Ultimate Fighting Championship

Started in 1993, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) brand is a professional mixed martial arts organization offering the premier series of MMA sports events. The Ultimate Fighting Championship was first started as a tournament to find the best fighters in the world. Early UFC fights had very few rules and were considered No Holds Barred, resulting in very brutal and violent fights. Feeling pressure from those opposed to the event's violent nature, UFC went into the underground.

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.

Recently, a UFC event in Montreal, Canada attracted more than 21,000 people—the largest audience in North America to witness a mixed martial arts event. http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=LearnUFC.History

UFC 113

1. Lyoto Machida (c) vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
2. UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
3. Paul Daley vs. Josh Koscheck
4. Kimbo Slice vs. Matt Mitrione
5. Patrick Cote vs. Alan Belcher
6. Jeremy Stephens vs. Sam Stout
7. Jonathan Goulet vs. Marcus Davis http://www.mmaconvert.com/cards/ufc-114-fight-card-betting-odds-tickets-results/

UFC 114

1. Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans
2. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Jason Brilz
3. Dan Miller vs. Michael Bisping
4. Todd Duffee vs. Mike Russow
5. Diego Sanchez vs. John Hathaway
6. Dong Hyun Kim vs. Amir Sadollah
7. Dan Lauzon vs. Efrain Escudero http://www.mmaconvert.com/cards/ufc-114-fight-card-betting-odds-tickets-results/

One of the top fighters in UFC is Randy Couture. Couture became the first fighter in UFC history to claim two titles in two different weight classes. Also, he is still the only three-time world champion, having claimed a title in 1997, 2000 and 2003.

Along with his accomplishments in the octagon, Couture looks to help mainstream MMA and UFC and looks to reach other markets. http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/punchy-points-ufc-100/2009/jul/08/no-3-top-ten-influential-fighters-ufc-history/

Another top fighter is Tito Ortiz. Ortiz is considered one the longest-reigning UFC champion, holding on to the light heavyweight championship for three-and-a-half years from 2000 to 2003. Ortiz always brought intensity to the ring. Most opponents would say that would see it Ortiz’s eyes before a fight and some were even afraid to fight him. http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/punchy-points-ufc-100/2009/jul/08/no-3-top-ten-influential-fighters-ufc-history/

Finally, the last top fighter is B.J Penn. In 2004,Penn took on Matt Hughes, the lightweight champion at the time and submitted him in the first round to become the lightweight champion. Before Penn beat Hughes, it seems that Hughes was unbeatable.

A few years later at UFC 80, Penn defeated Joe Stevenson to win the vacant UFC lightweight title, becoming just the second fighter to win UFC titles in different weight classes behind Randy Couture. http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/punchy-points-ufc-100/2009/jul/08/no-3-top-ten-influential-fighters-ufc-history/

• 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)