New research casts doubts on claims that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events encourage aggressive and criminal behavior. The study, published in the Journal of Health Economics, provides evidence that UFC mixed martial arts fights and related TV programs coincide with reductions in violence among individuals. There have been concerns that media content, including violent TV shows and video games, can promote aggression. But much of this research has taken place in laboratory settings and the observed behaviors might not reflect how people act in their natural environment. “There is a p…