UFC 1

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

UFC 1: The Beginning
Details
Promotion Ultimate Fighting Championship
Date November 12, 1993
Venue McNichols Sports Arena
City Denver, Colorado
Attendance 2,800
Buyrate 86,000 [1]
Event chronology
N/A UFC 1: The Beginning UFC 2: No Way Out
The neutrality of this article is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.(December 2007)
Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (later renamed UFC 1: The Beginning) was the first mixed martial arts (MMA) event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), occurring at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado on November 12, 1993. The event was broadcast live on pay-per-view, and later released on home video. UFC 1 used an eight-man tournament format, with the winner receiving $50,000. The tournament had no weight classes or weight limits. The matches had 5 minute time limits with unlimited rounds; therefore no judges were necessary. Competitors only won by submission, knockout, or throwing in the towel. Despite being billed as having "no rules" there were limitations on what the fighters could do, including no biting or eye gouging. Royce Gracie won the tournament by defeating Gerard Gordeau via submission due to a rear naked choke. The referees for UFC 1 were Joao Alberto Barreto and Helio Vigio, two veteran vale tudo referees from Brazil.

The commentary team for the pay-per-view was Bill Wallace, Kathy Long, and Jim Brown, with additional analysis from Rod Machado and post-fight interviews by Brian Kilmeade.

Jason DeLucia was an alternate for the event, having defeated Trent Jenkins in the alternate bout. However, as no fighter pulled out during the tournament, he was not called upon.

Contents

[edit] Quarterfinals

Flag of the Netherlands Gerard Gordeau def. Flag of the United States Teila Tuli Gordeau, a world champion in Savate, defeated Tuli by TKO when the referee stepped in after a kick to the face by Gordeau. The 400 lb, 6'2" Samoan sumo wrestler charged Gordeau, but failed to secure a hold on him, falling to his knees near the edge of the arena. Gordeau stepped aside and delivered a kick to Tuli's face which sent one of Tuli's teeth flying out of the ring. Gordeau followed with a strike to the face, cutting Tuli and breaking his own hand. After being checked out by the doctors, the fight was called, with an official time of only 0:30.

Flag of the United States Kevin Rosier def. Flag of the United States Zane Frazier Rosier, a kickboxer, defeated Zane Frazier, a practitioner of karate by TKO due to corner stoppage at 4:18. Both fighters remained on their feet through the match. After backing Frazier against the fence, Rosier delivered several punches, then two stomps to Frazier's head before the towel was thrown in.

Flag of Brazil Royce Gracie def. Flag of the United States Art Jimmerson Gracie defeated Jimmerson by submission at 2:18. Jimmerson's only training was in traditional boxing, evidenced by the boxing glove worn on his left hand. Gracie landed multiple low kicks early in the fight, and took Jimmerson down. Gracie mounted Jimmerson with little resistance, and Jimmerson tapped out with no submission hold or choke actually applied.

Flag of the United States Ken Shamrock def. Flag of the United States Patrick Smith Shamrock defeated Smith via submission due to a heel hook at 1:51. Shamrock was one of the more experienced grapplers entering the tournament, with previous fights in the Japanese fighting organization Pancrase. Shamrock's knowledge of ground fighting allowed him to take Smith to the ground and eventually secure a heel hook. Smith, who appeared injured by the submission, did not accept defeat and continued to berate Shamrock after the match was called.

[edit] Semifinals

Flag of the Netherlands Gerard Gordeau def. Flag of the United States Kevin Rosier Gordeau defeated Roiser by TKO due to corner stoppage at 1:03. Gordeau stood over Rosier, who was seated against the octagon fence, and effectively punched and kicked him, with Rosier offering little defense until the fight was called.

Flag of Brazil Royce Gracie def. Flag of the United States Ken Shamrock Gracie won with a gi choke :57 seconds into the fight. Shamrock initially gained a dominant position, but Gracie reversed their positions and secured the choke. Shamrock submitted, but the tap was not seen by the referee. Assuming the fight was over, Gracie released the hold. After a few moments of deliberation, Shamrock conceded defeat.

[edit] Finals

Flag of Brazil Royce Gracie def. Flag of the Netherlands Gerard Gordeau Gracie won the first ever UFC tournament by submitting Gordeau with a rear naked choke at 1:41.

[edit] UFC 1 Bracket

  Quarterfinals Semifinals Final
                           
   Gerard Gordeau W  
 Teila Tuli  
     Gerard Gordeau W  
     Kevin Rosier  
 Kevin Rosier W
   Zane Frazier  
       Gerard Gordeau
     Royce Gracie C
   Royce Gracie W  
 Art Jimmerson  
     Royce Gracie W
     Ken Shamrock  
 Ken Shamrock W
   Patrick Smith  

[edit] UFC 1 Champion

Royce Gracie

[edit] References

  1. ^ Walter, Donald F. , Jr. Mixed Martial Arts: Ultimate Sport, or Ultimately Illegal? Grapplearts.com. December 8, 2003. Retrieved June 2, 2006.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Ultimate Fighting Championship events
upcoming events are in italics
Pay-per-view
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • UU • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • UU 2 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • Japan • 16 • 17 • Brazil • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 37.5 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 • 55 • 56 • 57 • 58 • 59 • 60 • 61 • 62 • 63 • 64 • 65 • 66 • 67 • 68 • 69 • 70 • 71 • 72 • 73 • 74 • 75 • 76 • 77 • 78 • 79 • 80 • 81 • 82 • 83 • 84 • 85 • 86 • 87 • 88
Fight Nights
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • Ortiz vs. Shamrock 3 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13
The Ultimate Fighter
finales
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6