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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 Fundraising |
