Is the UFC the best MMA promotion in the world?

Yes

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by Kevin De Silva Piques

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship otherwise known as the UFC was born in 1993 by Art Davie and the Gracie family. It was a single tournament format where fighters with different fighting styles could match up against one another to determine the greatest fighter and which fighting discipline would prevail. In the early years there were very few rules. Events were sold as Pay Per Views but there was a very limited audience for this raw violence. Political pressures were mounting against the UFC. The promotion was slowly dieing, as debt was building and viewership decreasing.

In January of 2001, the UFC was sold to the Fertitta brothers, Frank and Lorenzo, and their friend Dana White. This was the turning point for not only the company but for Mixed Martial Arts as well. The new UFC began to work with the athletic commissions, formulating more rules, weight classes, drug testing and educated referees to turn what once was a spectacle into the fastest growing sport in the world.

The UFC went from showing 4 PPV shows a year to more than 12 a year. The buy rate for these shows now range from 500,000 to over a million. The fights are now seen in over 36 different countries around the world. Live shows have been seen in Canada, Germany, England, Ireland and all across the United States. Plans for events in other countries are continuing to move forward with shows planned for Australia in 2010.

In 2005, the UFC turned the corner to mainstream acceptance when they started their own reality show, The Ultimate Fighter on Spike tv. Now in its 10th season, it has helped to generate new fans and increase the popularity of the sport. Each season is highlighted with a live finale that can be seen for free on Spike tv.

There have been many MMA promotions around the world. Most of them smaller organizations that are not even on the same scale as the UFC. Some promotions like Pride went head to head with the UFC and ended up being purchased by the Las Vegas based company. In the face of all the competition, the UFC has reigned supreme. It has been the pioneer of MMA and as built up the sport to where it is today.

It takes more than just money to be a successful MMA promotion. It takes an extreme love for the sport, an undying commitment, a relentless desire to be the best, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to succeed. The UFC has shown that it is the best MMA promotion and will continue to be the biggest and the best for a very long time.

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