In the early 1990s, salesman Art Davie and Brazilian jiu-jitsu master Rorion Gracie set out to answer a simple question: Who is the ultimate fighter? A wrestler? A boxer? A martial arts master? The result, the first-ever ‘Ultimate Fighting Championship’ (UFC), was more violent, chaotic, and electrifying than anything else on TV. In the aftermath, a multi-billion-dollar sport was born.

Amazing to think that the UFC was founded by a car salesman. Despite selling early, and not seeing the financial windfall from the success of UFC, Art has no regrets about selling, and realizes he wouldn't have been able the UFC to it's eventual success. ESPN's 30 for 30 podcast (linked above in the post title) tells the story of the founding of the UFC.

Thursday, September 5 2019