Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, which is currently the largest MMA promotion in the world. The UFC's President is Dana White, who has been the President of the company since it was purchased by his friends the Fertitta brothers for $2 million in 2001. It was eventually sold by the Fertitta brothers for over $4 billion dollars in 2016, to its current owners Zuffa, LLC. 

The UFC is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.

 Other websites 
Official UFC site
UFC Official Rules
[http://www.sherHere is a **longer, realistic Wikipedia-style entry** with neutral tone, clear structure, and factual framing. It’s written to resemble an actual wiki page (intro + sections), not a casual summary.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

The **Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization and is widely recognized as the largest and most prominent MMA promotion in the world. Founded in 1993, the UFC showcases professional fighters competing in a variety of weight divisions using techniques derived from multiple martial arts disciplines. The organization is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, and hosts events worldwide.

The UFC’s president is Dana White, who has served in the role since 2001. That year, the company was purchased for approximately $2 million by Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, longtime friends of White, through their company Zuffa, LLC. Under Zuffa’s ownership, the UFC underwent significant restructuring, including the introduction of standardized rules, weight classes, and athletic commission oversight, which helped legitimize the sport and expand its mainstream appeal. In 2016, Zuffa sold the UFC for over $4 billion** to a group led by WME-IMG (now known as Endeavor Group Holdings), marking one of the largest acquisitions in sports history
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History

The UFC was established in 1993 by businessman Art Davie and Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Rorion Gracie. The organization’s first event, UFC 1, was held in Denver, Colorado, and featured a single-night tournament designed to determine the most effective martial art in a no-holds-barred competition. Early UFC events had minimal rules, no weight classes, and limited safety regulations, which led to controversy and political opposition in the late 1990s.

Facing bans in several U.S. states, the UFC struggled financially until its acquisition by Zuffa, LLC in 2001. The Fertitta brothers, working alongside Dana White, implemented the **Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts**, added weight divisions, and worked closely with state athletic commissions to regulate the sport. These changes helped the UFC gain approval in major markets and paved the way for rapid growth.

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Expansion and Popularity

The UFC’s popularity grew significantly in the mid-2000s, aided by television exposure and the debut of *The Ultimate Fighter*, a reality TV series that aired on Spike TV in 2005. The show introduced MMA to a wider audience and played a major role in the sport’s mainstream acceptance.

Over the following years, the UFC expanded internationally, holding events across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. The organization signed broadcast and streaming agreements with major networks and platforms, including ESPN in the United States, further increasing its global reach.

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 Rules and Competition

UFC bouts are conducted under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. Fighters compete inside an eight-sided cage known as the **Octagon**, and matches are officiated by a referee to ensure fighter safety. Victory can be achieved through knockout (KO), technical knockout (TKO), submission, judges’ decision, disqualification, or stoppage by the referee or ringside physician.

The UFC operates multiple men’s and women’s weight divisions, each with its own championship title. Fighters are ranked within their divisions based on performance, and champions defend their titles against top contenders.

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Fighters and Championships

The UFC has featured many notable fighters who have helped define the sport, including **Anderson Silva**, **Georges St-Pierre**, **Jon Jones**, **Conor McGregor**, **Ronda Rousey**, and **Amanda Nunes**. Championship belts are awarded to the top fighter in each weight class, and title fights are typically scheduled for five rounds.

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Business and Ownership

Since 2021, the UFC has operated as part of **Endeavor Group Holdings**, a global entertainment and sports conglomerate. The organization generates revenue through pay-per-view sales, broadcast rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, and merchandise. The UFC is considered one of the most valuable combat sports brands in the world.

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dog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?organization_id=2 Past to present event results and fighter records database]

Category:Mixed martial arts organizations