Editing Ultimate Fighting Championship (section)

==Insurance policy==
On May 9, 2011, it was announced that UFC would be providing year-round customized insurance coverage for any injury suffered by Strikeforce and UFC independent contractor athletes.<ref name="mmafighting.com">{{cite web|last=Chiappetta |first=Mike |url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/05/09/ufc-executives-detail-new-insurance-plan-fighters-managers-rea/ |title=UFC Execs, Fighters and Managers Discuss New Insurance Plan |date=May 9, 2011 |publisher=MMA Fighting |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Non|first=Sergio|title=UFC broadens health coverage for fighters|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/mma/post/2011/05/ufc-broadens-health-coverage-for-fighters/1|access-date=September 30, 2011|newspaper=USA Today|date=May 9, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmaweekly.com/details-about-zuffas-new-fighter-insurance-and-coverage-for |title=Details About Zuffa's New Fighter Insurance and Coverage for UFC and Strikeforce |publisher=MMAWeekly.com |date=2011-05-09 |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref><ref name="mmamania.com">{{cite web|last=Con |first=Genghis |url=http://www.mmamania.com/2011/5/9/2162589/hurts-so-good-new-details-emerge-about-the-ufc-health-insurance-plan |title=Hurts so good: New details emerge about the UFC health insurance plan |date=May 9, 2011 |publisher=MMAmania.com |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref><ref name="themmatruth.com">{{cite web |last=Cordero |first=Angel R. |url=http://themmatruth.com/articles/ufc-announces-unprecedented-accident-insurance-coverage-for-its-athletes |title=UFC Announces Unprecedented Accident Insurance Coverage for Its Athletes |publisher=Themmatruth.com |access-date=2012-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808233814/http://themmatruth.com/articles/ufc-announces-unprecedented-accident-insurance-coverage-for-its-athletes |archive-date=2012-08-08 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Helwani|first=Ariel|title=Zuffa to offer accident insurance to all 350 contracted fighters|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/42964079/ns/sports-mma/|access-date=September 30, 2011|newspaper=NBC Sports|date=May 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105110240/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/42964079/ns/sports-mma/|archive-date=November 5, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="sherdog.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Zuffa-Expands-Fighter-Insurance-to-Cover-Training-Injuries-32204 |title=Zuffa Expands Fighter Insurance to Cover Training Injuries |publisher=Sherdog.com |date=2011-05-09 |access-date=2012-08-06}}</ref> The policy covers any injuries that occur during competition, training, and non-training related accidents. The policy was underwritten by Houston-based specialty insurance group [[HCC Insurance Holdings]] and went into effect on June 1, 2011.<ref name="sherdog.com" />

The details of the policy include:
* Coverage for all athletes signed by the UFC or Strikeforce.
* Coverage for athletes residing both within and outside of the United States.<ref name="mmafighting.com"/>
* Zuffa paying for all premiums for the policy, with athletes not required to pay anything.
* Allowing athletes to use up to $50,000 in annual coverage for any injuries that occur while under contract to Zuffa. This includes services such as, doctor services, laboratory tests, emergency medical evacuation, and physical therapy.
* Coverage for athletes regardless of if they are scheduled to compete.
* Life and dental insurance at no cost to the athletes.<ref name="mmafighting.com"/>
* No coverage for minor illnesses, but training-related illnesses like [[staph infections]] are covered.<ref name="mmamania.com"/>

An insurance policy is not a first for mixed martial arts or [[combat sports]] as a whole. Former promotions such as the [[International Fight League]], offered insurance to its athletes. However Zuffa's policy is the first to cover a large group of combat sport athletes.<ref name="themmatruth.com"/> According to UFC president [[Dana White]], the policy was a goal of the company since Zuffa first purchased the UFC in 2001. In addition UFC chairman and [[Chief executive officer|CEO]], [[Lorenzo Fertitta]] stated that the policy took three years to establish while trying to find possible insurers.<ref name="mmafighting.com" /> Prior to the introduction of this policy, Zuffa provided up to $100,000 for an athlete on each event to cover injuries sustained during competition. However, if an athlete was injured outside of competition they would have to pay for their own medical expenses.<ref name="sherdog.com" />

Notable incidents where UFC athletes were injured outside of competition include,
* [[Frank Mir]], who was struck by a car while riding his motorcycle in 2004, and forced out of competition for over 20 months.
* [[Brock Lesnar]], who was forced out of action for several months while struggling with [[diverticulitis]].