Fan Favorites in MMA and UFC: Knockouts, Legends, Training Tips, and More

It's wild how a single punch, a walkout song, or even a post-fight speech can turn a fighter into a fan favorite in MMA and UFC. People call it star power or charisma, but really, fans just connect with fighters who show heart both inside the cage and out. Maybe it's someone like Justin Gaethje throwing everything at his opponent, or Sean O’Malley’s wild hair and knockout kicks—either way, fighters earn these waves of support one brutal moment at a time.

You want to know which fighters are dominating headlines in the latest news in MMA and UFC? Check out Ilia Topuria and Zhang Weili—both are crushing it with upcoming fights in MMA and UFC, and fans can't get enough. Watching their best knockouts in MMA and UFC collections is like a crash course in why people fall in love with this sport.

If you’re itching to jump into MMA yourself, there’s no need to wait. Legends of MMA and UFC history started as total beginners. Most fighters swear by basic jiu-jitsu and boxing to build a foundation. Pay attention to legit training tips from MMA and UFC fighters on YouTube—get a jump rope, punch a heavy bag, and mix in wrestling drills. Top fighters also say discipline counts more than flashy moves at first.

• What Makes a Fan Favorite in MMA and UFC
• Knockouts, Brutal Moments, and Highlights
• Training, Diet, and Starting Out
• Rules, Odds, and Upcoming Action
• Scandals, Legends, and Lasting Impact

What Makes a Fan Favorite in MMA and UFC

Fans don’t pick favorites by accident; it’s usually a mix of fighting style, personality, and how a fighter connects with people. Knockouts definitely help—just look at Jorge Masvidal’s five-second flying knee against Ben Askren, still the fastest KO in UFC history. But big moments aren’t the only reason someone becomes a household name.

MMA fans love fighters who put it all out there. Justin Gaethje throws himself into every fight, win or lose, and fans respect that energy. Others, like Israel Adesanya, entertain both in and out of the Octagon with bold callouts and clever social media posts. People remember wild walkouts, classic callouts, even wild fashion—Sean O’Malley’s rainbow hair basically made him a star overnight.

There’s also the fans’ connection with a fighter’s backstory. Dustin Poirier’s rise from tough beginnings in Louisiana lets fans root for a real underdog. Nearly every fan favorite in MMA and UFC has a story people can grab onto, whether that’s coming back after a tough loss or going viral for some crazy highlight reel.

Championships help, too, but sometimes the most beloved fighters aren’t even champs. Nate Diaz built a massive following thanks to his fearless attitude and brawling style, not a pile of belts. Fans like authenticity as much as victory.

Want to spot the next fan favorite? Look for fighters who never play it safe, say what’s on their mind, and give fans a reason to care beyond just their win streak. If a fighter manages to get fans chanting their name—or booing them every time—odds are, they’ve made an impact.

Knockouts, Brutal Moments, and Highlights

If you ask any crowd what keeps them glued to UFC cards, it’s always those split-second, jaw-dropping knockouts. These are the moments everybody shares online and talks about for weeks. The fan favorites in MMA and UFC usually have at least one career-defining KO or highlight on their resume.

One of the most iconic KOs ever? Jorge Masvidal’s five-second flying knee against Ben Askren at UFC 239. Fastest in UFC history. Fans still replay it and fighters study it. Another brutal moment: Francis Ngannou’s knockout of Alistair Overeem. That uppercut made even hardcore fans wince. And let’s not forget Holly Holm’s head-kick that shocked Ronda Rousey and the entire world. These moments turn fighters into legends instantly.

The UFC actually tracks fight-night bonuses for these jaw-droppers. The "Performance of the Night" awards, for example, encourage fighters to go for broke. Here’s a table with some of the most famous knockouts and their numbers:

But the sport isn’t just about clean KOs. Some of the most brutal MMA and UFC moments come when fighters refuse to quit through busted noses, broken limbs, or wild upsets. Think of Robbie Lawler and Rory MacDonald’s war at UFC 189. Blood everywhere, but somehow both kept swinging until the very end. These fights are why the highlight reels never get old.

"There’s nothing in sports quite like the tension right before a big knockout lands. You can hear the entire arena hold its breath," — Ariel Helwani, MMA reporter

Quick tip if you’re betting? Check the power stats. If a fighter racks up first-round KOs, odds are the same aggression will carry over. But keep an eye on chin durability too—a heavy hitter with a glass jaw is a risky move for any bet.

Whether you’re into flashy strikes or battles of pure willpower, the highlight moments in MMA and UFC are why fighters become household names. These clips aren’t just cool—sometimes, they’re historic.

Training, Diet, and Starting Out

If you’re serious about getting into MMA, get ready to do a lot more than just punch and kick. The training is tough, and even fan favorites in MMA and UFC like Alexander Volkanovski or Alexa Grasso keep their routines super basic but consistent. They don’t skip the boring stuff—countless rounds of jump rope, shadowboxing, bag work, and wrestling drills. Most coaches push beginners to focus on fundamentals: hit a heavy bag, run sprints, and wrestle. Remember, stamina and technique come before anything fancy.

MMA fighters usually train 5-6 days a week. Their days are split up like this:

• Morning: Cardio (running, rowing, sprints), then grappling or striking
• Afternoon: Strength and conditioning (weights, kettlebells, bodyweight work)
• Evening: Sparring and technical drills with teammates

Diet matters just as much. Most athletes use a rough split of 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fats, but there’s some freedom as long as it’s clean food. Chicken, rice, eggs, lean beef, and loads of veggies pop up in almost every champion’s diet. Weight cutting is the nasty part—some fighters lose 10-20 pounds just before fights, which can take a toll. Here’s a quick look at sample daily meal setups:

If you want to start MMA, you don’t need fancy gear or experience. Show up to a gym—almost every city has an MMA spot these days. Expect to spend your first months sweating through warm-ups, drilling basics, and learning how not to gas out. Zero shame in feeling awkward at first; even UFC champs started as absolute beginners. Make sure the gym feels welcoming, and that coaches actually watch out for newcomers. You don’t want to end up in a shark tank on day one.

For extra help, short online vids break down basic technique. Take Molly McCann’s boxing tutorials or Dustin Poirier’s grappling tips—you’ll learn proper footwork, jabs, and even simple escapes. The biggest tip: keep showing up. Consistency beats talent if you stick with it.

Rules, Odds, and Upcoming Action

People get mixed up when talking about MMA and UFC, thinking they’re the same thing. Here’s the deal: MMA stands for “mixed martial arts,” the overall sport that blends striking and grappling from all kinds of fighting styles. UFC is just the most famous league—it’s the NBA of MMA. But there are others out there, like Bellator and ONE Championship, and their rules can be slightly different.

With UFC, the rules are set by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. Fighters face off in the famous octagon cage, usually over three rounds (five for title fights). Each round’s five minutes with a minute to breathe in between. No elbows to the back of the head, no eye gouging, no soccer kicks while someone’s down. If you want to make a move in a fight, check if it’s legal first—simple as that.

• Fan favorites in MMA and UFC often build their appeal by mastering the sport’s rules and using them to their advantage, pushing just up to the limit.
• MMA matches outside the UFC (like in ONE Championship) sometimes allow knees to the head of a grounded opponent or longer rounds, so always double-check the league’s rules.

Now, let’s talk betting odds for MMA and UFC. Odds flip every week, especially before the biggest pay-per-view cards. Bookmakers watch training camp reports, injuries, and even weigh-ins to set numbers. If you’re new, American odds (+200, -150, etc.) tell you how much you win off your bet. Positive odds mean underdog—you win more for less. Negative odds mean the favorite, and you have to bet more to win less.

Looking for the latest news in MMA and UFC? Stay sharp for the International Fight Week in July—UFC always pops big names and fresh fights. If you’re wondering about upcoming fights in MMA and UFC, watch out for marquee headliners like Ilia Topuria and Conor McGregor (if he ever truly comes back from injury). To see exactly who’s fighting and when, check the UFC website or dedicated MMA sites—they post schedules down to the early prelims.

Tip: Don’t just look for title fights. Some prelim bouts have wild, highlight-reel knockouts and bring out future legends of MMA and UFC history. If you want to make a bet or just have bragging rights with friends, keep tabs on late injury updates—they can swing the odds and flip fight predictions on their heads.

Scandals, Legends, and Lasting Impact

You can’t talk about MMA and the UFC without facing the wild side of things—scandals that rocked the sport, the real legends, and the moments everyone’s still talking about years later. Some of these shake-ups have changed rules, expectations, and even how fans trust the promoters and fighters.

Let’s start with some headline-grabbing scandals. Conor McGregor’s infamous bus attack before UFC 223 set the internet on fire and even led to criminal charges. Jon Jones has faced more than one drug test suspension and legal problem, but he keeps making comebacks that grab attention. Last year, there was the James Krause betting scandal, which forced the UFC to ban several fighters and tighten rules around betting. These moments mattered—they actually changed how fighters and coaches interact with oddsmakers, and they made the UFC update their betting policies.

Now, on to the legends. You can’t have a list of fan favorites in MMA and UFC without naming fighters like Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, Amanda Nunes, and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Each of these pros stamped their mark: Silva’s win streak looked impossible, GSP brought major respect with his all-around game, Nunes literally knocked out the “baddest woman” titleholders, and Khabib retired undefeated with a 29-0 record. Fans love talking about their biggest fights, and their names attract massive pay-per-views, whether they’re active or not.

The impact these legends and scandals leave behind reaches the whole sport. Training methods changed after Silva’s leg injury. Rules about weigh-ins and hydration popped up after bad weight-cutting incidents like the one Uriah Hall suffered at UFC 232. Even the UFC’s approach to medical suspensions and mental health has gotten stricter, partly thanks to past controversies and outspoken legends.

Here’s a quick look at some lasting moments that left the sport different than before:

• The St-Pierre and Hendricks fight at UFC 167 led to stricter drug testing standards.
• Khabib’s brawl after UFC 229 made the UFC crack down on post-fight chaos.
• Amanda Nunes KO'ing Cris Cyborg ended a long reign and inspired more women to join MMA.

Want to see some stats on how much legends matter? Check out this table—these fighters didn’t just win, they changed pay-per-view sales and fight attendances:

This is why fans still chant legends’ names and keep talking about the crazy moments. It all shapes the way new fighters train, the way the sport is reffed, and what draws crowds to the next card.