UFC Fighting: What You Don't Know
UFC fighting is where the best fighters in the world meet to test their skills against one another. Early UFC tournaments were based on Brazilian Vale Tudo fighting, which literally translates to anything goes. This means that any type of fighting style was accepted in the Octagon, no-holds barred. The show became a big hit on pay-per-views and home television because of its rawness, originality and realism. However, the resulting carnage was met with hostility and heavy political pressure, pushing UFC into obscurity that almost phased out the entire organization.
To reach a wider audience, the UFC finally decided to overhaul its rules and transformed itself into a legitimate sporting event. Instead of the no holds barred label, UFC became a mixed martial arts tournament. Fighters were now required to wear gloves and weight divisions were introduced. Groin strikes, hair pulling, and other submission techniques became prohibited. The major revamp continued UFC 21 when rounds ended after five minutes. The move was an instant hit as UFC went from pay-per-view to cable television in the United States and Europe.
The surge of the UFC was reminiscent of how boxing rose to fame. However, considering that UFC is the fastest growing sport today, it will not belong before it overtakes boxing as the biggest fighting sport in the world. In fact, the sport has even spawned a reality series called The Ultimate Fighter, except there are no tribes and castaways, only amateur MMA fighters ready to prove their worth. The sport has become so big that in 2006, UFC shattered the previous PPV record for a single year of business, raking in over $222,766,000 in profits, easily surpassing the total of WWE and boxing.
Fights are held inside an eight-sided stage called The Octagon. The only gear allowed for participants to wear are shorts or trunks, and gloves that are thick enough to prevent injury, but flexible enough to allow the fighter to grab and grapple.
Similar to boxing, matches are stopped when one fighter is unconscious, when a towel is thrown into the Octagon, or when the referee thinks the fighter is already done for. Additionally, fighters can end the match outright by tapping out or telling the referee they quit. Judges are also at ringside to score the match in case the match ends with both fighters still standing up. This was a huge difference from the very first UFC fight, where matches can only end with a knockout, submission or a towel thrown into the Octagon.
As UFC fighting continues to try and receive official sanctioning, it is starting to add more rules, and consequently, turning the once violent beast into a gentle giant. Will it remain true to its roots, or will it succumb to the temptation of money? Whatever their decision may be, they should make sure to keep their fighters content or the pain might come their way instead.
