Activists protest UFC after fighter’s tweet about rape

On the same day the Ultimate Fighting Championship made its prime-time network debut, a group of mothers protested what they call the latest in a string of offensive and inappropriate comments by its fighters.

At a news conference Saturday outside the Las Vegas headquarters of the biggest name in mixed martial arts, the activists called on Fox Sports and advertisers to drop the UFC until it adopts a code of conduct like other professional sports.

Among those criticizing fighter Forrest Griffin's recent tweet that "rape is the new missionary" was Emmily Bristol, a board member of the Nevada Coalition Against Sexual Violence.

UFC officials did not respond to an email request for comment.

Griffin last week apologized for the remark and made a donation to the Las Vegas Rape Crisis Center.