History Of The UFC

The UFC venue of mixed martial arts competition was not created in the same capacity that it exists in today. MMA exploded onto the scene in 1993 as a venue for acclaimed Brazilian jujitsu fighter Rorian Gracie to expand the US market of what was already a fast growing adaptation of traditional Japanese jujitsu technique. Gracie jujitsu, more commonly referred to as Brazilian jujitsu, is a form of Japanese jujitsu which Gracie's father Carlos adapted to emphasize leverage and submissions and de-emphasize power and striking in order to make it better suited to his slight frame and physical weakness. To this end, Gracie's father was famously successful and became a national hero to the country of Brazil, much the way Bruce Lee gained status in his own country for his adaptation and improvement of traditional techniques. Gracie felt it was important to carry on his father's tradition and dreamed to export the little-known technique to the US. Accordingly, he set up shop in Los Angeles and began instructing in his garage. Notoriety followed shortly as he defeated his students' former senseis time and again with his formidable ability to choke, bar, and grapple which rendered traditional, stand up techniques nearly useless. The UFC itself came about as an idea between Gracie and former owner Art Davie to create an official tournament reminiscent of Gracie's LA garage in which fighters of various styles would compete in a no-holds-barred contest to determine the greatest fighter in the world. There were no rules other than biting, fish-hooking (pulling a fighter around by the side of the mouth) and throat strikes. The matches were un-timed and had no weight class which led at one point to White Tiger Kempo fighter being pitted against a 6'8" sumo wrestler weighing 668 lbs.
The brutal nature of the sport drew the ire of politicians and other public figures and eventually led to the demise of the sport, being called "human cock fighting" by Senator (and Presidential candidate) John McCain and the sport was quickly outlawed in almost every state. The UFC's reputation as a bunch of street fighters and back alley brawlers is something the now highly streamlined and polished organization still can't shake to this day.

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