Most boxing or MMA cards have several undercard fights before the main fight, usually around 3 to 6 bouts, but the exact number depends on the promotion and event.

How many fights before the main fight?

  • Big televised events (PPV or major streaming cards) commonly schedule 3–6 fights before the main event on the main card.
  • Smaller shows or local cards might have fewer, while some large arena events can stack even more undercard bouts, especially if they include both prelims and a main card.

So, if you are tuning in “for the main fight,” expect a run of multiple undercard matchups first, often lasting a couple of hours, before the headliners walk out.

Why are there undercard fights?

  • They warm up the crowd and build atmosphere before the big fight.
  • Promoters use them to showcase rising talent or give exposure to fighters who might become future headliners.

Quick viewing tip

  • If the broadcast says the event starts at, say, 7 p.m., the main fight might not begin until 2–3 hours later , depending on how many undercard fights there are and how long they last.

In short: when people ask “how many fights before the main fight,” the practical answer for most modern cards is “a handful of undercard fights, usually three to six, but it can vary.”

TL;DR: For “how many fights before the main fight,” expect about 3–6 undercard bouts on a typical modern card, with some variation based on the size and style of the event.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.