The history of the UFC. What is the Ultimate Fighting Championship? UFC: participants and champions

Until recently, there was no professional boxing competition in popularity in the world of martial arts. However, recently there was a sports organization conducting combat mixed style and is gaining more and more fans - UFC. What is this abbreviation is the secret of the success of a promotion organization - this will be discussed below.

The decisive Fighting Championship

In the world there are several organizations involved in carrying out the mixed fighting style. Each of them has its own rules, known fighters, the audience of fans. However, thanks to an aggressive and bold advertising campaign, the most authoritative and important among them is the UFC. What is the meaning of this mysterious abbreviation, it follows from the translation - "Decisive Fighting Championship", or "Absolute Fighting Championship."

Initially the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) was created for one-time TV show, in which the representatives had to fight different types of martial arts, however, influenced by the success it was reorganized into a permanent promotional company, conducting tournaments on a regular basis.

After a series of reforms and long-term evolution of the system was reorganized tournaments. It was decided to abandon the circular competition. Now the tournament or Event (event -Events) UFC similar in pattern to the evening boxing great when held a series of individual battles, including one central highlighted.

Today, every Event gathers a huge audience of spectators, making fierce competition boxing.

The number of orders from paid channels, user rolls over a million times over. UFC fighters are included in the tops of all MMA rankings. However, it was not always. Before appeared in the UFC Habib Nurmagomedov and other characters, many things have happened.

What can happen from one TV show

One Californian Art Davie businessman decided to have a tournament in which fighters from different martial arts could come together with each other in duels to determine the eternal debate about what kind of martial arts is the most effective. This is a fascinating spectacle was to bear the name - "War of the Worlds." For this purpose, the TV company WOW Promotions was established, which would organize this tournament in the TV show format.

Most cable companies have refused such an unexpected proposal, a television network SEG agreed to show events. She also came up with the original name for the action - Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Competitions were held in Denver, Colorado in 1993, the year. The tournament was attended by eight fighters representing kickboxing, boxing, savate, sumo shutboks, karate, jiu-jitsu. I won the fighter of jiu-jitsu Royce Gracie - the younger brother of one of the organizers of the tournament, also known fighter in this style.

The show was supposed to be a single event, but after the success of and great interest from the audience, it was decided to continue to organize such fights.

The first fights

It's not like today look first battles UFC. What are tournaments in MMA early nineties? It follows from the slogan of those years "no rules!" If today there are a number of limitations for actions fighters in those years allowed virtually everything. Blows to the groin, head banging, hair pulling, even - these practices were allowed in those matches. Only prohibits the use teeth and squeezed his eyes enemy.

On the other hand, many of the UFC fighters, not wanting to use dirty tricks, in advance agreed among themselves about the inadmissibility of such as hair pulling, groin attacks. Such vile tricks still were the exception rather than the rule.

There was no division into weight categories. In some cases, the difference between the fighters could be more than a hundred kilograms. Time is also not limited and divided into rounds. The bout ended with a knockout or surrender of one of the opponents.

The pressure from the authorities to

Not all the founders provided the UFC. What is the pressure from the authorities - it is they have to learn for yourself. Thanks to the freshness and novelty of the idea, the first tournaments have caused massive interest and were widely reported in the media. However, this interest has played a cruel joke. Fights of those years were very cruel, and many lawmakers are up in arms against such circuses.

The company fights against mixed martial headed by the notorious Sen. John McCain. According to him, the degree of cruelty UFC fights outnumbered cockfights, and he demanded that the legislative assemblies of the states total ban duels. This was done in 36 regions of the country from 50. In addition, the battles show was banned on public television channels and most cable. So had to experience UFC, that is a semi-underground status.

Reform

In order to prove the existence of the right of UFC, the organizers decided to go for reforms and to cooperate with sports organizations States. We decided to start with a change in the rules. many dirty tricks have been banned - clinging to her cheek, backstabbing, lying blows to his opponent. In addition, athletes were obliged to act in special lightweight gloves to reduce the risk of injury.

Changes were made and the time limit matches. Beginning with UFC 21 tournament, matches were divided into five rounds. To avoid situations where one match could come together athletes, the difference in weight which reached hundreds of kilograms divided by weight categories was introduced. In addition, the organizers have been actively cooperate with the state sports committee for the promotion of tournaments in all corners of the country.

The revival of

Yet the key, whereby the rating UFC has grown considerably, was the purchase of the sports organization "Zuffa". Under this name hides a business alliance of former boxing promoter Dana White and the leaders of a large network of casino Frank and Lorenzo Fertita. Through links Lorenzo in the sports commission of Nevada, were received permission to hold matches in the state. Shortly after the return to the UFC pay-per-channels. After that, gradually began to gain popularity the UFC. What is aggressive advertising, what it can do - it became clear after the fighting began in the large halls of the MGM Grand, Taj Mahal. Followed by an agreement with FSN channel releases fights on DVD. The popularity of the project also contributed to the reality show The Ultimate Fighter, the show which took place at Spike TV. UFC champions are becoming popular, their images flashed on the pages of magazines.

An important aspect of the activities of the owners was the UFC competitors absorption. It was purchased by the organization conducting fights mixed martial - PFC, WEG. After that, they have no real rivals, the rating becomes a major UFC to determine the strongest fighter.

Earnings

To date, UFC is the most successful organization doing mixed martial bouts. The soldiers do not usually get a certain salary. UFC members to earn his name and reputation. Amounts of remuneration prescribed in the individual contracts. Little-known and novice athletes can receive about 40 000 dollars for the fight. In this case, coaches, team members pay only fighter himself.

UFC champion and top stars can earn up to a million for one fight. The first athlete stepped abroad in 1 million, became Conor McGregor. In the same year he achieved even more impressive results, earning 3 million for the fight.

Sponsorship contracts are another source of income for the athlete. They often exceed the premium for own fights.

optimization rule

For its time, the idea of ​​UFC attracted viewers with its freshness and novelty. The absence of rules, time limits, division into weight categories - all to clearly compare the effectiveness of different types of martial arts. However, the pressure of politicians and public opinion forced the organizers to change the rules in order to avoid unnecessary cruelty in duels. many dirty tricks have been banned - blows to the groin, grabbing her hair, twisting fingers, backstabbing and lying beating athlete. It became necessary to have light gloves to reduce the likelihood of athlete injury. time limit has been introduced - the match was divided into segments of five-minute rounds. Changes were made and the tournament format. tournament grid has been canceled, were held separate individual fights in professional boxing.

UFC Fights became more and more closer to the sport and ceased to be a mere spectacle.

The Irish star is

Conor McGregor, perhaps today is the most popular fighter in the UFC. He was able to transcend the boundaries of their weight category and become a champion in the lightweight and featherweight champion. His fights attract viewers of non-standard technique of fighting. He holds equally well as a shock, and wrestling techniques. In single combat jiu jitsu, he even won the right to a brown belt.

Especially spectacular are obtained its "turntables" - roundhouse kicks. Conor McGregor after a successful attempt to go beyond its weight also tried to become a champion in the welterweight division. However, the fight against American Nate Diaz turned out disappointing for him. After that, even the Irishman announced his retirement. However, once the emotions have subsided, McGregor changed his mind. Given that he is at the peak of his form, you can expect from him is not a spectacular duel.

A soldier from Dagestan

Not one McGregor limited list of participants stellar UFC. Habib Nurmagomedov - Russian fighter who does not know defeat to date. It acts in the light weight category, and the world of mixed martial arts is waiting for the last battle will take place between him and Conor McGregor for the title of strongest.

Habib - a specialist in combat sambo, greplingu, repeatedly became the winner of various tournaments in these types of martial arts. His first MMA fight was spent in 2008.

Since 2011, the athlete stands in the battle under the auspices of the UFC. At the moment, he spent 21 fight, all of whom won. Dagestan is in the top 15 of the best UFC fighters in all categories, and the second at lightweight (after McGregor). Habib was to meet Eddie Alvarez for the world title, but this right away from him Conor McGregor, who decided to try his luck in a different weight class.

Champion heavyweight

Stipe Miocic - American fighter, UFC heavyweight champion. Trains at the club Strong Style Fight Team, advocated and Russian fighter Maxim Grishin. Cooperation with the UFC began in 2011.

The first match was against Joey Beltran, who lasted all the allotted time and ended in favor of Stipe.

The most important battle that had Stipe Miocic in his life - the fight against Fabricio Werdum. It was in this battle, in May 2016 he won the world title. In the same year he held his first defense against Alistair Overeem.

Daniel Cormier

In light heavyweight terrifies the opponent fighter who is in the top 5 best participants UFC regardless of category. Daniel Cormier began his career as a representative of wrestling. As part of the US team, he participated in the 2004 Olympic Games, 2008.

After a career in amateur sport, he decided to try his hand at MMA. Cormier initially cooperated with the promotion company Strikeforce. After its closure moved in the UFC. The first fight in the division he had in 2013, defeating Frank Mir.

After a while, Daniel Cormier moved to light heavyweight, where he was able to take the championship belt by defeating Anthony Johnson.

Despite his wrestling past, athletes prefer to fight in the bar, smashing the opponent a heavy blow.

However, he is always ready to carry out the fight and on the ground, where it has the advantage almost in front of all opponents. It distinguishes Cormier and dignified, respectful demeanor outside the ring. He emphasized correctly refers to all competitors and does not show too much elation after victories.

UFC today - this spectacle, the best fighters of mixed style, intense and exciting fights. For every lover of martial arts there are reasons to stay at the screens.