Xtreme Fighting Championships (XFC) is a United States mixed martial arts (MMA) organization that has produced stadium fight cards in Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee, runs MMA-themed gyms, and sells MMA-related merchandise. The company is also pursuing international ventures in at least 12 other countries. Based out of Tampa, the organization was credited by the Tampa Tribune for setting the Florida statewide attendance record for an MMA event when they drew over 11,000 fans to the St. Pete Times Forum on November 11, 2007 and was credited in September 2008 by Yahoo Sports for being "the best kept secret in the sport." On February 20, 2009, XFC produced the first-ever professional MMA fight card in Tennessee state history, drawing 5,200 fans at the Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville.
XFC programming airs in various regional markets, as well as nationwide on HDNet, with four live fight cards having aired on HDNet in 2009, four live fight cards in 2010, and options for 2011.
Differentiating itself from rival MMA organizations like UFC, Affliction and Strikeforce, XFC has adopted a more grassroots, fan-friendly persona.
According to XFC president John Prisco, the company's philosophy is that "...there’s more undiscovered talent in MMA than established talent. Modern MMA is only about 18 years old, and each year exponentially more aspiring fighters join the sport by training in an MMA gym, entering amateur tournaments, or competing on the pro level. ...XFC firmly believes that there are dozens of fighters – maybe more – toiling away in anonymity in MMA gyms and low-end fight cards worldwide that could dominate the most celebrated champions of today. Maybe not right now – maybe they’d need a year or two of intense training, combined with the support of a promotion like the XFC that’s willing to invest its resources in their long-term development – but the undiscovered talent is definitely out there... And we’re gonna find it."
XFC also owns and operates MMA training facilities for professional fighters, amateur fighters, and children. For kid's MMA training, the children wear protective gear and "fight" in a controlled environment to limit injuries.
Read more about Xtreme Fighting Championships: Current Champions, XFC in Other Media
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