Over the last five years Mixed Martial Arts has exploded on the biggest stages but it hasn’t always been a respectable, legal and accepted form of fighting. It’s a history marred with controversy, interesting business decisions and some of the most interesting characters to ever grace the ring, which has led to some cool MMA Fighter Gear being sold today!
It’s easy to see where boxing leaves off and Mixed Martial Arts begins. Just one look at the UFC octagon, steel cage and frantic crowds and you instantly know that MMA is a world apart from the boxing your grandfather once told you about. This is the world where different combat styles pit themselves against the rest to determine which one remains supreme. It’s a brutal sport where the will to fight has always been bigger than the will to bring home a dollar. The athletes that put themselves into the cage have a pride that has long been lost in the world of professional boxing.
It hasn’t always been that way. In MMA’s yesteryear the fighting that took place has been noted as human cockfighting by prominent government officials such as John McCain. It went from very few states offering sanctioned fights to no states offering sanctioned fights. Mixed Martial Arts rose to prominence in the underground fight leagues and it seemingly died right there. No one, not even the original owners of the UFC thought Mixed Martial Arts had the ability to survive mounting scrutiny of congress and the overwhelming dislike by state officials. It seemed as though Mixed Martial Arts had died a premature death. In 2001 under new ownership and with Dana White as their outspoken and fight ready leader it made a quick and triumphant return to the main stage with stricter fight rules, pay per views, electric competitions and a show called “Ultimate Fighter.” This all proved to be a lethal combination that led the UFC and Mixed Martial Arts back to the limelight that it briefly shared with professional boxing.
With the explosion of the Ultimate Fighter the UFC was able to reach a new audience that has boosted sales of pay per views, MMA Fighter Gear, apparel and ticket sales. The show has helped to breed some of the most entertaining and efficient fighters in Mixed Martial Arts history. With fans running rabid to get a hold of merchandise sold by Tap Out: a company built on the back of Mixed Martial Arts, the UFC has been able to build long lasting business relationships that has helped them with putting their stamp on the world of fighting. It is no wonder that pay per view sales have surpassed that of professional boxing. They also hold their own against the pay per view sales of long established professional wrestling, most notably, World Wrestling Entertainment.
With a firm foothold in the 18-35 demographic there is no indication that the UFC and Mixed Martial Arts will fizzle out like it did in its previous incarnation. As the fighters are strong and ready to fight at a moments notice, the leadership behind the sport is equally as hungry to remain on top of the world of fighting.
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