What Are UFC Trading Cards?
Despite the UFC being around since 1993, the first mainstream trading cards were only introduced by Topps in 2009. Much like other sports cards, they’re officially licensed collectibles rather than a playable trading card game.
Sets typically include base cards, parallels and refractors, themed inserts, autographs, and rookie cards. Most cards feature fighters, although some early sets included Octagon Girl autographs. There was even a card of UFC commentator Joe Rogan! Champions, fan favorites, autographs from big-name fighters, and rarity all drive value, and serial-numbered parallels, especially 1/1s, are some of the most in-demand pulls.
UFC Digital Cards Versus UFC Trading Cards
Although you’ll often hear the terms used interchangeably in the world of
online card rips, there is a difference.
- Digital: UFC digital cards may refer to digital cards with no physical counterpart. These were only collected and traded online.
- Physical: UFC trading cards are the physical, paper cards you can hold in your hand and store in binders, sleeves, or slabs.
It’s worth noting that physical cards have a digital version, which is necessary for virtual rips until the actual card is shipped to its new owner. The table below summarizes the differences more clearly.
| Details | UFC digital cards | UFC trading cards |
| Digital version | ✅ | ✅ The physical card is represented by a digital version on virtual rip platforms |
| Physical version | ❌ | ✅ |
| Storage | In an online wallet, platform, or app | Dedicated vaults or warehouses, or at your private home (when shipped) |
| Format | Digital asset, often minted as NFTs on a blockchain | Raw cards, authenticated cards, graded slabs |
| Active today | No, Topps UFC Knockout App and Panini UFC NFTs are now defunct and discontinued | Yes, UFC trading cards are still being produced |
To put it bluntly, UFC is underrepresented on rip sites. Popular platforms like ClutchPacks and Underdog Rips that offer multisport packs tend to only focus on the big three: NFL, MLB, and NBA.
Rumors About Packz.io
Some sources report that UFC cards are included in the sports packs at Packz.io, although we weren’t able to verify this. The platform only displays a small selection of premium pulls—six cards for each of its six packs, to be exact. You can’t see a full list of all the cards in the pool anywhere. The packs’ contents are described as premium sports cards from NBA, NFL, MLB, and international leagues. Although UFC operates on an international scale, it’s technically a promotion owned by TKO Group, not a league.
So, despite third-party claims that you can find UFC cards at Packz.io, we’re not convinced. We’ve never pulled a UFC card on this platform, and we don’t see any indication that it’s possible. That said, Packz.io is still a great website and iOS app for other sports cards and Pokémon cards.
Where Else to Look
Fanatics owns the exclusive UFC trading card license via its Topps brand. So, the natural home of UFC trading cards is Fanatics Live, which includes breaks and rips, and the Topps online shop, where you can buy sealed boxes to open at home. There are some third-party platforms and marketplaces where you can find graded slabs, too, so it’s worth exploring to see what you can find.
Pros and Cons of Digital UFC Card Rips
While there are plenty of upsides to virtual pack rips, the UFC niche is limited by its popularity. There just aren’t as many collectors yet, especially compared to mainstream sports leagues.
Pros and Cons
- Solo pack rips and live group breaks
- 17+ years of UFC trading card history
- Cards are authenticated and graded
- Autographs, relics, RC, 1/1s and other rare collectibles
- Not widely available on card ripping platforms
How to Rip the Best UFC Trading Cards Online
Opening UFC packs online works the same way as with other collectible
sports card rips
for the most part. The main difference is availability, as UFC cards are harder to find. Follow these 10 steps if you want to build out your MMA card collection through virtual pack rips.
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Find a reputable platform where you can open UFC packs
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Register your personal details and create your account
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Complete any KYC or verification requirements
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If applicable, deposit funds to the platform
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Compare pack prices and odds
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Select and purchase your chosen pack
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Rip the pack!
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Choose whether to store, sell, or ship the card
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Continue opening packs to build your collection
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Don’t forget to check marketplaces for specific fighters
The Timeline of UFC Trading Cards, Explained
It’s worth knowing UFC trading card lore if you plan on opening packs, as it helps you understand what you’ve pulled. Here’s a brief history of UFC trading cards to get you started, condensed into four key eras.
The Topps Era (2009–2020)
This is where it all started. Topps held the license for longer than a decade, during which time it released some iconic early cards, like the 2010 Topps UFC Knockout Jose Aldo rookie autograph, numbered to 188. Sets included Round 1, Knockout and Museum, which were technically borrowed MLB brands.
The Panini Era (2021–2023)
Panini took over in 2021 with a multi-year deal, bringing its flagship brands on board: Prizm, Select, Chronicles, and Immaculate. This is when the chase for rookie cards and parallels ramped up, mirroring what we see for other sports cards like football, basketball, and baseball. The final Panini release was 2023 Immaculate.
Fanatics Era (2024–present)
When Fanatics signed the deal to the UFC rights in February 2024, the organization described it as UFC “coming home”. This makes more sense when you know that Fanatics bought Topps in 2022. The first release was 2024 Topps Chrome UFC. Since then there have been several more releases, and UFC fighters have even joined live breaks on the parent company’s live platform. Current lines are Topps Chrome UFC, Topps Royalty UFC, and 2026 Topps Stadium Club UFC.
Current UFC Chase Cards to Keep an Eye Out for
These are some of the best UFC trading cards in circulation today. If you’re fortunate enough to pull one, they’re worth a pretty penny!
These are the #1 chase cards. They’re a one-of-a-kind, gold version of a card, so they’re unique. Owning the only copy of a card is an obvious flex, so collectors go wild for these. If you’re wondering just how rare they are, a base-autograph Superfractor turns up once in every 12,253 hobby packs. The ultimate jackpot is a signed Superfractor.
✍️ Octagon Legends autographs
These are a limited-edition subset from every annual Topps Chrome UFC release since 2024. Every card features a signature from one of the greats, like retired MMA legends Anderson Silva, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Georges St-Pierre, and Chuck Liddell. Parallels include Red, Black, Orange, Gold, Green, and Blue Refractors with limited print runs from 5 to 150.
📜 Topps 2009 Variation Signatures
This is a special insert and parallel autograph set that pays homage to the pioneer era of Topps UFC trading cards. The old-school aesthetic combined with authenticated signatures from some of today’s biggest UFC stars means these cards are valued at hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Some of the 28 signers include Valentina Shevchenko, Kayla Harrison, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and Sean Strickland.
Rookie chases have an extra element of excitement. They’re a chance to back a fighter early in their career, with the hope that the trading card will significantly increase in value with the fighter’s success. Raul Rosas Jr. and Bo Nickal are a couple of rising stars to look out for in Future Stars Autographs, Youthquake, and Radiating Rookies sets.
You’re fortunate if you find one or two of these special insert cards per case. Immortal Force cards are slightly rarer than Kings & Queens, and parallels include chrome finishes and super rare 1/1 SuperFractor versions. Some of the most sought-after include Conor McGregor King (#KAQ-2 / #KQ-11) and Amanda Nunes Queen (#KQ-12). Other case hits include:
- Let’s Go!:
A Super Short-Printed (SSP) case hit, featuring high-intensity, dynamic moments. Checklist examples include Alex Pereira and Merab Dvalishvili.
- Twilight:
High-value SSP inserts, specific to Topps Midnight UFC. These have a dark, moody theme and feature prominent fighters like Tracy Cortez, Reinier de Ridder, and Shavkat Rakhmonov.
- Helix:
SSP inserts from Topps Chrome releases, with notable stars like Ilia Topuria, Paddy Pimblet, and Bo Nickal.
- Neon Apex:
Another SSP case hit from the Topps Midnight UFC set. These have a geometric, neon, space theme and are distinguished by the NA prefix.
Best UFC Trading Cards and Sites of 2026
Our key takeaway is that although the best UFC trading cards are hard to find, they’re worth pursuing, especially if you’re a committed MMA fan. Most major platforms may not offer virtual UFC rips just yet, but if anything, that’s even more of a reason to get involved now. It just means you’ll be one step ahead when the industry heavyweights decide to get a slice of the action. At the moment, you can still rip and break packs online, whether you prefer flying solo or engaging with the UFC trading card community and show hosts.
UFC digital card rips could land on a new platform at any time. Use our links on this page to explore some of the top card ripping sites.
FAQs
🃏 Can You Rip UFC Trading Cards Online?
Yes! UFC and MMA trading cards are still relatively niche compared to other sports cards, like NFL or NBA, or TCGs like Pokémon. However, the community of collectors and fans is growing, and you can already rip UFC and MMA packs online at a couple of platforms.
📺 How Are Live UFC Card Breaks Different from Rips?
Live UFC breaks are a group activity where multiple collectors buy a spot for a scheduled show. A streamer then rips packs on camera, and any hits that match your spot are yours. With rips, you buy and own the entire pack, box, or set, and open it independently in your own time.
🏭 Who Produces UFC Trading Cards?
Since 2024, Fanatics has held the exclusive rights to produce UFC trading cards, which it does under the Topps brand. Topps also produced the first ever mainstream UFC cards back in 2009 and has held the official license ever since, except for a blip from 2021–2023 when Panini took over.
💻 What’s the Difference Between UFC Digital Cards and UFC Trading Cards?
When you open UFC packs online, you get a digital representation of a real trading card that can be shipped, sold, traded, or remain vaulted. However, there are also digital-only UFC cards which are primarily available on the publisher’s app.
💰 What Is the Most a UFC Trading Card Has Ever Sold For?
The most a UFC card has ever sold for at public auction is $196,420, and that record was set by a Conor McGregor 1-of-1 Rookie Autograph. Ilia Topuria’s 2022 Panini Prizm Black Prizm 1/1 (PSA 9) holds second place, fetching a cool $101,000.
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by
Ryan Leaver
as part of our fact-checking process.
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