Tough Guy Contest

Not to be confused with Toughman Contest.
Tough Guy Contest
Company typePrivate
IndustryMixed martial arts promotion
Founded1979 (1979)
Defunct1983 (1983)
FateOutlawed 1983
Headquarters
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
,
United States
OwnerBill Viola, Frank Caliguri

The Tough Guy Contest, founded in 1979 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by CV Productions, Inc., introduced regulated mixed martial arts competition in the United States and established the first MMA league.[1][2][3]

The Tough Guy contest was also promoted as "Battle of the Tough Guys" and "Battle of the Brawlers" before rebranding to "Super Fighters."[1][2][4]

  1. ^ a b Nash, John S. "The Martial Chronicles: Before Fighting Was Ultimate It Was Super". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b "MMA's Forgotten Forefathers" (PDF). Fighters Only Mag. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  3. ^ Werner, Sam. "MMA roots were planted in New Kensington". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  4. ^ Adams, Fred (2014). Godfathers of MMA. KCE Press. ISBN 978-0-9961633-0-9.