What is Ultimate Fighting?

Started in 1993, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) brand is in its fourteenth year of operation as a professional mixed martial arts organization offering the premier series of MMA sports events.
The UFC organization follows a rich history and tradition of competitive MMA dating back to the Olympic Games in Athens. About 80 years ago, a Brazilian form of MMA known as Vale Tudo (anything goes) sparked local interest in the sport.
Then, the UFC organization brought MMA to the United States. The goal was to find “the Ultimate Fighting Champion” with a concept to have a tournament of the best athletes skilled in the various disciplines of all martial arts, including karate, jiu-jitsu, boxing, kickboxing, grappling, wrestling, sumo and other combat sports. The winner of the tournament would be crowned the champion.
Once the UFC brand was launched, MMA popularity surged in Brazil, followed by immense interest in Japan where these bouts became major events.
In January 2001, under the new ownership of Zuffa, LLC, the UFC brand completely restructured MMA into a highly organized and controlled combat sport. As a result, the UFC organization now offers twelve to fourteen live pay-per-view events annually through cable and satellite providers. UFC fight programs are also distributed internationally throughout the world, including broadcast on WOWOW, Inc. in Japan, MAIN EVENT in Australia, Globosat in Brazil and Bravo in the United Kingdom.
Response to the UFC brand of MMA has been tremendous, resulting in a growing fan base that has grown exponentially through the years.
Recently, a UFC event in Columbus, Ohio attracted more than 19, 000 people—the largest audience in North American to witness a mixed martial arts event. UFC popularity continues to reach new heights as the fifth season of the hit reality series The Ultimate Fighter® delivered record ratings in male 18-34 and 18-34 demographics for the Spike TV cable network.
The UFC organization and Spike TV also extended its two-year strategic partnership through 2008 to present four additional seasons of hit reality series The Ultimate Fighter®, as well as ten live UFC® Fight Night™ events and 26 taped programs of UFC: Unleashed™.
The UFC organization is regulated and recognized by the world’s most prestigious sports regulatory bodies including the California, Florida, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania State Athletic Commissions. The UFC organization strives for the highest levels of safety and quality in all aspects of the sport.
Under the strong leadership of owners Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta III, and expertise of President Dana White, the UFC brand continues to thrive across a spectrum of live event sports, television production and ancillary business development.