UFC 17: Redemption

The event marked the final use of the tournament format in the UFC, closing a foundational chapter of the sport’s early structure. During a meeting at this event, Jeff Blatnick coined the term “Mixed Martial Arts,” intentionally reframing the sport to legitimize it beyond the bloodsport, no-limits spectacle it was initially marketed as. The card also featured the UFC debuts of Dan Henderson and Carlos Newton, along with Chuck Liddell’s first professional MMA fight, signaling the next generation.