<DIV><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">From the Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) meager beginnings to its present-day glory, this in-depth chronology reveals all the information&nbsp;needed to understand the contemporary world of mixed martial arts, where the backroom deal-making is as fierce as the fighting. Between the UFC's&nbsp;controversial president, Dana White, the political persecution that the sport has suffered from politicians like John McCain, and the tumultuous careers of its greatest stars, mixed martial arts (MMA) competition has garnered more than its fair share of the&nbsp;spotlight in recent years.&nbsp;This thorough history provides fans with the whole story behind the Ultimate Fighting Championship, including profiles of MMA's greatest stars such as Ken Shamrock; the immense popularity of mixed martial arts events in Japan; the influence of the&nbsp;Fertitta family, whose Las Vegas connections opened the door for the UFC to succeed; and, finally, Spike TV&#8217;s role in making mixed martial arts&nbsp;a national obsession.</P></DIV>