Violence sells. The same carnal appetite that drew thousands of Romans to the Colosseum two millennia ago lures millions to arenas across the globe today. It has connected generations of gladiators and the audiences they thrill. Over the last two-plus decades, those at work behind the mixed martial arts curtain have broken down barriers, shattered stereotypes and turned a spectacle once labeled “human cockfighting” into a multi-billion-dollar industry. All the while, the masses have flocked to see the best full-contact fighters in the world test their skills against one another.
The latest installment in the Sherdog Top 10 series focuses on the largest crowds in MMA history, from Pride Fighting Championships and K-1 to the Ultimate Ultimate Fighting Championship:
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HONORABLE MENTIONS: Pride Shockwave 2006 (48,709), Pride Shockwave 2004 (48,398), Pride Grand Prix 2000 Opening Round (48,316), K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite (47,928), Pride Final Conflict 2004 (47,629), Pride 1 (47,000), Fields Dynamite The Power of Courage 2009 (45,606), Pride Total Elimination 2005 (45,423), UFC 198 (45,207), Pride Critical Countdown 2004 (43,711)
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