LAS VEGAS – Rob Hewitt, Fighters Only Founder and CEO, is pleased to announce that the 17th Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards will take place on Wednesday, July 8, live from SAHARA Theatre at SAHARA Las Vegas and will be streamed live globally for the first time, exclusively on Rumble.
Returning to its Pre-Pandemic schedule by coinciding with the UFC 329 annual International Fight Week 2026 celebration, the 17th Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards highlights the outstanding performances and accomplishments in MMA during the 12-month period between July 2024 and June 2025. However, additional recognitions will be featured to also spotlight the top performances for the remainder of 2025, allowing the Fighters Only World MMA Awards to return to a true annual format for the first time since 2018.
Celebrities, industry executives, personalities, and a who's who of fighters will take to the red carpet once again to celebrate the achievements from the stars of Mixed Martial Arts in this exclusive event, where the winners, as decided by fans around the world, will take home a coveted World MMA Award.
"Im happy to finally be able to release the details of the 17th Annual Fighters Only World MMA Awards" Hewitt said. "It been easy to keep quiet over the past several months as we constructed a plan to address one of the most frequent requests we received, which was to switch our voting periods back to a true calendar year for the first time since the pandemic forced an adjusted approach for 2019 and 2020. We realize the July-to-June voting period was at times confusing for fans and are excited to switch back to the format we held for the first 11 Fighters Only World MMA Awards.
"We're also excited to return to SAHARA Las Vegas, which hosted two previous editions of the Awards and remains an iconic property on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip in the heart of the Fight Capital of the World.
"The final piece of the puzzle was securing a new, bigger and more beneficial live stream partnership with a major platform. Our new exclusive streaming partnership with Rumble will allow more fans from around the world access to watch the whole event live and gain VIP backstage passes to witness all the behind-the-scenes action and emotions as they happen.
"I say it every year that the next will be bigger than the last and the 17th Annual World MMA Awards will be no exception!
"This ceremony has been a long time coming, and we're thrilled to once again be issuing the most prestigious award in our sport and welcoming our nominees, special guests, industry peers, and VIPs back for a night of celebrating the greatest athletes and sport in the World."
Ticketing information for this year's awards will be revealed in the coming weeks, along with complete details and additional exciting announcements. In the meantime, fans can see a full detail of this year’s awards at WorldMMAAwards.com.
ABOUT FIGHTERS ONLY
Fighters Only Magazine was the world's first Mixed Martial Arts and lifestyle magazine, having launched in the U.K. in 2005. By 2008, the publication was on sale in 33 countries worldwide. A dedicated U.S. edition was launched in February 2007 featuring content for the largest market in the world, followed by Canadian, German, Mexican and South African editions.
Fighters Only content is now accessible via the Fighters Only app. Digital versions of the complete Fighters Only back catalogue as well as new monthly editions of the magazine can accessed via iOS and Android devices on iTunes and Google Play, as well as via its website at FightersOnly.com. The proprietary technology IP behind the Fighters Only app is wholly owned by Fighters Only parent company i2media Ltd. It has the capability to speak to each of the 1 billion MMA fans around the world in their own language, sharing an unparalleled library of content depicting the history of the sport.
The company launched the Fighters Only World MMA Awards in 2008 to celebrate the achievements of everyone within the global sport of Mixed Martial Arts and has since established itself as the premier industry awards annual event. Each year, an industry panel of experts selects nominees across more than 20 different categories. Once nominees are announced, fans inherit the power to determine the winner by voting for nominees through the official Awards website, WorldMMAAwards.com, using their mobile devices, smart phones, or personal computers. The most anticipated awards include "Fighter of
the Year", "Knockout of the Year", and "Fight of the Year"; Awards are presented to recipients during a highly prestigious live gala event attended by a who's who of athletes, fighters, celebrities and other famous personalities in sports and entertainment.
About Rumble
Rumble is a Freedom-First Technology Platform™ with a mission to protect a free and open internet. The platform spans cloud, AI, and digital media, including its namesake video service, and is built on a foundation of customer independence and free speech. For more information, visit corp.rumble.com.
ABOUT SAHARA LAS VEGAS
SAHARA Las Vegas is an all-encompassing resort and casino with 1,613 guest rooms and suites in three distinctive towers, more than 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, The Pool and a collection of acclaimed restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. The 60,000-square-foot casino features elegant designs and a newly expanded slot floor with approximately 30 of the latest slot machines from the world’s top gaming content creators, bringing the total to more than 650 machines. The casino features more than 30 classic table games, the Infinity High Limit Lounge and a sports book operated by global gaming leader William Hill. An impressive selection of culinary and cocktail offerings includes Maroon, a Caribbean Steakhouse by James Beard Award-winning chef Kwame Onwuachi (arriving spring 2026); Balla Italian Soul by James Beard Award-winning chef Shawn McClain; famed Philadelphia sports bar Chickie’s & Pete’s; The Noodle Den; CASBAR Lounge; Uno Más; Prendi; The Tangier; and Zeffer’s Café.
SAHARA Las Vegas is also proud to serve as home to MAGIC MIKE LIVE Las Vegas presented by Channing Tatum. SAHARA Las Vegas players can also enjoy the perks of an Infinity Rewards membership, a joint loyalty program between SAHARA and its sister property Grand Sierra Resort and Casino Reno, which gives players the opportunity to earn and redeem rewards across both destinations. SAHARA Las Vegas is a minority-owned business certified by the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council.
For more information, please visit saharalasvegas.com and stay connected on Instagram, Facebook and
