ran through all of the old guard. Now, the top 10 at light heavyweight features just two Americans, the former champion Jamahal Hill and the latest title challenger, Khalil Rountree Jr. North and South America are still incredibly present. They’re just not always playing the lead roles in every UFC big-screen blockbuster.
THE RUSSIAN WAVE OF DOMINANCE
The East has always been MMA’s sleeping giant, and a wave of momentum made it seem like Russia may turn the Octagon into a matryoshka doll with layers of champions in every weight class. American wrestling was arguably the most dominant for a long time because athletes would compete from a young age. In 2024, more than 350,000 active high school wrestlers were in the US. Matching that experience was impossible for foreign fighters. However, the Russians were the exception that turned the rule into a mere suggestion. This head-to-head nature has defined the East versus West dynamic. Strikers now had a smothering style to battle, and even the wrestlers couldn’t solve this puzzle led by Khabib Nurmagomedov, who had wrestled since being old enough to walk. With few distractions or paths to a better life, success was the only option.
Following Khabib was a wave of Russian fighters that all emerged as dangerous threats. It wasn’t just grapplers like Islam Makhachev or Askar Askarov. Fighters like Petr Yan, Magomed Ankalaev, and Zabit Magomedsharipov proved they were as impossible to predict as their names are for a Western tongue to pronounce.
RUSSIAN POWER
Khabib paved the yellow brick road, and his compatriots brought the brain, heart, and courage. The six fighters listed above have an overall record inside the Octagon of 58-7, with two draws and one no-contest. Khabib, Islam and Yan became champions. Ankalaev’s long-awaited title shot is just around the corner, and many believe that Askarov and Zabit would have won UFC gold if they chose to stay active in the UFC. Glaring absentees from that list are fighters like undefeated featherweight Movsar Evloev and half the athletes competing for a PFL world championship who fly the Russian flag. Scratch off the Star-Spangled Banner’s dominance because it was a red flag when you saw a particular style of facial hair or a surname that ended in ‘ov’ or ‘ev.’ Before the Russians, fight fans had been living in a Rocky trilogy. When Ivan Drago came in Rocky 4, he was the end-game boss. Who in the world was there to stop these ferocious grapplers? Nobody. In contrast to the PPV headliners we’ve already had in 2024, 2025’s title fights will leave Russians salivating more than Putin at an all-you-can-annex buffet. Georgia vs Russia at bantamweight. Russia vs Armenia at lightweight. South Africa vs Russia at middleweight. It’s an exhaustive club that’s broadened from exclusive to free entry with a plus one.
The one top trump that the West may still have over the East is the number of large-scale events. Though the UFC doesn’t disclose its PPV buy rates, it makes sense that events in the East at a less-than-ideal time for the biggest PPV market aren’t going to perform as well. This will change if and when the promotion has more stars that generate huge interest in the East and are also big enough draws to force Western fans to fire up their devices at unsociable hours. When Islam Makhachev makes the walk in Abu Dhabi, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a bowl, cereal, or a midnight snack accompanying the pound-for-pound number one.
A CHALLENGER APPROACHES
It only takes one or two fighters to put a region on the map—and maybe a few bloodied opponents on the canvas. Mexico and England are having their octagon glow-ups, while France basks in its own MMA renaissance. For Spain, Georgia, and South Africa, 2024 was when they carved their names into the Octagon’s history book. There’s a big difference between being a pro fighter in your country and bringing the belt back to the shores as the best in the world. Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili is influential to anyone, not just the Georgian people, because his rise results from dedication and persistence.
The bantamweight champion lost his first two fights inside the Octagon, then won eleven in a row. It has been a grueling test that many would have crumbled in before reaching the final bell. Merab didn’t just climb the ladder to the top - he built it himself, one fight at a time to prove persistence beats perfection every time.
ECONOMIC RICHES
Bring the fighter, and you’ll bring the crowds and live events. Dricus Du Plessis and Ilia Topuria could make history by bringing the UFC to their countries for the first time. With a staggering 5.8 million followers on Instagram, Ilia Topuria is already a Spanish superstar. That’s more than Alex Pereira, Sean O’Malley, and his latest opponent, Max Holloway, who have all had big years in 2024. Whether you’re training in South Africa or Spain, greatness in the frame of the East Vs West dynamic doesn’t need a fancy gym - just heart, grit, and maybe a few punching bags that double as your uncle’s old mattress.
“A lot is going on in Italy at the moment, but it’s still very much in the building phase, says explains MMA analyst and commentator Brad Wharton. “France and Germany have yet to peak, too. Traditionally, in mainland Europe, MMA has been slower to take root in countries with a strong football presence than in those without. If the culture is to watch football on a Saturday, how do you compete with that? There’s always been a great MMA scene in places like Poland or Russia, whereas in Spain and France, it has never really stuck at a mainstream level. Guys like Cédric Doumbé, Topuria, and Morgan Charriere are changing things.”
That change is infectious. Africa went from undercard to main event status, thanks to Francis Ngannou, Israel Adesanya, and Kamaru Usman putting the continent on the map with knockout precision. The parade and reception that Oumar ‘Reug Reug’ Kane received on his return to Senegal after winning the heavyweight title in the ONE Championship is a recent example of the excitement and pride that African athletes can inspire.
WHO IS NEXT?
Guessing the following country to throw its hat in the MMA ring is like predicting which cousin will ruin Christmas dinner - it’s anyone’s game. Nations like America, Brazil, and Russia will always feature heavily, but the rest of the world is creeping up faster than a dicey decision on a scorecard. Take the country that started it all: Japan. Japanese MMA, being represented at the highest level, is still rebuilding. If Kai Asakura snags the UFC flyweight belt on his debut at UFC 310, it could be the ultimate plot twist - bringing the sport back to its spiritual home like a perfectly timed KO in the last second. It won’t be long before you can throw a blind dart at a world map and identify an up-and-coming fighter, coach, gym, promotion, or world champion who calls that country home. MMA is no longer just a clash of styles—it’s a clash of cultures, continents, and dreams where the only passport you need is a killer right hook.
