UFC Fight Pass

Last updated
UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Pass Logo.svg
Broadcast areaMost countries worldwide, except for Hispanic America. [1]
Headquarters Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Programming
Language(s) English
Picture format 1080p, 4K for UFC 200 [2]
Ownership
Owner TKO Group Holdings (Endeavor)
History
LaunchedDecember 28, 2013 (2013-12-28)
Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and United States [3]
March 6, 2014 (2014-03-06)
More than 200 countries and territories. [4]
Links
Website www.ufcfightpass.com

UFC Fight Pass is an American subscription-based video streaming service owned by the UFC's parent company, TKO Group Holdings, that launched in December 2013.

Contents

History

Fight Pass showcases live and on-demand mixed martial arts, submission grappling, kickboxing, boxing and Thai boxing events. In addition to UFC events (with their flagship pay-per-view events appearing on the service around a month after their initial broadcasts), Fight Pass also includes content from the libraries of PRIDE FC, World Extreme Cagefighting, Strikeforce, Affliction Entertainment, World Fighting Alliance, EliteXC, King of the Cage, Pancrase, Cage Warriors, Shooto and UCMMA. [5]

In September 2014, Invicta FC began live-streaming events on Fight Pass. [6] In February 2016, it was announced Fight Pass would begin streaming kickboxing promotions Glory and K-1, and the Eddie Bravo Invitational submission grappling tournaments. [7]

On December 5, 2019, UFC announced an upgrade which included 1080p video, improved search and multi view for desktop. [8] UFC president Dana White said "The redesigned Fight Pass offers upgrades like 1080p video, multi-view for desktop, improved search, and coming early next year, ‘Downloads to Go,’ so you can watch Fight Pass content without an internet connection. Add in the world's largest fight library with 17,000 fights, every UFC fight ever, and over 1,000 hours of live combat sports, and Fight Pass continues to be a must-have streaming service for combat sports fans". [9] Content included alongside live events and the fight library includes shows such as The Ultimate Fighter, Unleashed, Dana White's Contender Series, Unfiltered, Connected and the popular long running show UFC Now. [10]

On July 22, 2020, it was announced that UFC had rolled out their Fight Pass service in Japan. [11] Kevin Chang, senior vice president for UFC Asia said "Japan is a pioneer in the sport of MMA, with a fan base that is knowledgeable, sophisticated, and always hungry for more". The promotion had also introduced the service to other major territories in Asia, including China and India. [12]

As of February 2021, Invicta FC was pulled from Fight Pass. [13] [14] As many broadcasters have chosen with the current decline of traditional TV [15] Invicta opted to go down the Fight Network route where their events will now broadcast live in the United States and Canada [16] similar to the WWE Network model where full live events is part of a subscription base price. [17] [18] [19]

Although media subscription services tend to experience significant churn,[ citation needed ] UFC Fight Pass is believed to have approximately 250,000 subscribers globally, as of 2017. [20] In 2020, it was noted that the service has continued to grow 28% year to date. General manager Crowley Sullivan said, "Even without live events for two months, UFC Fight Pass subscriptions are up 28% year-to-date and 23% year-over-year". [21]

In June 2022, JCK MMA signed a multi-event agreement with Fight Pass. [22]

In August 2022, it was confirmed that UFC Fight Pass will be released in Brazil in 2023 after the UFC rights with Grupo Globo will expire on the same year. [23] [24] UFC Fight Pass was officially released in Brazil on January 1, 2023. [25]

In 2023, the ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship signed an exclusive multi-year streaming deal with UFC Fight Pass, leaving their previous broadcaster FloSports. [26] That deal fell apart just four months later, and ADCC left UFC Fight Pass. [27]

On June 16, 2023, Submission Hunter Pro signed an exclusive contract with UFC Fight Pass to stream all of their events for the foreseeable future.

Professional grappling events

UFC Fight Pass Invitational 1

On December 16, 2021 UFC Fight Pass produced its first in-house event; UFC Fight Pass Invitational. The event saw four teams of four men compete in grappling matches, including Davi Ramos, James Krause, and Rafael Lovato Jr. The tournament was won by the team representing Legacy Fighting Alliance. [28]

UFC Fight Pass Invitational 2

The second UFC Fight Pass Invitational event took place on July 3, 2022 and featured a number of returning competitors along with debutants in another team tournament. [29] This tournament was won by the team representing Anthony Pettis Fighting Championships. [30]

UFC Fight Pass Invitational 3

The third UFC Fight Pass Invitational event took place on December 15, 2022 and saw a slight change in format. This event featured an eight-man absolute tournament instead, featuring top grapplers like Nick Rodriguez, Mason Fowler, and Patrick Gaudio. [31] The main event was scheduled to be a superfight between Gordon Ryan and Vinny Magalhães, [32] but Magalhaes withdrew from the match days before the event and was replaced with Nick Rodriguez. [33]

Mason Fowler won the absolute tournament and Gordon Ryan won the superfight. [34]

UFC Fight Pass Invitational 4

Dana White announced that the fourth UFC Fight Pass Invitational was scheduled to take place on June 29, 2023 and would be headlined by Craig Jones v Felipe Pena with Glover Teixeira v Anthony Smith serving as the co-main event. [35] Nicholas Meregali and Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu were booked to compete against one another on the main card, [36] while two-time NCAA champion Roman Bravo-Young was set to make his BJJ debut against UFC flyweight Alex Perez, [37] and Helena Crevar was booked against Emily Fernandez. [38] There was also an eight-man absolute tournament with a $30,000 grand prize, featuring Nick Rodriguez, Vagner Rocha, and Haisam Rida among others. [39]

Crevar, Jones, Meregali, and Teixeira all won their respective matches. Nick Rodriguez won the absolute tournament, while Roman Bravo-Young and Alex Perez fought to a draw. [40]

UFC Fight Pass Invitational 5

Georges St-Pierre was booked to make his return to professional grappling at this event on December 14, 2023. [41] It was later confirmed that his opponent was supposed to be Nick Diaz, but the match was postponed when both men were injured prior. [42] The main event was later announced as Gordon Ryan vs. Mason Fowler, and the co-main event was announced as Nicholas Meregali vs. Felipe Pena. [43] Nick Rodriguez vs. Yuri Simoes took place on the main card, [44] as did Dan Manasoiu vs. Victor Hugo, [45] Nicky Ryan vs. Jonnatas Gracie, [46] and Luiza Monteiro vs. Elisabeth Clay. [47] Gordon Ryan withdrew from the event on short notice and was replaced with Haisam Rida, [48] which resulted in Meregali vs. Pena being promoted to main event status. [49] Meregali, Rodriguez, Fowler, Gracie, Hugo, and Clay all won their respective matches. [50]

UFC Fight Pass Invitational 6

UFC Fight Pass Invitational 6 took place on March 2, 2024 with Craig Jones vs Rafael Lovato Jr. as the main event and Nick Rodriguez v Roberto Jimenez as the co-main event. [51] Nicholas Meregali vs. Matheus Diniz was also later added to the card. [52] Jones, Rodriguez, and Meregali all won their respective matches. [53]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vagner Rocha</span> Brazilian mixed martial artist

Vagner Rocha is a Brazilian-American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and former professional mixed martial artist, who competed in the lightweight division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyborg Abreu</span> Brazilian martial artist

Roberto de Abreu Filho is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) competitor, academy owner and instructor. A 7-time World No-Gi Champion, Abreu is known for his trademark Tornado Guard position which involves inverting underneath the opponent and elevating them into a sweep.

Rafael Lovato Jr. is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor and undefeated former mixed martial artist. At the time of his original retirement, he was the Bellator MMA Middleweight World Champion and was ranked the no. 4 middleweight fighter in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship</span> Grappling competitions

The ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship is an international submission grappling competition, organised by the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC). The inaugural tournament was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE in 1998. It has been held every two years since 2001, except in 2021 due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Host countries have included Brazil, China, Finland, Spain, the UK, and the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mackenzie Dern</span> American mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner

Mackenzie Dern is a Brazilian and American professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. She is a former world No. 1 ranked IBJJF competitor, currently ranked 6th among the female divisions. She is an ADCC and no gi BJJ World Champion. As of April 9, 2024, she is #7 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Ryan</span> American martial artist (born 1995)

Gordon Ryan is an American submission wrestler and first-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, considered by many to be the greatest no–gi grappler of all time due to his accomplishments and dominance. Ryan is a five–time ADCC Submission wrestling world champion, two-time IBJJF No-Gi World champion and a four-time Eddie Bravo Invitational champion.

Felipe Carsalade Araujo Pena is a Brazilian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and ADCC world champion.

Nicholas Meregali is a Brazilian submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt competitor. A multiple time world, Pan, European and Brazilian champion at colored belts, Meregali is a 3x IBJJF black belt World Champion and a 2x ADCC World medallist.

John Danaher is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts instructor and coach from New Zealand. He is widely regarded as one of the best instructors and coaches in these sports.

Yuri Simões is a Brazilian grappler, BJJ practitioner and mixed martial artist who has competed in the ONE Championship. He is a three time ADCC World Champion in three different weight divisions.

Nicholas "Nick" Rodriguez, commonly known as Nicky Rod is an American professional submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) athlete.

Stephanie Egger is a Swiss female mixed martial artist who competed in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 ADCC World Championship</span> Submission wrestling event held in 2022

The 2022 ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship was an international submission grappling tournament held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, from 17–18 September 2022.

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Haisam Rida is a Ghanaian submission grappler and black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor. A two-time Asian Open Champion and three-time JBJJF All Japan Champion in lower belt divisions, Rida is an ADCC 2022 Veteran and a black belt Pan-American No-GI silver medallist.

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Roberto Jimenez is an American-born Ecuadorian grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt competitor.

Matheus Oliveira Diniz is a Brazilian submission wrestler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt competitor. His most notable achievement is winning the 2019 ADCC World Championship in the Middleweight division as well as being a medalist at the IBJJF World Championships in both Gi and No-Gi formats.

Mason Fowler is an American former mixed martial arts fighter, submission grappler, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt athlete. A two-time IBJJF World champion, No-Gi World Champion, European Open and Pan-American champion in colored belts, Mason is a black belt European Champion, CBJJ Brazilian Nationals Champion and a two-time ADCC Submission Fighting World Trials winner.

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