Welcome to Ultimate MMA! Today we're taking a look at the event that started it all.
The first ever Ultimate Fighting Championship. The UFC has grown into one of the largest and
most respected sports brands in the world. Being crowned a UFC champion can turn a fighter
into a global celebrity and household name. On November 12th 1993 in Denver,
Colorado eight fighters, each with a unique martial art style would
compete in a tournament to cement their legacy as the first-ever UFC champion.
Gordeau vs Tuli. The event kicked off with savate practitioner Gerard Gordeau taking on
sumo champ Teila Tuli. While the modern UFC employs different weight classes, in UFC 1
the size discrepancy was part of the fun. Gordeau had no issue out speeding Tuli,
winning by TKO and under 30 seconds in the first round. Tuli lost a tooth during the bout
along with losing his only MMA appearance. Gordeau moved on to the semi final round.
Rosier vs Frazier Next we got to see kickboxer Kevin Rosier
take on kenpo karate fighter Zane Frazier. The bout featured many techniques considered illegal
under modern UFC rules, and the fight ended with an exhausted Frazier unable to defend himself from
Rozier's powerful strikes. Frazier's corner threw in the towel, sending Rozier to the semi-finals.
Royce Gracie vs Art Jimmerson In the beginning the UFC was
about finding out which martial arts style was superior to all others. The term "MMA" had yet
to be invented. In this fight we saw boxing versus jiu-jitsu. Gracie was able to make
quick work of his opponent, showcasing just how dominant a skilled jiu-jitsu practitioner could
be inside the Octagon. The boxer, Jimmerson, never stood a chance and didn't land a single
punch before being submitted in the first round. Gracie moved on to round 2 of the tournament
Shamrock vs Smith Ken Shamrock came into
the UFC as a shoot fighter against Taekwondo practitioner Patrick Smith. Much like Gracie,
Shamrock scores an early takedown and it's only a matter of time before Smith is forced
to submit by an ankle lock, a move Shamrock would take with him when he transitioned to the WWF
later in his career. For now, he advanced to the semi-final round, which was about to kick off.
Gordeau vs Rosier After overwhelming
their opponents in the previous matchups it was time to test Gordeau's speed versus Rosier's
power. Gordeau had a broken hand from his first fight, and Rozier had a cut above his left eye,
showcasing the wear and tear the tournament format would take on the fighters. Gordeau would utilize
savate staple leg kicks to create an opening and dominate Rozier from then on. Resulting in a TKO
victory after a vicious stomp to the ribs. Gordeau claimed his spot in the championship round.
Gracie vs Shamrock It was now time for
Gracie and Shamrock to determine who is the superior grappler. After a quick shoot in,
Gracie reverses and takes control of Shamrock resulting in another first
round submission victory. It would be Royce Gracie versus Gerard Gordeau in the finals.
Gracie vs Gordeau The championship match was a battle of striking
versus ground work. Stepping into the ring for the third time each Gracie's jiu-jitsu would be tested
against Gordeau's speedy savate techniques. Gracie shoots in and takes control early,
winning again by submission. Royce Gracie was crowned as the first-ever UFC champion. No
opponent landed a single strike on him throughout the tournament. Gracie jiu-jitsu became one of
the most respected combat arts on the planet. Gracie's bounce proved that anyone was going
to excel in the UFC would require a working knowledge of both striking and grappling in
order to be effective, eventually leading to the very concept of mixed martial arts.
Jiu-jitsu's prevalence can be traced back to this single event, which legitimized its combat
potential to the general public and inspired a generation of fighters competing in the UFC today.
What did you think of the first ever UFC? Did you like the tournament format? What was the
most surprising moment for you? Let us know in the comments below. If you want to see this and other
classic bouts be sure to check out UFC Fight Pass. Until next time, this is Ultimate MMA!!