The Evolution of UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, founded in 1993, will hold its 100th card tomorrow night at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The 101st UFC card will be Aug. 8 at the Wachovia Center. Here is a look at the development of UFC.
Early 1993
Martial arts aficionados Art Davie, Rorion Gracie and Robert Meyrowitz, curious to find out which of several fighting disciplines would be most effective in a head-to-head format, join forces with the idea of creating an eight-man, single-elimination tournament. Davie calls the project "War of the Worlds." With the financial aid of 28 backers, WOW Promotions is formed.
May 1993
Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG) becomes a partner with the Davie investors and renames the tournament concept The Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Nov. 12, 1993
UFC 1 is held at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver. Royce Gracie, Rorion Gracie's younger brother and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu master, defeats Dutch savate fighter Gerard Gordeau in the final.
Fall 1996
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) publicly denounces mixed martial arts as "barbaric" and "human cockfighting" and sends letters to governors of all 50 states requesting that they take immediate steps to have the sport restricted in their jurisdictions. In response to Sen. McCain's campaign, UFC is banned in 36 states and its telecasts are dropped by major cable pay-per-view distributor Viewer's Choice as well as individual cable carriers.
Feb. 7, 1997
UFC relocates from New York to Dothan, Ala., on short notice after so-called "no-holds-barred" fighting is banned in the state of New York. UFC 12, however, is the first such event in which there are defined weight classes.
July 27, 1997
For UFC 14 in Birmingham, Ala., gloves become mandatory and kicks to a downed opponent, hair-pulling, head-butting and groin strikes are disallowed.
