Matt Bevan

Their 12th event, UFC 12, was due to be held in Niagara Falls, New York, but was banned at the last minute.

They were forced to move it to the small city of Dothan in rural Alabama.

But despite these huge setbacks, the UFC was still trying to expand.

They hired a young comedian and actor to be their ringside interviewer.

Just two events after Joe Rogan arrived, McCain successfully got UFC banned from cable television, cutting off its main source of revenue.

The UFC was in dire straits, and as a last-ditch attempt to make money, they started relying on distributing VHS tapes.

In terms of holding their events, they were essentially confined to deep, deep red rural states like Alabama and Louisiana.

And even in those states, it was difficult to secure a venue.

Two events, for instance, were held under a circus tent in the parking lot of a small Mississippi casino with a capacity of under 500.

It's like holding a UFC event in the car park of the Innisfail Leagues Club.

If you don't know where that is, well, that's my point.

By 2000, the UFC was on the verge of bankruptcy, but it had an unexpected win in New Jersey, where the state's athletic commission agreed to a trial event in the state held under more restrictive rules.

The fighters would need to wear gloves, there were weight divisions, and stomps, headbutts, eye gouges, and strikes to the groin were strictly prohibited.

They still needed a venue, though.

Thankfully, one particular guy was looking for new sources of revenue for his perennially bankrupt Atlantic City casino.

Trump Taj Mahal, casino and resort on the banks of the Atlantic Ocean in beautiful Atlantic City, New Jersey.

But of course, Biff Tannen himself.

It's already been a very impressive evening here in a very impressive venue.

That is the Trump Taj Mahal.

This was the first UFC fight to be officially regulated.