8 Reasons Why You Should Follow the UFC

By Ryan J. Tartaglia
Published: Friday, March 11, 2011
Source: The Suffolk Voice www.thesuffolkvoice.net

Georges St. Pierre lands a kick, and his kicks have brought him to the top of UFC
In a sports world constantly filled with player-owner feuds (NFL), athlete conglomeration, team contraction (NBA), and celebrity dating (MLB), the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has been able to assert itself as one of the most interactive, powerful sports businesses not just in America, but the world.
With the likelihood of lockouts in the NFL and NBA, sports fanatics will need a sport they can rely on; one that excites their interest without wondering if their athletes will strike. UFC is that sport. With that, here are my 8 reasons to why you should start following the UFC.

8. The Octagon
People acknowledge the UFC based on its unique fight setting. Fights take place inside an eight-sided enclosed black vinyl fence otherwise known as "The Octagon". The setting is unique, and unlike a boxing ring the Octagon can be a fighters tool.

7. Pride Over Money
Many people might think UFC has the best fighters in the world because their paychecks are massive. That is not the case. Only a few fighters like Georges St. Pierre make over a million dollars a year, with the majority of income coming from their endorsements. You get paid on how you perform, and if you don't perform you are going to get cut. The fighters in the UFC fight for pride and respect, because once you earn pride and respect that is when the money is earned.

6. UFC-WEC Merger
Before the New Year rang in, UFC President Dana White declared a merger with another mixed-martial arts company, World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC). The WEC specialized their fights in the lightweight, featherweight, and bantamweight divisions. WEC had been home to some of the most entertaining, high-octane fights in MMA history. UFC taking over those classes brings added depth to an already loaded UFC roster.

5. Only Seven
While I respect the sport of boxing (My grandfather is a boxing commissioner), I cannot help but get confused with all of the championship belts. In the sport of boxing, there are four belts for seventeen different weight classes. That is a total of 68 belts. It can get a bit confusing if you are an average fan of boxing, like myself. You can't really get a sense of who the top fighter in the world is. In the UFC, they only hold 7 championship belts (one for each weight division), making it much easier for the average fan to keep track of.

4. Depth in Fighters
While watching a UFC pay-per-view, you can always make sure of one thing: you are watching the greatest mixed-martial artists in the world of combat sports. From the skilled veterans of Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre, Jon Fitch, and Rashad Evans to the up and comers of Jon Jones, Cain Velasquez, Junior Dos Santos and Anthony Pettis, the UFC is loaded with at least five of the best fighters in each weight division.

3. Element of Surprise
The greatest thing about a UFC match is the fact that you don't know how it's going to end. A knockout or a kimura could happen when you least expect it. Maybe you have no idea what a kimura is, but I guarantee once you see the submission take place inside the Octagon, you'll just be thinking, "I didn't see that coming. How the hell did he just do that!?!"

2. The Ultimate Fighter/Free Televised Fight Cards
In 2005, the UFC popularity grew immensely thanks to a new reality TV series titled, The Ultimate Fighter. The show is a mixed-martial arts competition where the winner earns a contract with the UFC. The Ultimate Fighter is now entering its 14th season, where the finale is held live on Spike TV. Due to the success of The Ultimate Fighter, the UFC has produced over 35 free televised fight cards in the past 6 years. So if you are a college kid like me with little cash in your wallet, you can guarantee to watch a pay-per-view quality card on national television.

1. UFC President Dana White
UFC President Dana White may be the most controversial president in sports history, but that is what makes him great. What makes Dana a fantastic president is the way he interacts with fans. He is the type to hand out free tickets the night of the pay-per-view match, not because they didn't sell out, but because he loves satisfying the fan. Although White never graduated college, he has turned the UFC into a million dollar business. If a fighter did not perform to his expectations, he'll cut him on the spot. If White feels that the result from the judges was not what actually happened, he will give the fans a rematch. So, while NFL owners are seeking out for their own interests, Dana White will be seeking yours.

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