The present international reputation of the Ultimate fighting Championship was barely budding back in the early 90s, when little had emerged from this sport. It all started with a single-event tournament in which the best fighters in the world practicing different combat styles could meet in an organized environment and prove their skill. The first matches were critical and criticized because there was no regulation available, the injury cases were very numerous and ultimate fighting matches were considered incredibly violent and barbaric.

Even if flexibility is still a major advantage of ultimate fighting, stricter rules are presently imposed in competition under the close supervision of the State Athletic Commissions. The championship is a legitimate sports event advertised as mixed martial arts rather than as cage fighting. The increase in the fighters’ security and safety has made this new kind of sports more acceptable from the social point of view, and matches are now broadcast by major television networks. The more fans, the higher the audience, and fifteen years after the first matches, the Ultimate Fighting Championship enjoys a reputation comparable to that of box matches.

Pride ultimate fighting is now watched in reality shows and television series in productions similar to Survivor. The up-and-coming episodes keep viewers in suspense making them want more. At first, no television agreed to produce the Ultimate Fighter, until Spike TV accepted the offer of the Fertitta brothers and launched the show. The very beginning of ultimate fighting on TV was a real hit, and the history of mixed martial arts is far from being over on the small screen.

As ultimate fighting fires imagination, lots of Internet sites provide training tips and teach amateurs how to develop their skills in mixed martial arts. There are courses, clubs and special programs sponsored by UFC and although many people in the media still oppose this new violent sport, popularity seems not to diminish. Fierce campaigns were held against ultimate fighting back in 1996, and although critics no longer use the same virulent terms, there are still lots of people who consider mixed martial arts a threat to athletes and a social negative influence.