When the UFC started in 1993, it was less a sport and more like watching a weird science experiment. You had a 600-pound sumo wrestler fighting a 170-pound kickboxer. It felt like a bar fight you accidentally paid $50 to see on pay-per-view.
Back then, the rules were almost non-existent. Groin strikes and hair pulling were fair game. This scared off most TV networks and sponsors, making it a hard sell for your average sports fan.
