Is This Legal Art Davie? Shocking Revelations about the Origins of the UFC

When we think of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), we often associate it with jaw-dropping fights, intense rivalries, and the sheer display of martial arts skills. But have you ever wondered about the legality of such a brutal and uncompromising sport? In this article, we dive deep into the intriguing history of the UFC and shed light on whether it was legal or not. Brace yourself for shocking revelations!

The Birth of the UFC

In the early 1990s, a man by the name of Art Davie had a vision to create a competition that would determine the most effective martial art in a real fighting situation. This led to the birth of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a tournament that would pit fighters from different disciplines against each other, with minimal rules and regulations. But the burning question remained: was this new sport even legal?

Legal Gray Area

At its inception, the UFC found itself in a precarious legal gray area. The lack of extensive rules and regulations raised concerns among many lawmakers and authorities. Critics argued that this brutal competition had no place in civilized society and could potentially lead to serious injuries or even fatalities.

Is This Legal

by Art Davie (Kindle Edition)

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The UFC's initial bouts faced numerous challenges with state athletic commissions refusing to sanction the events due to safety concerns. However, Art Davie, along with the help of his partners, managed to find a way around these roadblocks. They organized the fights as "no holds barred" events, where fighters wore minimal protective gear and could use a wide range of martial arts techniques, including strikes, submissions, and even certain forms of wrestling.

In an attempt to legitimize the sport, Davie pitched the UFC to legislators and athletic commissions. He argued that the tournament had built-in safety measures, such as the presence of doctors and referees, and that the fights operated on a "tap out" rule, meaning that a fighter could submit to avoid severe injury. Nevertheless, the legality of the UFC remained a topic of debate.

John McCain and the UFC Ban

One of the biggest threats to the UFC's legality came from an unexpected source: Senator John McCain. After watching a few early UFC events, McCain famously called it "human cockfighting" and actively campaigned for its banishment.

McCain's primary concern was the lack of rules and regulations, which he believed put fighters at unnecessary risk. He argued that the UFC promoted violence for the sake of entertainment and that it glorified brutality rather than true martial arts expertise.

McCain's campaign against the UFC gained traction, leading to the ultimate ban on the sport in multiple states. However, this setback didn't deter Art Davie and his team. They continued to navigate the legal landscape and developed a strategy to make the UFC more mainstream and acceptable to the masses.

Unified Rules and Regulations

In response to the criticism and legal challenges, the UFC eventually implemented a set of unified rules and regulations to address concerns about fighter safety. These rules included weight classes, mandatory use of gloves, limitations on certain techniques, and improved medical standards.

The of weight classes was particularly significant, as it reduced the potential for extreme weight discrepancies between fighters and minimized the risk of severe injuries. These changes helped to legitimize the UFC, making it more appealing to athletic commissions and slowly overturning the bans that had been put in place.

The Turning Point: Zuffa LLC and Dana White

While the UFC had made progress in establishing its legitimacy, it wasn't until Zuffa LLC, with Dana White at the helm, took over the company that the sport truly began to flourish.

White, alongside the Fertitta brothers, invested heavily in marketing and rebranding the UFC. They aimed to change public perception and distance the sport from its once ferocious image. White's charisma and business acumen helped bring in major sponsors, secure lucrative broadcast deals, and elevate the UFC to a new level of mainstream recognition.

With increased visibility, a growing fan base, and key partnerships, the UFC continued to evolve and improve its safety standards. The unified rules and regulations remained in place, ensuring the sport's legality and preventing any further bans.

The UFC Today: A Legal and Global Phenomenon

Fast forward to the present day, and the UFC has become a global sensation, attracting millions of viewers and generating billions of dollars in revenue. It is now regulated and legalized in almost every state in the United States, as well as in various countries around the world.

The UFC's legal journey has been fraught with challenges, from initial bans and criticism to the implementation of comprehensive rules and regulations. Through determination, strategic changes, and a commitment to safety, Art Davie's vision eventually transformed the UFC into a respected and widely recognized sporting organization.

Is this legal, Art Davie? The answer, after a tumultuous history, is a resounding yes! The UFC's long journey from legal ambiguity to global acceptance has solidified its place as one of the most exciting and legitimate combat sports worldwide. Art Davie's vision, combined with the persistence of numerous individuals and the implementation of unified rules, transformed the UFC from an underground spectacle into a mainstream phenomenon.

So, the next time you watch a UFC event, marvel at the warriors in the Octagon and remember the astonishing legal battles that brought this electrifying sport into the light.

Is This Legal

by Art Davie (Kindle Edition)

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	19141 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	272 pages

FREE

On November 12, 1993, in Denver, Colorado, the Ultimate Fighting Championship was unleashed on an unsuspecting public, with an explosion-an explosion of blood-as 6-foot-5 Dutch savate champion Gerard Gordeau kicked 420 lb-sumo wrestler Teila Tuli flush in the face less than one minute into the night’s opening fight.

The creation of ad man and serial entrepreneur Art Davie, the UFC arrived with virtually no warning or fanfare. Yet it was watched live in nearly 90,000 U.S. households through Pay-Per-View television, and instantly redefined action sports for a new generation.

The brutal kick delivered by Gordeau not only sent Tuli’s tooth flying into the crowd, it knocked the martial arts and combat sports worlds on their asses. With the very first UFC, the new sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) was launched-although it wasn't even called that yet-and fighting would never again be the same.

Now, for the first time, the true story of how the Ultimate Fighting Championship came into existence is told by the man who started it all. In this vivid and fast-moving, first-person account, Davie explains how his idea to crown the World’s Best Fighter painstakingly evolved into the UFC, which now stands as a billion-dollar sports franchise.

Art Davie is the Dr. James Naismith and Abner Doubleday of MMA (with a touch of PT Barnum), yet his name is largely unknown. That is, until now.

Davie’s tale is one of perseverance and against-all-odds determination, as he worked tirelessly for four years to see his dream come to brutal fruition, while meeting resistance at every single turn.

It’s also a mash-up of martial arts, celebrity, sports, and business, involving a highly improbable cast of characters that includes Academy Award nominee John Milius, NFL Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, action film star Chuck Norris, Brazilian jiu-jitsu godfather Rorion Gracie and Pay-Per-View TV pioneer Bob Meyrowitz.

This no-holds-barred account of how Davie started the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and launched mixed martial arts, is one for not just fight fans, but for fans of mavericks in business and life who stop at nothing to fulfill their dreams.

Whether you're a hardcore supporter of MMA, or have never watched a single bout, you'll be enthralled by Davie’s story of triumph, tempered by constantly lurking disaster.

Art Davie created the sport of the 21st century, which arrived a decade early. He started a revolution, and his revolution was televised.