Is This Legal?

Is This Legal? provides a first-hand account of the Ultimate Fighting Championship's creation from UFC co-founder Art Davie. The book tracks the development of what would become the world's leading mixed martial arts organization, from initial concept through its first event in 1993. Davie details the challenges and obstacles faced while attempting to launch a no-holds-barred fighting competition in the early 1990s. The narrative includes his efforts to recruit fighters, secure venues, and convince skeptical business partners and regulators that the concept was viable. The book incorporates Davie's personal background, including his time at New York Military Academy and subsequent military service, providing context for how his experiences shaped the development of the UFC. His interactions with martial arts celebrities, fighters, and business figures illuminate the complex process of bringing a revolutionary combat sports concept to life. Beyond the specific history of the UFC's founding, the book examines broader themes about innovation in sports, the evolution of martial arts in America, and the challenges of introducing radical new ideas to established industries.

Readers describe this book as a raw, firsthand account of the UFC's creation from co-founder Art Davie's perspective. Online reviews focus on the behind-the-scenes business dealings and negotiations that launched the first UFC event. Readers appreciated: - Detailed stories about dealing with fighters, TV executives, and initial investors - Business insights into launching a combat sports promotion - Personal anecdotes about key figures like Rorion Gracie and Campbell McLaren Common criticisms: - Too self-focused, downplaying others' contributions - Some accounts conflict with other historical records - Writing style can be repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (149 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (127 ratings) "A fascinating look at the business side of MMA's origins," notes one Amazon reviewer. Others called it "ego-driven" but informative. Multiple reviewers mentioned the book reads like a series of conversations, which some enjoyed and others found distracting.

Blood in the Cage by L. Jon Wertheim The rise of mixed martial arts from underground fights to mainstream entertainment traces parallel paths with Davie's UFC origin story.

No Rules: Notes from the UFC Underground by Sam Sheridan This insider account documents the raw beginnings of professional MMA through firsthand experiences and interviews with fighters, promoters, and officials.

Got Fight? by Forrest Griffin, Erich Krauss The behind-the-scenes tales of early UFC events reveal the business and personal struggles that shaped the sport's development.

Making the Ultimate Fighter by Reed Couture and Sam Weinman The transformation of UFC into a television phenomenon mirrors the promotional challenges and strategies discussed in Davie's work.

Let's Get It On by Big John McCarthy and Loretta Hunt A referee's perspective of UFC's evolution from its inception provides context to the regulatory battles and rule developments described in Davie's account.

🥊 The UFC's first event in 1993 generated over 86,000 pay-per-view buys, despite heavy opposition from politicians and athletic commissions. 🥋 Before creating the UFC, Art Davie worked as an advertising executive and had no formal martial arts background, but became fascinated with the question of which fighting style was superior. 💼 The original name for the competition was going to be "War of the Worlds" before settling on "Ultimate Fighting Championship." 🌟 Rorion Gracie, co-founder of UFC and son of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu pioneer Hélio Gracie, initially offered a $100,000 prize to any martial artist who could defeat him or his brothers. 📺 The UFC's first television partner, Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG), initially thought the concept was too violent and passed on it twice before finally agreeing to broadcast the events.