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The Rise
of MMA & The UFC
By Clark Swihart
The UFC, or Ultimate Fighting Championships, was off to
a rocky start in 2001. The first pay per view special
went overtime and the viewers did not get to see the
end. Additionally, the early era, when rules were much
less strict, was seen as spectacle instead of sport.
This has completely turned around. The UFC was able to
enforce standards, recast from no holds barred to MMA,
or Mixed Martial Arts, and now threatens to KO boxing.
UFC is sanctioned in twenty states, and the current
leadership intends to regularize it across the nation.
The lucrative deal with Spike TV is certainly helping,
and UFC fights and television shows are very popular.
They are currently averaging 2.2 million viewers in the
third season of the show “The Ultimate Fighter,” which
has been picked up for at least two more years.
Additionally, “UFC Unleashed” and “UFC Fight Night” are
showing on Spike with first run and repeat fights. In
the last quarter of 2006, UFC had four pay per view
events averaging 482,000 viewers. UFC is now shown in 36
countries around the world. UFC is running shows in
Canada and the UK, and intends to open a UK office to
expand into the European market. The increased
visibility provided by the television shows has allowed
the UFC to market stars, creating a media draw in their
own right.
While as late as 2004 the owners, Zuffa LLC, still had
$34 million in losses. However, in 2006 the UFC
generated $222,766,000 in revenue on pay per view,
passing WWE and boxing with the largest events nearing
800,000 viewers. There is even an agreement with THQ for
worldwide rights to develop UFC based video games.
While some still see the sport as if it were still no
holds barred, the most dangerous moves have been
rendered illegal, and the competitors require great
training and skill to succeed. With elements from
various martial arts, wresting and boxing, the sport
really is mixed martial arts. Failure to provide a firm
grounding in all three areas will result in defeat.
While the typical UFC fighter will have a preferred
style, it is utterly normal to constantly evaluate
strengths against weakness, and to go with whatever
style seems likely to play to an opponents weakness.
Matches can feature a great deal of movement as fighters
dance around the ring trading blows, or can be very
still, as both fighters grapple and seek submission
holds.
The current rules were established by the New Jersey
Athletic Control Board, and have been adopted as the
“Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts” by several other
states.
On 27 March 2007 Dana White, president of the UFC,
announced the purchase of Pride Fighting Championships,
the main competitor for the UFC. The organizations will
remain separate as organizations, they will cooperate
and co-promote supercards with champions and top
contenders from both organizations in the same event. It
is being dubbed “The SuperBowl of MMA!”
Clark Swihart is the President and Founder of CAS
Enterprises, LLC. Please visit the following websites
for more information...
MartialArtsPride.com - Mixed Martial Arts Equipment,
UFC Gloves, MMA Gear, Punching Bags, Ultimate Fighting
Championships Videos, & More! TheAwristocrat.com -
Custom Silicone Rubber Bracelets, Leather Slap
Wristbands, Promotional Products, and Church & School
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