With the dominance of the UFC, Bellator, and PFL in America, we wanted to look at the top five American MMA regional promotions today on the regional level. The list is based on the talent that excelled beyond their organizations and their current talent potential.
#5 Ring Of Combat
Ring Of Combat was founded in October of 2002 when world kickboxing champion Lou Neglia started the promotion out of Uncasville, Connecticut. The event saw only seven bouts on the card, but it came at a time when MMA began to skyrocket with hardcore fans. ROC has generated 100 UFC fighters in their first 55 events. Among some are former champions Matt Serra, Frankie Edgar, Chris Weidman and Eddie Alvarez. Many current champions aren’t active within the organizations. However, they have fighters like Shelton Graves among the ranks, despite not having fought for the organization since 2017.
#4 Titan FC
Titan FC is a Florida organization that has been around since 2005. The promotion aired on HDNet (AXS TV) with Titan FC 16. The headliner was a super-heavyweight bout between Tim Sylvia and former TUF competitor Abe Wagner. The promotion has seen contenders like Belal Muhammad, David Branch, Anthony Johnson, Brett Johns, Tim Elliot and James Krause. The only problem is they only carry six active champions, four of those not having a bout since last year—most successful fighters springboard to something higher on the list.
#3 Cage Fury FC
Cage Fury FC is an Atlantic City, New Jersey-based Promotion founded in 2006. The promotion temporarily failed in 2007 before resurfacing in 2011 in Vineland, New Jersey, when native Robert Haydak Jr purchased the organization. Since then, he has re-invented the promotion to propel itself to 3rd on our list. Some talent coming from CFFC are Aljamain Sterling, Paul Felder, George Sullivan, Jimmie Rivera, Jim Miller, and Dan Miller. CFFC consistently generates UFC-caliber talent like their middleweight champion Donavon Beard who took on the hot prospect Bo Nickal in Contender Series season 6.
#2 Invicta FC
Invicta is a reasonably young organization that’s an all-woman MMA promotion. However, it has been pivotal in developing a vast portion of WMMA, founded in 2012 by Janet Martin, a former Blackeye MMA VP and Shannon Knapp. Knapp has held various executive positions at prominent organizations, including Strikeforce and the UFC. Amanda Nunes is one of the organization’s current matchmaker and athlete development team member. Some contenders from Invicta include former UFC champ Cris Cyborg, Megan Anderson, Felicia Spencer, Lauren Murphy, Irene Aldana, Yana Kunitskaya, Sara Kaufman and Jennifer Maia, to name a few.
#1 Legacy Fighting Alliance
Legacy Fighting Alliance, or LFA, was only founded six years ago after the acquisition of RFA by private owners founded by Ed Soares. The Houston, Texas, organization has dominated the regional scene since its inception. Hundreds of athletes come to the UFC, including Brandon Moreno, Brandon Royal, Thomas Almeida, Casey Kenney, Mirsad Becktic, Youseff Zalal, Christos Giagos, Austin Hubbard, Jordan Leavitt, Sean Brady, James Krause, Curtis Millender, Brendan Allen, Trevin Giles, Ian Heinisch, Kevin Holland, Khalil Rountree, Anthony Smith, Greg Hardy, Josh Parisian, Mackenzie Dern, Maycee Barber, Andrea Lee and many more. You can view the complete alum list here. They also commit to 28 events a year. In just six years, the organization is consistently securing the future of MMA, making it #1 on our list.
All in all, these organizations are currently outclassing the rest and deserve closer attention from those who want to see what MMA’s future will shape. In the comments below, we would love to know your top five American MMA regional promotions.
Featured image credits to LFA
