UFCThe Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Dana White serves as the president. Zuffa, LLC, controlled by the casino-moguls Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, owns it. Inspired by Brazilian vale tudo,began in Denver, Colorado in 1993 as a single-event tournament designed to find the world's best fighters, regardless of their fighting style (whether boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, karate, Brazilian jiu jitsu or other disciplines). Although they did prescribe a limited number of rules, promoters marketed fighting in the event as no holds barred, and contests were often violent and brutal, leading critics like Senator John McCain to dub the sport "human cockfighting." Political pressures eventually led the event into the underground as pay-per-view providers refused to carry programming, nearly extinguishing its public visibility. As political pressure mounted, the event reformed itself, slowly embracing stricter rules, becoming sanctioned by State Athletic Commissions, and marketing itself as a legitimate sporting event. Dropping the no holds barred label and carrying the banner of mixed martial arts, the event has emerged from its political isolation to regain its position in pay-per-view television. With a cable-television deal and expansion into Canada, Europe and new markets within the United States, the event as of 2009[update] has gained in popularity, along with greater mainstream-media coverage. As of 2009[update] viewers can access the programming on Spike in the United States and Canada, on ESPN in the United Kingdom as well as in 33 other countries worldwide.
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