The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a U.S. based mixed
martial arts organization. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a combat
sport in which a wide variety of fighting techniques are used,
including striking and grappling. The UFC is currently owned by
Zuffa, LLC and Dana white currently serves as the president of
the organization.
The UFC's first tournament, UFC 1, took place in 1993. The legendary
Royce Gracie won the tournament and took the first UFC crown.
The first 11 tournaments had very limited rules. Although "There
are no rules!" was the tagline, the term was not strictly
true; the UFC operated with limited rules. There was no biting,
no eye gouging, and techniques such as hair pulling, head-butts,
and groin strikes were frowned upon, but allowed. As the popularity
grew in the sport, so did the controversy. Many U.S. states banned
UFC events as well.
In response to the criticism, the UFC cooperated with the state
athletic commissions and redesigned the rules. Weight classes
were introduced at UFC 12, and gloves became mandatory and hair
pulling, groin strikes, and kicks to a downed opponent were
banned at UFC 14. UFC 15 saw more strict rules enforced as strikes
to the back of the neck and head, and small joint manipulations
were banned.
Fast forward to 2007, the UFC's 74th event will take place
on Saturday, August 25 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in
Las Vega Nevada. In 2006 the UFC broke the pay-per-view industry's
all-time records for a single year of business, generating over
$222,766,000 in revenue during 2006, surpassing the WWE and
boxing. The UFC grossed more revenue in 2006 on PPV than any
promotion in history.
The UFC fights take place in an eight sided cage called "The
Octagon". For more information about the UFC (current fighters,
rules, fighting styles, history, etc.) please visit www.ufc.com.
