| There once was a time when boxing ruled | | | | On a Saturday night, it outdrew college |
| the sports landscape. The heavyweight | | | | football among young men. Viewers of UFC |
| champion was the most feared and famous | | | | 75 saw Quinton "Rampage" Jackson defeat |
| athlete on the planet. Boxers like Joe | | | | Dan Henderson to unify the UFC and PRIDE |
| Louis, Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and | | | | titles in the 205-lb weight-class. |
| Mike Tyson were household names | | | | Cheick Kong defeated Mirko Cro Cop and |
| throughout the world. However, over the | | | | Houston Alexander knocked out Alessio |
| last decade, a sport with history and | | | | Sakara in one minute of the first round. |
| honor has lost its popularity to upstart | | | | In the title fight, Jackson became the |
| sports like mixed martial arts (MMA). | | | | first man to unify a major title with a |
| The decline of elite fighters in the | | | | five-round victory. Judges scored the |
| heavyweight division and the lack of | | | | bout 48-47 and 49-46 twice for Memphis, |
| knockouts have led many young men to | | | | Tenn. native. Fans attribute the success |
| look for action and excitement in sports | | | | of the UFC to clever marketing such as |
| like MMA. Because of the decline of | | | | the reality show "The Ultimate Fighter," |
| boxing, mixed martial arts has taken | | | | because fans can become acquainted with |
| over and has become the sport of choice | | | | the athletes and begin to follow their |
| for the age 18-34 demographic and put | | | | careers. The million-dollar question is |
| the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) | | | | why are violent sports so popular among |
| on course to join the ranks of elite | | | | young men? "I suppose I like it for the |
| sports leagues like the National | | | | same reason you rubber-neck at a traffic |
| Basketball Association and the National | | | | accident. You want to see how bad it can |
| Football League. "MMA resounds with | | | | get. You want to see how bad the |
| 18-34 (year olds) because that age range | | | | knockout will be or how slick a |
| has a shorter attention span than other | | | | submission will be. You want to |
| age groups. They buy video games, fast | | | | speculate what you might do in a similar |
| cars, cool clothes, all on credit | | | | circumstance," said Sigaud. To many |
| because they want it now. They want | | | | fans, mixed martial arts have already |
| instant gratification. In the UFC, the | | | | surpassed boxing in popularity, and some |
| normal bout consists of three | | | | feel it will not be long before it is on |
| five-minute rounds," said long-time fan | | | | par with mainstays like football, |
| Giam Sigaud, 35, of Houston. According | | | | baseball and basketball. The steroids |
| to UFC.com, MMA is an intense and | | | | scandal in Major League Baseball, along |
| evolving combat sport in which | | | | with the NFL's image crisis and the NBA |
| competitors use interdisciplinary forms | | | | gambling scandal are many reasons why |
| of fighting that include jiu-jitsu, | | | | sports fans are turning to alternative |
| judo, karate, boxing, kickboxing, | | | | sports like MMA. Questionable decisions |
| wrestling and other techniques to their | | | | and a lack of star quality have led to |
| strategic and tactical advantage in a | | | | the UFC regularly outperforming boxing |
| supervised match. The Ultimate Fighting | | | | in its pay-per-view intake. With such |
| Championship began in 1993, but mixed | | | | quick success, it seems as if the UFC |
| martial arts dates back to the Olympic | | | | will soon revival the three big sports |
| Games in Athens, according to "About 80 | | | | leagues in popularity and profit. And |
| years ago, a Brazilian form of MMA known | | | | for those who have not yet caught the |
| as Vale Tudo (anything goes) sparked | | | | MMA bug, Sigaud asks "them to watch the |
| local interest in the sport." Now that | | | | reality show from the beginning. The UFC |
| interest is felt throughout the world as | | | | packages the fights amidst bad blood |
| the UFC now offers 12 to 14 live | | | | while living with each other and |
| pay-per-view events annually through | | | | training with each other. Also going |
| cable and satellite providers. Recently, | | | | online and watching some of the |
| a UFC event in Columbus, Ohio attracted | | | | signature fights helps. I would (also) |
| more than 19,000 people-the largest | | | | ask them to ... watch a pay-per-view |
| audience in North America to witness a | | | | event or a free night on Spike TV." |
| mixed martial arts event. More than 4.7 | | | | After watching one fight, the UFC is |
| million viewers tuned in to see UFC 75, | | | | certain that it will not be the last. |
| the first ever title bout on Spike TV. | | | | |