In 1993, the UFC was born in an 8-sided cradle of combat, and promoters, TV producers, and Hollywood set designers still dispute who is the Octagon’s true creator.
In 1994, Ken Shamrock assembled the first ever MMA team, the Lion’s Den, and showed that success in the ultimate individual sport was a team effort.
Since 1995, UFC belts have become the ultimate accessory prized by all MMA fighters, but their history is a little known, and often surprising, story.
In 1996, a political crusade to ban ultimate fighting successfully pressured the cable TV industry to stop airing UFC events, nearly extinguishing the new sport.
Matt Hughes was a dominant UFC champion, but after his hall of fame career came to a close, he faced his toughest fight ever, this time, for his very survival.
In 1997, UFC 12 was to take place in Buffalo, but a day prior, New York state changed its laws to effectively ban MMA. UFC 12 needed a new home, in a new state, on 24 hours notice.
In 2002, renowned Hollywood photographer Kevin Lynch began a project with the UFC vividly re-framing the public perception of what it means to be a UFC fighter.
In 2003, UFC President Dana White entered Chuck Liddell into PRIDE FC’s Middleweight Grand Prix tournament, with hopes of winning the larger battle for MMA world supremacy.
In 2005, The Ultimate Fighter reality series saved the UFC from failure, and 13 years later, the inaugural cast reunited for an extraordinary event, to break bread and bust b@lls.
Misperceptions about MMA lead to a ban in the state of New York, but the issue was hijacked by corrupt politicians with ulterior motives.
As child, Georges St-Pierre was targeted by bullies, until his father put him karate class, and GSP built himself into a fighting machine, and a UFC champion.
When Donald Trump opened his Atlantic City casino to the struggling UFC, it was the start of an unlikely friendship between the current POTUS and UFC president Dana White.
Ronda Rousey’s run of dominance in the UFC captivated the public far beyond the sports world, and blazed a trail for all female fighters to follow.
In 2009, Daniel Cormier transitioned from Olympic Wrestler to MMA rookie, launching a second act in combat sports and di cult journey to the top of UFC.
In 2012, then-UFC heavyweight champ, Junior dos Santos, brought a 9-year-old boy from a nearby favela to Las Vegas for an unforgettable adventure.
In 2015, UFC launched its anti-doping program with USADA, heralded as the most comprehensive program in pro sports.
Chuck Liddell connected, with knockout punches and with fans around the world, like no UFC fighter before him and became UFC’s first true crossover superstar.
In 2001, the Fertitta brothers bought the failing UFC and installed Dana White as its president. The opening moves from three friends who revolutionized combat sports forever.
In 2016, UFC shocked the world when it sold to a group led by the superpower talent agency WME-IMG, now known as Endeavor, in the largest transaction in sports history.
In 2008, UFC held the first of many live events that raised millions of dollars to support military causes, part of the deep connection between UFC and the U.S. Armed Forces.
In 2006, Arianny Celeste began her run as a UFC Octagon Girl, becoming the most famous ever to carry a round, and transforming the role from event eye-candy to brand icon.
In 2014, a brawl between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier in the MGM Grand lobby led to one of the most successful Pay-Per-Views in company history because “bad blood” sells.
In 2007, Forrest Griffin beat Shogun Rua in a major upset, one of the many times the original Ultimate Fighter beat the odds to build a Hall of Fame legacy.
The UFC production crew has a distinctive broadcast style, unlike any other sports media presentation, creating the electric atmosphere that has shaped the UFC experience.
Conor McGregor’s skills as a fighter are undeniable, but he has emerged as a singular star, a true original, without peer and without limits.
