Best Apps to Follow Mixed Martial Arts

We have another guest post from Virginia Cunningham. This time she's letting us know about which apps to use to best follow mixed martial arts. Enjoy.

Best Apps to Have For MMA Fans

In the last decade, mixed martial arts (MMA), mostly under the banner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has seen a rapid increase in popularity.

What began as an unfettered, overly-violent escapade has evolved into a structured and well-regulated athletic sporting event, even giving rise to a completely new wave of fitness and exercise programs.

Throughout its lifespan, the UFC has been one of the most popular items available on pay-per-view; however, viewing these fights can be quite costly (unless a local sports bar offers them free of charge for their guests). And if you want to see the entire fight card live in the ring, it’s probably going to cost you even more, though the experience is usually well worth the price for most fans.

In today’s economy, many are hesitant of dropping upwards of $40 to view an event like the UFC. That means a high volume of the MMA fan base will get their information from the internet, free of charge.

In 2013 as well as for the foreseeable future, that means smartphone apps.

If you’re a UFC fan looking for a way to keep up with your favorite fighter(s), events and exclusives, here are some of the apps you will definitely want to check out:

1. MMA Torch

MMA Torch brings you stats, highlights and news from all the major fight promotion companies, including UFC and Bellator. It also has the distinction of being one of the first MMA apps on the market. In fact, no other MMA-dedicated app can say that they’ve been truly covering UFC since Day One. 

 

The app itself uses columns to cover each standout fight and fighting organization-- it’s the conventional solution for keeping up with your favorite fighters, reviews and analysis, all in the palm of your hand.

2. MMA Underground

The upfront cost of the app is $1.99, but it gives you access to a forum where other fans (and sometimes, even fighters) will post and comment on their sport. It has a highly active community, so if you’re looking to get involved in the more social aspect of MMA, this app is the way to go.

Brought to you by the leader in MMA information, MixedMartialArts.com, users will have access to hourly updates, photo galleries, details for upcoming events and UnderGround and OtherGround forums.

3. Bleacher Report Team Stream

Bleacher Report has quickly become one of the biggest names in sports news and information, with an entire section devoted to MMA. Their app, dubbed “team stream,” will automatically update you on news, articles and notable information about your beloved fighters and fight organizations.

Simply tell Team Stream who you’re interested in hearing about, and they’ll take care of the rest.

4. MMA Junkie

This app is an offshoot of their website, MMAJunkie.com. Describes as the Associated Press, MMA Style by Bleacher Report, you’ll get tons of information, including major news, rumors and even onsite event reporting.

This one might be a toss-up if you’re comparing it with something like MMA Torch or even Team Stream, but for most, it’s just a matter of preference. If you already frequent the MMA Junkie website, this is probably your better bet, if for only the familiarity factor.

5. UFC TV

UFC’s own video app has a lot for the MMA fan. Not only can you watch certain live fights, but you’ll also get video highlights, weigh-in reports, press conferences, as well as a library of past fights that you can watch at your leisure.

If you don’t mind watching it on the smaller screen, it’s a great option, especially if you’re not a TV person.

Keeping Your Up-to-Date

While these apps don’t necessarily replace watching the real-deal fight on pay-per-view, they do excel when it comes to giving you the scoop and helping you to stay informed about what’s going on in the world of MMA and the UFC.

It’s true that a lot of them do the same thing, but they all do it well and there is some variation to consider. Try a few out and see which one works for you.

Today’s guest writer is Virginia Cunningham, a freelance writer and MMA enthusiast in Southern California.  With a background in social media marketing and as a writer for HostPapa, she understands the relevance between mobile technology and online marketing. What apps do you use to keep up with MMA? Share your comments below!