I’m a long time fan of combat sports and in particular MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). As you can imagine, I pay particular attention to artwork used in the sport. The UFC are leading the way with online content and are probably one of the front runners for any entertainment company (not just MMA) in delivering online video and live events. A while ago I collected together some of their old event specific websites dating back nearly 6 years. Whilst the UFC are doing a good job in online innovation, the Japanese organisation DREAM have produced some real design gems in the forms of posters.
I think DREAM’s approach stems from the different attitude that Japan has towards combat sports. Fighting is seen as an art form and fighters are highly respected. Here are some DREAM posters I’ve collected online that use creative typography and photography:
