Art Davie

Art Davie (born January 27, 1952) is an American entrepreneur, marketing executive, and television producer. He is best known as one of the co-creators of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts organization.

Davie's background was primarily in marketing and advertising. Prior to the UFC, he worked in the advertising industry and co-owned a marketing firm. He conceived the idea for the UFC after reading about Gracie jiu-jitsu and recognizing its potential for a large-scale event pitting different martial arts styles against each other.

In 1993, Davie partnered with Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG) and John Milius to bring his vision to life. He served as the event's creator, executive producer, and matchmaker for the first few UFC events. His initial concept was to determine the most effective martial art in a no-holds-barred competition.

Davie left the UFC after UFC 4, following disagreements with SEG regarding the direction of the promotion. He later authored the book "Is This Legal?: The Inside Story of the First UFC from the Man Who Created It." He has also been involved in other entertainment and business ventures.