Fighting Spirit

What Fighting Spirit does

Fighting Spirit is a privately-held French media rights distribution company headquartered in Toulouse, founded in 2004 by Chairman/CEO Laurent Pourrut. The company specializes in licensing combat sports content — including MMA, boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, and martial arts documentary programming — to television operators, content buyers, and producers across 150+ countries. Its portfolio comprises approximately 20 content brands and 3,000+ hours of premium programming, encompassing aggregator-owned properties such as Fighting Spirit MMA (a weekly documentary series running since 2010), the Punch TV linear combat sports channel, and the Rush TV extreme sports channel, alongside licensed rights from external promoters including Hexagone MMA, Brave CF, Enfusion, M-1 Challenge, Rajadamnern World Series, IBA, Fight Nation, 8TKO, MLW, COMBATE GLOBAL, and World Strongman. Fighting Spirit distributes 200 live events per year through direct licensing agreements with broadcasters and operates a gated B2B Screening Room portal restricted to approved content industry professionals for content preview and acquisition.

The business operates on a sales-led B2B model with a lean team of approximately 9 employees, generating revenue through media rights licensing royalties from broadcasters and content platforms worldwide. Geographic distribution spans EMEA (France, UAE), Latin America (USA, Brazil), Southeast Asia (Thailand), and South Asia (India), with concentration in the French and broader European markets. Distribution occurs via two channels: direct field sales to enterprise broadcasters and the Screening Room self-serve B2B portal. No public revenue figures are disclosed, no external funding rounds have been reported, and the company remains under founder/CEO control. Customer segments are horizontally distributed across TV Operators (primary), TV Content Buyers (primary), and Producers (secondary), with no disclosed pricing model beyond quote-based B2B licensing arrangements.

Name

Fighting Spirit

Legal name

Fighting Spirit

Website

https://fighting.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fighting Spirit is a French B2B media rights distributor licensing combat sports content — MMA, boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and wrestling — to TV operators and content buyers across 150+ countries, distributing 200 live shows annually from a catalog of 20 brands and 3,000+ hours.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Combat Sports Media Rights Distribution

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAHAF

Mixed-Discipline/Hybrid Combat Promotions (Multi-sport cards)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Combat Sports Promotions (Boxing, MMA, Wrestling)

SECONDARYMPAKAHAB

Professional MMA Promotions

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Combat Sports Promotions (Boxing, MMA, Wrestling)

SECONDARYMPAKAHAA

Professional Boxing Promotions

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Combat Sports Promotions (Boxing, MMA, Wrestling)

SECONDARYMPAKAHAD

Kickboxing & Muay Thai Promotions

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Combat Sports Promotions (Boxing, MMA, Wrestling)

Keywords

• Combat sports media rights
• Sports content licensing
• Broadcast rights distribution
• MMA content distribution
• TV channel programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Toulouse

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Media Rights Distribution: Distribution of combat sports content (MMA, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling) to broadcasters and TV operators worldwide. Revenue generated through licensing broadcast rights to television networks and content platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Fighting Spirit is a worldwide media rights distributor of combat sports programs that licenses premium MMA, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, and Muay Thai content to TV operators, content buyers, and producers across 150+ countries. Its catalog spans 20 brands and over 3,000 hours of programming including two linear TV channels (Punch TV and Rush TV) and marquee content brands such as Fighting Spirit MMA, Hexagone MMA, Brave CF, Enfusion, M-1 Challenge, Rajadamnern World Series, and IBA, delivered through direct licensing deals and a B2B Screening Room platform.

Product overview

Fighting Spirit is a worldwide media rights distributor of combat sports programs, offering a B2B Screening Room platform for content industry professionals. The portfolio includes two TV channels (Punch TV for premium combat sports and Rush TV for extreme sports) along with approximately 15 content brands covering MMA, boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, wrestling, and martial arts. Key brands include Fighting Spirit MMA (52 episodes/year documentary series), Hexagone MMA, Brave CF, Enfusion, M-1 Challenge, Rajadamnern World Series, IBA, Fight Nation, 8TKO, MLW, COMBATE GLOBAL, and World Strongman. The company distributes 200 live shows per year across 150+ countries with a catalog of 3,000+ hours of content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Punch TV: Linear premium combat sports channel broadcasting licensed fights from LIVE world championships, exclusive programs and entertainment to the best highlights.
• Rush TV
• Fighting Spirit MMA

Products and services

• Punch TV Linear premium combat sports TV channel broadcasting licensed fights from LIVE world championships, exclusive programs, and entertainment including MMA, kickboxing, pro wrestling, and Muay Thai content, distributed to TV operators and content platforms worldwide.
• Rush TV 24/7 linear TV channel dedicated to extreme sports, motorsports, and motorcycle adventures, delivering non-stop content featuring fearless athletes and racers to TV operators and content platforms worldwide.
• Fighting Spirit MMA Global MMA documentary series since 2010, offering 52 action-packed episodes per season showcasing top KOs, TKOs, submissions, and comebacks featuring MMA icons such as Paul Daley, Josh Barnett, and Vitor Belfort, licensed to TV operators globally.
• Hexagone MMA Leading European MMA brand headquartered in France, hosting thrilling events across France, the Middle East, and Europe, with events reaching 100+ million households in 2023 via Fighting Spirit's distribution.
• Brave CF Internationally active MMA promotion hosting events across 30+ nations, with over 20 live events scheduled worldwide for 2024 in prime European time slots, distributed by Fighting Spirit to broadcasters globally.
• Rajadamnern World Series (RWS) Muay Thai organization continuing the legacy of Rajadamnern Stadium, hosting weekly events featuring seasoned veterans and promising newcomers with 40+ live events including 27 weekly world title championships, distributed by Fighting Spirit.
• International Boxing Association (IBA) Global governing body for boxing, established in 1946, promoting and unifying boxing globally with 11 championships and 3 world tournaments set for 2024, with its events and tournaments distributed by Fighting Spirit.
• Enfusion Pinnacle of kickboxing where top fighters compete for prestigious world titles, featuring over 400 hours of delayed content in Full HD 16/9 format, available worldwide since 2012 through Fighting Spirit's distribution.
• M-1 Challenge Europe's iconic MMA promotion since 1997, known for propelling emerging talents to stardom, featuring 100 episodes of 180 minutes each from 2010-2020, distributed via Fighting Spirit to broadcasters.
• Fight Nation Electrifying lineup of boxing and kickboxing events featuring international titles and European championships available in French and English, distributed by Fighting Spirit.
• 8TKO Fast-paced fight nights in ring and cage launched in 2023 under the Enfusion umbrella, featuring top athletes, World Championship bouts, and mix of rules including Xtreme Stand Up, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and MMA formats, with each event featuring 5 fights (at least 3 under special rules), distributed by Fighting Spirit.
• MLW Diverse wrestling styles promotion established in 2002 by Court Bauer, featuring iconic personalities like Matt Riddle and 169 episodes of 60 minutes each from 2019-2021, distributed by Fighting Spirit.
• COMBATE GLOBAL Miami-based MMA promotion dominating the Latin American scene with 30 LIVE events per year broadcast in over 100 countries from 2021-2025, distributed by Fighting Spirit.
• World Strongman Globally recognized strength athletics organization founded by Vlad Redkin with members across 60 countries, featuring 9 live championships in 4K resolution with English language support, distributed by Fighting Spirit.
• Martial Arts Chronicles Captivating documentary series of 11 episodes (60 minutes each) exploring various martial arts disciplines, their history, philosophies, and unique skills of martial artists worldwide, distributed by Fighting Spirit.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200 live shows distributed annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ONE Championship: Asia-based multi-discipline combat sports promotion (MMA, kickboxing, Muay Thai, submission grappling) with global broadcast distribution. Comparable as a multi-discipline combat-sports content producer and rights seller.
• PFL (Professional Fighters League): MMA league and content producer with its own global media rights strategy, including international distribution partnerships. Comparable as a combat-sports rights holder competing for the same broadcaster relationships.
• Endeavor (WME-IMG): Owns UFC and the IMG sports rights portfolio, making it both a combat sports promoter and a global sports media rights distributor. Directly relevant as the dominant incumbent in combat sports rights, against whom Fighting Spirit competes for non-top-tier deals.
• Anthem Sports & Entertainment: Owns combat sports content including Impact Wrestling and AXS TV. Comparable as a vertically integrated combat-sports content and channel operator, with overlapping distributor/promotion relationships.

Direct peers

• Infront Sports & Media: One of the world's largest independent sports media rights distributors, licensing rights across multiple sports to broadcasters globally. Highly comparable business model to Fighting Spirit's B2B rights distribution, though at a vastly larger scale and across mainstream sports.
• SPI International: Operates a portfolio of thematic TV channels and distributes third-party content to operators worldwide, including sports-adjacent channels. Comparable as a B2B channel operator and content licensor serving TV operators.
• DAZN: Global sports streaming and rights-distribution platform that has carried combat sports including MMA and boxing. Comparable as a buyer/aggregator of combat sports media rights and a competitor for broadcaster relationships.

Others

• Red Bee Media: Provides media services to broadcasters and content distributors, including channel playout and content management for sports channels. Comparable as an enabling services provider in the same B2B content distribution ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Glory Sports International: Premier kickboxing organization that licenses content to international broadcasters. Comparable as a kickboxing-focused combat-sports content rights holder overlapping with Fighting Spirit's kickboxing brands (Enfusion, 8TKO).

Regional players

• Premier Sports (UK): UK and Ireland pay-TV operator that carries combat sports (boxing, MMA, wrestling). Comparable as a regional combat-sports channel/aggregator, with overlapping content licensing interests to Fighting Spirit's territory footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fightingspirit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fighting Spirit