Legend has it that the art of Jiu-jitsu began in India during the time of Buddha in the 6th Century BC, before making its way through China and landing on the shores of Japan and in the hands of the Samurai. The Samurai kept the teachings of Jiu-Jitsu secret for many years until more modern weapons emerged, and Jiu-Jitsu lost its need to be secretive. At the end of the last century, the best students of Master Kanō Jigorō decided to leave Japan to prove what only they knew, that Jiu-Jitsu is the most efficient martial art in the world. One of Jigorōs best pupils was Mitsuyo Maeda; Maeda is said to have won more than 2,000 professional fights in his career, though this claim has been disputed. In 1914, Maeda moved to Brazil, where he met Gastão Gracie, who helped him settle in his new home. As a grateful gesture, Maeda offered to teach Gastãos’s eldest son Carlos Gracie everything he knew. Carlos would then pass on this knowledge to his three younger brothers, Oswaldo, George, and the youngest, Hélio Gracie. Hélio carried the torch passed down from Maeda and Carlos, competing in hundreds of challenge matches all over Brazil. However, outside of Brazil, in a pre-internet age, Jiu-jitsu was still a secret to the rest of the world. It was Hélio’s eldest son Rorion who realized that to prove Jiu-Jitsu was the most efficient martial art in the world; he would have to move to America. And that is where the world of martial arts would change forever.
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In 1978, Gracie moved to America from Brazil and began teaching jiu-jitsu in a two-car garage in Hermosa Beach, CA. By the mid-1980s, Rorion had recruited his brother Royce to help him with the teaching. The Gracies had hundreds of individuals taking lessons at the time, and space constraints led to the opening of their first Torrance, California, facility in 1989. Riorions first pupil was a man named Art Davie, who had just taken a job with an advertising agency in Torrance. After witnessing some of the infamous Gracie challenge matches, it was clear that this proving ground was just too exciting to be limited to a garage or gym. After many discussions between the two, the plan was put in motion to have a televised challenge match tournament with martial artists worldwide to prove which martial art would reign supreme.
On November 12th, 1993, in Denver, Colorado, A vehicle for the art the Gracie family nurtured was born. A no holds barred combat tournament to determine who is the Ultimate Fighting Champion of the world. No rules (except for biting and eye gauging), No scorecards, and no time limit. 2 Men enter, and only one can leave the cage victorious.
The bell sounds, and just like that, the first sanctioned fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) begins. Tuli makes his first (and last) move charging Gordeu up against the cage before crashing to his knees. Gordeau wastes no time and blasts a right kick straight to Tuli’s face, sending one tooth flying and embedding another in the foot of Gordeau. Tuli is left incapacitated up against the cage, and Referee Joan Alberto quickly jumps between the fighters and stops the fight. Looking back now, this was the right thing to do, but Alberto was actually fired later on because, according to the rules at the time, a Referee stoppage was not allowed. Gordeau advances.
Gerard Gordeau defeats Teila Tuli via KO/TKO at 0:26 of Round 1
As the fight begins, Rosier puts pressure on Frazier, backing him up against the cage and unloading shots until Frazier hits the mat. Rosier follows but it’s clear neither guy has any idea what they are doing, and they quickly get back to their feet. Frazier now takes charge in the clinch against the cage, grabbing hold of Rosier’s hair and kneeing him to both the midsection and the groin (balls), following up with some overhands and uppercuts that land. After a flurry of strikes, Frazier appears completely exhausted and collapses; Rosier takes advantage, throwing a bevy of elbows down on Frasier until the corner throws in the towel. Rosier advances to face Gordeu in the second round.
Kevin Rosier defeats Zane Frazier via KO/TKO at 4:20 of Round 1
With Rorion Gracie (Royce’s older brother) in charge of organizing the event, everyone knew that a Gracie would be competing; it was just a matter of which. Many thought Rickson would be chosen because he was the family’s champion at the time. Still, he had left the family academy to pursue another business, so Royce was selected to compete because of the loyalty he showed Rorion.
Jimmerson came into the fight as a decorated boxer with a record of 29-5 and was confident he would knock Royce out with a left hand. Jimmerson came out with a boxing glove only on that left hand, coining him the nickname “One Glove.”
The fight begins with Royce utilizing a front kick to keep Jimmerson at bay. Royce then faints a front kick and shoots for a takedown which he lands. Royce immediately takes full mount and starts to pepper Jimmerson with legal headbutts! Jimmerson begins to panic as he realizes the danger he is in and taps out before Royce can get the chance to lock up a submission. Royce Advances.
Royce Gracie defeats Art Jimmerson via Submission at 2:18 of Round 1
During introductions, the announcer claims that Smith has a record of 250-0 in Karate bouts which is laugh-out-loud funny. Shamrock was not intimidated by this claim as he immediately shoots and takes Smith down. Smith shows some knowledge of what to do by locking his legs over Shamrock’s back and establishing his guard. The two go back and forth with short shots before Shamrock postures and drops back for an ankle lock, after some attempts to escape by Smith; he taps. Faced with how the fight went, Smith attempts to fight Shamrock again but is removed from the cage. Shamrock advances to face Gracie in the semifinals.
Ken Shamrock defeats Patrick Smith via Submission at 1:49 of Round 1
Semi-finals are set to begin, and each man is showing some damage from their previous bouts. Notably, Gordeau’s right hand is swollen to the point you can’t even see his knuckles, and he also has one of Tuli’s teeth still logged in his foot! Rosier seems to be in better shape going in with only a cut over his left eye.
The bell rings, and Rosier advances much like in the first fight with heavy pressure until Gordeau blasts him with leg kicks that put Rosier with his back against the wall. Gordeau senses the damage he’s done and capitalizes by landing a lead right uppercut followed by a left straight that drops Rosier. Rosier shells up as Gordeu begins to rain heavy elbows on his head. Rosier lays down, still conscious but defeated, and Gordeau finishes him with a vicious stomp to his ribs (see photo) that’ll make you grateful for the next few breaths you take. Gordeau advances to face the winner of Gracie vs. Shamrock in the Finals.
Gerard Gordeau defeats Kevin Rosier via KO/TKO at 0:59 of Round 1
In our second semi-final match, both competitors appear fresh as they both dispatched their previous opponents with relative ease. Physically, Shamrock is a much more imposing figure and confidently enters the cage. Royce, stoic, starts the fight with a shot at a takedown that finds him quickly turned over and on his back. Shamrock drops back for the same ankle lock he hit on Smith, but Royce is wise to it and follows Shamrock as he falls back. Royce, now in top position, begins to soften up shamrock with palm strikes to the head. Shamrock grabs hold of Royce’s leg and begins to drive forward in an attempt to reverse position, but in doing so, exposes his neck and Gracie capitalizes, latching on with a tight squeeze until Shamrock taps. Gracie advances to the finals to face Gerard Gordeau.
Royce Gracie defeats Ken Shamrock via Submission at 0:57 of Round 1
Gracie enters the cage again for his third fight of the night and looks as fresh as he did for the first one. Gordeau, while dealing with a swollen hand and a human tooth in his foot, is still 12 years older, 6 inches taller, and 40 lbs. heavier than Gracie.
The bell rings, and Gracie lets Gordeau come toward him; Gracie then lunges for a takedown and grabs a body lock on Gordeau. Unable to bring him to the ground, Gracie presses him against the cage and begins to throw headbutts up into Gordeau’s head. After some struggle against the cage, Gracie manages to get a trip against Gordeau and quickly mounts him. Gordeau, clearly frustrated, bites Gracie’s ear, which enrages him, and he begins to work the headbutts again from full mount. Gordeau rolls over, giving up his back, and Gracie continues to headbutt the back of his head while working his arm under the neck for the choke! Gordeau taps, and Gracie holds the choke for a few seconds longer, still furious that he bit his ear. Finally, the ref intervenes, and Royce Gracie makes history as the first champion in the history of the UFC.
Royce Gracie defeats Gerard Gordeau via Submission at 1:44 of Round 1
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