The History
From Ancient Greece to the Las Vegas Strip. How a "no-holds-barred" spectacle evolved into the world's fastest-growing sport.
Pankration
Introduced to the Greek Olympic Games. It was a blend of boxing and wrestling with barely any rules. It was considered the ultimate test of strength and technique for Spartan soldiers.
Vale Tudo
In Brazil, the "Gracie Challenge" begins. The Gracie family issues open challenges to masters of other martial arts to prove the effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) in "Vale Tudo" (Anything Goes) fights.
Ali vs. Inoki
Muhammad Ali travels to Tokyo to fight wrestler Antonio Inoki. It is a bizarre, stalemate affair with strange rules, but it plants the seed for global mixed-rules bouts.
UFC 1: The Beginning
Held in Denver, Colorado. The premise was simple: Which martial art is best?
There were no weight classes, no rounds, and no judges. The only way to win was knockout, submission, or towel throw.
— The original tagline
A skinny Brazilian named Royce Gracie shocked the world by taking down larger opponents and submitting them effortlessly, proving that technique conquers size.
"Human Cockfighting"
Senator John McCain leads a crusade to ban the sport. He calls it "human cockfighting." The UFC is kicked off cable television and banned in 36 states. The sport nearly dies.
Zuffa Purchase
Casino executives Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, along with Dana White, buy the failing UFC for just $2 million. They immediately seek regulation.
Unified Rules Created
The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board creates the "Unified Rules of MMA." Rounds, weight classes, and gloves are introduced. The sport becomes legitimate.
The Ultimate Fighter
The reality show The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) airs on Spike TV. The finale between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar is a legendary war that is credited with saving the UFC from bankruptcy.
The Fox Deal
The UFC signs a massive deal with FOX, moving from premium cable to network television. MMA hits the mainstream.
The $4 Billion Sale
After the explosion of superstars like Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor, the UFC is sold to WME-IMG for $4.025 billion, the largest sports franchise sale in history at the time.