Fighting: Unscripted

Ultimate Fighting Championship is a
U.S.-based mixed martial arts
organization. Fighters in the sport
utilize various combinations of
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, boxing, wrestling
and many other martial arts.

Early UFC events were eight- or
sixteen-man tournaments whereby
participants were required to beat
three opponents in a single evening
to be crowned Ultimate Fighting
Champion. Reportedly no other event
matched fighters of different style to
prove which style is the best. Fighters
were typically skilled in one discipline
only, e.g. boxing, Judo, Jiu Jitsu etc.
and had little experience in battling
against opponents with different skills
of their own. With no weight classes,
fighters could find themselves facing
opponents who were significantly
larger and taller than themselves.
(These kind of fights are referred to as
'Freak fights' by MMA enthusiasts, and
still occur but mainly in Japanese
organisations where the spectacle of
the fight is considered as important as
the skills being showcased.) These
factors combined led to a trend of
short, violent fights. This was very
much in line with the way the UFC
was being marketed at the time.
"There are no rules!" said the famous
tagline. Although not strictly true, the
UFC did operate with a limited set of
rules; techniques such as hair pulling
and groin strikes were frowned upon,
but valid.

The brutal nature of the burgeoning
sport quickly drew the attention of the
authorities and UFC events were
banned in almost all American states.
To survive, the UFC redesigned its
rules to remove the less palatable
elements of fights, whilst still retaining
the core elements of striking and
grappling. Five minute rounds,
Referee stoppages, weight classes
and limitations on permissible striking
areas gradually found the UFC being
rebranded as a sport rather than a
violent circus attraction. As the sport
evolved, so did its fans and fighters,
both of which quickly realised the
effectiveness of ground techniques.

The popularisation of grappling and
submission strategies, particularly
those of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu ("BJJ"),
was almost entirely due to the success
of Royce Gracie, whose brother
Rorion had co-founded the UFC.
Royce quickly proved in the early
UFC events that BJJ was incredibly
effective against strikers with no
ground game and limited takedown
defense.

Through this event the term MMA
(Mixed Martial Arts) was coined.

Royce's efforts were rewarded with 3
Ultimate Fighting Championships. In
2003, along with fellow UFC veteran
Ken Shamrock, Royce Gracie was
inducted into the UFC's newly
founded hall of fame.

Today, Ultimate Fighting
Championship events have become
very popular in places like Japan,
Brazil, Canada, and the United
States, where fights are often seen on
television's Pay Per View system as
well as the occasional appearance
on Spike TV. In the United States,
championship fights are usually held
in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, much
like in boxing.

In 2005 the UFC launched its own
reality TV series, The Ultimate Fighter
on Spike TV, in which MMA
practitioners who had not yet
appeared in the UFC would reside
and train together in two teams, and
fight one another in matches where
the loser would be eliminated and
eventually one fighter from each of
two weight classes would be awarded
a contract. A second series launched
in August of the same year.

UFC Rules
(As found on UFC.com)

UFC rules, as approved by the Nevada
State Athletic Commission - July 23,
2001

Weight classes:

1. Lightweight - over 145 lbs. to 155
lbs.
2. Welterweight - over 155 lbs. to 170
lbs.
3. Middleweight - over 170 lbs. to 185
lbs.
4. Light Heavyweight - over 185 lbs.
to 205 lbs.
5. Heavyweight - over 205 lbs. to 265
lbs.

Bout duration:

1. All non-championship bouts shall
be three rounds.
2. All championship bouts shall be
five rounds.
3. Rounds will be five minutes in
duration.
4. A one-minute rest period will occur
between each round.

Fouls:

1. Butting with the head.
2. Eye gouging of any kind.
3. Biting.
4. Hair pulling.
5. Fish hooking.
6. Groin attacks of any kind.
7. Putting a finger into any orifice or
into any cut or laceration on an
opponent.
8. Small joint manipulation.
9. Striking to the spine or the back of
the head.
10. Striking downward using the point
of the elbow.
11. Throat strikes of any kind,
including, without limitation,
grabbing the trachea.
12. Clawing, pinching or twisting the
flesh.
13. Grabbing the clavicle.
14. Kicking the head of a grounded
opponent.
15. Kneeing the head of a grounded
opponent.
16. Stomping a grounded opponent.
17. Kicking to the kidney with the
heel.
18. Spiking an opponent to the
canvas on his head or neck.
19. Throwing an opponent out of the
ring or fenced area.
20. Holding the shorts or gloves of an
opponent.
21. Spitting at an opponent.
22. Engaging in an unsportsmanlike
conduct that causes an injury to an
opponent.
23. Holding the ropes or the fence.
24. Using abusive language in the
ring or fenced area.
25. Attacking an opponent on or
during the break.
26. Attacking an opponent who is
under the care of the referee.
27. Attacking an opponent after the
bell has sounded the end of the
period of unarmed combat.
28. Flagrantly disregarding the
instructions of the referee.
29. Timidity, including, without
limitation, avoiding contact with an
opponent,
intentionally or consistently dropping
the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
30. Interference by the corner.
31. Throwing in the towel during
competition.

Ways To Win:

1. Submission by:
    * Physical tap out.
    * Verbal tap out.
    * Technical knockout by the
referee stopping the contest.
2. Technical knockout by the referee
stopping the contest.
3. Decision via the scorecards,
including:
    * Unanimous decision.
    * Split decision.
    * Majority decision.
    * Draw, including:
          o Unanimous draw.
          o Majority draw.
          o Split draw.
4. Technical decision.
5. Technical draw.
6. Disqualification.
7. Forfeit.
8. No contest.

Referee may stand fighters up: If the
fighters reach a stalemate and do not
work to improve position or finish.