UFC 역사, UFC History

[초창기]

브라질에서 브라질리언 주짓수를 배운 그레이시 가문의 호리온 그레이시는 1978년 출세를 위해 고향을 떠나 미국으로 이주한다. 이후 청소부, 엑스트라 배우 등으로 생계를 이어가던 그는 그를 눈여겨본 영화 제작자에게 발탁되어 리셀 웨펀 등의 무술 감독으로 조금씩 유명세를 얻기 시작한다. 그리고 판매를 시작한 주짓수 교육용 테이프가 예상외의 대박을 치자, 호리온은 아트 데이비, 존 밀리우스 등과 함께 미국에서 BJJ의 강함을 알리고자 발리 투도 대회를 계획하게 된다.

1993년 11월 덴버에서 무규칙 룰로 진행된 토너먼트는 브라질리언 주짓수의 호이스 그레이시의 우승으로 끝난다. 특히 왜소한 체격의 호이스가 거구의 켄 샴락, 제라드 고르도를 꺾는 모습은 미국의 격투팬들에게 강하게 각인되었다. 이어진 대회에서 호이스는 UFC 토너먼트 2, 4를 제패하며 BJJ 홍보라는 소기의 목적을 훌륭히 완수해 낸다. 이후 목적을 이룬 그레이시 가문은 빠져나갔지만, PPV 수익에 고무된 미국인들은 그 가능성을 보고 대회를 유지했다.

하지만 무규칙 룰에 의한 지나친 폭력성이 문제가 되어 방송금지 처분을 받기에 이른다. PPV 수익으로 먹고 살던 UFC로서는 치명적인 손실이었다. 결국 2001년 거의 파산 직전까지 이른 UFC는 200만 달러에 복서 지망생 출신 사업가 데이나 화이트에게 매각되었다.

참고로 초창기 UFC는 2000년대 중반 XTM 등에서 방영하기도 했는데, 지금의 UFC가 룰이 갖춰진 스포츠화 된 것과 달리 당시엔 룰이 완전히 갖춰지지 않아 조금 더 길거리 싸움 느낌이 난다.

 

 

 

The Gracie family's Horion Gracie, who learned Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Brazil, left his hometown and moved to the United States in 1978 to achieve success. After making a living as a cleaner and extra actor, he was selected by a film producer who noticed him and gradually began to gain fame as a martial arts director such as Lisel Weffen. When the jiu-jitsu educational tape, which began selling, became an unexpected hit, Horion, along with Art Davy and John Milius, plans a Bali Tudo competition to promote BJJ's strength in the United States.

The tournament, which was held in Denver in November 1993, ended with the victory of Brazilian jiujitsu's Hoyce Gracie. In particular, the sight of Hoyce, who has a small physique, defeating giants Ken Shamlak and Gerard Gordo was a strong impression on American fighting fans. Hoyce accomplished his intended purpose of promoting the BJJ by winning UFC tournaments 2 and 4 in the ensuing competition. After that, the Gracie family escaped, but Americans, encouraged by PPV profits, saw the possibility and maintained the competition.

However, excessive violence under the rule of no rules became a problem and led to a ban on broadcasting. It was a fatal loss for the UFC, which lived on PPV profits. Eventually, the UFC, which was almost bankrupt in 2001, was sold to Dana White, a businessman who was an aspiring boxer, for $2 million.

For reference, the UFC in the early days was aired on XTM in the mid-2000s, but unlike the UFC that is now a sport with rules, the rules were not fully established at the time, making it feel a little more like a street fight.

 

 

 

 

 

[데이나 체제]

데이나 화이트가 UFC를 인수한 뒤에도 어려운 사정은 계속되었다. 화이트는 라스베가스의 카지노 재벌인 퍼티타 형제를 끌어들여 사업을 시작했는데, 거의 450억원 정도를 까먹었다고 한다. 한때는 선수들에게 줄 파이트머니가 없어서 퍼티타가 사비로 지급한 적도 있었으며, 로렌조 퍼티타가 직접 매각에 나서기도 했다.

데이나 화이트가 가장 먼저 서두른 것은 PPV의 회복이었고, 이것은 'UFC의 스포츠화'를 통해 이루어졌다. 헤비급, 라이트헤비급, 미들급, 웰터급의 체급이 생겼고 세세한 규정들이 추가되었다. 하지만 가장 시급한 문제는 이미지의 제고(提高)였다. 과거의 폭력성 때문에 선뜻 나서주는 방송사가 없었던 것이다.

오랜 기다림 끝에 데이나는 케이블 방송사인 '스파이크'와 계약을 맺는 데 성공한다. 10~20대를 대상으로 한 신생 방송사였던 스파이크는 경쟁사들과 싸우기 위한 동반자로 UFC를 택한 것이다.

2005년 방영에 나선 TUF는 당시 미국에 불어 닥친 리얼리티 쇼 열풍을 이용한 프로그램이었다. 격투 유망주를 훈련시키는 과정을 소개하는 프로그램이었는데, 이게 예상외의 초대박을 쳤으며 팬들의 반응은 뜨거웠고 시청률은 3%대에 육박했다. TUF의 성공은 UFC에 대한 대중들의 이미지를 제고시킴과 동시에 절대적인 지지층을 낳았고, 초대 우승자인 포레스트 그리핀은 신데렐라와도 같은 스포트라이트를 받으며 UFC에 입성했다.

케이블에서의 성공이 PPV로 이어졌고, 입장료 수익도 상승곡선을 이어갔다. 재정상태가 호전되면서 2007년에 이르러서는 2000억원의 순이익을 냈다고 밝혔다. PPV에서는 복싱, WWE의 판매량을 위협할 수준이 되었다.

 

 

 

Even after Dana White took over the UFC, the difficult situation continued. White started the business by attracting the Putita brothers, a Las Vegas casino tycoon, who reportedly lost nearly 45 billion won. At one point, there was a time when Putita paid with his own money because there was no fight money to give to the players, and Lorenzo Putita directly sold it.

The first thing Dana White rushed for was the recovery of PPV, which was achieved through the sport of UFC. Heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, and welterweight divisions were created, and detailed regulations were added. However, the most urgent problem was raising the image of 提. Because of the violence of the past, no broadcaster came forward.

After a long wait, Dana successfully signed a contract with a cable television company called Spike. Spike, a new broadcaster targeting teens and 20s, chose the UFC as a partner to fight against his competitors.

TUF, which aired in 2005, was a program that capitalized on the reality show craze that hit the U.S. at the time. It was a program that introduced how to train prospective fighters, and it was an unexpected hit, and the audience was close to 3%. The success of TUF raised the public's image of the UFC and at the same time created an absolute support base, and Forest Griffin, the first winner, entered the UFC in the same spotlight as Cinderella.

The success of cable led to PPV, and admission fee revenue continued to rise. As the financial position improved, it was revealed that it had a net profit of 200 billion won by 2007. PPV has threatened the sales of boxing and WWE.

 

 

 

 

 

[대형 자본의 인수]

2010년 화이트는 UFC의 모회사 Zuffa 주식의 10%를 아부다비의 왕자인 타흐눈 빈 자이드 알나얀와 연관 있는 업체에 넘겼다고 한다. 그의 전폭적인 지원을 받으며, UFC의 재정력은 한층 더 업그레이드 되었다.

막대한 자본력을 힘에 업게된 UFC는 외부 선수 영입에 나섰다. 때마침 2007년 일본의 Pride가 도산하면서 많은 선수들이 대거 자유계약 신분이 되는 일이 발생했는데, 이들을 영입하면서 기존 선수층에 새로운 선수층이 더해졌다. 이에 든든한 재정과 우수한 선수층을 바탕으로 2000년대 후반 이후부턴 명실공히 세계 1위의 MMA 단체가 되었다.

이를 증명하듯 2010년, 역시 Zuffa의 계열사인 WEC와의 합병을 감행했다. 무엇보다 놀라운 것은 이 과정에서 임직원과 선수층을 해고하지 않고, 100% 그대로 데려왔다는 것. 이로 인해 경량급 디비전이 한층 강화되었다.

그리고 2011년 3월 2위급 단체인 Strikeforce까지 인수하면서 완벽한 독과점체제를 갖췄다.

본래 UFC 헤비급 신성 4인방을 필두로 하는 중량급이 인기가 높았으나, 2010년대 중반부터 코너 맥그리거, 하빕 누르마고메도프, 더스틴 포이리에, 네이트 디아즈, 호르헤 마스비달 등의 스타들이 출몰하면서 UFC는 모든 체급들이 균형있게 돌아가게 된다.

2016년 7월 10일 ESPN을 포함한 미국 현지 언론들은 일제히 UFC의 매각 사실을 보도하였다. 그동안 지속적인 루머가 나오고 있었으나 UFC측에서는 전 직원에게 '매각설은 사실이 아니다.' 라는 메일을 전체 발송하기도 하면서 루머가 사실이 아니다라고 홍보했지만, 결국 루머가 사실로 드러난 셈.

당초 중국 자본에 매각될 것이다라는 루머가 있었으나 실제로는 WME-IMG, 실버레이크, KKR, MSD 캐피탈 등 4개 그룹의 연합체에 매각되었다. 인수금액은 약 40억달러로 추정되며, 인수 이후에도 로렌조 퍼티타와 데이나 화이트가 일정 지분과 수익을 가져가게 된다. 데이나 화이트와 2001년 UFC를 200만달러(약 23억원)에 인수해 세계적인 종합격투기 단체를 만든 퍼티타 형제는 15년 후에 2천배가 넘게 가치를 키워서 팔아버리게 된 것. 이후에도 일부 수익이 보장되어 있다.. 로렌조 퍼티타는 CEO직을 내놓을 것으로 보이나 데이나 화이트는 UFC 사장직을 계속 유지한다고 한다.

 

 

 

In 2010, White allegedly transferred 10 percent of the UFC's parent company, Zuffa, to a company affiliated with Tahnun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the prince of Abu Dhabi. With his full support, the UFC's finances have been further upgraded.

UFC, which was backed by enormous capital, started recruiting outside players. Just in time, many players became free agents when Japan's Pride went bankrupt in 2007, and the recruitment of them added a new layer of players to the existing players. Based on their strong finances and excellent players, it has become the world's No. 1 MMA organization since the late 2000s.

As proof of this, in 2010, it also merged with WEC, a subsidiary of Zuffa. Most surprisingly, the executives and players were not fired in this process, but 100% were brought in. This further strengthened the lightweight division.

And in March 2011, it acquired Strikeforce, a second-class organization, and had a perfect monopoly system.

Originally, heavyweights led by four UFC heavyweights were popular, but since the mid-2010s, stars such as Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dustin Poirier, Nate Diaz, and Jorge Masvidal have appeared, so all weight classes will be balanced.

On July 10, 2016, local media in the U.S., including ESPN, reported the sale of the UFC. Rumors have been continuously circulating, but the UFC sent a full e-mail saying, "The rumor of the sale is not true," and promoted that the rumor was not true, but the rumor turned out to be true.

Initially, there were rumors that it would be sold to Chinese capital, but it was actually sold to an association of four groups: WME-IMG, Silver Lake, KKR, and MSD Capital. The acquisition is estimated to be around $4 billion, and Lorenzo Pertita and Dana White will take a certain stake and profit after the acquisition. Dana White and the Pertita brothers, who created a global mixed martial arts organization by acquiring UFC for $2 million (W2.3 billion) in 2001, were sold out 15 years later by growing their value more than 2,000 times. Some profits are guaranteed even after this. Lorenzo Pertita is expected to offer the CEO position, but Dana White will continue as UFC president.