Truth. You can thank Muhammad Ali, Antonio Inoki, Kevin James, Forest Griffen, Bobby Southworth, Stephan Bonnar, Joe Rogan, and Spike TV.
Ali vs. Inoki = First ever MMA fight - Boxer vs. Pro Wrestler
That basically started MMA in North America.
UFC started out in '93 completely barbaric, with no holds barred. Then, they evolved into a more sanctioned and organized fed, with rounds, and certain rules.
Mike Tyson goes crazy, bringing the boxing world to the main stream once more. Then, he beats his wife, goes on Oprah, no one cares about him anymore. Boxing falls out of the mainstream.
Meanwhile, Pride FC is rockin the S*** in Japan. Sweet fights, awesome fighters, all fighting in what's quite similar to a boxing ring.
Fox attempts to bring boxing into the mainstream by airing "The Next Great Champ," but since FOX sucks at ratings, no one watches it. It gets cancelled.
Then UFC decides to make a reality TV show. TNN decides to turn into Spike TV. Since Spike is considered to be the first network for men, they had no problem putting MMA on cable, and brings it to the main stream. People see Bobby Southworth cut 20 pounds in one day, and then they're immediately hooked to the show.
Boxing makes an attempt to hit the mainstream by airing the Contender, however, NBC decides to give it a terrible time slot, and it fails in Ratings.
UFC airs a full event on Cable TV, and promotes the S*** out of UFC 52. More and more fans are hooked after seeing Stephan vs. Forest.
MMA gets legalized in California. Their having en event at the Staples Center, home to some of the greatest boxing matches of all time.
Now, people are more familiar with the name Chuck Lidel than Jermaine Taylor.
It's a mad mad mad mad mad mad mad world.
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