Follow the UFC’s journey from being outlawed to potentially overshadowing the likes of the NFL, NBA, MLB

MMA is a concept of bringing together a sport combining several combat styles. This concept traces back to the early history of man, As early as the 33rd Olympiad in 648 BC, where Pankration was created by combining wrestling and boxing techniques. Today, Modern Mixed Martial Arts are synonymous to UFC, The Ultimate Fighting Championship.

One of the most prestigious types of leisure today is sports. Whether it be participating in sports physically or watching them with fervor. It is a traditional form of avocation which goes back three thousand years ago when it was first conceived and has been ingrained in society ever since, and it is the society that determines the providence of a sport. Some are embraced, others are lauded, and others are abhorred and passionately rejected. One of the sports that was despised and stigmatized was mixed martial arts (MMA).

The UFC was founded in 1993, and on November 12 of the same year, the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado, hosted the promotion’s first-ever event. The UFC hosted an eight-man competition over the course of one day in front of a crowd of close to 8,000 spectators without judges, rounds, or weight divisions. No biting and no gouging the eyes were the only two restrictions. Only submission, knockout, or corner stoppage through towel toss may conclude a match. The winner of the competition was Helio Gracie’s son Royce, who was awarded $50,000.

The UFC was not regarded as an authentic sports league like other major sports until decades after its debut. It was criticised for being overly cruel and vicious. A push sponsored by John McCain, who referred to mixed martial arts as “human cockfighting,” resulted in the state of New York and the majority of the US outlawing the sport in 1997. However, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board only permitted MMA matches to be held in New Jersey three years later.

However, the rise of the sport over the past five years has been nothing short of remarkable; it is presently one of the sports with the fastest growth rates worldwide. A recent study found that MMA has had a 19.5% growth in participation since 2013, trailing only adventure racing in terms of growth. Today every other Pay-per-view event of the league fetches 500k to 1.5 million buys on average. With a list of famous people seated in the front rows, the event sold out stadiums not just in the United States but also in over 19 other nations and is broadcast in over 150 countries. How did the sport, which was outlawed, transition into being the most popular sport in the world? Here’s how

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UFC’s Larger-than-life athletes that captivate the masses

Every sport has its larger-than-life athlete who transcends the sport they engage in, such as Michael Jordan in basketball, Muhammad Ali in boxing, and Tiger Woods in golf. The general public emotionally supports the Team or Athlete they are cheering for while they watch a game. This fosters a close relationship with the sport that generates hype for years and retention of the masses. In MMA, it was Conor Mcgregor who captivated the sporting world and introduced the sport for how it is.

McGregor had expertly crafted a persona that attracts viewers. He started the practice of seeking out lucrative fights and record-breaking pay-per-view sales, and in the process, he turned into the face of the UFC. The public’s interest was captured by Conor’s demeanor throughout the press conferences. Before Conor McGregor, trash talking was very civilized in comparison to now. The Notorious is a master in the art of slander. Today he is one of the most populous athletes in the world irrespective of his recent lack of success in the cage.

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Gambling & Fantasy MMA

According to data on gambling across the world, about 26% of people partake. It follows that around 1.6 billion individuals bet globally, and 4.2 billion gamble at least once annually. Like alcohol or narcotics, gambling may cause the brain’s reward system to become overstimulated, which can result in addiction.

Whereas boxing used to be the preferred fighting sport among Las Vegas oddsmakers, mixed martial arts is currently gaining ground. The MMA betting market is expanding, and fantasy MMA companies are making it simpler than ever to wager on MMA fights.

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Dramatic Rivalries

Drama sells. That is the core of every other reality program in existence. What else does sell? People individuals sort out their beef by fighting. Everyone watches when two individuals engage in combat because, in the words of UFC President Dana White, “Fighting is in our DNA.”.There aren’t many things nobler than actively trying to survive. When the general public develops an emotional attachment to an athlete, they get emotionally engaged when that player is insulted which happens very often when there is animosity between the fighters during the lead-up of the fight.

History is evident, The most iconic combat sports bouts had massive storylines which involved animosity which involved Drama. Likes of Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield, Khabib vs. McGregor, or Jon Jones vs Daniel Cormier. They all had animosity which created excitement for their bout. This sort of lead-up to an event is seldom in other sports. Not to mention there is nothing more embarrassing than losing a fight with a person you don’t like for the world to see. Hence, the stakes are always the highest in these bouts. Higher the stakes, the greater the buzz.

Diversity of fighters competing

Although MMA has always been cross-cultural, professional WMMA promotions like Invicta and the addition of numerous new weight classes have opened the sport up to more athletes by giving both male and female fighters of all sizes the chance to compete professionally. As a result, the number of weight classes for men and women is more likely to rise than fall.

The emergence of women in mixed martial arts, long ridiculed as “human cockfighting” by the late Sen. John McCain, is astonishing and illustrates the sport’s variety and allure. Female fighters are frequently portrayed in the promotion as heroines who, despite all obstacles, have broken down boundaries in MMA and in sports in general. Athletes from versatile backgrounds will garner global recognition and fandom for the sport.

They stole the show. #UFCBreakingBarriers pic.twitter.com/m10xAriVRu

— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2021

UFC’s partnership with ESPN

The MOU by both parties of a contract for ESPN to be the UFC’s only U.S. home is not only a financial game-changer for the organization but also a noteworthy experiment for sports in general.

The UFC will be the first major sports organization to dramatically reduce television time while striking a lucrative arrangement to put the majority of its live content on a streaming service, even if this is not a full transition. With a price tag of $300 million, UFC joins the majority of significant sports properties where the key financial component of existence has been replaced from the former traditional method of selling the product directly to the consumer for revenue by creating hours upon hours of content for television and launching a streaming service.

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