List of mixed martial arts attendance records

The National Stadium hosted Shockwave in 2002, a supercard event co-promoted by PRIDE and K-1. The event was attended by a crowd of 91,107, the largest attendance in the history of mixed martial arts.

The following is a list of mixed martial arts attendance records. The highest number of events on the list have been promoted by the Pride Fighting Championships (PRIDE), the largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company in Japan until 2007.

Shockwave in August 2002, an event co-promoted by PRIDE and K-1 at the National Stadium, was attended by 91,107 spectators.[Note 1] This remains the largest attendance in the history of MMA.[1]

Events and attendances

Note: Minimum attendance of 30,000.

Promotion Event Venue Attendance Main event fight Ref.
PRIDE / K-1 Shockwave
August 28, 2002 		National Stadium
Tokyo, Japan 		91,107[Note 1] Mirko Cro Cop vs. Kazushi Sakuraba [1]
K-1 K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Final
December 10, 2000 		Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan 		70,200[Note 2] Frank Shamrock vs. Elvis Sinosic[Note 3] [2][3][4]
PRIDE Final Conflict 2003
November 9, 2003 		Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan 		67,451[Note 4] Wanderlei Silva vs. Quinton Jackson [5][4]
—
 Bridge of Dreams
April 2, 1995 		Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan 		60,000[Note 5] Minoru Suzuki vs. Christopher DeWeaver[Note 6] [6][7][8]
Oktagon MMA Oktagon 62: Bigger Than Ever
October 12, 2024 		Deutsche Bank Park
Frankfurt, Germany 		59,148 Christian Eckerlin vs. Christian Jungwirth
KSW KSW 39: Colosseum
May 27, 2017 		PGE Narodowy
Warsaw, Poland 		57,776 Mamed Khalidov vs. Borys Mańkowski [4]
UFC UFC 243: Whittaker vs. Adesanya
October 6, 2019 		Marvel Stadium
Melbourne, Australia 		57,127 Robert Whittaker vs. Israel Adesanya [9]
UFC UFC 193: Rousey vs. Holm
November 14, 2015 		Marvel Stadium
Melbourne, Australia 		56,214 Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm [10]
UFC UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields
April 30, 2011 		Rogers Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada 		55,724 Georges St-Pierre vs. Jake Shields [11]
PRIDE PRIDE 17: Championship Chaos
November 3, 2001 		Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan 		53,246 Wanderlei Silva vs. Kazushi Sakuraba [4]
K-1 / Hero's K-1 PREMIUM 2005 Dynamite!!
December 31, 2005 		Osaka Dome
Osaka, Japan 		53,025 Norifumi Yamamoto vs. Genki Sudo [12][4]
K-1 K-1 PREMIUM 2004 Dynamite!!
December 31, 2004 		Osaka Dome
Osaka, Japan 		52,918[Note 7] Royce Gracie vs. Akebono Tarō [13][14]
PRIDE PRIDE 23: Championship Chaos 2
November 24, 2002 		Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan 		52,228 Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Gilles Arsene [4]
K-1 / Hero's K-1 PREMIUM 2006 Dynamite!!
December 31, 2006 		Kyocera Dome Osaka
Osaka, Japan 		51,930 Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama [15]
KSW XTB KSW 83: Colosseum 2
June 3, 2023 		PGE Narodowy
Warsaw, Poland 		50,000 Mamed Khalidov vs. Scott Askham [16]
PRIDE Shockwave 2005
December 31, 2005 		Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan 		49,801[Note 8] Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Naoya Ogawa [17][4]
PRIDE Shockwave 2006
December 31, 2006 		Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan 		48,709[Note 9] Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mark Hunt [18][4]
PRIDE Shockwave 2004
December 31, 2004 		Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan 		48,398[Note 10] Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira [19][4]
PRIDE PRIDE: Grand Prix 2000 - Opening Round
January 30, 2000 		Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan 		48,316 Royce Gracie vs. Nobuhiko Takada [4]
Rizin FF Super Rizin 3
July 28, 2024 		Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan 		48,117 Ren Hiramoto vs. Mikuru Asakura
K-1 / Hero's K-1 PREMIUM 2007 Dynamite!!
December 31, 2007 		Kyocera Dome Osaka
Osaka, Japan 		47,928 Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Masakatsu Funaki [20]
PRIDE KRS-PRIDE 1
October 11, 1997 		Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan 		47,860[Note 11] Rickson Gracie vs. Nobuhiko Takada [21][4]
PRIDE Final Conflict 2004
August 15, 2004 		Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan 		47,629[Note 12] Fedor Emelianenko vs. Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira [22][4]
K-1 / DREAM / SRC Dynamite!! 2009
December 31, 2009 		Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan 		45,606[Note 13] Ikuhisa Minowa vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou [23][4]
PRIDE Total Elimination 2005
April 23, 2005 		Osaka Dome
Osaka, Japan 		45,423[Note 14] Wanderlei Silva vs. Hidehiko Yoshida [24][4]
UFC UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic
May 14, 2016 		Arena da Baixada
Curitiba, Brazil 		45,207 Fabrício Werdum vs. Stipe Miocic [25]
PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004
June 20, 2004 		Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan 		43,721 Fedor Emelianenko vs. Kevin Randleman [26]
PRIDE Total Elimination 2004
April 25, 2004 		Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan 		42,110[Note 15] Fedor Emelianenko vs. Mark Coleman [27][4]
PRIDE Total Elimination 2003
August 10, 2003 		Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan 		40,316[Note 16] Wanderlei Silva vs. Kazushi Sakuraba [28][4]
—
 Colosseum 2000
May 26, 2000 		Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan 		40,240[Note 17] Masakatsu Funaki vs. Rickson Gracie [29][30]
PRIDE PRIDE: Grand Prix 2000 - Finals
May 1, 2000 		Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan 		38,429[Note 18] Mark Coleman vs. Igor Vovchanchyn [4]
PRIDE Shockwave 2003
December 31, 2003 		Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan 		36,716[Note 19] Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Antônio Rogério Nogueira [4]
—
 Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2002
December 31, 2002 		Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan 		35,674 Bob Sapp vs. Yoshihiro Takayama [31]
—
 Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2001
December 31, 2001 		Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan 		35,492 Tadao Yasuda vs. Jérôme Le Banner [31]
PRIDE PRIDE 10: Return of the Warriors
August 27, 2000 		Seibu Dome
Saitama, Japan 		35,000[Note 20] Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Renzo Gracie [4][32]
UFC UFC on FOX 14: Gustafsson vs. Johnson
January 24, 2015 		Tele2 Arena
Stockholm, Sweden 		30,000 Alexander Gustafsson vs. Anthony Johnson [33]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b The attendance for Shockwave is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 71,000 spectators.
  2. ^ The attendance for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Final is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 65,000 spectators.
  3. ^ This event featured both MMA and kickboxing. Frank Shamrock vs. Elvis Sinosic was the final MMA fight featured on the event but the overall final fight was Ernesto Hoost vs. Ray Sefo under kickboxing rules.
  4. ^ The attendance for Final Conflict 2003 is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 53,000 spectators.
  5. ^ The attendance for Bridge of Dreams is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 50,000 spectators
  6. ^ This event featured both MMA and professional wrestling. Minoru Suzuki vs. Christopher DeWeaver was the final MMA fight featured on the event but the overall final fight was Shinya Hashimoto vs. Masahiro Chono under professional wrestling rules.
  7. ^ The attendance for K-1 PREMIUM 2004 Dynamite!! is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 52,914 spectators.
  8. ^ The attendance for Shockwave 2005 is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 35,000 spectators.
  9. ^ The attendance for Shockwave 2006 is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 35,000 spectators.
  10. ^ The attendance for Shockwave 2004 is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 35,000 spectators.
  11. ^ The attendance for KRS-PRIDE 1 is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 37,000 spectators.
  12. ^ The attendance for Final Conflict 2004 is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 35,000 spectators.
  13. ^ The attendance for Dynamite!! 2009 is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 35,000 spectators.
  14. ^ The attendance for Total Elimination 2005 is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 43,000 spectators.
  15. ^ The attendance for Total Elimination 2004 is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 35,000 spectators.
  16. ^ The attendance for Total Elimination 2003 is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 35,000 spectators.
  17. ^ The attendance for Colosseum 2000 is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 25,000 spectators.
  18. ^ The attendance for the PRIDE: Grand Prix 2000 - Finals is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 38,000 spectators.
  19. ^ The attendance for Shockwave 2003 is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 35,000 spectators.
  20. ^ The attendance for PRIDE 10: Return of the Warriors is disputed. Some sources list the attendance of the event at 32,919 spectators, while other list it at 38,429 spectators.

References

  1. ^ a b Morgan, John (December 9, 2010). "White: UFC 124 to set records with 23,000-plus attendance, $5 million gate". USA Today. Retrieved August 31, 2023. However, the worldwide attendance record is unlikely to be broken anytime soon on North American soil. During its heyday, the Japanese-based PRIDE Fighting Championships often drew crowds of approximately 50,000. In fact, the "Pride Shockwave 2002" year-end event drew a staggering 91,107 attendees to the Tokyo National Stadium.
  2. ^ Smith, Michael David (November 26, 2009). "K-1 by the Numbers". MMA Fighting. In 2000 a massive 70,200 watched Hoost become champion again when he defeated the insanely popular Ray Sefo in the final.
  3. ^ "K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Final". WrestlingData. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Total Attendance". Tapology. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  5. ^ "PRIDE Final Conflict 2003". WrestlingData. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  6. ^ Meltzer, Dave (May 15, 1995). "WCW taping policy update, real-life pro-wrestling shoot fight booked for UFC, an early "too many shows" story, tons more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. What more can be said than a sellout of 60,000 at the Tokyo Dome and probably the largest house in the history of pro wrestling (a record that only lasted a few weeks) of somewhere between $5 and $6 million?
  7. ^ "Weekly Pro at Tokyo Dome". prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  8. ^ "BMSWP - DOME SPRING FULL BLOOM". Sherdog. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  9. ^ "UFC 243 sets new UFC attendance record, Adesanya gets a bonus". asiamma.com. 2019-10-06. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  10. ^ Doyle, Dave (November 14, 2015). "UFC 193 crowd of 56,214 sets company attendance record". MMA Fighting. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  11. ^ Stupp, Dann (May 1, 2011). "UFC 129 sets attendance and live-gate records: 55,724 for $12.1 million". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  12. ^ "FieLDS K-1 PREMIUM 2005 Dynamite!!". K-1 Grand Prix Website. Archived from the original on 2009-05-05. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  13. ^ "Brazilian Dynamite: Gracie Submits Akebono". K-1 Grand Prix Website. Archived from the original on March 16, 2008. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  14. ^ "K-1 Premium 2004 Dynamite!!". WrestlingData. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  15. ^ "Schilt Wins Again, Akiyama Beats Sakuraba at Dynamite '06". K-1 Grand Prix Website. Archived from the original on 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  16. ^ Baldwin, Nick (3 June 2023). "KSW Colosseum 2 results: Khalidov KOs Askham, Pudzianowski gets stopped". The Score. Retrieved August 31, 2023. Roughly 50,000 fans were in attendance to see Polish hero Mamed Khalidov turn back the clock once again in the main event, as the KSW legend knocked out British fighter Scott Askham in the third round of their middleweight trilogy bout.
  17. ^ "PRIDE Shockwave 2005". WrestlingData. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  18. ^ "PRIDE Shockwave 2006". WrestlingData. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  19. ^ "PRIDE Shockwave 2004". WrestlingData. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  20. ^ "Sakuraba Still Dynamite!!". K-1 Grand Prix Website. Archived from the original on 2007-08-15. Retrieved 2007-01-09.
  21. ^ Knapp, Brian (October 6, 2022). "By The Numbers: Pride 1". Sherdog. Retrieved August 31, 2023. 47,860: Fans on hand to witness the event at the Tokyo Dome, home of the Yomiuri Giants. It remained the promotion's highest attendance figure for more than two years.
  22. ^ "PRIDE Final Conflict 2004". WrestlingData. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  23. ^ "FieLDS Dynamite!! | K-1 OFFICIAL WEBSITE". Archived from the original on 2010-03-01. Retrieved 2009-12-29.
  24. ^ "PRIDE Total Elimination 2005". WrestlingData. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  25. ^ "UFC 198 attendance: Event draws 45,207 for third largest show in company history". mmajunkie.com. May 15, 2016.
  26. ^ "PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004". WrestlingData. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  27. ^ "PRIDE Total Elimination 2004". WrestlingData. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  28. ^ "Pride Total Elimination 2003". Sherdog. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014.
  29. ^ "The Lingering Death of Fighting Network RINGS, or, THE BIG DAVE REHAB: Consisting of All Remaining Observer Bitz, Annotated Lightly, regarding Fighting Network RINGS from 5/22/00 through its Untimely Demise/Glorious Ascension 2/15/02". TK Scissors. April 10, 2019. Retrieved September 1, 2023. The show itself drew a crowd announced at 40,240 fans to the Dome, although the real figure was closer to 25,000.
  30. ^ "C2K - COLOSSEUM 2000". Sherdog. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  31. ^ a b "Bom-Ba-Ye". ProWrestlingHistory.com.
  32. ^ "Pride 10 - Return of the Warriors". Sherdog. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013.
  33. ^ Staff (2015-01-24). "UFC on FOX 14 confirmed as largest European gate in promotion's history". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-01-25.