UFC: 25 Years In Short

Episode 2

1994: Lion's Den

In 1994, Ken Shamrock assembled the first ever MMA team, the Lion’s Den, and showed that success in the ultimate individual sport was a team effort.

Episode 3

1995: The Ultimate Accessory

In 1995, the first UFC championship belt was made for the Gracie vs Shamrock Superfight, which ended in a draw, so nobody won the belt, and it was lost for decades.

Episode 4

1996: Blackout

In 1996, a political crusade to ban ultimate fighting successfully pressured the cable TV industry to stop airing UFC events, nearly extinguishing the new sport.

Episode 5

1997: Judgement Day

In 1997, UFC 12 was to take place in Buffalo, but a day prior, New York state changed its laws to effectively ban MMA. UFC 12 needed a new home, in a new state, on 24 hours notice.

Episode 6

1998: The Ice Age

In 1998, Chuck Liddell made his Octagon debut, and began an unlikely rise for a down-to-earth man who would become the UFC's first breakout superstar.

Episode 7

1999: Country Boy Can Survive

In 1999, Matt Hughes launched a legendary career, but it was after hanging up his gloves, that he faced the toughest fight of his life.

Episode 8

2000: Combatant in Chief

In 2000, casino owner Donald Trump offered a lifeline to the struggling UFC and began holding events at the famed Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.

Episode 9

2001: 3 Guys and 3 Letters

In 2001, the Fertitta brothers bought the failing UFC and installed Dana White as its president, setting the stage for the three friends to revolutionize combat sports forever.

Episode 10

2002: Before & After

In 2002, renowned Hollywood photographer Kevin Lynch began a project with the UFC vividly re-framing the public perception of what it means to be a UFC fighter.

Episode 11

2003: Matter of Pride

In 2003, UFC President Dana White entered Chuck Liddell into PRIDE FC’s Middleweight Grand Prix tournament, with hopes of winning the larger battle for MMA world supremacy.

Episode 12

2004: Bully Proof

In 2004, Georges St-Pierre debuted in the Octagon and began one of the most dominant runs in UFC history - an unlikely path for a victim of childhood bullying.

Episode 13

2005: Reconnecting with Reality

In 2005, The Ultimate Fighter reality series saved the UFC from failure, and 13 years later, the inaugural cast reunited for an extraordinary event, to break bread and bust b@lls.

Episode 14

2006: The OGs

In 2006, Arianny Celeste began her run as a UFC Octagon Girl, becoming the most famous ever to carry a round, and transforming the role from event eye-candy to brand icon.

Episode 15

2007: Finding Forrest

In 2007, Forrest Griffin, the original Ultimate Fighter, scored an upset victory that elevated him from reality TV star to true championship contender, one of many chapters he authored in the UFC history books.

Episode 16

2008: Bound by Valor

In 2008, the UFC held the first of many live events that raised millions of dollars for military causes, deepening the bond between the MMA organization and the U.S. Armed Forces.

Episode 17

2009: Worth the Wait

In 2009, Daniel Cormier made his mixed martial arts debut and began one of the most storied careers in the sport's history.

Episode 18

2010: We Are Live

In 2010, the UFC production team built an arena in the desert for one night of fights, exemplifying their bold approach and commitment to creating an unmatched live event experience.

Episode 19

2011: New York State of Mind

In 2011, the UFC changed their tactics in the long battle to legalize mixed martial arts in New York state, and finally started to turn the tide.

Episode 20

2012: Take Me with You

In 2012, UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos made an unlikely friend and took him on the journey of a lifetime.

Episode 21

2013: Breaking Barriers

In 2013, women fought in the UFC Octagon for the first time and, led by Ronda Rousey, launched a revolution in combat sports.

Episode 22

2014: Bad Blood, Good Business

In 2014, Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier ignited their intense feud, leading to a pair of the UFC's most successful Pay-Per-View events, and confirming the notion that "Bad Blood" sells.

Episode 23

2015: Tested

In 2015, the UFC partnered with the United States Anti-Doping Agency on a groundbreaking program to combat the use of performance enhancing drugs.

Episode 24

2016: Agents of Change

In 2016, Hollywood talent agency Endeavor, led by Ari Emanuel, purchased the UFC for $4 billion in the largest transaction in sports history.

Episode 25

2017: MacMania

In 2017, Conor McGregor showed his transcendent star power by turning an inconceivable idea into an irresistible event that defied all expectations and captured imaginations around the world.