# UFC 1

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{{short description|First UFC mixed martial art event (1993)}}
{{Redirect|The Ultimate Fighting Championship|the organization which promoted the event|Ultimate Fighting Championship}}
{{Infobox MMA event
| name = UFC 1: The Beginning
| image = UFC1vhs.jpg
| caption= [VHS](/source/VHS) Box art for UFC 1
| promotion = [Ultimate Fighting Championship](/source/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship)
| date = November 12, 1993
| venue = [McNichols Sports Arena](/source/McNichols_Sports_Arena)
| city = [Denver](/source/Denver), [Colorado](/source/Colorado) 
| attendance = 7,800<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/events/ufc-1-the-beginning|title=UFC 1: The Beginning|publisher=tapology.com|access-date=May 28, 2014}}</ref>
| gate =
| buyrate = 86,000<ref>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.</ref>
| purse =
| previousevent =
| followingevent = [UFC 2: No Way Out](/source/UFC_2)
}}
'''''The Ultimate Fighting Championship''''' (later renamed '''''UFC 1: The Beginning''''') was the first [mixed martial arts](/source/mixed_martial_arts) event by the [Ultimate Fighting Championship](/source/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship) (UFC), held at the [McNichols Sports Arena](/source/McNichols_Sports_Arena) in [Denver](/source/Denver), [Colorado](/source/Colorado), United States, on November 12, 1993. The event was broadcast live on [pay-per-view](/source/pay-per-view) and later released on [home video](/source/home_video).<ref>{{cite news|title= Television: Pay-Per-View Battle, Instead of Being Merely Gory and Funny, Gets Interesting After the First Two Bouts|newspaper=[The Los Angeles Times](/source/The_Los_Angeles_Times)|date=November 15, 1993 |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-11-15-ca-57200-story.html|access-date=July 1, 2011 |last=Rosenberg |first=Howard}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FtADAAAAMBAJ&q=shotokan+taekwondo+and+kung+fu+challenge+jujutsu+sandra+e+kessler&pg=PA24|title=Shotokan, Taekwondo, and Kung Fu challenge Jujutsu|last=Sandra E. Kessler|date=1 April 1994|website=[Black Belt Magazine](/source/Black_Belt_Magazine)|publisher=[Active Interest Media](/source/Active_Interest_Media), Inc.|via=[Google Books](/source/Google_Books)|access-date=6 September 2017}}</ref>

The event was the lowest profile by the contemporary standards. The venue was less than half-packed, and the grand prize of the tournament was as big as a regular [sparring](/source/sparring) partner's biannual salary. Major martial-arts observers and columnists did not bother to show up; the press neglected the event, and ''[Black Belt](/source/Black_Belt_Magazine)'' mentioned it only several months later. Big-name fighters turned down the offers to participate or to make a [guest appearance](/source/guest_appearance) in the audience.<ref name=Kessler /> 

The event pioneered the interstylistic match-ups between the practitioners of different martial arts, and set the pattern for the future [sporting events](/source/sporting_events) of the kind.<ref name="Merlino" /> UFC 1 would also be the first ever martial-arts event to use the [octagon](/source/octagon_(mixed_martial_arts)).

==Background==
''UFC 1'' was co-created by [Rorion Gracie](/source/Rorion_Gracie) and the [Torrance](/source/Torrance%2C_California)-based UFC promoter [Art Davie](/source/Art_Davie), who decided to take locally famous [Gracie Garage Challenge](/source/Gracie_Challenge) fights versus California's martial artists to a new level, televised nationally, with the opponents picked internationally.<ref name=Merlino/>

They did not come up with a [16-man](/source/Round_of_16) tournament, as the big-name martial artists, mainly kickboxers, namely [Dennis Alexio](/source/Dennis_Alexio), [Benny Urquidez](/source/Benny_Urquidez), [Jean-Yves Thériault](/source/Jean-Yves_Th%C3%A9riault_(kickboxer)), [Rick Roufus](/source/Rick_Roufus), [Stan Longinidis](/source/Stan_Longinidis), [Maurice Smith](/source/Maurice_Smith_(kickboxer)), [Bart Vale](/source/Bart_Vale), [Hee Il Cho](/source/Hee_Il_Cho), [George Dillman](/source/George_Dillman), [Gene LeBell](/source/Gene_LeBell), [Rob Kaman](/source/Rob_Kaman), [Peter Aerts](/source/Peter_Aerts), [Ernesto Hoost](/source/Ernesto_Hoost), [Masaaki Satake](/source/Masaaki_Satake), were among the others "publicly invited" by Art Davie,<ref>{{cite journal|title=Promoter Issues Invitation|journal=Black Belt|date=November 1994|volume=30|number=11|pages=6–7}}</ref> but had shown no interest in participating.<ref name="Kessler">{{cite journal|date=August 1994|title=Still King of the Hill: Jujutsu Fighter Royce Gracie Tells the World "If You Want Me, Come Get Me!" (An Interview by Sandra E. Kessler)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QNADAAAAMBAJ|journal=Black Belt|volume=32|pages=48–52|number=8}}</ref> Davie placed advertisements in martial arts magazines to recruit fighters. He found less than a dozen who answered the call.<ref name=Merlino>{{cite book|last=Merlino|first=Doug|title=Beast: Blood, Struggle, and Dreams at the Heart of Mixed Martial Arts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rOCHCgAAQBAJ|year=2015|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=9781620401569}}</ref>  The promoters came up with an eight-man [tournament](/source/tournament) format, with the winner receiving $50,000.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

They wanted it to look brutal on television, so [John Milius](/source/John_Milius), one of Rorion Gracie's students and a Hollywood veteran who had directed ''[Conan the Barbarian](/source/Conan_the_Barbarian_(1982_film))'', decided the fights should take place in an [octagonal](/source/octagonal) cage [fenced with chain link](/source/Chain-link_fencing). [Campbell McLaren](/source/Campbell_McLaren), a SEG executive, wanted people to consider the championship a live, televised version of ''[Mortal Kombat](/source/Mortal_Kombat_(1992_video_game))'', a popular [fighting video game](/source/fighting_video_game), in which victorious fighters got to ["finish" their opponents](/source/fatality_(Mortal_Kombat)) through moves such as [ripping their spines out](/source/Sub-Zero_(Mortal_Kombat)) of their bodies. That one and the Davie's idea to top the cage with [razor wire](/source/razor_wire) were rejected.<ref name=Merlino/> UFC promoters initially pitched the event as a real-life fighting video game tournament similar to ''Mortal Kombat'' and ''[Street Fighter](/source/Street_Fighter)''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Snowden |first1=Jonathan |title=UFC 1, 25 Years Later: The Story Behind the Event That Started an Industry |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2804552-ufc-1-25-years-later-the-story-behind-the-event-that-started-an-industry |website=[Bleacher Report](/source/Bleacher_Report) |access-date=5 November 2020 |date=12 November 2018}}</ref>

General regulations agreed upon were:

*No [doping probes](/source/out_of_competition_drugs_test).
*No holds barred.
*No [biting](/source/biting).
*No [eye-gouging](/source/eye-gouging). 
*No mandatory [gloves](/source/MMA_gloves) and combative uniform (bare-knuckle contest).
*No [judges' scores](/source/decisions_in_combat_sports).
*Unlimited five-minute rounds with one-minute rest period in between. (Changed to no time limits for UFC 2 since no UFC 1 fight lasted five minutes.)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/12/22/3712764/mma-ufc-origins-history-rules-regulation-fight-survival-legal-court-lawsuit-|title=MMA Origins: The UFC's Fight for Survival|date=22 December 2012|access-date=17 March 2021|archive-date=28 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128153658/https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/12/22/3712764/mma-ufc-origins-history-rules-regulation-fight-survival-legal-court-lawsuit-|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show #26 with Big John McCarthy</ref>
*[Knockout](/source/Knockout), [tapout](/source/submission_(combat_sports)), or [corner stoppage](/source/corner_stoppage) (indicated by towel) are the only determination methods. Referee could only halt a match pending the corner decision.

McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, at an [elevation](/source/elevation) [above mean sea level](/source/Height_above_mean_sea_level) of approximately {{convert|1|mile|spell=in}}, had been chosen because Colorado had no athletic commission and thus no governing body from which they would need to get approval for bare-knuckle fighting.<ref name=Merlino/> The arena had hosted only two fight [cards](/source/card_(sports)) in its history, both of minor significance, occurring earlier in 1993.<ref>[https://boxrec.com/en/venue/31507 McNichols Sports Arena information] at the Boxing's Official Record Keeper, ''BoxRec.com''.</ref>

The major accomplishment though for the promoters was to gather a celebrity commentary team for the event. The commentary team for the pay-per-view was [Bill Wallace](/source/Bill_Wallace_(martial_arts)), [Jim Brown](/source/Jim_Brown), and [Kathy Long](/source/Kathy_Long), with additional analysis from [Rod Machado](/source/Rod_Machado) and post-fight interviews by [Brian Kilmeade](/source/Brian_Kilmeade). The ring announcer was Rich Goins.

[Jason DeLucia](/source/Jason_DeLucia) was an alternate for the event, having defeated [Trent Jenkins](/source/Trent_Jenkins) in the alternate bout. However, as no fighter pulled out during the tournament, he was not called upon.

==History==
The tournament featured fights with no weight classes, rounds, or judges. The three rules&nbsp;– no biting, no eye gouging, and no groin shots&nbsp;– were to be enforced only by a $1,500 fine. The match only ended by [submission](/source/submission_(combat_sport_term)), [knockout](/source/knockout), or the fighter's corner [throwing in the towel](/source/Throw_in_the_towel), although the referee stopped the first fight at 26 seconds. Gloves were allowed, as [Art Jimmerson](/source/Art_Jimmerson) showed in his quarterfinal bout against [Royce Gracie](/source/Royce_Gracie), which he fought with one boxing glove.

Royce Gracie won the tournament by defeating [Gerard Gordeau](/source/Gerard_Gordeau) via submission due to a [rear naked choke](/source/rear_naked_choke).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/mixed-martial-arts/46015665|title=UFC 1: The Beginning: Playboy, Mortal Kombat and the hunt for an ultimate fighter|work=BBC Sport|date=9 November 2018|access-date=13 November 2018}}</ref> The [referees](/source/referees) for ''UFC 1'' were João Alberto Barreto and Hélio Vigio, two veteran [vale tudo](/source/vale_tudo) referees from Brazil.

==Results==
{{MMAevent}}
{{MMAevent card|Final}}
{{MMAevent bout|N/A|[Royce Gracie](/source/Royce_Gracie)|def.|[Gerard Gordeau](/source/Gerard_Gordeau)|Submission (rear-naked choke)||1:44|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Alternate bout|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout|N/A|[Jason DeLucia](/source/Jason_DeLucia)|def.|[Trent Jenkins](/source/Trent_Jenkins)|Submission (rear-naked choke)||0:52|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Semi-finals|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout|N/A|[Royce Gracie](/source/Royce_Gracie)|def.|[Ken Shamrock](/source/Ken_Shamrock)|Submission (rear-naked choke)||0:57|
}}
{{MMAevent bout|N/A|[Gerard Gordeau](/source/Gerard_Gordeau)|def.|[Kevin Rosier](/source/Kevin_Rosier)|TKO (punches)||0:59|
}}
{{MMAevent card|Quarter-finals|header=no}}
{{MMAevent bout|N/A|[Ken Shamrock](/source/Ken_Shamrock)|def.|[Patrick Smith](/source/Patrick_Smith_(fighter))|Submission (heel hook)||1:49|
}}
{{MMAevent bout|N/A|[Royce Gracie](/source/Royce_Gracie)|def.|[Art Jimmerson](/source/Art_Jimmerson)|Submission (smother choke)||2:18|
}}
{{MMAevent bout|N/A|[Kevin Rosier](/source/Kevin_Rosier)|def.|[Zane Frazier](/source/Zane_Frazier)|TKO (corner stoppage)||4:20|
}}
{{MMAevent bout|N/A|[Gerard Gordeau](/source/Gerard_Gordeau)|def.|[Teila Tuli](/source/Teila_Tuli)|TKO (head kick)||0:26|
}}
{{MMAevent end|notes = yes}}

==''UFC 1'' bracket==
{{Round8
<!-- Nothing/Fighter 1/Result/Fighter 2/Nothing -->
<!-- quarter finals -->
||{{flagicon|NED}} '''[Gerard Gordeau](/source/Gerard_Gordeau)'''<br>([Savate](/source/Savate)) |TKO|{{flagicon|USA}} [Teila Tuli](/source/Teila_Tuli)<br>([Sumo](/source/Sumo)) |0:26
||{{flagicon|USA}} '''[Kevin Rosier](/source/Kevin_Rosier)'''<br>([Kickboxing](/source/Kickboxing)) |TKO|{{flagicon|USA}} [Zane Frazier](/source/Zane_Frazier)<br>([Kenpo](/source/Kenpo))|4:20
||{{flagicon|BRA}} '''[Royce Gracie](/source/Royce_Gracie)'''<br>([Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu](/source/Brazilian_Jiu-Jitsu)) |SUB|{{flagicon|USA}} [Art Jimmerson](/source/Art_Jimmerson)<br>([Boxing](/source/Boxing)) |2:18
||{{flagicon|USA}} '''[Ken Shamrock](/source/Ken_Shamrock)'''<br>([Shootfighting](/source/Shootfighting)) |SUB|{{flagicon|USA}} [Patrick Smith](/source/Patrick_Smith_(fighter))<br>([Taekwondo](/source/Taekwondo)) |1:49
<!-- semi finals -->
||{{flagicon|NED}} '''[Gerard Gordeau](/source/Gerard_Gordeau)''' |TKO|{{flagicon|USA}} [Kevin Rosier](/source/Kevin_Rosier) |0:59
||{{flagicon|BRA}} '''[Royce Gracie](/source/Royce_Gracie)'''|SUB|{{flagicon|USA}} [Ken Shamrock](/source/Ken_Shamrock) |0:57
<!-- final -->
||{{flagicon|NED}} [Gerard Gordeau](/source/Gerard_Gordeau) |1:40|{{flagicon|BRA}} '''[Royce Gracie](/source/Royce_Gracie)'''|SUB
<!-- consol=name -->
|||||
}}

== Cultural significance ==
The event and its outcome catapulted [Gracie Jiu-Jitsu](/source/Gracie_Jiu-Jitsu) (also known as Brazilian jiu-jitsu) to new heights in the United States and worldwide. Its gate and [pay-per-view](/source/pay-per-view) buys ensured that there would be more UFCs in the near future, which proved to be the case.<ref name=Merlino/> The event sold nearly 90,000 live pay-per-view buys, in addition to drawing new audiences through [video rental stores](/source/video_rental_stores) such as [Blockbuster Video](/source/Blockbuster_Video).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Snowden |first1=Jonathan |title=UFC 1, 25 Years Later: The Story Behind the Event That Started an Industry |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2804552-ufc-1-25-years-later-the-story-behind-the-event-that-started-an-industry |website=[Bleacher Report](/source/Bleacher_Report) |publisher=[WarnerMedia](/source/WarnerMedia) |access-date=5 November 2020 |date=12 November 2020}}</ref>

==Encyclopedia awards==
The following fighters were honored in the October 2011 book titled ''[UFC Encyclopedia](/source/List_of_UFC_encyclopedia_award_recipients)''.<ref>{{cite book |last= Gerbasi|first= Thomas|date= 2011-10-17|title= UFC Encyclopedia - The Definitive Guide to the Ultimate Fighting Championship|location= New York|publisher= DK|page= 148|isbn=978-0756683610}}</ref>
*'''Fight of the Night: Royce Gracie vs. Ken Shamrock'''
*'''Knockout of the Night: Gerard Gordeau {{small|def. Teila Tuli}}'''
*'''Submission of the Night: Royce Gracie {{small|def. Gerard Gordeau}}'''

== See also ==
* [1993 in UFC](/source/1993_in_UFC)
* [List of UFC champions](/source/List_of_UFC_champions)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sherdog.com/events/UFC-1-The-Beginning-7 UFC 1 results at Sherdog.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090203145946/http://411mania.com/MMA/video_reviews/54464/History-of-the-UFC:-UFC-I---The-Beginning.htm UFC 1 fights reviews]
* [http://www.ufc.com Official UFC website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140316232745/http://www.mmamental.com/?q=node%2F39 MMA Mental History UFC 1]
* [http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/3/26/2890710/mma-origins-ufc-1-MMA-History MMA Origins: UFC 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218122726/http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/3/26/2890710/mma-origins-ufc-1-MMA-History |date=2017-02-18 }}
* [http://punchdrunkgamer.com/the-brutal-beginnings-of-the-ufc-video/ The Brutal Beginnings of the UFC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140316225942/http://punchdrunkgamer.com/the-brutal-beginnings-of-the-ufc-video/ |date=2014-03-16 }}

{{UFC Events}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ufc 001}}
Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship flagship events
Category:1993 in mixed martial arts
Category:Mixed martial arts events in Denver
Category:1993 in sports in Colorado
Category:1993 controversies
Category:November 1993 sports events in the United States
1993

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [UFC 1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_1) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_1?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.