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The Ultimate Fighting Championship has introduced a form of fighting which it classed as no-holds-barred. In the beginning the Ultimate Fighting Championships had very few rules. There were no weight classes and no time limits or rounds. The only rules were that fighters could not eye gouge, bite, or fish hook, and fights could only end with a referees stoppage, knock out, or submission, which could be done verbally, or by a tap out, where the fighter must tap the mat, or his opponent three times with his hand or foot to signal that he submits.
The event was a one night tournament, where competitors would fight several times in one night, in a single elimination style tournament until a champion was named. The lack of weight classes was an obvious problem, when 415 pound sumo wrestler was allowed to fight 216 pound kick boxer. This scene was later repeated in the third UFC event, when 6-foot-8inch tall, 600 pound sumo wrestler, was allowed to fight 5-foot-11-inch tall, 200 pound karate fighter.
As the UFC gained popularity, it became a political topic, as one Arizona Senator launched a campaign against the UFC. As a result, in 1997, pay-per-view companys dropped the Ultimate Fighting Championship events from their line-ups.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship remained out of sight, without pay-per-view coverage, and banned from all but a handful of states for several years, until the franchise was purchased by Zuffa, LLC. Zuffa, a Las Vegas based media and casino management company owned by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, took over the UFC franchise with the intention of returning it to its former popularity, and eventually gaining the sport mainstream acceptance. The Fertittas and Zuffa President Dana White sought to turn the UFC into a good, clean sport with actual rules, which allowed the sport to eventually become sanctioned. This would be a huge step for the UFC, as sanctioning provides a legitimization for the sport, according to Bruce Buffer.
Dana White and the Fertittas work hard work came apparent in 2001, when the UFC returned to pay-per-view, with record PPV sales, and record ticket sales at their live events. The new and improved UFC returned with a stricter set of rules, which included rounds, time limits, five weight classes, a list of 31 fouls, and 8 possible ways to win. The UFC fighters were very different from those that entered the Octagon in 1993. Current UFC fighters are among the best conditioned athletes in the world. Often, fighters train for more than six hours a day.
Today, the UFCs pay-per-view sales are rising quickly, and most of live shows are sold out at the arenas. A lot of fighters now spend a few years fighting in smaller events, getting experience before they go to the UFC. Mixed martial arts is also currently the fastest growing sport in the United States, as mixed martial arts events and training centers spring up all over the country, and the money the sport is making continues to grow at a nearly exponential rate.
The event was a one night tournament, where competitors would fight several times in one night, in a single elimination style tournament until a champion was named. The lack of weight classes was an obvious problem, when 415 pound sumo wrestler was allowed to fight 216 pound kick boxer. This scene was later repeated in the third UFC event, when 6-foot-8inch tall, 600 pound sumo wrestler, was allowed to fight 5-foot-11-inch tall, 200 pound karate fighter.
As the UFC gained popularity, it became a political topic, as one Arizona Senator launched a campaign against the UFC. As a result, in 1997, pay-per-view companys dropped the Ultimate Fighting Championship events from their line-ups.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship remained out of sight, without pay-per-view coverage, and banned from all but a handful of states for several years, until the franchise was purchased by Zuffa, LLC. Zuffa, a Las Vegas based media and casino management company owned by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, took over the UFC franchise with the intention of returning it to its former popularity, and eventually gaining the sport mainstream acceptance. The Fertittas and Zuffa President Dana White sought to turn the UFC into a good, clean sport with actual rules, which allowed the sport to eventually become sanctioned. This would be a huge step for the UFC, as sanctioning provides a legitimization for the sport, according to Bruce Buffer.
Dana White and the Fertittas work hard work came apparent in 2001, when the UFC returned to pay-per-view, with record PPV sales, and record ticket sales at their live events. The new and improved UFC returned with a stricter set of rules, which included rounds, time limits, five weight classes, a list of 31 fouls, and 8 possible ways to win. The UFC fighters were very different from those that entered the Octagon in 1993. Current UFC fighters are among the best conditioned athletes in the world. Often, fighters train for more than six hours a day.
Today, the UFCs pay-per-view sales are rising quickly, and most of live shows are sold out at the arenas. A lot of fighters now spend a few years fighting in smaller events, getting experience before they go to the UFC. Mixed martial arts is also currently the fastest growing sport in the United States, as mixed martial arts events and training centers spring up all over the country, and the money the sport is making continues to grow at a nearly exponential rate.
About the Author:
I am a professional write with a good knowledge of the Ultimate Fighter. To watch MMA fights and chat on MMA forums check out ufcultimatefighter.com.
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