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'''Mixed martial arts''' is the fastest growing sport in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/27230-mma-get-to-know-the-fastest-growing-sport-in-america|title=MMA: Get to Know the Fastest Growing Sport in America|first=Derek|last=Bolender|publisher=[[Bleacher Report]]|accessdate=21 December 2017}}</ref>
'''[[Mixed martial arts]]''' (MMA) is the fastest growing [[sport]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/27230-mma-get-to-know-the-fastest-growing-sport-in-america|title=MMA: Get to Know the Fastest Growing Sport in America|first=Derek|last=Bolender|publisher=[[Bleacher Report]]|accessdate=21 December 2017}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
During the late 1960s to early 1970s, the concept of [[Hybrid martial arts|combining the elements of multiple martial arts]] was popularized in the West by [[Chinese-American]] martial artist [[Bruce Lee]] via his system of [[Jeet Kune Do]]. Lee believed that "the best fighter is not a [[Boxer]], [[Karate]] or [[Judo]] man. The best fighter is someone who can adapt to any style, to be formless, to adopt an individual's own style and not following the system of styles." In 2004, [[UFC]] President [[Dana White]] would call Lee the "father of mixed martial arts" stating: "If you look at the way Bruce Lee trained, the way he fought, and many of the things he wrote, he said the perfect style was no style. You take a little something from everything. You take the good things from every different discipline, use what works, and you throw the rest away".<ref>Wickert, Marc. 2004. ''Dana White and the future of UFC''. kucklepit.com. See [[q:Dana White|Wikiquotes]] for the text.</ref>


The earliest example of MMA in America was introduced in Pittsburgh, Penn. in 1979. Fourteen years later the [[Gracie family]] introduced their form of [[Brazilian jiu-jitsu]] to the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2013/11/12/5043630/rorion-gracie-and-the-day-he-created-the-ufc|title=Rorion Gracie and the day he created the UFC|publisher=MMA Fighting|accessdate=30 December 2017}}</ref> Which led to the creation of the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] and begun with the [[UFC 1]] event, held in Denver Colorado in November 1993.<ref>{{cite news|title= Television: Pay-Per-View Battle, Instead of Being Merely Gory and Funny, Gets Interesting After the First Two Bouts|newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 15, 1993 |url= https://articles.latimes.com/1993-11-15/entertainment/ca-57200_1_ultimate-fighting-championship|accessdate=December 30, 2017 |last=Rosenberg |first=Howard}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FtADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA24&lpg=PA24&dq=shotokan+taekwondo+and+kung+fu+challenge+jujutsu+sandra+e+kessler#q=shotokan+taekwondo+and+kung+fu+challenge+jujutsu+sandra+e+kessler|title=Black Belt|first=Active Interest Media|last=Inc|date=1 April 1994|publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc.|accessdate=30 December 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref> The sport was initially criticized for being too violent and brutal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/17/opinion/ban-this-extreme-barbarism.html|title=Ban This Extreme Barbarism|date=17 January 1997|publisher=|accessdate=17 June 2019|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/brawling-over-brawling-181296|title=Brawling Over Brawling|first=Newsweek Staff On 11/26/95 at 7:00 PM|last=EST|date=26 November 1995|website=Newsweek|accessdate=17 June 2019}}</ref>
[[Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki]] took place in Japan between American boxer [[Muhammad Ali]] and Japanese wrestler [[Antonio Inoki]] in 1976. The classic match-up between professional boxer and professional wrestler turned sour as each fighter refused to engage in the other's style, and after a 15-round stalemate it was declared a draw.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bull |first=Andy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/nov/11/the-forgotten-story-of-ali-inoki |title=The forgotten story of ... Muhammad Ali v Antonio Inoki |publisher=The Guardian |date=November 11, 2009 |accessdate=June 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226185741/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/nov/11/the-forgotten-story-of-ali-inoki |archive-date=December 26, 2015 |url-status=live |df= }}</ref> The fight played an important role in the history of mixed martial arts.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gross|first=Josh|title=Ali vs. Inoki: The Forgotten Fight That Inspired Mixed Martial Arts and Launched Sports Entertainment|date=2016|publisher=[[BenBella Books]]|isbn=9781942952190|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GPCGDAAAQBAJ}}</ref>
The earliest example of a modern MMA contest held in America was introduced in Pittsburgh, Penn. in 1979. Fourteen years later, the [[Gracie family]] introduced their form of [[Brazilian jiu-jitsu]] to the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2013/11/12/5043630/rorion-gracie-and-the-day-he-created-the-ufc|title=Rorion Gracie and the day he created the UFC|publisher=MMA Fighting|accessdate=30 December 2017}}</ref> Which led to the creation of the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] (UFC) and begun with the [[UFC 1]] event, held in Denver Colorado in November 1993.<ref>{{cite news|title= Television: Pay-Per-View Battle, Instead of Being Merely Gory and Funny, Gets Interesting After the First Two Bouts|newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=November 15, 1993 |url= https://articles.latimes.com/1993-11-15/entertainment/ca-57200_1_ultimate-fighting-championship|accessdate=December 30, 2017 |last=Rosenberg |first=Howard}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FtADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA24&lpg=PA24&dq=shotokan+taekwondo+and+kung+fu+challenge+jujutsu+sandra+e+kessler#q=shotokan+taekwondo+and+kung+fu+challenge+jujutsu+sandra+e+kessler|title=Black Belt|first=Active Interest Media|last=Inc|date=1 April 1994|publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc.|accessdate=30 December 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref> The sport was initially criticized for being too violent and brutal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/17/opinion/ban-this-extreme-barbarism.html|title=Ban This Extreme Barbarism|date=17 January 1997|publisher=|accessdate=17 June 2019|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/brawling-over-brawling-181296|title=Brawling Over Brawling|first=Newsweek Staff On 11/26/95 at 7:00 PM|last=EST|date=26 November 1995|website=Newsweek|accessdate=17 June 2019}}</ref>


The sport of mixed martial arts was banned in 1997 in New York.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://etd.fcla.edu/CF/CFE0004675/Doeg_MA_thesis.pdf|title= Outside the cage: the campaign to destroy mixed martial arts |website=etd.fcla.edu|access-date=2019-06-17}}</ref>
The sport of mixed martial arts was banned in 1997 in New York.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://etd.fcla.edu/CF/CFE0004675/Doeg_MA_thesis.pdf|title= Outside the cage: the campaign to destroy mixed martial arts |website=etd.fcla.edu|access-date=2019-06-17}}</ref>

Revision as of 17:22, 4 November 2020

Mixed martial arts in the United States
Audience records
Single match20,427 (UFC 205)[1]

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is the fastest growing sport in the United States.[2]

History

During the late 1960s to early 1970s, the concept of combining the elements of multiple martial arts was popularized in the West by Chinese-American martial artist Bruce Lee via his system of Jeet Kune Do. Lee believed that "the best fighter is not a Boxer, Karate or Judo man. The best fighter is someone who can adapt to any style, to be formless, to adopt an individual's own style and not following the system of styles." In 2004, UFC President Dana White would call Lee the "father of mixed martial arts" stating: "If you look at the way Bruce Lee trained, the way he fought, and many of the things he wrote, he said the perfect style was no style. You take a little something from everything. You take the good things from every different discipline, use what works, and you throw the rest away".[3]

Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki took place in Japan between American boxer Muhammad Ali and Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki in 1976. The classic match-up between professional boxer and professional wrestler turned sour as each fighter refused to engage in the other's style, and after a 15-round stalemate it was declared a draw.[4] The fight played an important role in the history of mixed martial arts.[5]

The earliest example of a modern MMA contest held in America was introduced in Pittsburgh, Penn. in 1979. Fourteen years later, the Gracie family introduced their form of Brazilian jiu-jitsu to the US.[6] Which led to the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and begun with the UFC 1 event, held in Denver Colorado in November 1993.[7][8] The sport was initially criticized for being too violent and brutal.[9][10]

The sport of mixed martial arts was banned in 1997 in New York.[11]

At one time the sport was banned in most parts of the United States which was spearheaded by John McCain who called MMA human cockfighting.[12][13][14]

West Virginia became the 44th state to regulate mixed martial arts on March 24, 2011.[15] On March 8, 2012, Wyoming became the 45th state to regulate MMA.[16] On May 4, 2012, it was announced that Vermont had become the 46th state to regulate MMA.[17][18] Legislation allowing MMA in Connecticut came into effect on October 1, 2013, making it the 47th state to regulate the sport.[19][20]

On March 22, 2016, the New York State Assembly voted to lift the State's 1997 ban on MMA and on April 14, 2016 Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill legalizing and regulating the sport into law. New York was the last state to legalize the sport in the United States.[21]

The two most prominent promotions are UFC and Bellator. Other promotions include: Professional Fighters League in Washington D.C., Cage Fury Fighting Championships in New Jersey, King of the Cage in Southern California, Resurrection Fighting Alliance in Kearney, Nebraska, Legacy Fighting Championships based out of Houston, Texas, Titan Fighting Championship based out of Kansas City, Kansas.

Women's MMA

Main article: Women's mixed martial arts

The first recorded US female competition was at an IFC 4[22] on March 28, 1997. This was soon followed by an IFC four women tournament sanctioned by the Louisiana Boxing and Wrestling Commission on September 5, 1997 in Baton Rouge.[23]

All female Mixed Martial Arts Organization Invicta FC is based out of Enka, North Carolina.

Television

The UFC is the most popular MMA organization in the United States and is broadcast on ESPN.[24][25] Its major rival for viewers is Bellator which is broadcast on Paramount Network.[26]

Literature

  • No Holds Barred: The Complete History of MMA in America by Clyde Gentry (ISBN 9781600785450)

See also

References

  1. ^ Staff (2016-11-13). "UFC 205 draws 20,427 fans in New York City debut, smashes gate record with $17.7 million". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
  2. ^ Bolender, Derek. "MMA: Get to Know the Fastest Growing Sport in America". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  3. ^ Wickert, Marc. 2004. Dana White and the future of UFC. kucklepit.com. See Wikiquotes for the text.
  4. ^ Bull, Andy (November 11, 2009). "The forgotten story of ... Muhammad Ali v Antonio Inoki". The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 26, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
  5. ^ Gross, Josh (2016). Ali vs. Inoki: The Forgotten Fight That Inspired Mixed Martial Arts and Launched Sports Entertainment. BenBella Books. ISBN 9781942952190.
  6. ^ "Rorion Gracie and the day he created the UFC". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  7. ^ Rosenberg, Howard (November 15, 1993). "Television: Pay-Per-View Battle, Instead of Being Merely Gory and Funny, Gets Interesting After the First Two Bouts". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  8. ^ Inc, Active Interest Media (1 April 1994). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 December 2017 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  9. ^ "Ban This Extreme Barbarism". 17 January 1997. Retrieved 17 June 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
  10. ^ EST, Newsweek Staff On 11/26/95 at 7:00 PM (26 November 1995). "Brawling Over Brawling". Newsweek. Retrieved 17 June 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "Outside the cage: the campaign to destroy mixed martial arts" (PDF). etd.fcla.edu. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  12. ^ Plotz, David (17 November 1999). "Fight Clubbed". Retrieved 28 August 2018 – via Slate.
  13. ^ "FIGHTING FOR REGULATION : MIXED MARTIAL ARTS LEGISLATION IN THE UNITED STATES" (PDF). Lawreviewdrake.files.wordpress.com. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  14. ^ Greene, Nick. "How John McCain Grew to Tolerate MMA, the Sport he Likened to "Human Cockfighting"". Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  15. ^ "The Impact of MMA Legalization in West Virginia - Mountaineer News Service-West Virginia News". Mountaineernewsservice.com. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  16. ^ Aisenberg, Sara. "Wyoming MMA promoters now need $10,000 surety bonds | Surety Bond Insider". Suretybonds.com. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  17. ^ "Vermont to Regulate Mixed Martial Arts". UFC. 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  18. ^ "Vermont becomes state No. 46 to regulate MMA | MMA Junkie". Mmajunkie.usatoday.com. 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  19. ^ VR. "An Act Concerning Mixed Martial Arts". Cga.ct.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  20. ^ https://www.courant.com › hc-pol-new-laws-october-20170928-story
  21. ^ Graham, Bryan Armen (22 March 2016). "New York ends ban and becomes 50th state to legalize mixed martial arts". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  22. ^ Sherdog.com. "International Fighting Championship Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  23. ^ Sherdog.com. "IFC 5 - Battle in the Bayou". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  24. ^ Meltzer, Dave (17 June 2018). "UFC financially secure until 2023 with ESPN deal, but there are brand risks". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  25. ^ Reinsmith, Trent. "UFC's $750 Million Deal With ESPN A Reminder That Fighters Don't Get A Negotiated Share Of Revenue". Forbes. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  26. ^ Szczerba, Robert J. "Mixed Martial Arts and the Evolution of John McCain". Forbes.com. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
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