UFC 1: The Beginning
So my first review of UFC events begin today. I don't know how long each review will take me, but I hope to do them as quickly as I have time to find, watch, and review each one. UFC one is an eight man tournament that comes live to pay per view from Denver, Colorado. The matches are no holds bar, that just limit such things as eye gouges. The rounds are five minutes long, but there are no limits for rounds. Matches end in submission, knock out, or when your trainer throws in a towel. These eight men will represent eight different methods of fighting.
Gerard Gordeau
Height: 6’5
Weight: 216lbs
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Style: Savate
Teila Tuli
Height: 6’2
Weight: 410lbs
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Style: Sumo
The entrance start with Tuli coming out first, with the announcers promoting Tuli’s sumo heritage and sumo wrestling in Japan. Gordeau comes out next, and his strong kicks are emphasized. They both have the initial stare down and the referee gives each man the rules, and the first match in UFC pay per view history is about to start.
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Tuli knows that his lack of speed, but large size is going to be the determining factor of this match. He knows that if he attacks head on in a surprise move, he could throw Gordeau down. He goes for the takedown, but on the way, Gordeau is able to get a clean hit to the side of Tuli’s face. Tuli goes down, and Gordeau goes for the kill with a vicious kick to the head. The referee got in their quick and called for the time out. Tuli is bleeding from the face and knows the fight is over almost before it began. I must say, If Tuli had the reach that Gordeau had; this match might have been a different story.
Kevin Rosier
Height: 6’4
Weight: 265lbs
Location: Cheektowanga, New York
Style: Kickboxing
Zane Frasier
Height: 6’6
Weight: 230lbs
Location: North Hollywood, California
Style: Karate
Rosier comes out first, and it is kind of surprising to me at least to see a kick boxer who is not in the best of shape. UFC at this time was not exactly completely professional, not until at least the UFC 30s. Both larger men are ready to go after Frazier gets to the ring. Rosier looks nervous against the muscular Frazier. As the match starts, Rosier really looks ready to go and tries to back Frazier up and it seems to work. Rosier gets some great shots in including a vicious knee to the face. Frazier is looking weak as he is thrown to the ground and Rosier begins taking shots at the head. Frazier is able to get up and takes R hard into the wall and gets a good knee in. This shakes Rosier as Frazier begins to pound away. Rosier tries to tie up Frazier and tries to equal the shots, but he looks tired. Frazier gets some more straight shots in, and some connect. Frazier now looks gassed out. UFC really was not the Mixed Martial Arts display that it is now, evident by Frazier’s lack of guards. Both men look exhausted less than 2 minutes in. They break free and give each other deflected shots before getting tied up again. Rosier tries a take down, but falls, giving Fraizer the advantage. The bear of a man Rosier tries to break loose and he is able with little resistance. Both men look like they ran a marathon. They are now four minutes in and Frazier begins allowing punches to take place. Frasier has no defense against the open shots and goes to the ground. Rosier begins to just stomp his head as the towel gets thrown in. The match just goes to show that endurance counts for so much in these types of fights.
Royce Gracie
Height: 6’1
Weight: 180
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Style: Jiu-Jitsu
Art Jimerson
Height: 6’1
Weight: 196lbs
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Style: Boxing
Gracie is given the underdog story early in the bout. He is being billed as being the lightest guy in the tournament. He enters the ring first. An interesting story is Royce uses the Jiu-Jitsu style which had very little following back when UFC began. When Frank Mir was just 14 years old, he watched Royce on UFC 1, and was amazed at his fighting ability. Jimerson enters the ring second, with one hand utilizing a boxing glove, and one hand bare. Interesting set up to say the least. His boxing record is built up, and the crowd is excited to see the two styles meet. Royce is wearing the full on outfit, which for me I see as a bad mistake, giving handles everywhere for Jimerson. But that being said, Jimerson only has one free hand. Jimerson looks for an early charge, while preventing Gracie’s side kick, but Gracie shows his great defense, and takes him down with lighting speed. Gracie mounts Jimerson and locks on a guard. A head butt is thrown by Jimerson, but the guard is still locked on. Jimerson has no way out with that glove on, and like a snake, Jimerson is being suffocated. Knowing there is no where to go, he has to tap out. The match is over just like that.
Ken Shamrock
Height: 6’1
Weight: 220
Location: Lockeford, California
Style: Shootfighter
Patrick Smith
Height: 6’2
Weight: 217lbs
Location: Denver, Colorado
Style: Tae Kwon Do
Ken Shamrock gets the jack of all trades build. As UFC would grown so would the fighters. I bet that if Ken Shamrock would have trained in more than just the shootfighting techniques, his UFC would have been better than it was. But I give Shamrock early credit for branching out early on in the UFC’s history. In the last of the four fights of the first round of the tournament, Shamrock will face the home town boy. Patrick Smith gets the big hometown cheer as he enters the ring. Smith’s record is massive, 250-0, and the home crowd knows he is going to take part in a good match.
Shamrock starts the early attack with a takedown, but Smith easily blocks it. Shamrock goes at it again, and easily takes him down, the guard gets locked onto Shamrock, but it seems to be loose. Shamrock tries to hinge away and gets a few shots in. Smith also exchanges while he tries to hold onto Shamrock. The break apart into a double leg lock. They each go for and ankle lock, but Shamrock is able to to put more pressure on his. The match is over as Shamrock wins with the lock. They get split up, and it seems as though Shamrock wants to kick him in the head. Smith gets up and they have to be separated. No love lost in this match. The crowd is livid, as Shamrock gets interviewed, and degrades Smith.
Kevin Rosier
Height: 6’4
Weight: 265lbs
Location: Cheektowanga, New York
Style: Kickboxing
Gerard Gordeau
Height: 6’5
Weight: 216lbs
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Style: Savate
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And so the second round starts, and we get to see the endurance level of each of the four men remaining. Before the match, You really have to think that Rosier will be at a disadvantage, fighting in a shorter time period than Rosier, fighting a much longer fight, and being a lot heavier in the match. Injuries are a problem here as Gordeau has a broken hand entering this fight and Rosier has a vicious cut in his eye.
You know, sportsmanship is something I honour in any sport, and I must say, Rosier has great sportsmanship. As the shake-up the fight begins. Gordeau stars with a kick, and then gets another as Rosier is not looking good. Gordeau kicks him again, and Rosier is on his knees, and the bombs start to drop. Rosier tries to get uo but is met with more hits. Rosier never regains his feet, and the match is over. Rosier has now faces two overweight men, and is fresh as can be. He looks to go far here. Rosier finishes up, and tells the world he plans to drop the weight and become a great match. What a class act, nothing but positive outlook on the sport and his opponents.
Ken Shamrock
Height: 6’1
Weight: 220
Location: Lockeford, California
Style: Shootfighter
Royce Gracie
Height: 6’1
Weight: 180
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Style: Jiu-Jitsu
The early matchup of the night in my books. This match should have been made for the finals looking back at it, as ground and pounds meets mat skills. Gracie gets to come out first, and the crowd is cheering his name, whether it be in spite or because they are impressed with him, I do not know. It should be for the second, because he is looking amazing. Shamrock looks like he is pure aggression. Gracie comes in completely calm.
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Gracier does something amazing here, the calm man, who has great defenses, immediately goes for Shamrock with a takedown. Shamrock shows his stuff in flipping Gracie over and trying to put on a guard. But Gracie looks up with Shamrock and attacks his side. As Shamrock tries to escape, Gracie flips upward. Gracie tries to lock into Shamrock and fends off Shamrock. With a chock, Shamrock taps out. It almost looks as although Shamrock tries to hide the fact that he tapped out. Shamrock gives himself the credit for the match, and shows his arrogance even after losing.
Royce Gracie
Height: 6’1
Weight: 180
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Style: Jiu-Jitsu
Gerard Gordeau
Height: 6’5
Weight: 216lbs
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Style: Savate
After a bit of a break so that poor Gracie can catch his breathe, and then match is on. This is the finals here. Gracie has had some easy matches, but not as easy as Gordeau. Gordeau’s hand is still hurting however, so it is looking to be a great match. Four inches separate the men, lets see how it comes into play.
Gracie goes for the mid section and tries to take Gordeau down. They tie each other up as Gordeaur shows his in ring smarts and backs off to the ropes to prevent a takedown. They test each others strengths as Gordeau gets taken down. Gracie is on top as they both have each other locked in. Gracie gets behind and it is looking close to being over if something doesn’t change. And just like that, Gracie wins as Gordeau submits.
And that is UFC 1: The Beginning. No matches lasted 5 minutes. Royce Gracie was able to shock the world as the lightest man in the entire tournament was able to outlast his opponents and defeat them all with Jiu-Jitsu.
Overall, the pay per view provided great entertainment for the crowd and those at home. As there were overmatches in almost all the matches, the matches went quickly. The best match of the night was Kevin Rosier versus Zane Frazier. Despite the tired men in it, it really showed their hearts in the match. Rosier going over was a great sight.
