UFC: Farewell to the ESPN Era

"The UFC aired their first event on ESPN (well, ESPN+ to be specific) on January 19, 2019 and in doing so ushered in an era that has seen the combat sports powerhouse grow into the juggernaut that it is today. If the transition from SpikeTV to the FOX network was the sign of the band taking off into the big time then one could say the growth from FOX to ESPN saw the UFC become a full pop-culture mainstay."

"Were there plenty of events that drew incredible numbers? Of course. Conor McGregor, the biggest superstar in the sport, delivered huge numbers in fights with Donald Cerrone and Dustin Poirier (twice). Other megastars such as his rival Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jon Jones, Max Holloway, and more all headlined their own events that delivered for the network. But the ESPN era was a lot more than big fights."

"Along the way, the sport saw the transition into a new era of stars that led the way. Few made an impact or defined the era quite like Israel Adesanya. "The Last Stylebender" took the middleweight division by storm and in 2019 claimed the undisputed title in stunning fashion. He went on to become one of the most famous athletes in the sport behind his outspoken personality and dominance as he reeled off five title defenses."

The UFC began airing events on ESPN+ on January 19, 2019, launching a period of mainstream expansion and increased media visibility. The transition from FOX to ESPN positioned MMA alongside major sports and elevated the UFC into pop-culture prominence. High-profile fighters such as Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jon Jones, and Max Holloway headlined events that drew significant numbers. UFC leadership and personalities appeared regularly on ESPN programs and major pundits participated in pre- and postfight coverage. Israel Adesanya emerged as a defining star, winning the middleweight title in 2019 and recording five successful defenses.

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