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][4] The Tough Guy Contest was an elimination style mixed martial arts tournament billed as “Anything Goes” and “Organized, Legalized, Streetfighting.” The inaugural field of 64 fighters was broken into light and heavyweight divisions.
[2][3] Fighters were required to use open fingered padded gloves and permitted to use any combination of martial arts skills, including but not limited to boxing, wrestling, grappling, karate, judo, and jiu-jitsu techniques.
[1][2][4] On March 20, 1981, Ronald Miller, 23, was killed as a result of injuries sustained during the Adore Ltd.-sanctioned Toughman boxing competition in Johnstown, Pennsylvania at the Cambria County War Memorial.
[7] Miller’s death sparked legislative efforts to ban Toughman (boxing); however The Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission advised the Senate to outlaw Tough Guy (mixed martial arts).
[3] Pennsylvania became the first state in history to outlaw the sport of mixed martial arts in 1983 with the passage of Senate Bill 632, also known as the "Tough Guy Law".
The specific language named their service marks and defined mixed martial arts competition as:[11] AS USED IN THIS SECTION THE PHRASE "TOUGH GUY CONTEST" OR "BATTLE OF THE BRAWLERS" MEANS ANY COMPETITION WHICH INVOLVES ANY PHYSICAL CONTACT BOUT BETWEEN TWO OR MORE INDIVIDUALS, WHO ATTEMPT TO KNOCK OUT THEIR OPPONENT BY EMPLOYING BOXING, WRESTLING, MARTIAL ARTS TACTICS OR ANY COMBINATION THEREOF AND BY USING TECHNIQUES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PUNCHES, KICKS AND CHOKING.In 1981, Representative David Richardson referred to SB 742 as a "Tough Guy Bill", calling it unconstitutional because it contained anti-abortion legislation.
[10] The Heinz History Center, in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution, unveiled an exhibit on June 23, 2011 documenting the Tough Guy Contest and recognizing Pittsburgh as the birthplace of modern mixed martial arts competition.