In the United States, mixed martial arts has several competitive organizations. However, the two with the most exposure are easily Ultimate Fighting Champion and Strikeforce. These two groups are truly the biggest forces in American MMA.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, known as UFC, began in the early years of the1990s and was developed by Art Davie, an entrepreneur and advertising executive who was studying up on the underground sport of mixed martial arts while working on a campaign. During his research, he met Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert Rorion Gracie and started taking classes from Gracie.
Fast forward a year and Davie comes up with the idea for a huge televised MMA event that would pit fighters with strengths in multiple styles in the world's first Mixed Martial Arts championship. He teamed up with Rorion Gracie and director John Milius to create UFC 1, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event was an enormous success with Royce Gracie winning the first championship.
Kickboxing was the original focus of Strikeforce; however in 2006 they hosted and broadcast the most successful mixed martial arts competition in history, the Shamrock-Gracie fight. This bout held the attendance record for MMA for several years. Strikeforce also has paired up with Showtime, and in 2008, they teamed with NBC to create a weekly MMA series, which helps spread the sport's popularity.
The owners of UFC, Zuffa, LLC., bought Strikeforce in March of 2011, promising that they would not be merging the two organizations and that they would remain separate. However, many changes have occurred within Strikeforce, including the loss of most of the employee's jobs.
In addition, since the purchase, many division championships at Strikeforce have been left vacant by fighters who moved over to UFC. Currently, in the men's division, there are vacancies in the light heavyweight and welterweight divisions. The women's featherweight division also remains vacant. Strikeforce's contract with Showtime, however, has been extended until 2014, which indicates that for at least the next few years, the organization will continue to be a major player in MMA.
While both organizations are governed by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, Strikeforce has a few distinct differences. The Strikeforce cage is shaped like a hexagon, while UFC fighters fight in the octagon. Until the purchase by Zuffa, Strikeforce fighters also were not allowed to elbow an opponent's head when they on the ground. After the purchase, however, that rule was changed.
Worldwide, the sport of mixed martial arts continues to increase in popularity, especially in the United States thanks greatly to the work of UFC and Strikeforce promoters. In the future, many sports analysts predict that the competition will be even better as fighters better hone their skills in multiple styles of martial arts. Like other young sports, as time passes, the competition becomes more impressive year after year.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, known as UFC, began in the early years of the1990s and was developed by Art Davie, an entrepreneur and advertising executive who was studying up on the underground sport of mixed martial arts while working on a campaign. During his research, he met Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert Rorion Gracie and started taking classes from Gracie.
Fast forward a year and Davie comes up with the idea for a huge televised MMA event that would pit fighters with strengths in multiple styles in the world's first Mixed Martial Arts championship. He teamed up with Rorion Gracie and director John Milius to create UFC 1, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event was an enormous success with Royce Gracie winning the first championship.
Kickboxing was the original focus of Strikeforce; however in 2006 they hosted and broadcast the most successful mixed martial arts competition in history, the Shamrock-Gracie fight. This bout held the attendance record for MMA for several years. Strikeforce also has paired up with Showtime, and in 2008, they teamed with NBC to create a weekly MMA series, which helps spread the sport's popularity.
The owners of UFC, Zuffa, LLC., bought Strikeforce in March of 2011, promising that they would not be merging the two organizations and that they would remain separate. However, many changes have occurred within Strikeforce, including the loss of most of the employee's jobs.
In addition, since the purchase, many division championships at Strikeforce have been left vacant by fighters who moved over to UFC. Currently, in the men's division, there are vacancies in the light heavyweight and welterweight divisions. The women's featherweight division also remains vacant. Strikeforce's contract with Showtime, however, has been extended until 2014, which indicates that for at least the next few years, the organization will continue to be a major player in MMA.
While both organizations are governed by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, Strikeforce has a few distinct differences. The Strikeforce cage is shaped like a hexagon, while UFC fighters fight in the octagon. Until the purchase by Zuffa, Strikeforce fighters also were not allowed to elbow an opponent's head when they on the ground. After the purchase, however, that rule was changed.
Worldwide, the sport of mixed martial arts continues to increase in popularity, especially in the United States thanks greatly to the work of UFC and Strikeforce promoters. In the future, many sports analysts predict that the competition will be even better as fighters better hone their skills in multiple styles of martial arts. Like other young sports, as time passes, the competition becomes more impressive year after year.
About the Author:
Nolan Barias likes blogging about mixed martial arts advantages. For further information regarding a San Diego mixed martial arts gym or to find local coaches teaching jiu jitsu in San Diego, please go to The Arena MMA website now.
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