Ultimate Fighting Championship

From Free net encyclopedia

(Redirected from UFC)

Image:UFC logo mark.jpg Ultimate Fighting Championship is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, currently recognized as the major MMA promotion in North America.

Started by Rorion Gracie as an extension of his family's Gracie challenge, the UFC was to be an Americanized version of Brazilian vale tudo fighting. Often violent and brutal with a minimal set of rules, the UFC's brand of vale tudo, initially known as no holds barred fighting, allowed for fighters of various disciplines prove which martial arts style prevails above others in realistic, unregulated situations. Fights in the UFC, while accomplishing the goal of determining which style was best, resembled more like a spectacle than an actual sport, which lead to accusations of brutality and "human cockfighting" by opponents. Politcal pressures eventually lead the UFC into the underground, as pay-per-view providers nixed UFC programming, nearly extinguished the UFC's public visibility.

As political pressure mounted, the UFC reformed itself, slowly embracing stricter sets of rules, sanctioning by athletic commissions, and sportsmanship over spectacle. Dropping the no holds barred label and carrying the banner of mixed martial arts, the UFC has reemerged from its political isolation as it has become more socially acceptable, regaining its position in pay-per-view television. With a cable television deal with Fox Sports Net and now Spike TV, and legalization of MMA in California, a hotbed for MMA fandom, the UFC is currently undergoing a remarkable surge in popularity, along with heightened media coverage. UFC programming can now be seen in the United States, as well as in Britain, Canada, Japan, and Brazil.

The UFC is currently based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and owned and operated by casino operators Frank Ferttita III and Lorenzo Ferttita under the name Zuffa, LLC.

History

Founded in 1993, UFC events were originally eight- or sixteen-man tournaments conducted by the organization Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG) in association with WOW Promotions (headed by Art Davie and Rorion Gracie), wherein participants were required to beat three opponents in a single evening to be crowned Ultimate Fighting Champion. Reportedly no other event matched fighters of different style to prove which was the best (though events like the Vale Tudo No Maracanãzinho, held in Brazil on November 30, 1984, would appear to contradict this claim<ref>Gentry, Clyde, No Holds Barred: Ultimate Fighting and the Martial Arts Revolution, (Milo Books: Preston, 2005), p.31</ref>). Certainly, though, no event had done so in the US or on the scale of UFC I (held in an 18,000 person arena and carried throughout the UFC on Pay-Per-View cable television). As was the case with most martial arts at the time, fighters were typically skilled in one discipline only (for example boxing, Judo, Jiu Jitsu) and had little experience in battling against opponents with different skills. Some competitors were also rumored to have bolstered their credentials in traditional martial arts in order to legitimise their presence (Kimo Leopoldo, for example, was erroneously touted in UFC III as a "third degree black belt" in taekwondo<ref>Gentry, Clyde, No Holds Barred: Ultimate Fighting and the Martial Arts Revolution, (Milo Books: Preston, 2005), p.73</ref>).

With no weight classes, fighters could find themselves facing opponents who were significantly larger and taller than themselves (many martial artists believed that technique could overcome these advantages, and in fact that a skilled fighter would use an opponent's size and strength against him). These factors combined led to some short, violent fights, although there were notable exceptions (for example, the 'superfight' between Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie in UFC V lasted 36 minutes). This was very much in line with the way the UFC was being marketed at the time. "There are no rules!" said the famous tagline. Although not strictly true, the UFC did operate with a limited set of rules; techniques such as hair pulling, headbutts and groin strikes were frowned upon, but allowed. How the rules were enforced: a referee with knowledge of the various martial arts was used and a competitor who broke the rule would be fined $1000.

UFC events became a hit on Pay-Per-View almost immediately due to their originality, realism and accompanying wide press coverage, although not all of it favorable. The brutal nature of the burgeoning sport quickly drew the attention of the authorities and UFC events were banned in a number of American states. After repeated criticism from Senator John McCain (R-AZ), the UFC was banned by the major cable Pay-Per-View distributor as well. To survive, the UFC redesigned its rules to remove the less palatable elements of fights, while still retaining the core elements of striking and grappling. Five minute rounds, Referee stoppages, weight classes and limitations on permissible striking areas gradually found the UFC being rebranded as a sport rather than a violent circus attraction.

As UFC continued to work with commissions, events were held all over the US - including Iowa, Mississippi, and New Jersey - and the world - including Brazil and Japan. But the UFC was unable to regain its place on US cable until it was sanctioned by the respected Nevada State Athletic Commission. After the NSAC showed little interest in permitting the sport, it seemed to reverse course in 1991 after one of its members left the commission -- and subsequently purchased the UFC. Shortly thereafter, the UFC was approved in Nevada which enabled it to return to national Pay-Per-View cable television.

Through this event the term MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) was coined.

Since January 2001 the UFC is owned by Zuffa, LLC and managed by president Dana White.

Popularity

Today, Ultimate Fighting Championship events have become popular in Japan, Brazil, Canada, and the United States, where live fights are often seen on television's pay-per-view system as well as on Spike TV's Ultimate Fight Night. Spike TV also airs UFC Unleashed, which showcases matches from past cards. Major PPVs are usually held in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, much like in boxing, with the UFC making forays into California starting in 2006. The ring announcer for the UFC is Bruce Buffer, brother of the famous boxing ring announcer Michael Buffer.

In 2005, the UFC launched its own reality television series, The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV, in which MMA fighters who had not yet appeared in the UFC would reside and train together, competing against each other for the title of Ultimate Fighter and a three-fight, six-figure contract with the UFC. A second series launched in August of the same year, and a third series began airing in April 2006. The UFC nearly doubled its fanbase from cable television exposureTemplate:Fact.

In March 2006, the UFC announced it will hire Marc Ratner, former Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, as a vice-president. Ratner, once an ally of Senator McCain's campaign against MMA, was credited as one of the people responsible for the emergence of sanctioned mixed martial arts in the United States, and has been seen numerous times on television weighing the competitors on UFC's The Ultimate Fighter. Ratner is expected to help raise the UFC's profile in the media and to help legalize mixed martial arts in states that do not sanction MMA bouts.

Rules

The current rules for the Ultimate Fighting Championship were originally established by the New Jersey Athletic Control Board<ref>Mixed Martial Arts Unified Rules of Conduct, Additional Mixed Martial Arts Rules, New Jersey Athletic Control Board. Retrieved April 3 2006</ref>. The Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts that New Jersey established has been adopted in other states that regulate mixed martial arts, including Nevada, Louisiana and California. These rules are also used by many other promotions within the United States and are mandatory for those states that have adopted the Unified Rules, and so have become the standard de facto set of rules for professional mixed martial arts across the country.

Rounds

Every round in UFC competition is 5 minutes in duration. Title matches have five rounds, and non-title matches have three rounds. There is a one minute rest period in between rounds.

Special rules were introduced for the third season of The Ultimate Fighter. Each fight for Ultimate Fighter competitors is two rounds instead of the normal three. If there is a draw after two rounds, the judges' scores are thrown out and an extra five-minute round is contested. If the extra round goes the distance, the judges' decision will then come from the scoring of the extra round only.

Weight classes

The UFC currently uses five weight classes:

Lightweight: (145 - 155 lb.)
Welterweight: (155 - 170 lb)
Middleweight: (170 - 185 lb)
Light Heavyweight: (185 - 205 lb)
Heavyweight: (205 - 265 lb)

In addition, there are three other weight classes specified in the Unified Rules which the UFC does not use: Flyweight (125 lb. - 135 lb.), Bantamweight (135 lb. - 145 lb.), and Super Heavyweight. (265 lb. and above).

Cage

The UFC uses their trademarked octagonal caged arena to stage bouts.

Attire

All competitors must fight in approved shorts, without shoes or any other sort of foot padding. Shirts, gis or long pants (including gi pants) are not allowed. Fighters must use approved light gloves that allow fingers to grab.

Match outcome

Matches usually end via:

Submission: a fighter taps on the mat or his opponent three times (or more) or verbally submits.
Knockout: a fighter falls from a legal blow and is either unconscious or unable to immediately continue.
Technical Knockout: stoppage of the fight by the referee if they determine a fighter cannot "intelligently defend" themself or by ringside doctor due to injury.
Judges' Decision: Depending on scoring, a match may end as:

unanimous decision (all three judges score a win for one fighter),
split decision (two judges score a win for one fighter with the third for the other),
majority decision(two judges score a win for one fighter with one for a draw),
unanimous draw (all three judges score a draw),
majority draw (two judges score a draw).
split draw (the total points for each fighter is equal)

A fight can also end in a technical decision, technical draw, disqualification, forfeit or no contest.

Judging criteria

The ten-point must system is in effect for all UFC fights; three judges score each round and give the winner of each round receives ten points, and the loser receives nine points or less. If the round is even, both fighters receive ten points. In New Jersey, the fewest points a competitor can receive is 7, however in other states by custom no fighter receives less than 7.

Fouls

The Nevada State Athletic Commission currently lists the following as fouls: <ref>NSAC Regulations: CHAPTER 467 - UNARMED COMBAT. Nevada State Athletic Commission. Retrieved April 3 2006</ref>

Butting with the head.
Eye gouging of any kind.
Biting.
Hair pulling.
Fish hooking.
Groin attacks of any kind.
Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent. (see Gouging)
Small joint manipulation.
Striking to the spine or the back of the head. (see Rabbit punch)
Striking downward using the point of the elbow. (see Elbow (strike))
Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
Grabbing the clavicle.
Kicking the head of a grounded opponent.
Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent.
Stomping a grounded opponent.
Kicking to the kidney with the heel.
Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.
Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area.
Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
Spitting at an opponent.
Engaging in an unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent.
Holding the ropes or the fence.
Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area.
Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee.
Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat.
Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.
Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
Interference by the corner.
Throwing in the towel during competition.

A point will be deducted when a foul is charged. If a foul incapacitates a fighter, then the match may end in a disqualification if the foul was intentional, or a no contest if unintentional. If a foul causes a fighter to be unable to continue later in the bout, it ends with a technical decision win to the injured fighter if the injured fighter is ahead on points, otherwise it is a technical draw.

Match conduct

The referee has the right, at any time, to stop the fighters and stand them up if they reach a stalemate (when both fighters are clinched or on the ground and do not work to improve their position).

If the referee pauses the match, the match is resumed with the fighters in the position they were before.

Any grabbing of the cage will result in a verbal warning, followed by tapping on the grabbing hand by the referee. If the fighter continues to hold the cage, the referee will charge a foul.

Events

Recent news and fights

The UFC is showing the return of many legendary fighters that were thought by many to be retired. Royce Gracie was crowned champion in the first ever UFC and went on to be one of MMA's most well known fighters. This May, the Brazilian Gracie, now 39, is going to take on current welterweight champion Matt Hughes in what could possibly be the toughest fight of Gracie's impressive career.

The UFC is also seeing the return of warriors BJ Penn and Tito Ortiz after long absences by both fighters. BJ Penn had a split decision loss to the rising Canadian star Georges St. Pierre on March 4th at UFC 58: USA vs. Canada.

April 6th 2006 was Spike TV's "Ultimate Fight Night." The Ultimate Fighter runner up Stephan Bonnar won a unanimous decision over Keith Jardine and Ultimate Fighter Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans won in the same fashion over Sam Hoger. Other victorious past-Ultimate Fighter contestants included Luke Cummo, Chris Leben, and Josh Koscheck. The Ultimate Fighter 170lb champion Joe Stevenson was defeated by unanimous decsion by Josh Neer.

UFC 59: Reality Check on April 15, 2006 was the first-ever UFC event held in the state of California after the state's legalization of mixed martial arts contests. The event was sold out at least a month prior to the event. Tim Sylvia became the new UFC Heavyweight Champion, defeating Andrei Arlovski by referee stoppage in the first round, while hometown native Tito Ortiz defeated Forrest Griffin in a controversial split decision.

Ortiz is scheduled to fight UFC legend Ken Shamrock at the end of the Ultimate Fighter season. The two have a heated and well known rivalry which makes this bout very anticipated by fans.

UFC current champions

Image:Richfranklin.jpg Template:Main

Division	Champion
Heavyweight	Tim Sylvia
Light Heavyweight	Chuck Liddell
Middleweight	Rich Franklin
Welterweight	Matt Hughes

Notable UFC fighters

David "Tank" Abbott (UFC 6 & UU '96 Tournament finalist, UFC 17 Heavyweight Superfight Champion)
Andrei Arlovski (Former UFC Heavyweight Champion)
Tim Sylvia "The Maine-iac" (Current UFC Heavyweight Champion)
Josh Barnett (Former UFC Heavyweight Champion)
Vitor Belfort (UFC 12 Heavyweight Champion, UFC Ultimate Brazil Middleweight Superfight Champion, Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion)
Murilo Bustamante (Former UFC Middleweight Champion)
Mark Coleman (UFC 10 & 11 Tournament Champion, First UFC Heavyweight Champion)
Randy Couture (UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament Champion, UFC 15 Heavyweight Superfight Champion, 2x Former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Former Interim Light Heavyweight Champion, 2x Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion)
Rich Franklin (Current UFC Middleweight Champion)
Don Frye (UFC 10 Tournament finalist, UFC 8 & UU '96 Champion)
Royce Gracie (UFC 1, 2 & 4 Tournament Champion)
Matt Hughes (2x (Current) UFC Welterweight Champion)
Mark Kerr (UFC 14 & 15 Heavyweight Tournament Champion)
Chuck Liddell (Current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion)
Pat Miletich (UFC 16 Lightweight Tournament Champion, Former UFC Lightweight/Welterweight Champion)
Frank Mir (Former UFC Heavyweight Champion)
Carlos Newton (Former UFC Welterweight Champion)
Tito Ortiz (UFC 13 Lightweight Tournament finalist, Former UFC Middleweight/Light Heavyweight Champion)
BJ Penn (Former UFC Welterweight Champion)
Jens Pulver (Former UFC Bantamweight/Lightweight Champion)
Kevin Randleman (Former UFC Heavyweight Champion)
Pedro Rizzo (UFC Ultimate Brazil Heavyweight Superfight Champion)
Ricco Rodriguez (Former UFC Heavyweight Champion)
Marco Ruas (UFC 7 Tournament Champion)
Bas Rutten (Former UFC Heavyweight Champion)
Kazushi Sakuraba (UFC Japan Heavyweight tournament champion)
Dan Severn (UFC 4 Tournament finalist, UFC 5 & UU '95 Tournament Champion, UFC 9 Superfight Champion)
Frank Shamrock (Former UFC Middleweight/Light Heavyweight Champion)
Ken Shamrock (UFC 6 & 8 Superfight Champion)
Maurice Smith (Former UFC Heavyweight Champion)
Tim Sylvia (Current UFC Heavyweight Champion)
Oleg Taktarov (UU '95 Tournament finalist, UFC 6 Tournament Champion)
Evan Tanner (Former UFC Middleweight Champion)
Forrest Griffin (The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 light heavyweight division winner)

UFC Hall of Fame inductees

Royce Gracie (Inducted UFC 45)
Ken Shamrock (Inducted UFC 45)
Dan Severn (Inducted UFC 52)

UFC Viewer's Choice Awards

(From UFC 45; Top 10 most popular UFC fighters of all time)

Footnotes

<references/>

See also

External links

es:Ultimate Fighting Championship fr:Ultimate Fighting ja:UFC pt:Ultimate Fighting Championship sv:Ultimate Fighting Championship

Retrieved from "http://www.netipedia.com/index.php/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship"

Categories: Professional mixed martial arts organizations

Views

Personal tools

Create an account or log in

Search