New Jersey Emerges as Combat Sports Powerhouse Report Finds

The history of Combat Sports in New Jersey dates back to the early 20th Century; Numerous Boxing Clubs opened in towns such as Hudson, Bergen, and Essex in response to the rise in popularity of Professional Boxing in the United States.

Cities such as Jersey City and Camden hosted major fights featuring future Hall of Fame Boxers such as "Jersey" Joe Walcott and Jack Dempsey. But the real golden age of combat sports in New Jersey came when the Casinos were built in Atlantic City, creating another level of attention to The Garden State.

From a young Knockout Artist Mike Tyson in the 1980s to the second Heavyweight Championship run for George Foreman in the 1990s, Atlantic City was home to some of the biggest fights in Boxing with legendary fighters competing at the beach.

New Jersey also saw the rise of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) with the adoption of the Universal Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. MMA Legends such as Randy Couture, BJ Penn, and Tito Ortiz competed in Atlantic City while Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, and Max Holloway won fights in Newark.

Today, the latest research shows that New Jersey is one of the best states in America for Combat Sports Fans and Athletes.

According to a press release, the team at Fantasy MMAdness gathered data on each state to find out what the Best States are for Combat Sports. Their research team gathered information on the following categories to build their rankings:

-Boxing and MMA Gym Registered
-Total Number of Certified Professional Fighters
-Number of Combat Sports Events in the state

New Jersey received the fifth-highest overall Score in Fantasy MMAdness rankings. NJ's 73 Boxing Clubs registered is the 11th most in any state, and the 1,167 Martial Arts Schools is the 5th most in any state in America.

New Jersey's 66 Professional Combat Sports Events in 2024 are the sixth most in the United States last year. The Garden State also has the 8th most sanctioned Professional MMA Fighters (35) and the 4th-most sanctioned Professional Boxers (61).

Here's The Full Rankings Of The Top 10 States for Combat Sports in 2025

1. California
2. New York
3. Texas
4. Hawaii
5. New Jersey
6. Florida
7. Massachusetts
8. Nevada
9. Colorado
10. Pennsylvania

Some of the biggest Combat Sports Events in Atlantic City over the decades have been hosted at the iconic Boardwalk Hall. Here are some of the biggest events that have been hosted at that historic venue: