UFC and MMA are exciting acronyms for Ultimate Fighting Championship and Mixed martial Arts. UFC is a part of MMA. Currently the UFC is recognized as the largest MMA promotion around the entire world. The UFC is owned and operated by Zuffa LLC and their HQ is in Las Vegas Nevada. The UFC involves mixed martial arts which was based on Brazilian vale tudo.



When UFC first started out there were just a few limited amount of rules and most all of the fights were brutal and violent. Some even ended in death. It was more or less known as a "no holds barred" competition, but after a lot of flack from the press the UFC had to change and slowly started embracing stricter rules, also marketing themselves as a legit sporting event. Techniques like biting, eye gouging, hair pulling are frowned up on in the world of UFC but are still allowed.

Over the years the UFC has become more socially acceptable and has gained popularity from people around the world. UFC fights on television can be seen on SpikeTv in the US and 35 other countries. The UFC can also be seen on pay-per-view which wildly enough has broken every single record ever dated, as making well over $222,766,000 in one year alone in the year 2006. This surpasses that of WWE and boxing! The UFC has also decided in 2008 to go more mainstream and has announced two major exclusive sponsors, that of Harley Davidson and Anheuser-Busch, making Bud Light the official beer sponsor of the UFC. This was an incredible feat for both Harley and Anheuser-Busch. The UFC continues to rise to a searing popularity, gracing the covers of several very well known magazines such as Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine.

Title matches in the UFC are 5x5 meaning there are five rounds with 5 minutes each. In non title matches however there are three five minute rounds, in both instances there is a one minute rest period between rounds. Which is about the time the official UFC ring girls comes into play! Alright lets get on with more of the rules and regulations for this sport. As of now the UFC currently uses five weight classes, they are:

Lightweight: 146 to 155lbs

Welterweight 156 to 170lbs

Middleweight: 171 to 185lbs

Light Heavyweight: 186 to 205lbs

Heavyweight 206 to 265lbs

In addition to these weight classes there are also four classes specified in the UR (Unified Rules) which the UFC does NOT use, they are:

Flyweight: Under 125lbs

Bantamweight: 126 to 135lbs

Featherweight: 136 to 145lbs

Super Heavyweight: Above 265lbs

The UFC stages all of its fights appropriately enough in an octagon caged enclosure called "The Octagon." The cage is eight-sided with walls made out of metal chain-link fence and is coated with black vinyl. The cage is 32ft in diameter and the fence is 5'6 to 5'8 high. The cage sits on a platform raising it 4ft (plus) off the ground. The attire for the UFC is pretty simple. The fighter must fight in approved shorts, no shoes, and approved light gloves. Fighters do NOT wear helmets of any sort.

Matches usually end in the following instances in the UFC; Submission, Knockout, Technical Knockout (TKO), Judges Decision, Technical Decision, Disqualification, Forfeit, Draw or No Contest. Some of the fouls are already listed in the beginning of this article but heres a few more; Groin attacks, Fish Hooking, Strikes to the spine or back of the head, throwing an opponent out of the ring, abusive language, faking an injury, and throwing in the towel during competition.

The UFC has a large amount of Accomplished UFC fighters. Such as Mark Coleman, Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock, Tito Ortiz, Royce Gracie, and Matt Hughes just to name a few. All in all there has been a count of 108 UFC events held in six countries and 18 US states. 84 of the events thus far have been available via per per view, while only 23 have been shown on cable t.v.