Claim: Brock Lesnar signed with a martial arts promotion.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship -LRB- UFC -RRB- is an American mixed martial arts-focused company , based in Las Vegas , Nevada , owned and operated by parent company William Morris Endeavor . It is the largest MMA promotion in the world and features the top-ranked fighters of the sport . Based in the United States , the UFC produces events worldwide that showcase ten weight divisions and abide by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts . As of 2017 , the UFC has held over 300 events . Dana White serves as the president of the UFC . He has held that position since 2001 ; under White 's leadership the UFC has grown into a globally popular multibillion-dollar enterprise .   The first event was held on November 12 , 1993 at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver , Colorado . The purpose of the early Ultimate Fighting Championship competitions was to identify the most effective martial art in a fight , with minimal rules , between competitors of different fighting disciplines , including boxing , Brazilian jiu-jitsu , Sambo , wrestling , Muay Thai , karate , judo , and other styles . In subsequent competitions , fighters began adopting effective techniques from more than one discipline , which indirectly helped create an entirely separate style of fighting known as present-day mixed martial arts . In 2016 , it was sold to William Morris Endeavor -LRB- WME-IMG -RRB- for $ 4 billion .   With a TV deal and expansion in Europe , Australia , the Middle East , Asia , and new markets within the United States , the UFC has gained in popularity , along with greater mainstream media coverage . As of 2017 , viewers can access live UFC fights and fight replays on their subscription network UFC Fight Pass at a cost of $ 7.99 -- $ 9.99 USD per month via devices like Apple TV , iPhone , Android , Xbox , Roku , and Google Chromecast as well as on pay-per-view in the U.S. , Brazil , Australia , Canada , New Zealand , and Italy . On network TV , UFC content is available on Fox , Fox Sports 1 , and Fox Sports 2 in the U.S. , on ESPN in the Caribbean , on BT Sport in the United Kingdom and Ireland , as well as in 150 countries and 22 different languages worldwide .   MMA journalists and fans have criticized the UFC for putting on too many shows and thus diluting the quality of their product .