Started in 1993, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) brand is in its fourteenth year of operation as a professional mixed martial arts organization offering the premier series of MMA sports events.

The UFC organization follows a rich history and tradition of competitive MMA dating back to the Olympic Games in Athens. About 80 years ago, a Brazilian form of MMA known as Vale Tudo (anything goes) sparked local interest in the sport.

Then, the UFC organization brought MMA to the United States. The goal was to find “the Ultimate Fighting Champion” with a concept to have a tournament of the best athletes skilled in the various disciplines of all martial arts, including karate, jiu-jitsu, boxing, kickboxing, grappling, wrestling, sumo and other combat sports. The winner of the tournament would be crowned the champion.

Once the UFC brand was launched, MMA popularity surged in Brazil, followed by immense interest in Japan where these bouts became major events.

In January 2001, under the new ownership of Zuffa, LLC, the UFC brand completely restructured MMA into a highly organized and controlled combat sport. As a result, the UFC organization now offers twelve to fourteen live pay-per-view events annually through cable and satellite providers. UFC fight programs are also distributed internationally throughout the world, including broadcast on Viewer’s Choice in Canada, MAIN EVENT in Australia, Globosat in Brazil and Setanta and Bravo in the United Kingdom.

Response to the UFC brand of MMA has been tremendous, resulting in a growing fan base that has grown exponentially through the years.

Recently, a UFC event in Montreal, Canada attracted more than 21,000 people—the largest audience in North America to witness a mixed martial arts event. UFC® popularity continues to reach new heights as the sixth season of the hit reality series The Ultimate Fighter® delivered top ratings in male 18-34 and 18-34 demographics for the Spike TV cable network.

The UFC organization and Spike TV also extended its two-year strategic partnership through 2008 to present four additional seasons of hit reality series The Ultimate Fighter®, as well as ten live UFC® Fight Night™ events and 26 taped programs of UFC: Unleashed™.

The UFC organization is regulated and recognized by the world’s most prestigious sports regulatory bodies including the California, Florida, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania State Athletic Commissions. The UFC organization strives for the highest levels of safety and quality in all aspects of the sport.

Under the strong leadership of owners Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta III, and expertise of President Dana White, the UFC brand continues to thrive across a spectrum of live event sports, television production and ancillary business development.

In a deal similar to the National Football League AFC / NFC merger, on March 27, 2007 The UFC and PRIDE Fighting Championships announced an agreement in which the majority owners of the UFC, Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, would purchase the PRIDE brand. Initial intentions were for both organizations to be separately run but aligned together and there were plans to co-promote supercards featuring champions and top contenders from both organizations. But recent comments by Dana White indicate that the Pride brand will likely be folded and many former Pride fighters are already being realigned under the UFC brand. According to MMA weekly's website, on Dec 12th 2007 Zuffa will complete the transaction of buying WEC World Extreme Cagefighting.

The UFC currently uses five weight classes:
• Lightweight: 145 to 155 lb (67 to 70 kg)
• Welterweight: 155 to 170 lb (71 to 77 kg)
• Middleweight: 170 to 185 lb (78 to 84 kg)
• Light Heavyweight: 185 to 205 lb (85 to 93 kg)
• Heavyweight: 205 to 265 lb (94 to 120 kg)


Bout duration:
• All non-championship bouts shall be three rounds.
• All championship bouts shall be five rounds.
• Rounds will be five minutes in duration.
• A one-minute rest period will occur between each round.

Scoring:
The ten-point must system is in effect for all UFC fights; three judges score each round and the winner of each receives ten points, the loser nine points or fewer.

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.
2. Technical knockout by the referee stopping the contest.
3. Decision via the scorecards, including:
• Unanimous decision [all judges pick the same fighter as the winner].
• Split decision [One judge picks one fighter, the other two judges pick the other fighter].
• Majority decision [two of three judges pick the same fighter as the winner].
• Draw, including:
---- Unanimous draw.
---- Majority draw.
---- Split draw.
4. Technical decision.
5. Technical draw.
6. Disqualification.
7. Forfeit.
8. No contest.
-------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- --------------------

I didn't make this into a new thread since no details were given:

quote 411mania.com

Shane McMahon recently had a meeting at the UFC offices. Dana White would not comment on the meeting.

*bleep* yeah, SHANE O'MAC! Vince McMahon wouldn't be pleased if his son works for them, unless it's to work in conjunction with WWE. Not sure the Ferittas would let that happen.

Wasn't there a rumor he wanted to start his own promotion or something to do with MMA? Meh. Last I read about him, his name was taboo from being mentioned backstage just from the fallout he had with Vince so I doubt it has anything to do with WWE. Plus why would they want to. They've done everything they can to make it a respectable sport and distance themselves from professional wrestling and all the critics who thought it was barbaric to begin with. Don't see how he could help UFC out at all. Not like they're in dire need of storylines or anything.

Shane McMahon dealt with the finances of WWE, nothing to do with the booking. He did rather well to get WWE business deals as well. I didn't know Shane was having issues with Vince or any of the backstage stuff, so it's news to me.

quote The Living Angelus

A pretty big deal? He paraded around like he was a Top 10 fighter by beating up nobodies not to mention how he would do just enough to win a decision rather than putting on a good performance or to entertain the fans, ran his mouth every chance he got, pretty much was a bitch on TUF 9 and when the day came that he actually faced a top ten fighter, he got his head punched cleanly off his body. Now he wins his first comeback fight I'm just supposed to forget what a bitch he's been his entire career because being smug after a laughable loss would be inappropriate even for him. Hell no. We'll see how "humble" he is come his next fight. Now that he's gotten that "impressive" win, we'll see how long it takes for that "mouth" of his to start working again.

Do what you want, I'm just pointing out that it was a good win and he looks to have adjusted his attitude. Downplaying his win because you don't like him is very unfair.

quote The Living Angelus

Plus why would they want to. They've done everything they can to make it a respectable sport and distance themselves from professional wrestling and all the critics who thought it was barbaric to begin with. Don't see how he could help UFC out at all. Not like they're in dire need of storylines or anything.

If this is even true, then they would want Shane for his business sense and experience. The (backstage) work he did with WWE would look great on any resume and there's a whole host of companies out there that would love to have him. The UFC hasn't really done anything to distance themselves from WWE or pro wrestling and the way the build their fighters and main events is very much a work, a concept taken from pro wrestling.

Does anyone else think its time for Randy to hang it up? Sure he won, but he wasn't impressive at all. (this feels oddly familiar?) If Couture can barely hang with guys like Brandon Vera, then what's going to happen when he starts fighting the elite of the light heavyweight division? Do you really think Couture has any chance of beating guys like Rashad, Machida, Shogun, Rampage, Cane, etc? Those aren't fights I'd enjoy seeing.

End your career on a high note, Randy.

quote enzuguri

Do what you want, I'm just pointing out that it was a good win and he looks to have adjusted his attitude. Downplaying his win because you don't like him is very unfair.

No it's not. It's completely justified. He got the win, so I'm just so supposed to forget my distaste for him and jump on his bandwagon because he showed one side of humility. Partial humility as it was as he started talking about deserving respect towards the end of his speech. Brock's beaten Randy and destroyed Mir in the rematch and he still has people criticizing him just because, hell I really don't know why, probably stems from his professional wrestling background still. People don't have to like Brock much like I don't have to like Bisping. He won, as I said, good for him, but that doesn't mean I have to respect him in the slightest. I still see him as a cocky bitch and again, one display of being humble in front of the camera doesn't amend to all the times he wasn't, nor has his character as a person changed at all. You can't change a leopards spots, and you can't take arrogance out of a Michael Bisping.

Also, UFC hasn't tried distancing themselves from WWE? Okay... that's why when Brock went into "WWE-mode" after his win against Mir and started cutting a promo critics everywhere, including majority of you here, called it a show of disrespect and all these other accusations and how you can't stand him. Both Brock and Dana even made a remark about it at the post-fight conference how this isn't the WWE where Brock apologized for his comments and behavior. Which is amusing as he was the only one who remained true to himself, instead of going over to Mir after the fight, hugging him and making up like all these other fighters do. Talk smack to sell tickets but come fight day it's all hugs and kisses afterwards. I enjoyed Brock's antics because he appeared genuine that he really did hate Mir (which I would too with all the crap Mir talked leading up to the fight). If Mazzagatti was in the ring, Brock probably would have went up to him too and said or done something too.

The "storylines" bit with Shane was a joke (partially because there are no WWE style storylines in MMA); if nothing is defined with a smiley, half you people take things so literally on this site. I know what Shane did in WWE, he was largely responsible for their marketing and international business deals, which I would assume is the reason he went to the UFC Offices. UFC is looking to expand, Australia within the next year if I remember correctly, Shane's expertise and experience would be a great asset for the company to further expand on this.

quote TwilightPrince

Does anyone else think its time for Randy to hang it up? Sure he won, but he wasn't impressive at all. (this feels oddly familiar?) If Couture can barely hang with guys like Brandon Vera, then what's going to happen when he starts fighting the elite of the light heavyweight division? Do you really think Couture has any chance of beating guys like Rashad, Machida, Shogun, Rampage, Cane, etc? Those aren't fights I'd enjoy seeing.

End your career on a high note, Randy.

Mmmmmm, man I don't know. I mean, who the hell are we to tell or suggest to Randy when he should retire?... Whatever happens, he'll always be a draw and as long he's physically able, he'll go. It really isn't all that bad, all things considered - He lost to Brock who is a fking monster and even did OK in that fight. From what I remember he got at least one takedown, escaped from the bottom after Brock took him down and landed some clean shots. He's given Brock the best fight of his career, so far. Losing to Nogueira is no shame at all and whether it's accepted or not, he got one in the W column over Vera. I think he still has the skills to put up tough fights against top tier fighters in either the LHW and HW div, but I don't think he'll be a champion again. Just the honou of fighting Randy would be enough for most fighters.

Vera can rarely finish fights as it is these days, so I don't put the blame at all on Randy for the match being on the slow side. Randy controlled the pace, and still looked impressive for being 46. He got rocked a couple times, but was able to recover and pull out a decision victory. Don't see why that is any reason to call it quits (again). I'd like to see him fight someone like Shogun before hanging up his gloves.

I thought Vera won the fight, but I can see how it would go the other way. And Couture definitely still has his game going. Even the greats lose from time to time, and even if Randy has lost a step, he was already ahead of the pack. He may not be able to win another world title, but I wouldn't put it past him to come out with impressive performances and wins and get himself back into contention. Even though I'd like to see him face off against Tito Ortiz again, Couture vs. Rashad Evans could be fun.

quote The Living Angelus

Vera can rarely finish fights as it is these days, so I don't put the blame at all on Randy for the match being on the slow side. Randy controlled the pace, and still looked impressive for being 46. He got rocked a couple times, but was able to recover and pull out a decision victory. Don't see why that is any reason to call it quits (again). I'd like to see him fight someone like Shogun before hanging up his gloves.

It's interesting how you point this out when it's Randy, but fail to mention it when Bisping did the exact same thing. It's also interesting how you enjoyed Lesnar's post UFC 100 fight antics but hate Bisping for trashtalking. That's so biased and hypocritical

quote The Omega

I thought Vera won the fight, but I can see how it would go the other way. And Couture definitely still has his game going. Even the greats lose from time to time, and even if Randy has lost a step, he was already ahead of the pack. He may not be able to win another world title, but I wouldn't put it past him to come out with impressive performances and wins and get himself back into contention. Even though I'd like to see him face off against Tito Ortiz again, Couture vs. Rashad Evans could be fun.

I agree. Easily your best post.

This message was edited by enzuguri on Nov 17 2009.

On Randy:
I didn't say it was a great victory, just that at 46, with people spouting retirement, Randy proved yet again he's not too old and can hang with the younger fighters and control the pace of the fight. Plus he's an MMA Legend. You honestly putting the fighting style and techniques of a Randy Couture in the same bracket as that of a Michael Bisping?! lmfao! You might as well put his name up there and his stand-up with the likes of Chuck Liddell, Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida while you're at it the way you people carry on like Bisping's some golden child of MMA and the future of this sport.


On Brock:
No it's not hypocritical. Michael Bisping has been talking shit since he appeared on TUF3 where he whined and demanded just as much attention because a deaf Matt Hamill was getting special treatment. I'm not sure if he already had it prior to TUF, probably, but somewhere after winning TUF3 he got a massive ego by beating up nobodies with his lackluster undefeated streak until Rashad sent him packing down a weight class. Brock talked shit once, which really wasn't even much to it other than verbally putting the naysayers and Mir who talked a huge amount of crap leading up to that rematch, in their place. Although I did find the Bud Light comment a bit stretching it, as the dumb brute should have known you don't diss sponsors on a live event, but it was still comical to me anyways and he immediately apologized for his antics in the post-fight conference. Even in that fight he lost to Mir, he still had one helluva dominating display before getting caught in a rookie mistake. Either way, Brock has reached a status where he can talk all the shit he wants because he can back it up. Same goes for other whiny loudmouths like Tito and BJ Penn, but Bisping hasn't accomplished shit. He's only as famous as he is now because he was the first Brit in TUF and the first to headline events for UFC in various countries. That doesn't make him the best at what he does nor an excuse to say whatever he wants. Not when he was protected the majority of his UFC career to begin with until he had to fight someone well established. His accomplishments in small feds outside of UFC aren't impressive, it's just a notch on a belt. Might as well then put Roy Nelson in the same league then as he was IFL's heavyweight champion before it was debunked.

What it boils down to is I don't like Michael Bisping. Never have liked him, and have stated it more than I've wanted to that I never will. Does it bother you people that much that I don't give him the recognition you think he deserves and why you put my posts under a microscope? If that makes me a hypocrite, an idiot, or whatever makes you sleep better, so be it, I guess I'm those things. Bisping's still a bitch and a glorified mediocre fighter at the end of the day too, so I too can rest easier.

quote The Living Angelus

quote enzuguri

Do what you want, I'm just pointing out that it was a good win and he looks to have adjusted his attitude. Downplaying his win because you don't like him is very unfair.

No it's not. It's completely justified. He got the win, so I'm just so supposed to forget my distaste for him and jump on his bandwagon because he showed one side of humility. Partial humility as it was as he started talking about deserving respect towards the end of his speech. Brock's beaten Randy and destroyed Mir in the rematch and he still has people criticizing him just because, hell I really don't know why, probably stems from his professional wrestling background still. People don't have to like Brock much like I don't have to like Bisping. He won, as I said, good for him, but that doesn't mean I have to respect him in the slightest. I still see him as a cocky bitch and again, one display of being humble in front of the camera doesn't amend to all the times he wasn't, nor has his character as a person changed at all. You can't change a leopards spots, and you can't take arrogance out of a Michael Bisping.

Hypocrisy. It was a good performance whether you like him or not.

quote TwilightPrince

Does anyone else think its time for Randy to hang it up? Sure he won, but he wasn't impressive at all. (this feels oddly familiar?) If Couture can barely hang with guys like Brandon Vera, then what's going to happen when he starts fighting the elite of the light heavyweight division? Do you really think Couture has any chance of beating guys like Rashad, Machida, Shogun, Rampage, Cane, etc? Those aren't fights I'd enjoy seeing.

End your career on a high note, Randy.

Never write Randy off.

Anyway, Vera won in my books. I don't know what it is recently but they should have a look at over-hauling the scoring system. Maybe some kind of priority points system, since Randy controlled large parts of the fights but the times he didn't, he got rocked with big body shots and even let Vera get full mount. That said Vera did no damage in the mount, so maybe he didn't score for that. Vera had his chances and couldn't do alot with it, Randy's game was to slow the fight down, clinch, dirty box and control Vera's stand-up game.

Which, I suppose, he did effectively.

Just on the scoring of the Randy/Vera fight - If it had of been under the Pride scoring system, Vera would have won. I'm not trying to discredit Randy's victory or anything, just sayin.

quote The Living Angelus

On Randy:
I didn't say it was a great victory, just that at 46, with people spouting retirement, Randy proved yet again he's not too old and can hang with the younger fighters and control the pace of the fight. Plus he's an MMA Legend. You honestly putting the fighting style and techniques of a Randy Couture in the same bracket as that of a Michael Bisping?! lmfao! You might as well put his name up there and his stand-up with the likes of Chuck Liddell, Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida while you're at it the way you people carry on like Bisping's some golden child of MMA and the future of this sport.

Uh, no I didn't say that.

quote The Living Angelus

What it boils down to is I don't like Michael Bisping.

Exactly. It's OK for your favourite fighters to do whatever they want, but a fighter you don't like steps outside the appropriate boundaries, it's completely unacceptable. Your opinions and thoughts can't be taken seriously because of your ridiculously hypocritical views.

If you're not trying to discredit it, why so many of you insist on harping on it? Vera should have finished Randy off the multiple times he had him rocked and not let it go to yet another judges decision. But I forget, Vera is incapable of finishing fights.

quote enzuguri

Uh, no I didn't say that.

You implied it by comparing the two. Different circumstances, which is justifiable how I can commend one, and condemn the other.

quote enzuguri

Exactly. It's OK for your favourite fighters to do whatever they want, but a fighter you don't like steps outside the appropriate boundaries, it's completely unacceptable. Your opinions and thoughts can't be taken seriously because of your ridiculously hypocritical views.

I dislike Bisping because he was well outside those boundaries when he was first introduced to the world, and only got worse as the years went on. Pretty hard to get persuaded to think otherwise with that obnoxious mouth of his. I didn't think my hatred towards him could get any bigger but that theory was astonishingly put to the test and further solidified with how much of a douchebag he was as a coach on TUF9. Bisping shows a different side for once in his entire career and you expect his critics to suddenly change their views on him? If my subjective hypocritical views can't be taken seriously in this forum, neither can your irrational thoughts. You Bisping fanboys think I'm downplaying his victory when I never did such a notion. I downplayed his humility during his victory speech, because I'm not the person to go "ah... he's changed, he's a good person. Yay Bisping! ^__^ " Hell no, I just saw through the bullshit that all of you were too blind to see. He's still an arrogant prick who couldn't resist the urge adding in that line about being deserving of respect. For what exactly? What has he possibly done to earn my respect. Until he starts beating some more Top Ten fighters, gets somewhere near a title fight possibility and continues to display that he's changed and isn't the same arrogant pompous ass that he's paraded about for the last 3 years, he's deserving of no respect otherwise.

Same thing can be said about Kimbo Slice. He certainly is a lot more humble than I would have pegged him out to be, but as a fighter, he's shit. Does he deserve my respect too? No. And he wont get it until he gets some impressive wins under his belt, and not the Michael Bisping way either of not entertaining the fans: by doing just enough to get the decision. Think that's another reason why I hate Bisping and this is likely where I began hating him not only as a fighter but as a person originated from. Whenever his name comes up, I'm always thinking back to the day of his win over Leben, a horribly boring performance, where he basically said a big "F-U" to the fans, that he wasn't there to entertain them, but to play it safe, avoid stand-up, takedowns, everything and just earn points and walk his way to a decision victory. Yeah, I reiterate, *bleep* Him. Can't possibly see why anyone could give him praise and approval. It's all of you who can't be taken seriously in this forum.