Korea's surging MMA scene links international glory with hometown action-packed battles

On a pulse-pounding night last December, a furnace of fighting spirit erupted from the eight-sided ring, where two fighters collided in a fierce battle.
An arena packed with 5,000 spectators echoed with thunderous roars, resonating with every explosive exchange inside the octagon.
This adrenaline-fueled showdown marked the second event of Z-Fight Night, or ZFN, a newly launched Korean mixed martial arts promotion, held on Dec. 14 at Kintex in Ilsan, just north of Seoul. The event sold out in just 30 minutes.
Fight night spectacles once found only in a select few countries with flourishing MMA markets, such as the US and Japan, are now a reality in Korea, as more local fighters make their mark in top-tier combat sports organizations while also thriving in the domestic scene.
Jabbing into the global spotlight
A growing fervor for MMA in Korea is correlated with the mounting international victories of the country's fighters.
When Jung Chan-sung, better known as "The Korean Zombie" and now the founder and promoter of ZFN, joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship -- the world’s largest MMA promotion -- there were only two Korean UFC fighters.
Jung, a retired two-time featherweight title contender, holds the distinction of being the highest-ranked Korean fighter in UFC history, ranking fourth.
But the times are changing: Last year, Korea celebrated a milestone as five fighters earned their way into the UFC, bringing the total number of Korean fighters ever signed to 25.
The world's foremost MMA platform generated a record annual revenue of $1.3 billion in 2023 and reportedly had a market share of over 80 percent. It has been rolling out initiatives to cement its dominance in the burgeoning Asian market.
Its strategies -- especially the action-packed Road to UFC tournament series for fighters from Asia -- have been bearing fruit, particularly in Korea.
Of the 11 UFC contracts awarded across three seasons of the Asia-focused talent series so far, the largest portion -- five -- went to Korean prospects, outpacing talents from China, Japan and India. In the most recent season, which ended last November, two of the three tournament winners came from Korea.
UFC CEO Dana White has also publicly expressed his admiration for the "warrior spirits" of Korean fighters, such as The Korean Zombie and Choi Doo-ho, known as "The Korean Superboy." Choi won a technical knockout victory at UFC 310 in December, and his name appears as part of an entry in the UFC Hall of Fame after his 2016 fight against Cub Swanson was listed in 2022.
Apart from the UFC, these Korean warriors are having a lasting impact with stunning displays in other elite fighting promotions.
Last November, Kim Sang-won became the second Korean fighter to join the Professional Fighters League, the second-largest MMA promotion, four years after Jo Sung-bin entered the league.
Asia's largest MMA promotion, ONE Championship, serves as a proving ground for numerous Korean fighters, including former ONE lightweight champion Ok Rae-yoon and Lee Seung-chul, who is on a nine-fight winning streak. Kwon Won-il, riding a three-fight stoppage streak, is set to challenge ONE bantamweight champion Fabricio Andrade on Friday.

Blazing action in homegrown rings
Strong local promotions are essential for supporting Korean fighters' rise to the global stage, providing fledgling athletes with valuable experience -- made possible by the support of local fans.
As the Korean MMA market languished, struggling to gain prominence despite the presence of organizations like Road FC since 2010, new local promotions such as Black Combat blazed their own trail.
According to Fight Matrix, a portal dedicated to MMA rankings and records, Black Combat has become the largest Korean MMA promotion, currently ranked 11th among Asian promotions -- a feat accomplished in less than three years.
Black Combat's success springs from innovative content that has transformed traditional fight events into relatable experiences that engage modern audiences.
By weaving compelling storylines on YouTube, highlighting individual fighters' fierce rivalries and redemption arcs, the organization also taps into national pride, setting the stage for high-stakes showdowns against international promotions such as Japan's Deep and China's Wu Lin Feng.
Since hosting its first event in 2022, it has organized a total of 13 major events, consistently drawing over 2,000 paid spectators on average. The latest event, held in December last year, marked the highest attendance so far, with more than 4,000 spectators.
“The arena was packed, with most spectators appearing to be in their 20s and 30s,” wrote an anonymous user on an online MMA fan community on Naver after attending the latest Black Combat event. “I screamed so much, and nearly every fight was thrilling,” the user added.
ZFN's YouTube fighting auditions have proven to be a powerful tool for engaging local fans. Some amateur fighters from the show, competing in undercard bouts during ZFN events, garnered more attention than even the professional fights.
Both promotions have expanded access via streaming, with Black Combat using YouTube Premium and ZFN partnering with UFC Fight Pass.
Last year, both promotions also sent fighters to the UFC. While former Black Combat featherweight champion You Su-young earned his spot through Road to UFC, Yoo Joo-sang from ZFN capped off the year as the 25th Korean fighter to join the UFC roster.
“The future of Korean MMA is promising, fueled by the growing influx of Korean fighters into the expanding global MMA market,” said Lee Gak-soo, president of the World X-impact Federation, a Korean martial arts organization.
“There is also a growing number of combat sports trainees in the nation, which in tandem with growing local MMA promotions will create synergies in advancing the Korean MMA culture across the globe.”
Korean MMA stands on the brink of an exhilarating future, with the peninsula rapidly establishing itself as a pivotal arena for the sport.
Japan's top MMA promotion, the Rizin Fighting Federation, is preparing to host its first-ever event in Korea this May in Incheon, potentially featuring homegrown talent from ZFN. Meanwhile, UFC kingpin Dana White is bound to make his first visit to Korea this year to experience the country’s thriving MMA scene firsthand.
In December, the World X-impact Federation announced plans to host the MMA Korea World Cup in collaboration with Incheon Metropolitan City in 2026, with over 800 fighters from approximately 80 countries expected to participate.

