UFC 1
UFC 1: The Beginning | ||||
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![]() The poster for UFC 1: The Beginning | ||||
Information | ||||
Promotion | Ultimate Fighting Championship | |||
Date | November 12, 1993 | |||
Venue | McNichols Sports Arena | |||
City | Denver, Colorado | |||
Attendance | 2,800 | |||
Buyrate | 86,000 [1] | |||
Event chronology | ||||
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![]() | The neutrality of this article is disputed. |
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). 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 consisted of an unlimited time limit; therefore no judges were used for the night. Competitors could only win a match 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.
Results
Quarterfinals
Quarterfinal bout: Teila Tuli vs Gerard Gordeau
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 in the process. Gordeau stepped aside and delivered a kick to Tuli's face, reportedly knocking a tooth out. 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.
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 remained on their feet throughout the entire match. 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, evidenced by his wearing a boxing glove on his left hand. 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 with no submission hold or choke actually being applied.
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. Shamrock's knowledge of ground fighting allowed him to quickly take Smith, whose only training was in Tae Kwon Do and Muay Thai, to the ground. Shamrock was then able to quickly secure the heel hook. Smith, although appearing to be injured by the submission, was not quick to accept defeat and continued to berate Shamrock after the match was called.
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.
Semifinal bout: Royce Gracie vs Ken Shamrock
Gracie won with a gi choke :57 seconds into the fight. Shamrock initially gained a dominant position, but Gracie was able to reverse their positions and secure 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.
Finals
Final bout: Gerard Gordeau vs Royce Gracie
Gracie won the first ever UFC tournament by submitting Gordeau with a rear naked choke at 1:41.
UFC 1 bracket
Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | ||||||||||||
Gerard Gordeau | ||||||||||||||
Teila Tuli | ||||||||||||||
Gerard Gordeau | ||||||||||||||
Kevin Rosier | ||||||||||||||
Kevin Rosier | ||||||||||||||
Zane Frazier | ||||||||||||||
Royce Gracie | ||||||||||||||
Gerard Gordeau | ||||||||||||||
Royce Gracie | ||||||||||||||
Art Jimmerson | ||||||||||||||
Royce Gracie | ||||||||||||||
Ken Shamrock | ||||||||||||||
Ken Shamrock | ||||||||||||||
Patrick Smith |
References
- ^ Walter, Donald F. , Jr. Mixed Martial Arts: Ultimate Sport, or Ultimately Illegal? Grapplearts.com. December 8 2003. Retrieved June 2 2006.