Are you wondering how many UFC fighters there are in 2024?
In this article, we answer how many UFC fighters there are in 2024 by counting every fighter in each UFC weight class division, how many UFC fighters there have been in total, and how many UFC fighters there are from each of the most popular countries.
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How Many UFC Fighters Are There Currently in 2024?
In 2024, there are 951 active UFC fighters currently on the roster. This is made up of roughly 152 women and 799 men.
While this is the current number of UFC fighters, the total is constantly changing as the promotion releases and signs new UFC fighters almost every week.
Most of these changes occur just after a UFC event, which takes place approximately 42 out of 52 weeks in a year.
The number of UFC fighters continues to grow as the promotion continues its rapid growth in terms of revenue, profit, and expansion.
In 2021, there were around 650 UFC fighters. This means the number of UFC fighters is growing at 13.11% per year.
Using this growth percentage, the number of UFC fighters in 2022 would have been around 735, and the number of UFC fighters in 2023 would have been 831.
We can also calculate the expected number of UFC fighters in the future. Using this growth percentage, the number of UFC fighters in 2025 will be around 1075, and the number of UFC fighters in 2026 will be around 1216.
While these numbers may seem high, it’s very easy for the UFC to recruit many fighters.
From August 2023 to December 2023 (5 months), the UFC recruited 42 new fighters. Therefore, it’s easy to see how the UFC can sign around 100 fighters or more per year.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in Each UFC Weight Class Division?
The current number of 951 active UFC fighters in 2024 can be broken down into the following weight class divisions.
| Weight Class Division | Number of UFC Fighters |
| Flyweight | 77 |
| Bantamweight | 111 |
| Featherweight | 115 |
| Lightweight | 143 |
| Welterweight | 110 |
| Middleweight | 101 |
| Light Heavyweight | 68 |
| Heavyweight | 74 |
| Women’s Strawweight | 66 |
| Women’s Flyweight | 48 |
| Women’s Bantamweight | 31 |
| Women’s Featherweight | 7 |
This is a total of 799 male UFC fighters and 152 female UFC fighters for a total of 951 UFC fighters in 2024.
As of September 2023, the women’s UFC featherweight division is no more, meaning the featherweight fighters will have to move to bantamweight or leave the promotion in 2024.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in the Flyweight Division?
There are 77 UFC fighters in the flyweight division as of January 2024.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in the Bantamweight Division?
There are 111 UFC fighters in the bantamweight division as of January 2024.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in the Featherweight Division?
There are 115 UFC fighters in the featherweight division as of January 2024.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in the Lightweight Division?
There are 143 UFC fighters in the lightweight division as of January 2024.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in the Welterweight Division?
There are 110 UFC fighters in the welterweight division as of January 2024.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in the Middleweight Division?
There are 101 UFC fighters in the middleweight division as of January 2024.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in the Light Heavyweight Division?
There are 68 UFC fighters in the light heavyweight division as of January 2024.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in the Heavyweight Division?
There are 74 UFC fighters in the heavyweight division as of January 2024.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in the Women’s Strawweight Division?
There are 66 UFC fighters in the women’s Strawweight division as of January 2024.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in the Women’s Flyweight Division?
There are 48 UFC fighters in the women’s flyweight division as of January 2024.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in the Women’s Bantamweight Division?
There are 31 UFC fighters in the women’s bantamweight division as of January 2024.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in the Women’s Featherweight Division?
There are 7 UFC fighters in the women’s featherweight division as of January 2024.
However, since the women’s UFC featherweight division closed in September 2023, these numbers will likely become 0 at some point in 2024.
Which UFC Weight Class Division Has the Most Fighters?
The UFC lightweight division has the most fighters with 143 as of January 2024.
How Many UFC Fighters Have There Been in Total?
From the UFC’s founding in 1993 to the start of 2024, there have been a total of 2,936 UFC fighters. This is comprised of 2,657 male fighters and 279 female fighters.
As of January 2024, there are 799 active male UFC fighters, indicating that 1,858 male fighters have either retired, left the promotion, or been released since 1993.
This results in a turnover rate of approximately 69.93% for male fighters, meaning about 70% of all male fighters who have ever competed in the UFC are no longer active.
Conversely, the retention rate for male fighters is about 30.07%, indicating that around 30% are still active in the promotion.
Similarly, there are currently 152 active female UFC fighters, with 127 having left, leading to a turnover rate of about 45.52% for female fighters.
This suggests that nearly 46% of all female fighters who have ever competed in the UFC are no longer active.
The retention rate for female fighters stands at approximately 54.48%, showing that over half are still active in the UFC.
These statistics highlight the dynamic nature of the UFC’s roster and underscore the differences in career longevity between male and female fighters within the organization.
How Many UFC Fighters Are There in Each Country?
Due to the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the UFC roster, pinpointing exact numbers for each country is difficult.
In this section, we focus on the countries with the largest representation in the UFC, providing ballpark estimates based on percentages.
1. United States
It’s estimated that American fighters constitute about 40-50% of the total roster. With 951 fighters currently in the UFC, this translates to approximately 380 to 475 American fighters.
The United States has historically been the powerhouse in terms of fighter representation in the UFC.
2. Brazil
Brazilian fighters are estimated to make up around 15-20% of the UFC roster. This would mean roughly 140 to 190 Brazilian fighters are part of the UFC.
Brazil, known for its rich martial arts heritage, particularly in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, is another significant contributor.
3. Russia
Russian fighters are thought to represent about 10-15% of the roster, equating to around 95 to 140 fighters.
In recent years, Russia has emerged as a major player in the UFC, especially with the rise of several prominent fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
4. Canada
Canada has a notable presence in MMA and is estimated to contribute about 5-10% to the UFC roster.
This suggests that there are approximately 48 to 95 Canadian fighters in the UFC.
5. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom, with its strong MMA scene, also contributes about 5-10% to the UFC roster.
This means there could be around 48 to 95 British fighters competing in the UFC.
6. Australia
Australia has been steadily producing notable fighters in recent years. It’s estimated that Australian fighters account for about 3-5% of the UFC roster, translating to approximately 28 to 48 fighters.
7. Poland
Poland, known for some high-profile fighters, is estimated to contribute about 3-5% to the UFC roster. This would mean there are around 28 to 48 Polish fighters in the UFC.
Note: These numbers are based on rough estimates and percentages, reflecting the current trends and known fighter origins. The actual numbers can fluctuate due to the frequent changes in the UFC roster.
