The History of the Octagon: From Back Garden Brawls to PPV Events

The story of the UFC begins in 1993, when a businessman named Art Davie, and a Brazilian mixed martial artist called Rorion Gracie founded the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The Octagon, an eight-sided fighting arena, was central to their vision. It was designed to ensure fair competition and enhance fighter safety, giving the UFC a distinct visual identity.  

This unique format quickly became synonymous with the UFC, setting it apart from other combat sports. The organisation was initially sparked as an idea to bring together each of the major martial arts from around the world and determine which of them was the ‘ultimate.’  

The Ears Day: Backlash and Chaos 

The first ever UFC event took place on Saturday November 12, 1993, at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado. The inaugural evening brought together fighters from disciplines such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, and karate to compete in a tournament within the Octagon.  

The first-edition poster for the event read “There are no rules,” in an aim to draw fans into the brutality of the event (UFC continues to showcase iconic posters for each of its events to this day). Royce Gracie, a representative of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu discipline was the victor on that night, winning three fights, all by way of submission.  

Despite the success of the first event, the raw unregulated nature of UFC led to significant backlash. With people comparing the idea to the brutality seen within the Roman colosseum.  

Events were banned in numerous American states, as venues and promotions were reluctant to back a company. As a result, the late 1990s became a tough time for UFC. 

Light at the End of the Tunnel: The Zuffa Era 

The year 2001 was pivotal for not only the survival of the company, but also the progression of the UFC as a global brand. Dana White, a name most are now familiar with, went to his close friends Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta with an idea to purchase the company and form Zuffa, LLC.  

The three of them then sat down to discuss how to bring the company forward and recognised the need for legitimacy within the brand. This prompted them to change the rule set from back garden brawl style fights to Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. Including weight classes, standardised rounds for both undercard and championship fights, as well as a listed set of fouls to ensure safety for the competitors. 

However, despite making changes throughout the company, they decided to retain the Octagon as the arena for battle as they believed it symbolised the professionalism and a uniqueness that a regular ring would not possess. Additionally, its regulated environment ensured a safer space for fighters while maintaining the sport's competitive edge. 

Zuffa’s investment in production opened the door for a new wave of fans, as they could now bring spectators a storytelling side of MMA. This was no more prominent than with the introduction of “The Ultimate Fighter,” a reality TV series, first broadcast in 2005, which brought young up and coming fighters onto the show with the goal of making it into UFC. The show’s first series dramatic finale between Forrest Griffin and Stephen Bonnar pulled in a mass audience and opened e UFC up to the mainstream.  

The Birth of Superstars 

The new structured format propelled the company forward, resulting in iconic fights which birthed the very first set of UFC superstars. Chuck Liddel was the first big name to come from the organisation, his knockout power and iconic mohawk set him aside as a fan favourite. The first set of fighters to become global names due to their pure talent in the cage was Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva, the former of which is still discussed as the greatest fighter of all time.  

The 2010s saw UFC reach another gear in terms of global notoriety, with the emergence of Ronda Rousey, a female fighter with a brutal reputation for finishing opponents in the first round. This was then followed by the first truly stratospheric personality, Conor McGregor, his sharp tongue and lethal left hand not only propelled him to stardom but also paved the way for UFC to reach much further than hardcore fight fans.  

The bout between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov broke records in 2016 that have still not been reached to this day. The influence of a magnetising personality helped fans connect with the sport and pushed UFC out to the masses.  

UFC Today: A Global Empire  

Today, UFC stands as the premier organisation in the world of mixed martial arts. Accompanied by the Octagon which has transcended its functional role to become a global symbol of MMA, embodying the spirit of competition and innovation. It is now an icon, instantly recognised by fans around the world and a core part of UFC's identity. 

The greatest compliment to be given to the promotion, is that super stars have been born from it despite never clinching UFC gold. The likes of Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Tony Ferguson and Donald Cerrone, are all names known to many around the world despite never reaching the tops of their respective divisions.  

Events such as UFC 300 and UFC Noche display how UFC has been able to find the balance between amazing spectacles and breathtaking fights. Despite the challenges over the years since its inception, UFC has not only learnt to survive in the wake of a modern audience, but it has found a way to thrive.  

The road UFC has taken, from a shunned, “brutal” organisation to the most premier fighting league on the planet, is one of vision, perseverance, and adaptation. It is a legacy that continues to evolve, all from the eight sides of the Octagon.