UFC Encyclopedia Hardcover – October 17, 2011

The U F C is an absolute must have for any fan of the UFC as well as for fans of MMA in general. In truth, I would have given this encyclopedia 4 ½ stars if that had been possible. It is an absolutely wonderful resource; it is profusely illustrated, unlike most encyclopedias the text is very well written, and it gives readers a wealth of information. The one thing that is missing however is any mention of female UFC fighters. Last season’s Ultimate Fighter proved to the many doubters – – myself included – – that female fighters are serious athletes rather than a titillating sideshow attraction designed to sell tickets. As one of the female participants in the show put it, ‘They come to see our asses and come away with respect for our game’. Their absence from this volume is particularly glaring.This demure aside, the encyclopedia is a vital resource for any serious fan. The book opens with biographies of UFC fighters. No encyclopedia could ever hope to be comprehensive, so there will always be fighters that particular readers would have wanted to be included. Nonetheless, the book generously includes a number of fighters, along with color photos, personal information, titles held, and most interesting of all, their overall MMA records which are contrasted with their UFC records. The difference is striking. Fighters with great overall MMA records for the most part do quite poorly in the UFC. This really emphasizes that the UFC is the big leagues in the world of MMA. On the other hand, this means that the encyclopedia lists a number of fighters with either losing records in the UFC or in a few cases fighters who have never won a UFC fight. While this certainly validates the UFC’s claim to primacy, it does highlight the idiosyncratic nature of the decisions as to whom to include and who not to list. Standout fighters may be given as much as a two-page spread while less significant fighters may get a few sentences. All in all, this section is terrific, well written and very informative.A large section of the book covers UFC events from the Stone Age freak shows that began with UFC I to the slickly packaged recent UFC events which have raised the sport’s status from what was perceived as, at best, fringe entertainment to a vital, global sport which has spawned renewed interest in the martial arts throughout the world. The UFC has arguably replaced boxing as America’s premier combat sport. This change was long overdue. Professional boxing today is a quagmire of corruption, so-called titles which mean nothing, and judging that often makes the judging at the Olympics during the Cold War seem fair and impartial. Thus far in its history, the UFC’s squeaky clean image has helped it to assume major league status in the pantheon of American sport and is the most successful American sporting export in history. The encyclopedia well documents this evolution.The Ultimate Fighter television series is chronicled up to the book’s publication in 2011. As a bonus, there is even a page of ‘where are they nows’ which gives the curious a look at the whereabouts of some of the bizarre personalities that make the show such a source of fascination for viewers.There are a lot of other wonderful surprises in this encyclopedia. The ring girls who hold up the round cards are included – – to the delight of this reader. There are sections that answer questions that I had about other MMA shows. For example, PRIDE in Japan and the WEC (World Extreme Cagefighting) are included. These are names that Joe Rogan routinely name checks while doing color commentary on UFC broadcasts but never thinks to explain to the uninitiated. The encyclopedia includes a very useful and comprehensive index and much, much more.I cannot recommend this encyclopedia too highly. I would recommend shelling out the few extra bucks it would take to get the hardbound edition. It is one of those rare encyclopedias that is made to read cover to cover and to keep and treasure for many years. It also makes for the UCB (Ultimate Coffee-table Book) and a wonderful Christmas or birthday gift for any UFC fan.

Ok, the sport may be a bit fiesty for some, but it's truly facinating and handled with tip top professionalism. This is one I can truly indulge in. With shots from every fight, stats, and fighters stories, it's a nearly complete reference. If you ever get sick of baseball you can always turn to UFC. These guys are on top of the world, and they can prove it.

I was looking for the perfect gift for my boyfriend. A man who already has everything and wants nothing. After reviewing the Amazon reviews of several UFC/MMA books I decided to order this one for him. Needless to say, HE LOVES IT!! Its a hard cover big thick book with cover to cover fight information, stats, times, and beautiful colored pictures! I will say that its not up to date, but ANYONE who admires and or practices the art will LOVE this book!!

Great read; definitely captures the past well enough. Only issue is that it is already out of date, but that is to be expected with a book of this nature. It would have been nice to have even more details regarding different UFC events, battles for legitimacy as a sport, etc.Overall a great addition to any fan's library, you won't be disappointed. I've got my fingers crossed for volume 2 with fighter records updated, the latest PPV and events, and the rest of the TUF seasons that weren't covered.

Very nice book and a great gift for my son!

This book is absolutely a steal for the price!! 400 pages of intresting information from UFC Fights, The Ultimate Fighter and much more... Has detailed photos and bios of all the UFC Fighters and thousands of colored pictures. Don't hesitate to purchase, this is a book well worth buying for only $30!

Ordered the book for boyfriend after he wasn't very impressed by the MMA Encyclopedia. He loves this book! The pictures are excellent and the descriptions are thorough of each fighter. As an added bonus there is a 2 page spread of GSP, my favorite. If it was up to me this book would be mine! Would make for an excellent coffee table book, also!

First the estimated delivery dates where Thursday February 4, 2016 to Monday February 22, 2016. It arrived on Monday February 8, 2016, just 4 days after the first estimated delivery date. I found the book had info on the owners, evolution of the spot, and UFC/Military an so on.