MOP Squad Sports UFC 1: The Beginning

You are Here: Home > MOP Squad Sports UFC 1: The Beginning

UFC 1: The Beginning

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (later renamed UFC 1: The Beginning) was the first mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It took place at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado on November 12, 1993. The event was seen 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. Each match had consisted of an unlimited amount of five minute rounds; therefore no judges were used for the night. Competitors could only win a match by submission, knock out, 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.

Early UFC matches were less of a contest between individuals and more of a contest between different fighting styles. Each fighter was usually only skilled in one form of martial arts and was built physically to take advantage of the rules and conventions associated with each form. Teila Tuli was a Sumo wrestler and tipped the scales at over 400 pounds. Art Jimmerson knew only western boxing. Both Kevin Rosier and Zane Frazier were most experienced in kickboxing and Karate and both were tall with large arms but little muscular refinement elsewhere. Royce Gracie, the champion of the tournament, was the latest in a family of Jiu Jitsu practitioners from Brazil and the lightest fighter in the ring at only 176lbs.

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.

Results

Quarterfinals

Quarterfinal bout: Teila Tuli vs Gerard Gordeau
Gordeau defeated Tuli by TKO when the referee stepped in after a kick to the face by Gordeau. The 6'2" Samoan Sumo wrestler weighted in at over 400 lbs but lost after receiving two solid shots. After Tuli fell to his knees, Gordeau delivered a stunning kick to the face, knocking a tooth out. Gordeau followed with a strike to the face, cutting Tuli. After being checked out by the doctors, the fight was called, with an official time of only 0:30.

Quarterfinal bout: Kevin Rosier vs Zane Frazier
Rosier, a kickboxer, defeated Zane Frazier, a practitioner of karate by TKO due to corner stoppage at 4:18. Both fighters were practitioners of stand-up and striking styles and both stayed on their feet throughout entire match (which was unusual in early UFC matches). After backing Frazier up against the fence, Roiser delivered several punches then two stomps to the head of Frazier before the towel was thrown in.

Quarterfinal bout: Royce Gracie vs Art Jimmerson
Gracie defeated Jimmerson by submission at 2:18. Jimmerson's only training was in traditional boxing, and he even wore a boxing glove on his left hand in the fight. Gracie was able to land multiple low kicks early in the fight, and take Jimmerson down. Gracie mounted Jimmerson with little resistance, and Jimmerson tapped out. No submission hold or choke was placed on Jimmerson, who quickly gave up when he realized he could do nothing from his back.

Quarterfinal bout: Ken Shamrock vs Patrick Smith
Shamrock defeated Smith via submission due to a heel hook at 1:51. Shamrock was one of the more experienced fighters entering the tournament, with previous fights in the Japanese fighting organization Pancrase. Due to Shamrock's knowledge of ground fighting tactics, and Smith trained only in Tae Kwon Do, Shamrock quickly took Smith to the ground, and secured the heel hook. Smith, although appearing to be hurt by the submission, was not quick to accept defeat and continued to berate Shamrock.

Semifinals

Semifinal bout: Gerard Gordeau vs Kevin Rosier
Gordeau defeated Roiser by TKO due to corner stoppage at 1:03. Gordeau was able stand over Rosier who was seated up against the octagon fence and effectively punch and kick him with Rosier offering little defense until the fight was called off much like Rosier had done to Frazier in their first-round match.

Semifinal bout: Royce Gracie vs Ken Shamrock
Gracie defeated Shamrock by submission due to a rear naked choke :57 seconds into the fight. Shamrock initially gained a dominant position but was overcome by Gracie's skill. Although Gracie released his hold after the initial tapout, it was not seen by the referee and Gracie placed another hold on Shamrock until he was sure the referee realized Shamrock's capitulation.

Finals

Final bout: Gerard Gordeau vs Royce Gracie
Gracie won the first ever UFC tournament by defeating Gordeau by submission due to a rear naked choke at 1:41. If you watch closely, early in the fight, Gordeau bites Gracie. As pay back Gracie holds his finishing choke for a little bit longer, just to let him know what he has done.