17 Wrestling, Boxing + UFC Innovations

Although boxing still receives top pay-per-view billing, the sport of mixed martial arts is skyrocketing in popularity; watching heavyweights like Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture face off as they did this weekend at UFC 91, it's hard to believe that UFC fights aren't the hottest sporting ticket to be found.

Mixed martial arts is a bit rough around the edges. Modern fighters like Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture benefit from the number of safety requirements and regulations that have been added since the extreme sport's inception. Watching Lesnar rain rights on Couture during UFC 91 last night reminded me of what I love about boxing--and what I love so much more about MMA. Instead of watching just one discipline, I get to watch several.

These fighters didn't start as UFC 91 material, however. Brock Lesnar enjoyed a lengthy career in the WWE as an amateur and professional wrestler. And Randy Couture was a Greco-Roman and collegiate wrestler prior to taking on mixed martial arts.

The wrestling, UFC and boxing articles below are dedicated to the incredible and increasingly popular sport of mixed martial arts.