The Rise of Superfights and Crossovers: Why MMA Is Moving Toward Spectacle over Rankings

Over the past few years, mixed martial arts have changed to fit with the times. Before, the focus was on the clear competitive leader. The fighters climbed over these to eventually reach the title based on merit. However, in recent years, the biggest MMA events have become more about spectacle than the sport.

This is noticeable in the rise of Superfights and crossover events. In this article, we’ll dive a bit deeper into the phenomenon and try to explain why it’s taking over the MMA.

What Defines a Superfight and a Crossover

A superfight is usually a match between elite fighters. It’s driven by legacy, history, star appeal, and novelty, rather than the divisional logic. These may include champions from different weight classes or high-profile contenders that have skipped the ranking process. A crossover is a match in which fighters compete outside their primary sport. For instance, when an MMA fighter enters the world of boxing.

Most experts claim that the first such event was Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather in 2017. It was a boxing match driven by mass appeal rather than competitive parity. According to the Casino review for Gamdom, such events are among the most popular to bet on ever since. Experts from CCN claim that international bettors make these wagers using crypto, as the safest and fastest way to bet.

The Financial Incentive: Why Promoters Follow the Money

The main reason this approach to martial arts has become so popular is its profitability. Superfights and crossovers consistently outperform ranking-based bouts in pay-per-view sales, sponsorships, and media coverage. For instance, McGregor vs. Mayweather reportedly generated over 4 million PPV buys, more than any UFC title fight.

Both the promoters and the fighters benefit financially from such events, often profiting more from one such event than from an entire season of regular fights. However, many fighters have also complained about the overall decline of the competitive ranking approach, as it played an important role in carefully matching fighters.

Why Rankings Are Losing Their Power

Rankings are no longer as important as they used to be because casual fans don’t have a relationship with fighters that compels them to follow their careers over the long term. Instead, fans are only familiar with a few major stars and tune in only for huge events such as these.

Some fans have also long held the belief that the rankings are somewhat arbitrary, and that beyond the top few, it may be difficult to assess fighters objectively. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the sponsors have abandoned the concept as well.

Recent Major Spectacle Events

FC 300: Pereira vs. Hill was one of the biggest MMA cards of 2024, held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with over 20,000 in attendance. It also had a record-high fight-night bonus at the time. A $300,000 bonus pool per fighter draws the media’s attention.

PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants in Riyadh, headlined by former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou’s return to MMA and his first-round KO over Renan Ferreira, brought huge media attention to superfights. It showcased how stars can be the main attraction of the fight.

ONE 172: Takeru vs. Rodtang filled Japan’s Saitama Super Arena with a cross-discipline kickboxing superfight. It drew around 15,000 fans and more than $2 million at the gate. The match showed that international combat spectacles can attract fans globally.

UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev was one of the most hyped events of 2026, alongside ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri. Both fights were cross-martial arts events.

When Rivalry Becomes the Main Event

Another interesting trend is taking shape in the world of mixed martial arts. This phenomenon isn’t new, but its presence in the public perception and fan reaction is, at least somewhat. It’s the focus on rivalries between fighters.

The highest-selling PPV in UFC history is still Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor at UFC 229. The event was driven almost entirely by personal animosity among the fighters and, in a broader sense, by cultural tensions between them. Such events will become more common as superfights and crossovers become the main way to engage with the sport.

To Sum Up

Superfights and crossover events are becoming the main events in the world of MMA fighting. The fighters are now selected for major events based on fan appeal and the potential revenue the match may generate, rather than trying to match opponents evenly.

There have been dozens of such fights in recent years and even more since the first superfight in 2017. The fans and fighters agree that there are benefits to organizing these events, but that the sport itself has suffered for it.