Following the wacky world of mixed martial arts online can feel like a full-time job. For a stick and ball sport you can just flip on SportsCenter and hear the latest news and rumors. Information seems to float everywhere, just waiting to be plucked.
That’s a strategy that won’t work for cage fighting.
The sports media ignores MMA, even the UFC, almost entirely. Sure, ESPN might discuss the announcement or result of a mega-fight, but your average event isn’t going to be part of the mainstream discussion. Jon Jones is rarely mentioned side-by-side with Mike Trout or Kevin Durant. Pat Curran and Cris Cyborg aren’t likely to be mentioned at all.
The above may sound like a complaint, but it’s not. Because of this lack of mainstream acceptance, MMA fans have always taken care of their own. A robust, fan-driven grass roots media has always been a part of MMA culture, from Full Contact Fighter to Sherdog.
In many ways, it still is.
Rather than a professional media corps, MMA news, opinions and interviews are delivered by the fans to the fans, creating in many cases, much more nuanced and informed content than you’d get from the MMA-ignorant general sports reporters. There’s plenty of great material out there—you just have to dig for it.
Sound daunting?
I’m here to help. What follows is a list of the top MMA information and opinion sources. Which sites should you be reading? Which podcasts are worth a listen? Where are the hidden gems? This may not be a definitive list, but it’s a good place to start.