Mixed martial arts in Mexico

Mixed martial arts in Mexico
CountryMexico
Governing bodyFederación de Artes Marciales Mixtas Equidad y Juego Limpio (FAMMEJL)[1]
National teamMexico

Mixed martial arts in Mexico became very popular in the 2000s, being one of the fastest growing sports in that country.[2][3]

History

Traditional martial arts, from national ones such as lucha tarahumara (Tarahumara wrestling)[4] to those from other places such as judo, have shaped MMA in Mexico, along with other combat sports such as boxing and taekwondo, in which the country has stood out considerably.[5][6]

According to data recorded by the website Sherdog, one of the first MMA events held in the country was Reto Extremo 1, which took place on June 26, 1997, in Monterrey.[3] The event featured nine fights, the main event being a bout between Miguel Reyes (who would later train Dominick Cruz) and Ricardo Flores, which ended with a knockout victory for Reyes.[7]

In November 2014, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) would hold its first event on Mexican soil with UFC 180 at the Mexico City Arena.[8] Tickets were sold out in just 8 hours, which is a record for the venue.[9][10]

Organizations

The major MMA organizations in Mexico are LUX Fight League,[11] Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico[12] and Budo Sento Championship.[13]

At the amateur level, The Federación de Artes Marciales Mixtas Equidad y Juego Limpio (lit. Federation of Mixed Martial Arts Equity and Fair Play), is the main governing body for the sport of MMA and the promotion of the sport in Mexico,[1] supported and recognized by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF). Its current president is Ubaldo Marroquin.[14]

Television

The UFC is the most widely watched organization, and its events are broadcast live on Fox Sports on cable television; and also for the UFC Fight Pass streaming service.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b "Federación de Artes Marciales Mixtas Equidad y Juego Limpio". famm.com.mx.
  2. ^ "¿Por qué México es una potencia mundial en boxeo y una creciente fuerza en Artes Marciales Mixtas?". Revista Fortuna (in Mexican Spanish). 2024-09-23. Retrieved 2025-05-05.
  3. ^ a b "'This movement is magical' -- Inside Mexico's rise as the next MMA superpower". ESPN. 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  4. ^ "El ritual de la lucha cuerpo a cuerpo". El Economista. 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  5. ^ "Historia de nuestro boxeo". www.elsiglodedurango.com.mx (in Spanish). 2018-01-14. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  6. ^ "Moon Dai-won: father of Mexican taekwondo". Korea Times. 2013-07-19. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  7. ^ "RE 1 - Reto Extremo 1". www.sherdog.com. 1997-06-26. Retrieved 2026-02-10.
  8. ^ Staff (2014-04-29). "Viva Mexico – The UFC and TUF head South". ufc.com. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  9. ^ "UFC 180 draws reported 21,000 fans, sets Mexico City Arena gate record". MMAjunkie.com. 2014-11-16.
  10. ^ Kevin Iole. "UFC 180 in Mexico City needs just eight hours to sell all 21,000 tickets". Sports Yahoo. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  11. ^ Cruz, Cesar (2018-08-31). "LUX Fight League busca consolidarse como una importante empresa en MMA". Récord (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  12. ^ Angulo Álvarez, Marcos (2021-02-01). "UWC se fortalece". Semanario ZETA (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  13. ^ Alcantará, Faustino (2023-06-11). "¿Cómo surgió Budo Sento Championship? Iván Macías explica la idea que cambió las MMA en México". El Heraldo Deportes (in Mexican Spanish). Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  14. ^ "National Federations - IMMAF".
  15. ^ Guirado, Heliana (2023-05-03). "¿Dónde ver la UFC en vivo, TV y streaming en México?". Fansided. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
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