On April 1, 2009, a video blog of UFC president Dana White was released where he made offensive, obscenity-filled remarks about homosexuals and women. The tirade was centered around a Sherdog.com story about credentialing policies for agents and managers of fighters.ESPN.com: White uses slurs in video blog (April 3, 2009)

Political pressure continued and UFC slowly began to enforce stricter rules for their fights. UFC soon became sanctioned by state athletic commissions and was soon considered a legitimate sport. The removal of the no holds barred label caused UFC to regain its pay-per-view deal. The sport was now marketed as mixed martial arts.

The UFC has seen a rise in mainstream popularity over the past few years. They have a cable television deal with SPIKE TV and hold monthly pay-per-view events. UFC is continuing to expand its market as UFC fighters like Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Chuck Liddell and others become more popular.

Event Type: The Ultimate Fighter Finale

Location: The Pearl, Nevada

3:00 pm PT: Doors Open 3:55 pm PT: First Bout 6:00 pm PT: Main Card

Buy The Ultimate Fighter® Team USA vs Team UK on iTunes. and XBox Live

• Date Time: Jun-13-2009 3:00 PM ET
• Event Type: International Event
• Location: Lanxess Arena, Germany

• The Ultimate Fighting Championship® brings the world’s premier combat sport to Germany for the first time, and in the main event of UFC® 99, two of the game’s most revered superstars will battle it out, as former UFC® middleweight champion Rich 'Ace' Franklin squares off against former PRIDE® champion Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva in a true fight fan’s dream match.

• UFC® 99: The Comeback – Saturday, June 13th, live on Pay-Per-View from the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany.

• noon and 7pm PT PPV
• 3pm and 10pm ET PPV
• 20:00 BST SS1
• 23:00 CET DSF

• Lightweight: 146 to 155 lb (67 to 70 kg)
• Welterweight: 156 to 170 lb (71 to 77 kg)
• Middleweight: 171 to 185 lb (78 to 84 kg)
• Light Heavyweight: 186 to 205 lb (85 to 93 kg)
• Heavyweight: 206 to 265 lb (94 to 120 kg)