50 Reasons Why We Love the UFC

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is rapidly expanding into one of the most recognizable sports leagues in the world.

There is so much to love about the brand primarily responsible for MMA being the fastest growing sport in the world.

To anyone who enjoys good competition, martial arts, fighting, or grappling; there is plenty to love about the UFC.

With so much to appreciate about a brand who is raising a sport from the ground into global prominence, so let us take a moment to look at 50 reasons why we love the UFC.

Mike Goldberg

"The Voice of the UFC" certainly has his fair share of gaffes, but Mike Goldberg's resonant voice is a welcome institution to the UFC brand.

You can go back and watch just about any UFC event from as far back as 1998, and Goldberg's voice will be there to provide you with a distinct familiarity that gives the UFC a sense of continuity and history.

Joe Silva

The great thing about UFC matchmaker Joe Silva is that it is easy to sense his genuine enthusiasm for the sport and its fighters.

Often times, you can see him reacting cageside to the action going on, and he is always there to hop in the cage after the fight and shake hands with the fighters.

His enthusiasm is infectious, and it is good to see that passion driving the UFC's matchmaking department.

Joe Rogan

Despite having his own entertainment and comedy celebrity outside of combat sports, Joe Rogan remains deeply committed to the UFC.

As a Taekwondo black belt, Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, Judo green belt and active student in the other disciplines of the fight game, Rogan has a deep knowledge of the sport and its details.

Rogan embraces MMA as the ultimate arena for competition as he professes to having no interest in other sports. 

Octagon Girls

The great thing about the UFC Octagon Girls is that they are hot.

Apparently they also carry around signs indicating which round is starting.

More importantly, however, is the hotness.

Bruce Buffer

"The veteran voice of the Octagon," announcer Bruce Buffer, is the half-brother of famous boxing and wrestling announcer Michael Buffer.

For those in the know, Bruce is the one recognized as the more awesome of the two.

His patented voice and moves (like the Buffer 360) are things of greatness.

Stacked Divisions

There is always going to be some guys outside of the UFC claiming to be better than the UFC champions.

If you want to be recognized as a world champion, however, you have to rise to the top of the shark tanks that are the UFC's respective divisions.

The UFC has no need for chumps, and we love them for it.

Socializing

Getting together with some friends to watch a couple of dudes scrap is just about the ultimate reprieve from your daily existence. 

Urijah Faber

Fans love "The California Kid."

The former featherweight champion and current No. 1 contender for the bantamweight championship has a million dollar smile and a winning personality.

Frankie Edgar

Reigning lightweight champ Frankie "The Answer" Edgar is the "ultimate underdog."

Undersized for the division but with an indomitable spirit, Edgar is hero for the blue-collar work ethic. 

BJ Penn

BJ "The Prodigy" Penn used to have a tumultuous relationship with the UFC, but now, Penn is back where he belongs and deserves to be recognized as one of the best champions that the sport has seen.

Wanderlei Silva

Outside of the UFC, Wanderlei Silva became a highly regarded champion and an icon for the sport.

Now he is committed to the UFC and consistently puts on as exciting of fights as you would expect from a legend. 

Brock Lesnar

The biggest star to ever successfully cross over into MMA, Brock Lesnar was a multiple-time defending heavyweight champion.

Although he is currently battling diverticulitis, Lesnar is as prominent a figure in the sport as there is.

Cain Velasquez

Mexican-American Cain Velasquez has bull-dozed through the competition to become the current UFC heavyweight champion.

A relentless competitor but humble champion, Velasquez is a shining example for humanity's fighting spirit.

Jon Jones

The youngest champion in UFC history, Jon Jones is a prodigy who has made winning in the UFC seem almost too easy.

Eyes will remain fixated on Jones as he has the potential to be the biggest star that the sport has ever seen.

Jose Aldo

Featherweight champion Jose Aldo is a fighting dynamo.

The Brazilian is like a 145lb pack of dynamite.

Georges St-Pierre

Georges St-Pierre is a methodical ruler of the welterweight division.

The Canadian always seemed like he was destined for greatness, and at just 30 years old, he is already the second-greatest champion in UFC history.

Anderson Silva

It is hard to imagine that Brazilian Anderson Silva almost retired from fighting before finding his way into the UFC.

From the brink of anonymity, Silva has gone on to become arguably the greatest and most creative fighter the sport has ever seen.

The Ultimate Fighter

Now in it's 13th season, The Ultimate Fighter is an important facet to the UFC business equation.

With two stars squaring off as coaches, the reality series delves into the drama of up-and-coming athletes as they fight for a coveted UFC contract. 

One Punch Knockouts

Often times, TKOs or flash knockouts are not especially gratifying, but practically nothing beats watching a perfect one-punch knockout (KO). 

Flying Knees

Knee strikes are some of the most devastating in combat sports.

Combine that while flying through the air, and you have one of the baddest strikes you can imagine.

UFC Undisputed

Making a videogame franchise for a growing brand like the UFC is an obligatory no-brainer.

On top of the fact that we already love video games, it is even more awesome that they actually made it really well.

Fighters' Social Mobility

One thing we love about the UFC is that it gives fighters the opportunity to make something of themselves when life might not have very many alternatives for them.

Many fighters have stories of very humble beginnings and are now able to support themselves and their loved ones because of the UFC.

Triangle Chokes

The famous Brazilian jiu-jitsu technique that catches your opponent in a devastating choke while they have the top position.

Fighters, especially ones with long legs, have become masters at locking in triangles.

Rear Naked Choke

Perhaps the best way to demonstrate ground superiority is taking your opponent's back and choking them with the rear-naked choke.

Armbars

One of the more common submission finishes, no one likes their arm being bent back and their elbow hyperextended.

Slams

All manner of takedowns can be appreciated for their technique, but there is none we love more than a brutal slam.

High Kicks

High kicks are so titillatingly devastating that even a blocked kick can cause audiences to erupt.

Aside from being so devastating, it is a certain kind of pleasure seeing a fighter bait his opponent into a compromising position so that he can land a perfect head kick. 

Beatdowns

Any fighter that steps into the octagon is dangerous and anything can happen, but sometimes a fighter gets on fire and just completely outclasses his opponent.

Sometimes something has just got to give when two opposing forces meet head on, and in that glorious moment where we recognize one force breaking, we call that a beatdown.

Elbow Strikes

Elbows are great for a number of reasons. 

Mostly, they are sharp and powerful.

Unlike some other promotions, they are allowed on the ground in the UFC.

Come from Behind Victories

One of the most beloved aspects in all sports is momentum swings.

Back and forth are exciting, but perhaps nothing is as dramatic and inspiring as a big come-from-behind victory.

Live Events

One of the not-so-secret secrets behind the UFC's success is their emphasis on live entertainment.

UFC events are some of the most exciting sporting events to attend as a spectator, and the UFC is proud to continue that tradition.

Fight Night Bonuses

Chan Sung Jung celebrating

Who does not like awards? Personally, I think it is great that the UFC officially recognizes fighters with the "submission of the night," "fight of the night" and "knockout of the night" awards.

What makes it even better is that these awards/bonuses necessarily carry with them considerable monetary rewards, which fighters have explicitly expressed is a motivating factor for them.

Guillotine Chokes

One of the quickest ways to make an opponent submit is to lock onto their neck with a guillotine choke.

Here are the top 10 guillotines in UFC history.

Arm-Triangle Chokes

Mechanically similar to a triangle choke, but using one's arms instead of legs.

A well applied arm-triangle choke is as quick a way to choke someone unconscious as you will find.

To learn more, here are the top 10 arm-triangles in MMA history.

Experienced Referees

It is reassuring knowing that the best and most experienced referees involved in MMA work with the UFC to help uphold the integrity of the competition as much as possible.

That point is driven home when watching lesser referees bumble about in lesser promotions.

Leg Locks and Submissions

No one wants to leave a fight with a mangled leg.

The series of submissions focusing on the legs and lower legs are especially devastating techniques.

Shoulder and Elbow Locks

Kimuras and keylocks are common submission holds and often help aid in positional control.

Some fighters, like Krzysztof Soszynski (pictured), have become particularly adept at making their opponent succumb to the hold. 

Spinning Back Kicks

This technique is not always easy to land because it takes a little set up, but when a spinning back kick is done right, it is flashy, and it is powerful.

Spinning Back Fists

The spinning back fist is a sneaky attack that is especially effective with the UFC's small four ounce gloves.

When it lands, it is often a knockout strike.

Medical Insurance

Martin Kampmann training injury

The UFC recently made a huge landmark move when they announced they will be providing medical insurance to all of the fighters under contract with them.

In a sport as physically demanding and dangerous as MMA, that is certainly great news.

Dana White

UFC President Dana White is often unrestrained and really puts himself out there.

Although it has stirred up some controversy, it is hard to argue with the results as Dana White has arguably played the biggest role in bringing Mixed Martial Arts to where it is today.

Champions

The sport would not have much meaning if a champion were not crowned to represent the pinnacle of the sport.

Now, more so than ever, being a UFC champion means being one of the premiere combat athletes and martial artists in the world. 

UFC Unleashed and UFC Wired

Non-live television regularly broadcasting pivotal fights in the UFC's history or recent history.

Thank you.

Underdog Upsets

This is a sport where anything can happen, and a man's will to win cannot afford to be overlooked.

Everyone loves an underdog.

UFC Live (on Versus) and UFC Fight Nights

The UFC does well for itself with its pay-per-view model, but they do so much more than that by offering us free live events on standard cable television.

First, there was just UFC Fight Nights on Spike, but they have also added UFC Live on Versus for our viewing pleasure. 

New Media

The UFC has done a respectable job of implementing new media strategies into their business model.

UFC.com has robust community features including a fantasy league. You can also purchase downloadable fights/content at a reasonable price.

Recently, UFC.tv has brought new dimensions to the spectator/sport relationship.

Wars in the Trenches

It does not get much better for the fans when two guys put it all on the line in a back-and-forth war that takes place in every field and aspect.

International Appeal

We are a part of a global community, and MMA is a global sport.

The UFC regularly holds events in Canada, Australia and the UK.

Much like trips to Germany and Abu Dhabi, more international events are still to come with Asia in the UFC's sights and a landmark event in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil later this summer.

Catharsis

Through pain and struggle, our souls are cleansed anew.

Violence is built into our condition, and the UFC is an intelligently-designed release valve for fighters and society.

Competition

Perhaps there is no purer form of competition than what you will find in the UFC.

At the UFC level, a fighter must look for and find advantages in the smallest of margins to find ultimate victory.

It is a test of strength, timing, agility, technique, composure and implementation of highly detailed strategies.

When we see them in the midst of competition, we can see ourselves against our own struggles.