Cage Kings: How an Unlikely Group of Moguls, Champions & Hustlers Transformed the UFC into a $10 Billion Industry

Cage Kings is ostensibly about the history of MMA, but like any great piece of cultural non fiction, it doesn’t just stop at examining the sport but instead goes much deeper to contextualize how it relates to the current social and political situation in America and the rest of the world. Michael Thomsen has done a terrific job to demystify the sport and its ownership, to the point that even non MMA fans will find themselves sucked into this racy, violent world - an inside look into the making of a billion dollar global franchise. For MMA fans, it’s undoubtedly an unexpected gem. One of those rare books that is incredibly well researched, beautifully constructed, and written with a precision and clarity that truly elucidates its subject. The only book you need to read about MMA ever!

Before reading this I wasn’t aware of just how many cage fighting promotions there were, and how the UFC was able to progressively absorb almost all of them. It’s a fascinating read on both the sporting and business side.

I really enjoyed looking behind the curtain at the UFC. A lot of detail, nuance and interesting context about how MMA has changed sport and culture. The tight grip of ownership and the financial side were fascinating. If you’ve ever really enjoyed a fight, or been interested in the fighters themselves, you’ll enjoy this book. Well done.

Cage Kings is a fascinating and engaging audiobook that traces the history and evolution of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and mixed martial arts (MMA) in general. The narrator does a superb job of capturing the personalities, controversies, and drama that shaped the sport from its humble and brutal beginnings to its mainstream and global success. The book covers a wide range of topics, such as the origins of MMA in Brazil and Japan, the influence of the Gracie family, the rise and fall of Pride FC, the emergence of stars like Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor, and Nick Diaz, and the challenges and opportunities that the UFC faces in the present and future.However, the book is not without its flaws. The most glaring one is the abrupt ending that leaves many questions unanswered and many topics unexplored. The book ends with the UFC 229 event in 2018, which featured the infamous brawl between Nurmagomedov and McGregor’s teams. While this was a significant moment in MMA history, it was not a satisfying conclusion to the book. The book does not address the aftermath of the incident, the impact of COVID-19 on the sport, the rise of new champions and contenders, or the potential expansion of the UFC to new markets and audiences.There was also only a cursory overview of the psychological appeal of the UFC, and how it has become synonymous with alpha-males and right-wing ideologues.Another criticism is that the book is too US-centric and does not give enough attention to the global and diverse nature of MMA. The book focuses mainly on the UFC and its American fighters, while neglecting or glossing over other promotions and regions that have contributed to the sport’s growth and popularity. For example, the book barely mentions the popularity of MMA in places like Dagestan, Russia, where Nurmagomedov hails from and where many talented fighters are emerging. The book also does not explore the cultural, political, and social factors that shape MMA in different parts of the world.Overall, Cage Kings is a well-written and well-narrated audiobook that offers a comprehensive and captivating overview of the UFC and MMA. However, it could have been better if it had a more satisfying ending and a more balanced and inclusive perspective on the sport’s global reach and diversity.

Incredibly well researched book about the rise of MMA to multi-billion dollar industry that it is today. I'm only a casual fan, but this was so interesting that I couldn't put it down.

Cage Kings: Review by Carsten ThomsenThis is a terrible book. Terribly well written. About a terrible “sport” with long threads into the murky depths of society. Of violence, both physical and verbal. Of greed, corruption, dirty politics, unethical business practices. About the mystical draw of institutionalized violence, attracting society’s A-listers to front-row VIP seats and seducing supposedly respected investors.Money and violence make the world go round.The book is meticulously researched and documented. Written with laser-precision objectivity, which only raises the implied moral judgments to horrific elevations.I have always abhorred violent sports, and any form of behavior where people are pushed far beyond sensible limits. But somehow, the fascination with violence seems global. Drawn to that which we abhor. The author describes his own attraction to the sport, giving hints as to the causes of this paradox.In the lyrically enthralling descriptions of several fights, the author’s mastery of language shines. After reading these, I viewed the corresponding YouTube videos, and felt I had already been there and experienced those fights, painted on the canvas of my mind.That paradox of beautifully described, disgusting violence is inexplicable.This book deserves a well-crafted TV series, that matches the passionsate lens of the author. It is a milestone book, whose cool, detached view, exposes the dark sides humanity and its systems. Its non-judgmental precision, as sharp as the edge of a samurai sword, is a textbook example of objectivity for all journalists.As an antidote to this sadly captivating book, it concludes with a ray of hope. Its Acknowledgements describe an act of violence, where the victim, to whom the book is dedicated, reacts in a marvelous manner.Disclosure: I am an uncle of the author.

I didn’t know much about the UFC before reading this. There’s enough in this book to blow anyone away.

Very informative.

An interesting read, but I got the sense the book was rushing to an end nearly 300 pages in.Turns out nearly half the book is "non-content" which feels a bit of a con.