| UFC and MMA fights are held in a cage, which is an | | | | This idea of a tournament geared towards finding the |
| eight sided, chain linked reinforced, heavily padded | | | | best world fighter was that of Art Davie, a Southern |
| structure called the Octagon. As the sport has grown | | | | California based advertising executive who developed |
| in popularity over the years, rules and regulations, | | | | this concept while researching marital arts for a client. |
| according strict regulations concerning the type of | | | | Davie went on to become the student of Rorion |
| fight gear that a cage fighter can wear during a | | | | Gracie, a teacher of mixed martial arts. In 1992, |
| match. The Octagons unique shape and structure | | | | Gracie, Davie, and John Milnus, a film director and |
| have become associated with the UFC brand name | | | | screen writer, in addition to being a fellow Gracie |
| and the UFCs parent company, Zuffa. The Octagon | | | | student, developed a business plan to generate the |
| is featured regularly on television and mentioned in | | | | initial capital required to start WOW Promotions in |
| the national media, adding to its brand recognition, so | | | | order to develop their tournament into a television |
| closely associated with the MMA and UFC in fact that | | | | franchise. |
| it has become an iconic symbol of the sport since it | | | | Fight gear for these events is restricted to regulation |
| was first featured in UFC events in 1993. | | | | gloves and fight gear that includes only approved |
| The UFC, or Ultimate Fighting Championship, is | | | | shorts, with no shoes or any type of foot covering |
| currently recognized as the largest MMA promotion | | | | allowed. Shirts, gis, and long pants, including gi pants, |
| worldwide, is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada | | | | are also not allowed. The gloves are required because |
| and owned by Zuffa LLC. The UFC began as a | | | | they enable fighters to increase the strength of their |
| tournament to find the best fighters in the world, | | | | punches, while at the same time providing greater |
| and was based on the Brazilian vale tudo fighting | | | | protection against injury and breakage. |
| style. | | | | In the early days, attire was unregulated, and many |
| Originally, it was known as a no holds barred fighting | | | | fighters opted for tight fitting athletic shorts or long, |
| contest, which eventually led to accusations of | | | | boxer trunks, and other wore tight wrestling suits |
| human brutality. After criticism reduced the UFCs | | | | and long pants. Royce Gracie, multi tournament |
| visibility was diminished by these accusations, the | | | | champion, wore a jujitsu gi in all of his early UFC |
| organization reformed itself and adapted strict, | | | | appearances. The regulations came after the move |
| athletic commission sanctioned rules, remarketing | | | | to take the UFC and the MMA fighting style into the |
| itself as a legitimate sporting event. | | | | mainstream. |