"I love MMA - Tough Guy Contest mixed martial arts league 1979-1983"

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MMAAbout UsNewsTrendingTough Guys DocTough Guy LawTough Guy vs ManTough Guys The BookGodfathers of MMAFighters OnlyMedia QuotesContact UsFacebookTwitterEmail.fusion-slider-10868 .flex-direction-nav a {width:63px;height:63px;line-height:63px;margin-top:-31.5px;font-size:25px;}Loading...Tough Guy ContestMixed Martial Arts 1979-1983MMAtoughguy2017-11-06T21:02:27+00:00.fusion-fullwidth-1 { padding-left: 30px !important; padding-right: 30px !important; }Meet CV (Caliguri & Viola) Productions The founders of the“Tough Guy Contest”Regulated mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions were introduced to the United States in 1980 with the establishment of the world’s first “Tough Guy Contest” in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The league was also billed as “Battle of the Tough Guys” and “Battle of the Brawlers” before re-branding to “Super Fighters.” Now airing on SHOWTIME “Tough Guys” is a documentary (TV show, film, movie)  www.toughguysdoc.com based on the best selling book Tough Guys by Bill Viola Jr.  The “invention” of mixing martial arts dates back to the rise of humanity, but the “creation” of an American sport is credited to the “Tough Guys.”  MMA is the sport of the 21st century: WOW Promotions popularized it, SEG Entertainment refined it, Zuffa LLC monetized it, but The Tough Guys created it! FormatTough Guy Contests were elimination style MMA competitions promoted as “Anything Goes” fighting.  Each were part of a series that formed the first Mixed Martial Arts league history. Bill Viola wrote the first codified set of mixed martial arts rules in 1979: Fighters were required to use open fingered padded gloves and permitted to use any combination of martial arts including but not limited to boxing, wrestling, grappling, karate, judo, and ju-jitsu techniques.  Bouts were 3 two minute rounds judged using a 10-point-must system.  Fighters could win by knockout, technical knockout, submission or decision. Fighters were ranked based on performance and head-to-head match ups. View the Top 10 Rankings in 1980.Safety precautions, rules and regulations were paramount in Tough Guy competitions, unlike their successor (UFC) which boasted there are “No Rules.” Tough Guys were broken into weight classes, required to wear Olympic style headgear, and subject to a Doctor’s approval to fight.  The referees were highly trained to stop fights if a competitor could not defend themselves.  It was a sophisticated solution to no-holds-barred fighting by placing an emphasis on sport, not spectacle.  It was the first time mixed-fights were organized into league competition.  It was an open platform where anyone could test their mixed martial arts skills in a controlled environment.HistoryThe Tough Guy concept was created by Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania martial artists Bill Viola and Frank Caliguri in 1979.  They founded CV (Caliguri and Viola) Productions to promote and package mixed martial arts as a legitimate sport.  The combination of multiple martial arts disciplines as a sport was unprecedented at the time.  The Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission had no jurisdiction over martial arts competitions until 1983.  Many experts credit Caliguri and Viola as the inventors of a new “sport.”  Read More.The first Tough Guy MMA competitions were held March 20th-22nd 1980 at the New Kensington, Pennsylvania, Holiday Inn ballroom.  The finals were held April 18, 1980 at the Stanley Theater.  Return fighters in subsequent shows solidified the league. Fighters were ranked and seeded into the national finals scheduled for Las Vegas, Nevada with a proposed $100,000 prize.The league regulated over 130 mixed martial arts bouts across Pennsylvania before the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office ordered CV Productions to cease and desist in January of 1981. The new sports revolution was suppressed by the Pennsylvania legislature which outlawed MMA in 1983 with the passage of the Tough Guy Law.  The controversial legal battle pitted Toughman (boxing) vs Tough Guy (mixed martial arts). The Tough Guy competitions made sensational media headlines who christened it as the birth of a new sport!Below:  Pittsburgh, PA based promoters Bill Viola & Frank Caliguri -1979 .fusion-fullwidth-2 { padding-left: 30px !important; padding-right: 30px !important; } Godfathers of MMA now available.fusion-button.button-1 .fusion-button-text, .fusion-button.button-1 i {color:rgba(255,255,255,.6);}.fusion-button.button-1 {border-width:1px;border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.6);}.fusion-button.button-1 .fusion-button-icon-divider{border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.6);}.fusion-button.button-1:hover .fusion-button-text, .fusion-button.button-1:hover i,.fusion-button.button-1:focus .fusion-button-text, .fusion-button.button-1:focus i,.fusion-button.button-1:active .fusion-button-text, .fusion-button.button-1:active{color:rgba(255,255,255,1);}.fusion-button.button-1:hover, .fusion-button.button-1:focus, .fusion-button.button-1:active{border-width:1px;border-color:rgba(255,255,255,1);}.fusion-button.button-1:hover .fusion-button-icon-divider, .fusion-button.button-1:hover .fusion-button-icon-divider, .fusion-button.button-1:active .fusion-button-icon-divider{border-color:rgba(255,255,255,1);}.fusion-button.button-1{background: transparent;}.fusion-button.button-1:hover,.button-1:focus,.fusion-button.button-1:active{background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.09);}.fusion-button.button-1{width:auto;}Godfathers of MMA.fusion-fullwidth-3 { padding-left: 30px !important; padding-right: 30px !important; } Tough Guy Contest History.fusion-fullwidth-4, .fusion-fullwidth-4.fusion-section-separator { padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; }@media only screen and (max-width: 1170px) {}.fusion-recent-works-1 .fusion-portfolio-wrapper .fusion-col-spacing{padding:0px;}The First MMA Competitiontoughguy2015-08-25T23:25:57+00:00PermalinkGalleryThe First MMA CompetitionMMA History, Tough Guy ContestThe Zuffa Mythtoughguy2015-08-25T23:33:22+00:00PermalinkGalleryThe Zuffa MythMMA HistoryThe real beginning of MMAtoughguy2015-08-25T23:43:48+00:00PermalinkGalleryThe real beginning of MMAMMA History, Tough Guy Contest, WordPressTough Guy Lawtoughguy2015-09-04T15:00:17+00:00PermalinkGalleryTough Guy LawMMA History, WordPressThe missing history of MMAtoughguy2015-08-26T00:07:10+00:00PermalinkGalleryThe missing history of MMAMMA History, Tough Guy ContestAn American Sporttoughguy2015-08-26T14:06:50+00:00PermalinkGalleryAn American SportTough Guy Contest, WordPress.fusion-fullwidth-5 { padding-left: 30px !important; padding-right: 30px !important; }.fusion-button.button-2 .fusion-button-text, .fusion-button.button-2 i {color:rgba(255,255,255,.6);}.fusion-button.button-2 {border-width:1px;border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.6);}.fusion-button.button-2 .fusion-button-icon-divider{border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.6);}.fusion-button.button-2:hover .fusion-button-text, .fusion-button.button-2:hover i,.fusion-button.button-2:focus .fusion-button-text, .fusion-button.button-2:focus i,.fusion-button.button-2:active .fusion-button-text, .fusion-button.button-2:active{color:rgba(255,255,255,.9);}.fusion-button.button-2:hover, .fusion-button.button-2:focus, .fusion-button.button-2:active{border-width:1px;border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.9);}.fusion-button.button-2:hover .fusion-button-icon-divider, .fusion-button.button-2:hover .fusion-button-icon-divider, .fusion-button.button-2:active .fusion-button-icon-divider{border-color:rgba(255,255,255,.9);}.fusion-button.button-2{background: transparent;}.fusion-button.button-2:hover,.button-2:focus,.fusion-button.button-2:active{background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.09);}.fusion-button.button-2{width:auto;}READ ALL ABOUT IT.fusion-fullwidth-6 { padding-left: 30px !important; padding-right: 30px !important; }Tough Guy Pioneers.fusion-fullwidth-7 { padding-left: 30px !important; padding-right: 30px !important; }#fusion-testimonials-1 a{border-color: #ffffff;}#fusion-testimonials-1 a:hover, #fusion-testimonials-1 .activeSlide{background-color: #ffffff;}.fusion-testimonials.clean.fusion-testimonials-1 .author:after{border-top-color:transparent !important;}Bill Viola and Frank Caliguri are the Godfathers of MMAJimmy Cvetic, Police Athletic LeagueThe Tough Guy Contest was mixed martial arts before the term MMA was popular.Bill Viola Sr., CV Prodcutions Inc..fusion-fullwidth-8 { padding-left: 30px !important; padding-right: 30px !important; }Tough Guy Law Timeline 1979-19831. 1979-Tough Guy Contest EstablishedTough Guy Contest held it’s inaugural event March 20-22nd in New Kengsington, PA with 3 consecutive sold out shows.  It’s what the News-Disptach proclaimed, “The birth of an American Sport.”2. January, 1981-Cease and DesistIn January 1981, The Pennsylvania Attorney General office arbitrarily banned mixed martial arts and all Tough Guy Contests.  This was the beginning of a legal battle between CV Productions and the Commonwealth of PA.3. March, 1981-Toughman DeathMarch 20, 1981 Ronald Miller dies in an Ardore Toughman contest that has no association whatsoever with Tough Guy.  It was the beginning of the Tough Guy (MMA) vs Toughman (Boxing) controversy.  Read More4. June, 1981 Senate Bill 742Legislative action begins with the introduction of Senate Bill 742 aimed to ban Toughman boxing.  The bill is amended to outlaw Tough Guy and mixed martial arts instead.  Many experts criticize the State for unjustly targeting MMA and protecting the boxing industry.5. November 3rd 1983-OutlawedPennsylvania becomes the first state in history to outlaw mixed martial arts when Governor Richard Thornburgh signs Senate Bill 632.  It is the first legal precedent for the sport of MMA..fusion-fullwidth-9 { padding-left: 30px !important; padding-right: 30px !important; }.fusion-content-boxes-1 .heading h2{color:#000000;}.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-link-icon-hover .heading h2,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-link-icon-hover .heading .heading-link h2,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-box-hover .heading h2,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-box-hover .heading .heading-link h2,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-link-icon-hover.link-area-box .fusion-read-more,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-link-icon-hover.link-area-box .fusion-read-more::after,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-link-icon-hover.link-area-box .fusion-read-more::before,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .fusion-read-more:hover:after,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .fusion-read-more:hover:before,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .fusion-read-more:hover,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-box-hover.link-area-box .fusion-read-more,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-box-hover.link-area-box .fusion-read-more::after,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-box-hover.link-area-box .fusion-read-more::before,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-link-icon-hover .icon .circle-no,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-box-hover .icon .circle-no {color: #6796bf !important;}.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .heading-link:hover .icon i.circle-yes,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-box:hover .heading-link .icon i.circle-yes,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-link-icon-hover .heading .icon i.circle-yes,.fusion-content-boxes-1 .fusion-content-box-hover .link-area-box-hover .heading .icon i.circle-yes {background-color: #6796bf !important;border-color: #6796bf !important;}Tough Guy Videos Tough Guy Contest PhotosTough Guy Photos Tough Guy PhotosNews Tough Guys in the News.modal-1 .modal-header, .modal-1 .modal-footer{border-color:#ebebeb;}×We'd Love To Hear From You!Fill out the form and our team will be in touch with you promptly. Thank you for your interest!12345 North West StreetNew York City, NY [email protected] Find us on FacebookTagsamazonbattle of the tough guysbill viola jrBoxing vs MMAcaged kumiteCaliguri & ViolaCVCV Productionsdave jonesdocdocumentaryeriefather of mmafighterfilmGodfathers of MMAjacquet bazemoreLEF Gangmad dogMixed Martial ArtsMMAmma bookMMA historymma refereemma showmorganmoviepaquotesregulated mmashowtimeskillsetSuper FightersTop 10Tough Guy Contesttough guy docTough Guy LawTough Guy logotough guystough guys booktough guys doctough guys logotough guys mmatough guys mma booktv showRecent PostsTough Guys Author announces CommonSenseiTough Guys Made MMA Safe for Everyone but ThemselvesMMA trailblazers to be honored at Caged Kumite eventBook and Film Chronicle Brownsville Native’s Creation of New SportDave JonesRecent Works Tough Guy Contest | All Rights Reserved | FacebookTwitterEmail