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30 MMA trivia questions and answers

30 questions with answers · Updated

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Here are 30 MMA trivia questions and answers – the ultimate MMA round on UFC champions, weight classes and the most legendary fights. The questions run from gentle warm-ups to proper head-scratchers, and every answer comes with an explanation and a source.

Did you know Conor McGregor knocked out José Aldo in just 13 seconds at UFC 194 to take the featherweight title? That kind of moment shows up along the way. Want more? Find it all on the MMA and combat sports hub and in our in-depth UFC and MMA quiz.

The set builds from easy to hard across three rounds of ten questions. Fancy a different style? Try Muay Thai or check out Swedish MMA. Ideal for a pre-party, a quiz night or just testing yourself.

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Play a quick 7-question round right here and see how many you get right.

Questions 1–10: Easy MMA questions

Easy10 questions with answers

We start gently – a warm-up that suits the whole group.

  1. 1. Who won the tournament at UFC 1?

    • A. Royce Gracie
    • B. Ken Shamrock
    • C. Gerard Gordeau

    Correct answer: Royce Gracie

    Royce Gracie won UFC 1 by defeating Gerard Gordeau by submission in the 1993 final in Denver. (Source)

  2. 2. Which city hosted UFC 1 in November 1993?

    • A. Denver
    • B. Las Vegas
    • C. New York

    Correct answer: Denver

    UFC 1 was held in Denver, Colorado, at McNichols Sports Arena on November 12, 1993. (Source)

  3. 3. What shape was the cage that became the UFC's signature feature from the very first event?

    • A. Octagon
    • B. Hexagon
    • C. Four-cornered ring

    Correct answer: Octagon

    UFC used an eight-sided cage, the Octagon, from UFC 1 onward. (Source)

  4. 4. Who did Royce Gracie face in the UFC 1 final?

    • A. Gerard Gordeau
    • B. Ken Shamrock
    • C. Art Jimmerson

    Correct answer: Gerard Gordeau

    The UFC 1 final was Royce Gracie against Gerard Gordeau, with Gracie winning by submission. (Source)

  5. 5. Which martial art dominated the early UFC thanks to Royce Gracie's success?

    • A. Brazilian jiu-jitsu
    • B. Karate
    • C. Sumo

    Correct answer: Brazilian jiu-jitsu

    Royce Gracie's submission wins at UFC 1, 2, and 4 put BJJ on the world map and changed martial arts forever. (Source)

  6. 6. Who won the UFC 2 tournament?

    • A. Royce Gracie
    • B. Steve Jennum
    • C. Dan Severn

    Correct answer: Royce Gracie

    Royce Gracie also won UFC 2, defeating Patrick Smith in the final. (Source)

  7. 7. Which family became synonymous with the UFC's early grappling dominance?

    • A. The Gracie family
    • B. The Shamrock family
    • C. The Couture family

    Correct answer: The Gracie family

    The Gracie family from Brazil essentially co-founded the UFC alongside Art Davie to showcase their Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and Royce Gracie won three of the first four tournaments. (Source)

  8. 8. How many fighters competed in the UFC 1 tournament in 1993?

    • A. 8
    • B. 16
    • C. 4

    Correct answer: 8

    UFC 1 was a one-night tournament with eight participants in a single-elimination format. Royce Gracie won by defeating three opponents in a single evening. (Source)

  9. 9. Which fighter, often called "The Hammer," became the UFC's first heavyweight champion?

    • A. Mark Coleman
    • B. Randy Couture
    • C. Bas Rutten

    Correct answer: Mark Coleman

    Mark Coleman, nicknamed "The Hammer" in MMA, became the UFC's first heavyweight champion when he won the title at UFC 12. (Source)

  10. 10. Who became the UFC's first women's champion?

    • A. Ronda Rousey
    • B. Miesha Tate
    • C. Holly Holm

    Correct answer: Ronda Rousey

    Ronda Rousey became the UFC's first women's champion when the bantamweight title was introduced to the organization. (Source)

Questions 11–20: Medium MMA questions

Medium10 questions with answers

Now the level rises with champions, weight classes and classic fights.

  1. 1. Who won the UFC 4 tournament?

    • A. Royce Gracie
    • B. Dan Severn
    • C. Oleg Taktarov

    Correct answer: Royce Gracie

    Royce Gracie won UFC 4 by defeating Dan Severn with a triangle choke in the final. (Source)

  2. 2. Who won the UFC 5 tournament?

    • A. Dan Severn
    • B. Ken Shamrock
    • C. Oleg Taktarov

    Correct answer: Dan Severn

    Dan Severn won the UFC 5 tournament by defeating Dave Beneteau in the final. (Source)

  3. 3. Which UFC 5 bout between Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock ended in a draw?

    • A. The Superfight
    • B. The tournament final
    • C. The first fight on the card

    Correct answer: The Superfight

    Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock met in a Superfight at UFC 5 that ended in a draw after the time limit. (Source)

  4. 4. Who became the UFC's first Superfight Champion at UFC 6?

    • A. Ken Shamrock
    • B. Dan Severn
    • C. Royce Gracie

    Correct answer: Ken Shamrock

    Ken Shamrock defeated Dan Severn at UFC 6 to become the UFC's first Superfight Champion. (Source)

  5. 5. How did weight classes work in the earliest UFC tournaments?

    • A. There were no weight classes at all
    • B. Three weight classes from the start
    • C. Only heavyweight was permitted

    Correct answer: There were no weight classes at all

    The early UFC tournaments had no weight classes, meaning lighter fighters could face significantly heavier opponents. Weight classes were not introduced until UFC 12 in 1997. (Source)

  6. 6. Who won the UFC 8 tournament?

    • A. Don Frye
    • B. Gary Goodridge
    • C. Tank Abbott

    Correct answer: Don Frye

    Don Frye won UFC 8 by defeating Gary Goodridge in the final. (Source)

  7. 7. Who won the UFC 10 tournament?

    • A. Mark Coleman
    • B. Don Frye
    • C. Brian Johnston

    Correct answer: Mark Coleman

    Mark Coleman won UFC 10 after defeating Don Frye in the final. (Source)

  8. 8. At which event was Mark Coleman crowned the UFC's first heavyweight champion?

    • A. UFC 12
    • B. UFC 10
    • C. UFC 15

    Correct answer: UFC 12

    Mark Coleman defeated Dan Severn at UFC 12 to become the UFC's first heavyweight champion. (Source)

  9. 9. Who became the UFC's first champion in the division that later became light heavyweight?

    • A. Frank Shamrock
    • B. Tito Ortiz
    • C. Vitor Belfort

    Correct answer: Frank Shamrock

    Frank Shamrock won the first UFC title in the division that later became light heavyweight when he finished Kevin Jackson with an armbar at UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan in 1997. (Source)

  10. 10. Who became the UFC's first welterweight champion?

    • A. Pat Miletich
    • B. Matt Hughes
    • C. Carlos Newton

    Correct answer: Pat Miletich

    Pat Miletich defeated Mikey Burnett in 1998 to become the UFC's first welterweight champion. (Source)

Questions 21–30: Hard MMA questions

Hard10 questions with answers

The finale is the toughest and decides who is tonight's MMA champion.

  1. 1. At which UFC event were timed rounds introduced for the first time?

    • A. UFC 21
    • B. UFC 1
    • C. UFC 40

    Correct answer: UFC 21

    UFC 21 in 1999 was the first time five-minute rounds were used. Before that, fights had a single overall time limit with no round division. (Source)

  2. 2. Who became the UFC's first middleweight champion in the modern 185-pound division?

    • A. Dave Menne
    • B. Rich Franklin
    • C. Murilo Bustamante

    Correct answer: Dave Menne

    Dave Menne won the UFC's first modern middleweight title in 2001 by defeating Gil Castillo. (Source)

  3. 3. Which technique did Khabib Nurmagomedov use to finish Justin Gaethje at UFC 254?

    • A. Triangle choke
    • B. Guillotine
    • C. Rear-naked choke

    Correct answer: Triangle choke

    Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Justin Gaethje by triangle choke in the second round at UFC 254. (Source)

  4. 4. Which Swedish strawweight won her UFC debut against Marnic Mann?

    • A. Josefine Knutsson
    • B. Pannie Kianzad
    • C. Bea Malecki

    Correct answer: Josefine Knutsson

    Josefine Knutsson won her UFC debut against Marnic Mann by unanimous decision in 2023. (Source)

  5. 5. Who won Bellator's first lightweight tournament and became the organization's first lightweight champion?

    • A. Eddie Alvarez
    • B. Michael Chandler
    • C. Patricky Pitbull

    Correct answer: Eddie Alvarez

    Eddie Alvarez became Bellator's first lightweight champion after winning its inaugural lightweight tournament. (Source)

  6. 6. Who won the vacant welterweight title against Robbie Lawler at UFC 171?

    • A. Johny Hendricks
    • B. Tyron Woodley
    • C. Carlos Condit

    Correct answer: Johny Hendricks

    Johny Hendricks defeated Robbie Lawler by unanimous decision at UFC 171 and won the vacant title. (Source)

  7. 7. Which submission did Brian Ortega use against Cub Swanson in 2017?

    • A. Guillotine choke
    • B. Arm-triangle choke
    • C. Twister

    Correct answer: Guillotine choke

    Brian Ortega defeated Cub Swanson by guillotine choke in 2017. (Source)

  8. 8. Which fighter finished Chan Sung Jung with a last-second elbow in 2018?

    • A. Yair Rodríguez
    • B. Brian Ortega
    • C. Max Holloway

    Correct answer: Yair Rodríguez

    Yair Rodríguez knocked out Chan Sung Jung with a last-second elbow at UFC Fight Night 139. (Source)

  9. 9. Who defeated Nick Diaz at UFC 143 and became interim welterweight champion?

    • A. Carlos Condit
    • B. Johny Hendricks
    • C. Georges St-Pierre

    Correct answer: Carlos Condit

    Carlos Condit defeated Nick Diaz by unanimous decision at UFC 143 and became interim welterweight champion. (Source)

  10. 10. Which fighter lost to Randy Couture by TKO at UFC 43 in a bout for the interim light heavyweight title?

    • A. Chuck Liddell
    • B. Tito Ortiz
    • C. Vitor Belfort

    Correct answer: Chuck Liddell

    Randy Couture defeated Chuck Liddell at UFC 43 for the interim light heavyweight title. (Source)

FAQ

How many MMA questions are here?
Exactly 30 questions with answers, split into three rounds of ten: easy, medium and hard MMA questions.
Are the questions easy or hard?
It's a mix. The rounds run from easy to hard – the first ones suit beginners, while the last ones challenge even seasoned MMA fans.
Which title did Conor McGregor win against José Aldo?
The featherweight title. McGregor knocked Aldo out in 13 seconds at UFC 194 to become UFC featherweight champion.
Do I get explanations for the answers?
Yes. Every question has an answer key with a short explanation and a source, so you can both check the answer and learn something new.

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