Throughout the world, there are many MMA organizations that feature competitions but the two most noteworthy in the United States are Strikeforce and Ultimate Fighting Championship. Both of these organizations have held some of the sport's highest attended events.
Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, had its official start in the early 1990s. It developed from an idea proposed by entrepreneur Art Davie who was studying up on an advertising campaign for mixed martial arts, which was primarily an underground sport in the United States. He met Rorion Gracie and became a student of the Gracie's style of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Fast forward a year and Davie comes up with the idea for a huge televised MMA event that would pit fighters with strengths in multiple styles in the world's first Mixed Martial Arts championship. He teamed up with Rorion Gracie and director John Milius to create UFC 1, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event was an enormous success with Royce Gracie winning the first championship.
Strikeforce, on the other hand, began as a kickboxing organization. However, in 2006, Strikeforce broadcasted its first MMA event, the Shamrock vs. Gracie bout. While it was the organization's debut MMA event, for several years it held the record as the MMA event with the highest attendance. Strikeforce also is notable for pairing up with NBC in 2008 to present the weekly Strikeforce on NBC series, which continued to improve the sport's visibility and popularity.
In 2011, the company which owns UFC bought Strikeforce, and many worried that Strikeforce would simply be merged into the UFC. Its new owners, Zuffa, LLC., promised that the two would remain separate although they did lay off most of Strikeforce's employees and make a few other changes, as well.
Several key Strikeforce fighters also became part of the UFC after the purchase by Zuffa. This has left vacancies in several weight classes, including the women's featherweight division and the men's' welterweight and heavyweight divisions. Strikeforce does have a lucrative television contract with Showtime, which expires in 2014, so for at least the next few years, Strikeforce will continue to be separate from UFC.
While both organizations are governed by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, Strikeforce has a few distinct differences. The Strikeforce cage is shaped like a hexagon, while UFC fighters fight in the octagon. Until the purchase by Zuffa, Strikeforce fighters also were not allowed to elbow an opponent's head when they on the ground. After the purchase, however, that rule was changed.
The future of MMA, especially the future of Strikeforce, is often a subject of debate. What most MMA experts agree on is that as the sport continues to evolve, the athletes will become more skilled in multiple disciplines, thus continuing to set the bar higher for fighters.
Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, had its official start in the early 1990s. It developed from an idea proposed by entrepreneur Art Davie who was studying up on an advertising campaign for mixed martial arts, which was primarily an underground sport in the United States. He met Rorion Gracie and became a student of the Gracie's style of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Fast forward a year and Davie comes up with the idea for a huge televised MMA event that would pit fighters with strengths in multiple styles in the world's first Mixed Martial Arts championship. He teamed up with Rorion Gracie and director John Milius to create UFC 1, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event was an enormous success with Royce Gracie winning the first championship.
Strikeforce, on the other hand, began as a kickboxing organization. However, in 2006, Strikeforce broadcasted its first MMA event, the Shamrock vs. Gracie bout. While it was the organization's debut MMA event, for several years it held the record as the MMA event with the highest attendance. Strikeforce also is notable for pairing up with NBC in 2008 to present the weekly Strikeforce on NBC series, which continued to improve the sport's visibility and popularity.
In 2011, the company which owns UFC bought Strikeforce, and many worried that Strikeforce would simply be merged into the UFC. Its new owners, Zuffa, LLC., promised that the two would remain separate although they did lay off most of Strikeforce's employees and make a few other changes, as well.
Several key Strikeforce fighters also became part of the UFC after the purchase by Zuffa. This has left vacancies in several weight classes, including the women's featherweight division and the men's' welterweight and heavyweight divisions. Strikeforce does have a lucrative television contract with Showtime, which expires in 2014, so for at least the next few years, Strikeforce will continue to be separate from UFC.
While both organizations are governed by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, Strikeforce has a few distinct differences. The Strikeforce cage is shaped like a hexagon, while UFC fighters fight in the octagon. Until the purchase by Zuffa, Strikeforce fighters also were not allowed to elbow an opponent's head when they on the ground. After the purchase, however, that rule was changed.
The future of MMA, especially the future of Strikeforce, is often a subject of debate. What most MMA experts agree on is that as the sport continues to evolve, the athletes will become more skilled in multiple disciplines, thus continuing to set the bar higher for fighters.
About the Author:
Nolan Barias likes blogging about mixed martial arts benefits. For more information about a San Diego mixed martial arts gym or to find local coaches teaching jiu jitsu in San Diego, please go to The Arena MMA website now.
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