UFC's U.K. Domain Shock

I just made a mistake with free typing in what I thought was UFC's UK website at http://www.ufc.co.uk/ and was shocked to see what I found. I studied the page to see if by chance it had been hijacked or some hacker decided to have some fun with the UFC's page and much to my chagrin, it wasn't a joke or even a mistake. It was exactly what it was...

Top level domains such as .com .net & .org are common to most people as are top level country specific domains such as .ca (Canada), .us (United States) and .co.uk (United Kingdom) so it was logical for me to type in ufc.co.uk as I am sure the same logic applied to many new UFC fanatics sprouting up in the U.K. that don't think twice about applying the .co.uk domain after the 'UFC'.


Here is the Whois data:

Domain name:
ufc.co.uk

Registrant:
UFC

Registrant type:
UK Individual

Administrative contact's address:
No address listed.

Registrant's agent:
Fibranet Services Ltd [Tag = FIBRANET]

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 08-May-1998
Renewal date: 08-May-2008
Last updated: 28-Apr-2006

Registration status:
Registered until renewal date.

It is important to note that the Ultimate Fighting Championship a la Zuffa is in no way affiliated with the UFC.co.uk site.

I had to Google the UFC UK (careful with the dyslexia like me or else you'll type in 'U FUCK') and I found the rightful domain belonging to the UFC's UK page - http://uk.ufc.com/

The UFC didn't own UFC.com for the longest time as it belonged to "User Friendly Consulting" from August 1994 - December 2005 then the UFC we all know and love launched its first page using that domain name December 24th 2005.

Before UFC.com, UFC.tv was used as I am sure most people remember it plastered on the middle of the top rails of the Octagon in previous matches.

Here is the proof that UFC bought UFC.com based on the domain creation date:

Registrant: Make this info private
Zuffa, LLC
2960 West Sahara Avenue
Suite 200
Las Vegas, NV 89102
US

Domain Name: UFC.COM

Administrative Contact :
Hill, Joe
jhill@ufcinc.com
67200 51st St.
Lawrence, MI 49064
US
Phone: 269-674-4276
Fax: 269-674-3301

Technical Contact :
Network Solutions, LLC.
customerservice@networksolutions.com
13861 Sunrise Valley Drive
Herndon, VA 20171
US
Phone: 1-888-642-9675
Fax: 571-434-4620

Record expires on 21-Aug-2008
Record created on 22-Aug-1994
Database last updated on 06-Oct-2006

So, it would be in the UFC's best interest to approach the fascist site that dawns the UFC brand name and buy them out. It makes sense because the UFC intends to continue to promote itself in the U.K. and have more matches there as previously mentioned by UFC President, Dana White.

There are still a couple of international domains available to cyber squat until Zuffa comes knockin' on yer door with a bag full of cash to buy your domain and set up another UFC shop internationally.

Pssst.... ufc.me.uk is available and also ufc.fm (great for a podcasting site)

I predict that UFC will have its own international franchises that develop and promote up and coming international fighters which will act as a feeder group for the premier UFC league... just wait!