sherdog.com

November 6, 2025

What Sherdog.com Is

Sherdog is a long-running American website focused on mixed martial arts (MMA) — a comprehensive resource dedicated to the sport, its fighters, events, news, rankings and history. It began as one of the first MMA websites back in 1997 and has grown into one of the most widely recognized names in MMA media.

The site’s homepage blends several key sections: news articles, fight results, upcoming event calendars, fighter profiles, rankings, podcasts, videos and odds. You’ll see things like UFC or PFL news, feature articles on fighters or trends in the sport, and access to massive historical data on fights and records.

Registration isn’t required to browse most of the content, but if you want to participate in the forums you do have to sign up.

How Sherdog Started

Sherdog was created by Jeff Sherwood — a photographer and MMA fan who launched the site in 1997. The early days were simple compared to today’s standards, but they filled a big gap at a time when mainstream sports media didn’t cover MMA much.

Over time Sherdog evolved from a fan-driven page to a professional media platform. It introduced regular fighter interviews, event previews and reviews, and built out what became one of the most extensive MMA fight databases in existence.

In 2007, Sherdog was acquired by CraveOnline Media (now part of Evolve Media), which helped expand its reach — including content partnerships with major outlets like ESPN. That deal meant ESPN shared Sherdog’s deep Fight Finder database and other MMA content with its own audience.

Main Content and Features

News and Articles

At its core, Sherdog publishes MMA news and analysis. You can find:

  • Coverage of UFC, PFL, Bellator and other promotions
  • Fight previews and post-fight write-ups
  • Opinion pieces and deep dives
  • Interviews with fighters, trainers and personnel

Writers like Jay Pettry and Brian Knapp contribute regular pieces on both current and historical topics.

Fight Finder Database

One of Sherdog’s standout resources is the Fight Finder. This lets you look up individual fighters and see:

  • Career records
  • Dates and results of fights
  • Opponents and promotions involved

It’s often used as a reference for historical fight information across MMA, and many in the sport treat it as a go-to source for profiles and stats.

Rankings

Sherdog maintains official MMA rankings. These include:

  • Divisional rankings (by weight class)
  • Pound-for-pound lists
  • Women’s rankings

These lists are updated regularly and reflect the site’s editorial perspective on fighter performance.

Community Forum

A big part of Sherdog is its forum community. Forums are some of the most active MMA discussion boards on the internet, with tens of thousands of members and millions of posts. Users debate fight outcomes, share opinions on upcoming events, discuss fighter careers, and even dive into topics beyond MMA.

Participation requires account registration, but otherwise the message boards are open and searchable.

Podcasts and Multimedia

Sherdog also hosts podcasts and audio shows, historically branded under the Sherdog Radio Network banner. The network includes weekly MMA talk shows, roundtable discussions and event breakdowns. These shows vary over time, but have been a mainstay of the site’s offerings for years.

On top of that, Sherdog has a presence on platforms like YouTube, where they post fight news, interviews and video summaries related to MMA.

Why Sherdog Matters in MMA

Sherdog’s importance in MMA comes from longevity and depth. It launched when mainstream sports coverage of MMA was minimal, and it grew alongside the sport itself. Early fans and fighters alike used Sherdog for news when few other outlets were covering MMA consistently.

Its Fight Finder database pre-dates many competitor resources and remains one of the most comprehensive catalogs of MMA bout history ever assembled. That makes it useful for journalists, fans, matchmakers, and even fighters researching opponents.

Sherdog also bridged traditional and digital media through partnerships, notably with ESPN, which helped bring MMA content to broader audiences in the 2000s.

What You’ll Actually See on the Site

When you land on Sherdog.com, the homepage is dense with content. That’s because the site mixes:

  • Latest news headlines
  • Latest event results and upcoming fights
  • Feature articles
  • Links to Fight Finder profiles
  • Ranks and statistics
  • Forum highlights
  • Podcasts and videos

You’ll see individual fight matchups, breakdowns of specific fighters, and often some specialized statistics and oddsmaking insights.

The interface isn’t overly flashy — it’s functional and content-rich, but some users find it a bit busy, especially newcomers. Still, the focus is on information density rather than minimalist design.

How People Use Sherdog

Different people use Sherdog in different ways:

  • Fans and casual viewers visit for news or to check results.
  • Hardcore enthusiasts dive into Fight Finder and forum threads.
  • Reporters and analysts pull stats or historical fight info.
  • Podcasters and commentators listen to or reference Sherdog shows.

Because of its long history and extensive database, Sherdog is often referenced in MMA discussions, research and reporting on fight history.

Limitations and Critiques

Despite its reputation, Sherdog isn’t without critics. Some users debate the accuracy of certain fight records, especially for older bouts where documentation is inconsistent. There are occasional discrepancies in fighter histories among sites like Tapology or Wikipedia vs. Sherdog’s listings.

Others feel that ranks or editorial angles occasionally reflect opinion more than consensus, but that’s common across media sites covering sports. Content bias or varying perspectives is part of any editorial platform.

Key Takeaways

  • Sherdog.com is a major MMA news and stats website with roots going back to 1997.
  • It offers news, fight results, fighter profiles and rankings as core content.
  • The Fight Finder database is one of the sport’s most comprehensive historical records.
  • Forums and community interaction are a big part of its appeal.
  • Sherdog also includes podcasts, videos and editorial features covering MMA worldwide.

FAQ

Is Sherdog free to use?
Mostly yes. You can read news, lookup fight records and browse rankings without signing in. Forum posting requires a free account.

Does Sherdog cover all MMA promotions?
Sherdog focuses on major promotions like UFC, PFL and Bellator, but it also includes coverage of regional and international events where information is available.

How often is Sherdog updated?
Very frequently — news and results are updated multiple times per day, especially around major fight weekends.

Can I find fighter stats on Sherdog?
Yes. Fighter profiles in the Fight Finder database list records, fight histories and related stats.

Does Sherdog produce podcasts?
Yes. The site hosts MMA talk shows and podcasts, some of which are part of the Sherdog Radio Network brand.