{"id":9159,"count":49,"description":"[caption id=\"attachment_1444550\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"] The UFC is one of the most popular sports entities in the United States | Brett Carlsen\/Getty Images[\/caption]\r\n\r\nThe UFC started staging fights in 1993 with the goal of finding the ultimate fighting champion during a single-night tournament featuring the best athletes skilled in various martial arts disciplines.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe first big step forward came in 2001 when Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta took over the promotion and gave Dana White the title of UFC president.<\/span>\r\n\r\nWith White leading the way, the UFC grew into the world's preeminent mixed martial arts promotion. <\/span>The Ultimate Fighter<\/span><\/i> reality television program, which started in 2005, and the 2013 launch of the UFC Fight Pass digital subscription service, helped widen its audience.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe UFC stages more than 40 live events each year that are broadcast to more than 1.1 billion people in 165 countries with the help of 165 global broadcast partners.<\/span>\r\n\r\nYear founded:<\/strong> 1993\r\n\r\nNumber of weight classes:<\/strong> 8 for men, 4 for women\r\n\r\nPresident:<\/strong> Dana White\r\n\r\nFeatured articles:<\/strong>\r\n