Godfathers of MMA

Godfathers of MMA is non-fiction mixed martial arts book inspired by CV Productions Inc.
Overview
In 1979, Bill Viola Sr. and Frank Caliguri established CV Productions with the intention of creating a new sport that combined martial arts, boxing, wrestling, jujutsu and various forms of combat sports. The company's “anything goes” Tough Guy Contest introduced regulated mixed martial arts competition to America and launched the first MMA league, later rebranded as “Super Fighters.”
The book chronicles mixed martial arts a decade before the term became popular or the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was created. It details the Toughman (boxing) vs Tough Guy (MMA) controversy and the Tough Guy Law which outlawed mixed martial arts in 1983. Godfathers of MMA documents the sports early history, and legal issues with the Pennsylvania State Legislature and Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission.
Bill Viola Sr.as the author of the first codified set of mixed martial arts rules in 1979.
CV Productions as introducing open regulated mixed martial arts competitions to the United States March 20, 1980 in Pittsburgh, PA with the inaugural Tough Guy Contest.
The “Tough Guys” later rebranded Super Fighters as establishing the first MMA league in the United States.
*Godfathers of MMA is the basis for the documentary film Tough Guys (2016).

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