UFC Turns 25 and Celebrates it's Silver Anniversary with a Documentary Series
In a setting called the Octagon, they brought together fighters, ten in total, for a no-holds-barred single-elimination tournament, beamed to a pay-per-view audience of almost 90,000. The concept was simple: Pit masters of different martial arts against each other and see which disciplines came out on top. There were few inhibitions and fewer rules. It was fast-paced, bloody, and instantly addictive. They called it the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Fast-forward 25 years, and the UFC is now the fastest-growing athletic organization on earth, a true heavyweight of the sporting world. It’s brought us countless household names—GQ favorites like Conor McGregor, Max Holloway, and Ronda Rousey.
To celebrate its silver anniversary this year, the UFC has produced a 25-part documentary series that airs over the next two months, beginning on September 17. Titled UFC 25 Years in Short, the project will highlight 25 standout stories in UFC history, one for each year of the organization’s life. Throughout the series, you’ll learn just how UFC has grown and evolved from a cult enterprise that was at one time banned in 36 states to a media juggernaut. Along the way, you’ll hear the stories behind mixed martial arts’ most fascinating and colorful characters, legends like Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, and Georges St-Pierre.
Want to know how the Octagon came about? “Octo,” delves into the UFC’s origins—and the squabbles between its founders over who really invented its unique fighting ring. “Bad Blood Is Good for Business,” revisits the notorious rivalry—and out-of-the-ring brawl—between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, which led to one of the biggest pay-per-views in UFC history. “Fight Like a Girl,” charts the rise of Ronda Rousey, UFC’s first female fighter.
Many of the films were made by award-winning directors and producers, including several veterans of ESPN’s 30 for 30 film series: Nick and Colin Barnicle, Adam Condal, Jason Hehir, Rory Karpf, Dan Marks, and Matt Ogens.
“This project is a fun way to tell the history of UFC,” said UFC president Dana White. “Each one of these films is linked to a pivotal moment in the UFC timeline, and together they represent our complete story. We’re working with some amazingly talented directors and producers on this project, and I think UFC fans will really enjoy these films.”
The UFC 25 Years in Short series will run on UFC FIGHT PASS®, the promotion’s digital subscription streaming service, beginning September 17, with a new films debuting every week. The series will culminate with the final film on Monday, November 12, UFC’s official 25th anniversary date.
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