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