UFC 8: David vs. Goliath was a mixed martial arts event held by Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 16, 1996, at Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The event was broadcast live on pay per view in the United States, and later released on home video. UFC 8 featured an eight-man tournament, and a UFC Superfight between Ken Shamrock and Kimo Leopoldo. The event also featured one alternate fight, which was not shown on the live pay-per-view broadcast. The tournament had no weight classes, or weight limits. A 10 minute time limit was imposed for all matches in the tournament, and three judges scored the fights, in order to eliminate draws. The referee for the night was 'Big' John McCarthy. The event's matchups pitted larger fighters against smaller fighters, hence the term "David vs. Goliath".

UFC 8 was the first appearance of fan favorite fighters Don Frye and Gary Goodridge, who both scored stunning knockouts that would be featured extensively on future UFC highlight reels. The championship fight featured Frye vs. Goodridge, with Frye taking the victory via strikes 2:14 into the fight.

The event is also notable as being the first MMA event to draw criticism, including local politician Calvin McCard’s on site protests at UFC 8. These protest would spark the nationwide movement against MMA in 1996, spearheaded by Arizona Senator John McCain, which would later temporarily push the sport in the United States underground in 1997.

Results

Alternate bout

• Sam Adkins vs. Keith Mielke
  Adkins wins by submission due to strikes at 0:50.

Quarterfinals

• Gary Goodridge vs. Paul Herrera
  Goodridge wins by KO due to elbow strikes at 0:13. This was Gary Goodridge's first fight in the UFC, and quickly established him as one of the deadliest fighters in the tournament. Fighting under the listed martial-art form of Kuk Sool Won, Gary Goodridge fought the kickboxer Paul Herrera. After the start of the match, Herrera moved in quickly, trying to grab the inside of Goodridge's leg to take him to the ground. In a mulitple move counter-attack, Goodridge closed his legs on Herrera's hand, reached over to grab Herrera's other free hand, and fell backwards to his back. This left Goodridge holding Herrera in a crucifix type position. Goodridge immediately used his free arm and drove 8 elbows into Herrera's head, knocking him out after the first 2 elbows (it took 'Big' John McCarthy the next 6 elbows to pull Goodridge away). This fight quickly established Gary Goodridge as one of the deadliest fighters in the UFC.
• Jerry Bohlander vs. Scott Ferrozzo
  Bohlander wins by submission (guillotine choke) at 9:05.
• Paul Varelans vs. Joe Moreira
  Varelans wins by unanimous decision at 10:00. Due to injury sustained in this fight, Varelans was unable to continue in the tournament and was replaced by Sam Adkins.
• Don Frye vs. Thomas Ramirez
  Frye wins by KO at 0:10.

Semifinals

• Gary Goodridge vs. Jerry Bohlander
  Goodridge wins by TKO (referee stoppage due to strikes) at 5:32.
• Don Frye vs. Sam Adkins
  Frye wins by TKO (doctor stoppage due to cut) at 0:48. Adkins replaced Paul Varelans, who was injured in his Quarterfinal bout.

Finals

• Don Frye vs. Gary Goodridge
  Don Frye wins the UFC 8 Tournament by submission due to strikes at 2:14.

Superfight

• Ken Shamrock vs. Kimo Leopoldo
  Shamrock wins by submission (kneebar) at 4:24.