Mixed martial arts in the United States

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

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

History

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.[3] Which led to the creation of the UFC and begun with the UFC 1 event, held in Denver Colorado in November 1993.[4][5] The sport was initially criticized for being too violent and brutal.[6][7]

The sport of mixed martial arts was banned in 1997 in New York.[8]

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.[9][10][11]

West Virginia became the 44th state to regulate mixed martial arts on March 24, 2011.[12] On March 8, 2012, Wyoming became the 45th state to regulate MMA.[13] On May 4, 2012, it was announced that Vermont had become the 46th state to regulate MMA.[14][15] Legislation allowing MMA in Connecticut came into effect on October 1, 2013, making it the 47th state to regulate the sport.[16][17]

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.[18]

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

The first recorded US female competition was at an IFC 4[19] 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.[20]

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.[21][22] Its major rival for viewers is Bellator which is broadcast on Paramount Network.[23]

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. "Rorion Gracie and the day he created the UFC". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  4. 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.
  5. Inc, Active Interest Media (1 April 1994). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. Retrieved 30 December 2017 via Google Books.
  6. "Ban This Extreme Barbarism". 17 January 1997. Retrieved 17 June 2019 via NYTimes.com.
  7. EST, Newsweek Staff On 11/26/95 at 7:00 PM (26 November 1995). "Brawling Over Brawling". Newsweek. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  8. "Outside the cage: the campaign to destroy mixed martial arts" (PDF). etd.fcla.edu. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  9. Plotz, David (17 November 1999). "Fight Clubbed". Retrieved 28 August 2018 via Slate.
  10. "FIGHTING FOR REGULATION : MIXED MARTIAL ARTS LEGISLATION IN THE UNITED STATES" (PDF). Lawreviewdrake.files.wordpress.com. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  11. Greene, Nick. "How John McCain Grew to Tolerate MMA, the Sport he Likened to "Human Cockfighting"". Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  12. "The Impact of MMA Legalization in West Virginia - Mountaineer News Service-West Virginia News". Mountaineernewsservice.com. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  13. Aisenberg, Sara. "Wyoming MMA promoters now need $10,000 surety bonds | Surety Bond Insider". Suretybonds.com. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  14. "Vermont to Regulate Mixed Martial Arts". UFC. 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  15. "Vermont becomes state No. 46 to regulate MMA | MMA Junkie". Mmajunkie.usatoday.com. 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  16. VR. "An Act Concerning Mixed Martial Arts". Cga.ct.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-20.
  17. https://www.courant.com › hc-pol-new-laws-october-20170928-story
  18. 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.
  19. Sherdog.com. "International Fighting Championship Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  20. Sherdog.com. "IFC 5 - Battle in the Bayou". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  21. Meltzer, Dave (17 June 2018). "UFC financially secure until 2023 with ESPN deal, but there are brand risks". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  22. 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.
  23. Szczerba, Robert J. "Mixed Martial Arts and the Evolution of John McCain". Forbes.com. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
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