The Ultimate
While I was driving to work this morning, feverishly searching for a parking spot, a commercial came on the radio for UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship, for those not in "the know") 53. Holy shit, 53!!!! I remember when the FIRST ONE came out in the early 90's. It was fucking awesome. There was nothing like it, anywhere. A no-holds barred competition - anyone, any style, vs. anyone, any style. No rules (well, almost none), street fight - pretty intense. I remember seeing that and literally being shocked, but wanting more! Grown men beating each other to a bloody pulp, literally! No gloves, no nothing.
Here's a little history:
UFC The Beginning
In November of 1993, an event took place which would redefine the martial arts community. This event was known as the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
This event featured eight martial artists of different styles and experience in a winner take all tournament. The event was billed as having no rules and was the first of its kind in North America. This unique event did in fact have two rules (no biting or eye-gouging), and took place in The Octagon, an eight-sided ring based on the ideas of a Hollywood producer.
The fighters who competed where relative unknowns, with a variety of styles from Karate to Japanese Shootfighting. The favorites to win the event where Ken Shamrock, a well built shootfighter who had made a name for himself in Japan and Pat Smith, a brash and cocky kickboxer. However, the man who stole the show, and also revealed a new style of fighting to North Americans was Royce Gracie, a lanky lightweight fighter who represented Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, a groundfighting style modified and perfected by the Gracie family in Brazil.
There were...rounds of ten minutes, but since no match came close to this time, the rounds were inconsequential.
This event showed the world what the martial arts where really about and triggered the explosion of mixed martial arts events around the globe.
UFC No Way Out
UFC 2 was a very interesting departure from the first UFC. There were several changes from the first event, including an expansion of the tournament to 16 fighters, meaning that the winner would have to succeed in four fights in one night. The event was full of fighters representing many various fighting styles, from Karate and Kung Fu, to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, to Muay Thai and Penchak Silat.
There were a large number of strikers and mismatches in the group of 16, which resulted in many very quick and brutal matches. Interestingly enough, more fights were ended by submission than by strikes, proving that in the early days of the event, even a little bit of groundfighting experience was necessary for survival in the Octagon.
There were several returning fighters, including UFC 1 champion and favorite to win Royce Gracie, Pat Smith and the two men who fought in a qualifying match in UFC 1, Jason Delucia and Trent Jenkins.
The only major rule change was the elimination of rounds in the fights, since they were deemed unnecessary after the short fights of the first event.
Surprisingly, only one alternate was needed in the main draw as Fred Ettish was substituted for Frank Hammaker, who broke his hand in his preliminary round win against Thaddeus Luster.
UFC The American Dream
In UFC 3, the event once again returned to its original format of an eight man tournament. Royce Gracie, who had now gained notoriety as being unstoppable after cruising through the first two events, would face his biggest challenge to date, Kimo, in one of the more infamous matches in UFC history. Another match which has also gained fame was between Keith Hackney and the largest man to ever step inside the Octagon, American amateur Sumo Emmanuel Yarbrough, who measured 6'8" and weighed 668lbs. This match was the first in a long night of injuries and controversy.
Another anomaly which occurred at this event was the situation concerning the alternates. For the first and only time in the history of the event, an alternate fighter stepped in and won the event. In fact, both alternate fighters were utilized, and a third could have been used. After the quarter finals, Hackney injured his hand in his fight against Yarbrough and was forced out, prompting Felix Lee Mitchell to fight Ken Shamrock in the semis. Also after the first round, Gracie was forced to withdraw due to an injury and fatigue. However, had he just stayed in the locker room and withdrawn (like most fighters do), then Harold Howard would have fought Jennum in the semis. Since Gracie actually came to the ring and then threw in the towel before the fight started, Howard got a bye to the finals. If Gracie had followed procedure, then the winner of Shamrock vs. Mitchell and Howard vs. Jennum would have fought for the title.
In the semis, Shamrock was able to defeat Mitchell, but in the process got injured (and had also lost his chance with a fight against Gracie, the man who beat him in UFC 1), so he pulled out, leaving Howard to face the alternate Jennum in the finals. Again, had Gracie followed the usual way of doing things, then it would have been the winner of Howard vs. Jennum against a third alternate in the finals. This did not occur, and Jennum went on to win.
UFC 3 also marked the first time the event was held outside of Colorado, as Charlotte, NC was the host venue for the event.
*****************************
After that, more rules and more rules and more rules. They couldn't find a location to host the events because of the sheer brutality of it. So, pretty much, all the fun got sucked out of it. I probably bought (PPV, and not cheap) the first 10 or so, and then it just got too cramped up by all the restrictions and rules - but they were forced to do so in order to continue having the events. Everything good and raw like that always gets ruined eventually. That really pisses me off. It was wicked cool back when it first came out.
Now it's evolved into some sort of weird combination of boxing and WWF - at least from what I can see, I haven't seen one in a long, long time. The "no rules" rule has since evolved into this:
UFC rules, as approved by the
Nevada State Athletic Commission - July 23, 2001
Weight classes:
Lightweight - over 145 lbs. to 155 lbs.
Welterweight - over 155 lbs. to 170 lbs.
Middleweight - over 170 lbs. to 185 lbs.
Light Heavyweight - over 185 lbs. to 205 lbs.
Heavyweight - over 205 lbs. to 265 lbs.
Bout duration:
All non-championship bouts shall be three rounds.
All championship bouts shall be five rounds.
Rounds will be five minutes in duration, with a one minute.
A one-minute rest period will occur between each round.
Fouls:
Butting with the head.
Eye gouging of any kind.
Biting.
Hair pulling.
Fish hooking.
Groin attacks of any kind.
Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.
Small joint manipulation.
Striking to the spine or the back of the head.
Striking downward using the point of the elbow.
Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
Grabbing the clavicle.
Kicking the head of a grounded opponent.
Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent.
Stomping a grounded opponent.
Kicking to the kidney with the heel.
Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.
Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area.
Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
Spitting at an opponent.
Engaging in an unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent.
Holding the ropes or the fence.
Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area.
Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee.
Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat.
Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.
Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
Interference by the corner.
Throwing in the towel during competition.
Ways To Win:
Submission by:
Physical tap out.
Verbal tap out.
Technical knockout by the referee stopping the contest.
Decision via the scorecards, including:
Unanimous decision.
Split decision.
Majority decision.
Draw, including:
Unanimous draw.
Majority draw.
Split draw.
Technical decision.
Technical draw.
Disqualification.
Forfeit.
No contest.
Referee may Restart the round:
If the fighters reach a stalemate and do not work to improve position or finish.
Here's a little history:
UFC The Beginning
In November of 1993, an event took place which would redefine the martial arts community. This event was known as the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
This event featured eight martial artists of different styles and experience in a winner take all tournament. The event was billed as having no rules and was the first of its kind in North America. This unique event did in fact have two rules (no biting or eye-gouging), and took place in The Octagon, an eight-sided ring based on the ideas of a Hollywood producer.
The fighters who competed where relative unknowns, with a variety of styles from Karate to Japanese Shootfighting. The favorites to win the event where Ken Shamrock, a well built shootfighter who had made a name for himself in Japan and Pat Smith, a brash and cocky kickboxer. However, the man who stole the show, and also revealed a new style of fighting to North Americans was Royce Gracie, a lanky lightweight fighter who represented Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, a groundfighting style modified and perfected by the Gracie family in Brazil.
There were...rounds of ten minutes, but since no match came close to this time, the rounds were inconsequential.
This event showed the world what the martial arts where really about and triggered the explosion of mixed martial arts events around the globe.
UFC No Way Out
UFC 2 was a very interesting departure from the first UFC. There were several changes from the first event, including an expansion of the tournament to 16 fighters, meaning that the winner would have to succeed in four fights in one night. The event was full of fighters representing many various fighting styles, from Karate and Kung Fu, to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, to Muay Thai and Penchak Silat.
There were a large number of strikers and mismatches in the group of 16, which resulted in many very quick and brutal matches. Interestingly enough, more fights were ended by submission than by strikes, proving that in the early days of the event, even a little bit of groundfighting experience was necessary for survival in the Octagon.
There were several returning fighters, including UFC 1 champion and favorite to win Royce Gracie, Pat Smith and the two men who fought in a qualifying match in UFC 1, Jason Delucia and Trent Jenkins.
The only major rule change was the elimination of rounds in the fights, since they were deemed unnecessary after the short fights of the first event.
Surprisingly, only one alternate was needed in the main draw as Fred Ettish was substituted for Frank Hammaker, who broke his hand in his preliminary round win against Thaddeus Luster.
UFC The American Dream
In UFC 3, the event once again returned to its original format of an eight man tournament. Royce Gracie, who had now gained notoriety as being unstoppable after cruising through the first two events, would face his biggest challenge to date, Kimo, in one of the more infamous matches in UFC history. Another match which has also gained fame was between Keith Hackney and the largest man to ever step inside the Octagon, American amateur Sumo Emmanuel Yarbrough, who measured 6'8" and weighed 668lbs. This match was the first in a long night of injuries and controversy.
Another anomaly which occurred at this event was the situation concerning the alternates. For the first and only time in the history of the event, an alternate fighter stepped in and won the event. In fact, both alternate fighters were utilized, and a third could have been used. After the quarter finals, Hackney injured his hand in his fight against Yarbrough and was forced out, prompting Felix Lee Mitchell to fight Ken Shamrock in the semis. Also after the first round, Gracie was forced to withdraw due to an injury and fatigue. However, had he just stayed in the locker room and withdrawn (like most fighters do), then Harold Howard would have fought Jennum in the semis. Since Gracie actually came to the ring and then threw in the towel before the fight started, Howard got a bye to the finals. If Gracie had followed procedure, then the winner of Shamrock vs. Mitchell and Howard vs. Jennum would have fought for the title.
In the semis, Shamrock was able to defeat Mitchell, but in the process got injured (and had also lost his chance with a fight against Gracie, the man who beat him in UFC 1), so he pulled out, leaving Howard to face the alternate Jennum in the finals. Again, had Gracie followed the usual way of doing things, then it would have been the winner of Howard vs. Jennum against a third alternate in the finals. This did not occur, and Jennum went on to win.
UFC 3 also marked the first time the event was held outside of Colorado, as Charlotte, NC was the host venue for the event.
*****************************
After that, more rules and more rules and more rules. They couldn't find a location to host the events because of the sheer brutality of it. So, pretty much, all the fun got sucked out of it. I probably bought (PPV, and not cheap) the first 10 or so, and then it just got too cramped up by all the restrictions and rules - but they were forced to do so in order to continue having the events. Everything good and raw like that always gets ruined eventually. That really pisses me off. It was wicked cool back when it first came out.
Now it's evolved into some sort of weird combination of boxing and WWF - at least from what I can see, I haven't seen one in a long, long time. The "no rules" rule has since evolved into this:
UFC rules, as approved by the
Nevada State Athletic Commission - July 23, 2001
Weight classes:
Lightweight - over 145 lbs. to 155 lbs.
Welterweight - over 155 lbs. to 170 lbs.
Middleweight - over 170 lbs. to 185 lbs.
Light Heavyweight - over 185 lbs. to 205 lbs.
Heavyweight - over 205 lbs. to 265 lbs.
Bout duration:
All non-championship bouts shall be three rounds.
All championship bouts shall be five rounds.
Rounds will be five minutes in duration, with a one minute.
A one-minute rest period will occur between each round.
Fouls:
Butting with the head.
Eye gouging of any kind.
Biting.
Hair pulling.
Fish hooking.
Groin attacks of any kind.
Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.
Small joint manipulation.
Striking to the spine or the back of the head.
Striking downward using the point of the elbow.
Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
Grabbing the clavicle.
Kicking the head of a grounded opponent.
Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent.
Stomping a grounded opponent.
Kicking to the kidney with the heel.
Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.
Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area.
Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
Spitting at an opponent.
Engaging in an unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent.
Holding the ropes or the fence.
Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area.
Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee.
Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat.
Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.
Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
Interference by the corner.
Throwing in the towel during competition.
Ways To Win:
Submission by:
Physical tap out.
Verbal tap out.
Technical knockout by the referee stopping the contest.
Decision via the scorecards, including:
Unanimous decision.
Split decision.
Majority decision.
Draw, including:
Unanimous draw.
Majority draw.
Split draw.
Technical decision.
Technical draw.
Disqualification.
Forfeit.
No contest.
Referee may Restart the round:
If the fighters reach a stalemate and do not work to improve position or finish.
posted by Miss_Vicki at 7:52 AM
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