Top 5 Canadian MMA Promotions You Should Know

Canadian MMA isn’t just growing: it’s exploding. With top-level gyms, killer local talent, and fierce promotions holding it all together, the fight scene in the Great White North is heating up in a big way. If you’re a fighter looking to make a name for yourself, a fan chasing future UFC stars, or someone who just loves the raw energy of live combat, here are the five Canadian MMA promotions that you need to have on your radar. These promotions are more than events: they’re launchpads for legends.

1. Unified MMA (Alberta)

• Founded: 2009
• Headquarters: Edmonton, Alberta
• Known for: UFC-caliber matchmaking, televised cards, stacked local rosters

Unified MMA is widely regarded as the #1 MMA promotion in Canada right now. It has grown into the premier proving ground for Canadian fighters aiming to break into international leagues like the UFC, Bellator, or ONE Championship. Based primarily in Alberta, Unified hosts events in both Edmonton and Calgary, giving local fighters a spotlight on a national and even global stage thanks to their broadcast deal with UFC Fight Pass.

Their events are well-organized, professionally run, and attract packed crowds. Fighters who have competed under the Unified banner include Ramil Kamilov, KB Bhullar, Tom O’Connor, and several others who eventually signed with major global promotions.

Unified offers athletes real exposure, competitive matchups, and the kind of intensity that builds character in and out of the cage.

Want to fight where it counts in Canada? Unified is the name to chase.

2. BTC Fight Promotions (Ontario)

• Founded: 2017
• Headquarters: Burlington, Ontario
• Known for: Clean amateur-to-pro pipeline, Ontario's top-tier events

BTC stands for “Beyond The Cage,” and that’s exactly what they deliver. As Ontario’s most recognized MMA promotion, BTC regularly features top athletes from across the province and has built a solid reputation for launching fighters toward larger platforms.

They also offer amateur showcases that give up-and-comers a chance to get a taste of the big stage before making the jump to pro. The production is professional, the fights are competitive, and their matchmaking favors action over fluff. Events are typically streamed online, offering visibility for athletes and fans alike.

Fighters looking to build a reputation in Ontario know that BTC is the place to start.

Ontario fighters, this is your stomping ground.

3. Samourai MMA (Québec)

• Founded: 2021
• Headquarters: Montreal, Québec
• Known for: Francophone fighters, post-TKO revival, visual production

Quebec once had a thriving MMA scene with events like TKO MMA setting the bar. When that folded, Samourai MMA stepped up to restore the fire. In just a few short years, it’s grown into a respected platform for Francophone fighters and is leading the charge in bringing Quebec MMA back to life.

Samourai blends modern production value with classic fight grit. The events feature high-level athletes from Quebec and beyond, and the promotion is intentional about highlighting French-speaking talent, creating a strong sense of cultural pride and community.

Samourai MMA continues to build momentum and is poised to become a central hub for Eastern Canada’s fight community.

If you want to hear the crowd chant in French while fists fly, Samourai is where it happens.

4. BFL – Battlefield Fight League (British Columbia)

• Founded: 2010
• Headquarters: Vancouver, BC
• Known for: UFC feeder league, BC's top-level promotion, clean digital content

BFL is British Columbia’s top MMA promotion and a certified talent pipeline to the UFC. Fighters like Jeremy Kennedy, Cole Smith, and Tristan Connelly all got their start at BFL before stepping into the Octagon.

They offer both amateur and professional fights and consistently host sold-out events in venues across Vancouver. Their commitment to fighter development, crisp online content, and community-focused events make them one of the most polished promotions in Canada.

West Coast warriors rise here.

5. TKO Major League MMA (Québec - Legacy)

• Founded: 2000 (ceased operations in 2020)
• Headquarters: Montreal, Québec
• Known for: Launching Canadian UFC legends like GSP, David Loiseau, and Patrick Côté

While no longer active, TKO remains the most historically influential Canadian MMA promotion. It was the original proving ground for fighters who would go on to headline in the UFC. Its legacy still shapes the fight scene in Québec and across the country. Even today, the format, production quality, and matchmaking strategies of modern promotions echo the TKO blueprint.

TKO went on hiatus from 2008 to 2016, resurfaced briefly with a deal on UFC Fight Pass, and then dissolved formally after its 2019 fiscal year. The shutdown was driven by a combination of cancelled events (one due to 18 fighters being injured or ill while trying to book a card, another after TKO’s president was hospitalized) and the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic, which forced further inactivity and restructuring.

Before the lights, the sponsors, and the fame, there was TKO.

From coast to coast, Canadian MMA is alive and thriving. These five promotions are building the foundation for the future of Canadian combat sports. Whether you’re stepping into the cage or cheering from the crowd, this is the moment to support local warriors and the promotions that fuel their fire.