-
The Foundation
Starting in 1993 as a professional MMA organization, started by Rorion Gracie and Arthur Davie. Arthur had proposed an eight man single elimination tournament which would be called "War of the Worlds". The tournament would determine the best martial art and replicate the action-video series made by Gracie. -
UFC 1
The tournament would be made up of fighters from different disciples(styles) and would be produced by WOW productions and SEG (Semaphore entertainment group). The tournament was extremely successful with 86,000 pay-per-view subscribers. It would be coined The Ultimate fighting championship and would later be called UFC 1. https://www.bbc.com/sport/mixed-martial-arts/46015665 -
UFC experimental
In the Early stages of UFC (UFC 1-9), there were no weight classes, so a smaller fighter could fight a sumo wrestler. Fighters wore clothing based on their style. Early Fights were very experimental with things like how long rounds were, how many rounds, including fighters fighting more than once in one night. Fights were done until a clear winner emerged. Often fights get grounded causing fighters to adapt and expand styles such as wrestling and submission. -
Selling the franchise
In 1995 following UFC 5,Davie and Gracie had sold their interest in the franchise to SEG. Davie would continue to book matches and be commissioner until 1997. -
"Is this Legal?", Reforming the UFC
1996, Senator John McCain had seen a tape of the first UFC events and called it "human cockfighting", he'd send letters to governors asking them to ban the event. This caused thirty states to make laws that banned "no-holds-barred" fighting. This includes New York where UFC 12 had to be relocated to Dothan,Alabama. The UFC would later cooperate and redesign their rules. https://youtu.be/6cRzy97-HCM -
Zuffa Era: Early 2000s
By the turn of the Century SEG was almost bankrupt, when Station Casinos had execs and business partner Dana White approached to buy the UFC. By January of 2001 they purchased the UFC for $2 million and created Zuffa, LLC as the parent entity. https://youtu.be/wh-P0cPWqfA -
Struggling to survive
With the Zuffa UFC debut of UFC 33 on pay-per-view. At this time of the Zuffa purchase, the UFC would slowly rise to popularity, mainly through ads. With venues for casinos and a spot on FOX sports, the first MMA fight would air on TV in 2002. It wouldn't be until November 22 of 2002 where the UFC had its highlight, with UFC 40 almost selling out MGM Grand arena and 150,000 pay-per-view buys. -
"The Ultimate Fighter" and Rise in popularity (mid 2000s)
Dipping its toe into Reality TV, the UFC would begin a Reality show featuring up-and-coming fighters in competition for a UFC contract. It'd launch on Spike TV with instant success. By its 14th season it would move to FX in 2011. -
A Surge in popularity
With increase in visibility and coverage, the UFC would have an explosion in Pay-per-view numbers. By UFC 52 numbers went form 150,000 viewers, to 300,000. and again in UFC 61 to 775,000. The UFC would hire an executive team in order to help sanction MMA in jurisdictions inside and outside the US. By 2007 The UFC would surpass boxing numbers and WWE having generated $222,766,000 in just 2006. The UFC would continue to have its rapid rise in popularity -
Continuous growth(Late 2000's to Early 2010's)
The UFC would continue to have a growing popularity during the late 2000's. By UFC 90 the UFC was a massive success, including UFC 100 where former WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar had major drawing power for the UFC. By UFC 114 two former champions would clash again having over 1 million pay-per-view buys. -
UFC at its peak(Mid to Late 2010's
It was at this time the UFC was at its peak. Creating now notorious major fighters such as Floyd Mayweather, Conor McGregor, Demetrious Johnson,Daniel Cormier, Manny Pacquiao, etc. Fighters raking cash in the millions at least every single match. With fights like McGregor Vs. Mayweather grossing $500 million in revenue; or Mayweather Vs. Pacquiao grossing $400 million. -
The UFC today
The UFC today is still doing great, although without many of its past star-studded fighters now retired, its still creating new ones. Being the president since 2001, Dana white has continued to develop the UFC successfully. The UFC as of now is worth $4 billion.
