The 10 Biggest MMA Butterfly Effect Moments

TL;DR

Ten seemingly unrelated events — from stolen plane tickets to cocaine dealers — accidentally shaped MMA history in ways nobody could have predicted.

Key Points

• 1.Antonio Inoki stealing New Japan's money accidentally birthed Japanese MMA. Inoki and partner Shinma secretly used NJPW funds for a failed Brazilian biotech venture; Shinma's ouster led to the UWF and eventually Pride FC, accelerating Japanese MMA just in time to save the sport when it collapsed in the US.
• 2.A stolen plane ticket stranded 17-year-old Rorion Gracie in the US for a full year. A Hollywood YMCA receptionist stole his cash and return ticket in 1969; the airline refused to reissue it for 6 months, forcing Rorion to survive on odd jobs — ultimately leading to the Playboy profile that sparked the UFC's creation.
• 3.Tom Egan's forgettable UFC debut inspired Conor McGregor to resume his career. Egan, the first Irish UFC fighter, lost in round one at UFC 93, but a young McGregor — then contemplating returning to plumbing — saw his SBG gym-mate compete and decided his own dream was attainable, launching the sport's biggest star.
• 4.John Skipper's cocaine dealer trying to extort him is the only reason the UFC landed on ESPN. Skipper, who hated the UFC, was forced to resign as ESPN president; replacement Jimmy Pitaro, a longtime Dana White acquaintance, immediately greenlit the ESPN deal the UFC desperately needed after losing Fox.
• 5.A Joe Weller vs. Theo Baker YouTube spar with 7 million views inadvertently created MVP Promotions. The chain reaction — Weller challenged KSI, KSI called out the Pauls, Jake Paul got the boxing bug as co-main event — led to Paul's MMA venture MVP, which will headline its first Netflix MMA event with Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano.
• 6.The San Jose Sharks repeatedly failing to win the Stanley Cup caused the UFC to absorb Strikeforce. Owner Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment, strained by running both Strikeforce and a struggling NHL team, sold their 50% stake for $40 million — handing the UFC its final major competitor and bringing Ronda Rousey into the promotion.
• 7.Dana White attending a high school friend's wedding is the founding moment of the modern UFC. White almost skipped it, but loyalty to Adam Corrigan — who drove him to school daily — made him go; there he reconnected with the Fertitta brothers, who then bought the failing UFC for $2 million and built it into a global empire.