For the fans, UFC may be the ultimate in entertainment. But for the casual viewer, understanding UFC and what it is can significantly increase the enjoyment of watching these fights.
UFC is short for the Ultimate Fighting Challenge and is a platform for Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, which is a fighting format that combines various disciplines.
People often confuse the terms UFC and MMA but understand that MMA is the type of fighting allowed, and UFC is the platform that provides for it. It’s like the UFC being a sports league like Major League Baseball or Football, and MMA is the sport these competitors participate in.
A Brief History Of The UFC
The creation of the UFC was born out of a desire to decide the most effective martial art for a real fight situation. Denver, CO, was the location for the first UFC fight and incorporated fighters from a wide variety of fighting styles, including boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, and Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu.
It was organized as a tournament-style format with a no-holds-barred, minimalistic approach to rules to determine the most effective fighting form.
Due to criticism of the brutality of those first fights, the UFC instituted rules and regulations such as weight classes, time periods for matches, and standardized rules on specific holds and maneuvers to help alleviate and address those concerns. It was perceived by the UFC to be more self-policed than to have outside regulation.
In 2001, Dana White and two others acquired the UFC and provided much-needed planning, organization, and capital to grow the platform from fringe sport to mainstream acceptability.
Popularity Of The UFC
Since Dana White acquired the UFC, attention has been focused on improving the product quality and increasing the entertainment value of the platform. Fights became high-energy, must-see TV, and with strategic partnerships with advertisers and broadcast outlets, the UFC could grow its reach to access a global market.
Tied to the rise of strategic partnerships, the UFC developed marketing around fighters’ personalities, disciplines, and insight to create a fan base that has yet to become rabid.
Another strategic outreach that helped grow the brand was the Ultimate Fighter TV show. This reality-based program showcased up-and-comers trying to make it in the UFC, humanizing the fighters for viewers and creating an emotional connection between them and fans.
How A UFC Fight Scored
Understanding the answer to the question – how is UFC scored? – is crucial for fans and casual viewers to enjoy the fights and to determine a clear victory.
The scoring system uses a 10-point system for judges to evaluate and score each fight round. Fighters determined to have won the round are given 10 points, while the other fighter gets 9 points or less depending on different criteria.
Some critical criteria in scoring a fight include the number of strikes or punches thrown, the number of connected hits, grappling type and length, and the fighter’s control of the arena (known as the Octagon).
Judges look for a clean contact and its impact when scoring a strike. Grappling scores include evaluating a successful takedown, submission attempts, and overall ground control, a term used for how the fighters control and manipulate their opponent while on the mat.
Control of the Octagon scoring includes how a fighter can dictate the pace of the fight, the type of space they use, and how they apply different attacks regarding location in the Octagon.
If there is no submission or knockout, the judges have a set of standards to determine a tie-breaking scenario in the event of a draw. The criteria include points scored per round, the overall performance of the fighters, and who came the closest to winning a round outright.
While MMA and the UFC are not for everyone, they have risen in popularity over the past 20+ years. Much like boxing was not long ago, the UFC has become the “it” event, with celebrities and fans trying to be at significant fights to be part of the pageantry and be “seen.”
There are entire cottage industries and celebrities like Joe Rogan who help promote and entice followers to give the UFC a chance, further helping spike its popularity.
Understanding the nature of the UFC will give casual viewers a chance to soak in the entertainment value, and for the fan, knowing about what the scoring system is and why the UFC came into being will heighten their enjoyment.
