Mixed Martial Arts
The following is a list of major noteworthy MMA events during 1997 in chronological order.
| Date | Event | Alternate Name/s | Location | Attendance | PPV Buyrate | Notes |
| February 7 | UFC 12: Judgement Day | Dothan, Alabama, US | 3,100 | UFC rule change, split main tournament into heavyweight (200lbs+) and lightweight (Under 200lbs) divisions. Eight-man tournament ceases. Introduction of titles. Superfights cease. | ||
| May 30 | UFC 13: Ultimate Force | Augusta, Georgia, US | 5,100 | Closed fisted strikes to the head were banned for this event only. | ||
| July 27 | UFC 14: Showdown | Birmingham, Alabama, US | 5,000 | UFC rule change, requires fighters to use 4-6 oz gloves. | ||
| October 11 | Pride 1 | Tokyo, Japan | 47,860 | Pride FC's first event.
The event featured one kickboxing bout between Branko Cikatić and Ralph White. |
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| October 17 | UFC 15: Collision Course | Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, US | UFC rule change, redefined permissible striking areas. | |||
| December 21 | UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan | UFC 15.5 | Yokohama, Japan | 5,000 | This event featured the first appearance of longtime UFC announcer Mike Goldberg. |
Read more about this topic: 1997 In Sports
Famous quotes containing the words mixed, martial and/or arts:
“A ‘spasm band’ is a miscellaneous collection of a soap box, tin cans, pan tops, nails, drumsticks, and little Negro boys. When mixed in the proper proportions this results in the wildest shuffle dancing, accompanied by a bumping rhythm.”
—For the City of New Orleans, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“Lie lightly on her, turf and dew:
She put so little weight on you.”
—Marcus Valerius Martial (c. 40–104)
“Poetry, and Picture, are Arts of a like nature; and both are busie about imitation. It was excellently said of Plutarch, Poetry was a speaking Picture, and Picture a mute Poesie. For they both invent, faine, and devise many things, and accommodate all they invent to the use, and service of nature. Yet of the two, the Pen is more noble, than the Pencill. For that can speake to the Understanding; the other, but to the Sense.”
—Ben Jonson (1573–1637)