UFC 1

Infobox MMA event
name = UFC 1: The Beginning


promotion = Ultimate Fighting Championship
date = November 12, 1993
venue = McNichols Sports Arena
city = Denver, Colorado
attendance = 2,800
gate =
buyrate = 86,000 [Walter, Donald F. , Jr. [http://www.grapplearts.com/Mixed-Martial-Arts-1.htm Mixed Martial Arts: Ultimate Sport, or Ultimately Illegal?] "Grapplearts.com." December 8 2003. Retrieved June 2 2006.]
purse =
previousevent = N/A
followingevent =

"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.

History

"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.

Results

Quarterfinals

*flagicon|NED Gerard Gordeau vs flagicon|USA Teila Tuli:Gordeau wins by TKO at 0:30, when the referee stepped in after a kick to the face by Gordeau.

* Kevin Rosier vs flagicon|USA Zane Frazier:Rosier wins by TKO due to corner stoppage at 4:18.

* Royce Gracie vs flagicon|USA Art Jimmerson:Gracie wins by submission at 2:18.

* Ken Shamrock vs flagicon|USA Patrick Smith:Shamrock wins by submission due to a heel hook at 1:51.

emifinals

* Gerard Gordeau vs flagicon|USA Kevin Rosier:Gordeau wins by TKO due to corner stoppage at 1:03.

* Royce Gracie vs flagicon|USA Ken Shamrock:Gracie wins by gi choke :57 seconds into the fight.

Finals

* Royce Gracie vs flagicon|NED Gerard Gordeau :Gracie wins by rear naked choke at 1:41.

"UFC 1" brackets

8TeamBracket | RD1=Quarterfinals| RD2=Semifinals| RD3=Final
RD1-seed1=| RD1-seed2=| RD1-seed3=| RD1-seed4=| RD1-seed5=| RD1-seed6=| RD1-seed7=| RD1-seed8=
RD1-team1=Gerard Gordeau
RD1-team2=Teila Tuli
RD1-score1=W
RD1-score2=
RD1-team3=Kevin Rosier
RD1-team4=Zane Frazier
RD1-score3=W
RD1-score4=
RD1-team5=Royce Gracie
RD1-team6=Art Jimmerson
RD1-score5=W
RD1-score6=
RD1-team7=Ken Shamrock
RD1-team8=Patrick Smith
RD1-score7=W
RD1-score8=
RD2-team1=Gerard Gordeau
RD2-team2=Kevin Rosier
RD2-score1=W
RD2-score2=
RD2-team3=Royce Gracie
RD2-team4=Ken Shamrock
RD2-score3=W
RD2-score4=
RD3-team1=Gerard Gordeau
RD3-team2=Royce Gracie
RD3-score1=
RD3-score2=C

References

External links

* [http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?EventID=7 UFC1 results at Sherdog.com]
* [http://www.411mania.com/MMA/video_reviews/54464/History-of-the-UFC:-UFC-I---The-Beginning.htm UFC1 fights reviews]
* [http://www.ufc.com Official UFC website]
* [http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news;_ylt=AuvUi2TrSN_ILBVsuNLmsjk9Eo14?slug=dm-earlyufc111207&prov=yhoo&type=lgns First UFC forever altered combat sports]