Fighters Only
At a glance
- Runs the Fighters Only World MMA Awards, the sport's annual awards
- 17th edition held July 8, 2026 in Las Vegas, hosted by Chael Sonnen
- Issue 185 of the magazine features Stipe Miocic
Overview
Fighters Only is a UK MMA magazine published in English, with a website that extends the print edition. It built its name on fighter profiles and exclusive interviews, and it holds a unique spot in the sport: it runs the Fighters Only World MMA Awards, the annual awards for MMA.
The 17th World MMA Awards took place on July 8, 2026 in Las Vegas, hosted by Chael Sonnen. The awards honor fighters, coaches, commentators and journalists every year. Results from the ceremony are widely picked up by other outlets and shared by the fighters and media members who win. Chael Sonnen, a former UFC fighter turned analyst, hosted the night in front of the fighters and media members gathered for the event.
What you'll find
The site publishes profiles, exclusive interviews and stories drawn from the magazine. Each issue puts a fighter on the cover: issue 185, for example, features Stipe Miocic. These cover stories look back at the fighter's career, their training and the fights that defined them.
Fighters Only also offers an archive almanac, available once you sign up. It lets you dig up older stories and past issues of the magazine. And every year the site covers the World MMA Awards, with the nominees, the ceremony and the full list of winners across every category. The site also runs web-only stories on the fighters featured in its pages, between print issues.
Why follow
Fighters Only is worth reading if you prefer the magazine format to day-to-day news. Its profiles and long interviews take the time to tell a fighter's story, while news sites tend to focus on the latest quote or the latest result and move on quickly.
The World MMA Awards also give you a clear snapshot of the past year. Going through the winners of an edition shows you which fighters, fights and media members defined the season, and points you to names you may not have been following yet. Reading the list year after year also shows you how the sport's leading names have changed over time.
MMA Official's take
Fighters Only is for readers who enjoy long profiles, exclusive interviews and MMA history. It also suits anyone who wants to know who wins at the World MMA Awards each summer and follow the results in every category.
Start with issue 185 on Stipe Miocic to get a feel for the magazine. Then go through the winners of the 17th World MMA Awards, and sign up for the almanac if you want to explore the archive.