As real as it gets

[Rabbitman]

Unhappy with the state of pro wrestling in Japan and the movement towards showmanship over pure wrestling, wrestlers Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki founded a new promotion that would focus on shoot-style wrestling without predetermined outcomes. Joining them in this new promotion were fellow wrestlers Yusuke Fuke and Ken "Wayne" Shamrock among others. As a nod to Karl Gotch, they called the new promotion Pancrase, after Gotch's own wrestling style which he labeled "Pankration".

Pancrase's inaugural event was headlined by a fight between Ken Shamrock and Masakatsu Funaki. In a twist of irony, Shamrock defeated Funaki by submission via arm triangle choke even though Funaki was a mentor to Shamrock and he had never been able to submit him in training prior. The event took place before a sold-out crowd of approximately 7,000 fans who had no idea what to expect going into it. However, the event was very well-received and on that night the sport which would later be called "mixed martial arts", or MMA, was born.

Meanwhile, in America, an advertising executive by the name of Art Davie was working diligently to bring together his vision, an eight-man single-elimination tournament pitting martial artists of varying disciplines against each other in a no holds barred competition. He was to call the tournament War of the Worlds.

Davie, a student of Rorion Gracie, had studied Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Rorion's school in Torrance, California. The Gracie family had a long history of competing in vale tudo matches, a precursor to mixed martial arts. Davie proposed his idea to Rorion who saw it as a vehicle to promote Gracie jiu-jitsu to the masses. John Millius, another Gracie student and noted film director, agreed to be the event's creative director. Davie soon drafted a business plan and gathered the initial investors necessary to form WOW Promotions.

WOW Promotions approached several pay-per-view providers including TVKO (HBO), SET (Showtime), and the Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG). Although TVKO and SET were uninterested in the idea, SEG had become known for promoting off-beat sporting events already and agreed to partner with Davie. SEG contacted film art-director Jason Cusson to design the famed "Octagon" where the combatants were to do battle and decided to call the event The Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Since that time, Pancrase has held three shows and the earliest of MMA stars have begun to emerge in Japan such as Ken Shamrock, Masakatsu Funaki, and Bas Rutten. SEG is about to hold the Ultimate Fighting Championship in Denver, Colorado and Ken Shamrock has signed on to take part. Also, Royce Gracie has been chosen to represent his family name in the tournament. Royce is small in stature but holds a black belt in Gracie jiu-jitsu so he'll be dangerous on the ground. Both Shamrock and Gracie look to be early favorites. The event will have very few rules in place, but due to pay-per-view time constraints, each fight will have a 30-minute time limit. If there is not a clear winner when time has expired, the fight will be decided by three independently appointed judges, similar to boxing.

UFC 1 The Beginning-Quarter Final matches

Trent Jenkins (Freestyle) vs Ron Van Clief (Chinese Goju)
Royce Gracie (Gracie Jiu-jitsu) vs Teila Tuli (Sumo)
Ken Shamrock (Shoot Fighting) vs Murilo Bustamante (Jiu-Jitsu)
Art Jimmerson (Boxing) vs Jason Delucia (Kung Fu)


Preliminary:- Renzo Gracie (Gracie Jiu-jitsu) vs Zane Frazier (Karate) was arranged at the 11th hour as both fighters expressed an interesting in being in the tournament but finalized their contracts too late to make it.

Thanks to ZJ Penn for his delightful mod (I believe he goes by another name on Grey Dog?)

[Rabbitman]

UFC: The Beginning


Date: Saturday 22nd October 1993
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentary Team: Bill Wallace & Jim Brown
Attendance: 82 for a gate of $972



Bill Wallace tries his best to hype up the matches tonight but ends up mispronouncing several names and calling the company the Ultimate Fighting Challenge. NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown nearly makes up for it, with his credibility and renowned toughness helping to get over what these men face tonight. He seems particularly interested in Tuli, as he thinks people may underestimate a sumo in a fast paced environment like this but he says don't ever count a man with his size out. As for who will actually win, he thinks Ken Shamrock will get the job done somehow, some way.

UFC Tournament Quarter Final 1-Jason Delucia def Art Jimmerson
This fight was evenly matched at first but Delucia, the kung fu master from Boston, fought a smart fight and simply waited for cracks to show in his boxer opponent's defence. Art tried a wild hook but Delucia ducked and hit him with a chop to the throat before applying a submission on the stunned Art to get the win in 7:15.



UFC Tournament Quarter Final 2-Ken Shamrock def Murilo Bustamante
Ken Shamrock rocked his opponent with a knee early on and Murilo was then content to stall and keep his distance and wait for an opening, lest he get more of the same. Eventually Ken got tired of waiting and started attacking the Brazilian with a renewed ferocity. The increased pressure told and Murilo was again rocked with another knee and althought the Brazilian bravely tried to hold on, it wasn't long before Ken caught him in a submission and got the tap out after 20:36.



UFC Tournament Quarter Final 3-Teila Tuli def Royce Gracie
This was a dreadful match and the crowd constantly let their feelings known. Royce got next to no offence in, as the big man kept pushing him up against the cage and using his bulk to keep his oppenent there. As time ticked away, Royce managed to score with a nice jab but was again crushed up against the cage. The judges, to a man, decided that the sumo had done enough to win but the crowd is sure hoping he doesn't last much longer in the tournament.



UFC Tournament Quarter Final 4-Ron Van Clief def Trent Jenkins
This was a great match, with the 50 year old taking it to his younger opponent but with the freestyle expert Jenkins giving as good as he got. Trent spent the last 5 minutes in a leg submission but never gave up, to which the crowd applauded. It was probably what put the veteran Van Clief over the line and into the semis, via unanimous decision, but in a way, the master of the freestyle expert Jenkins was a winner to.



UFC Tournament Semi Final-1 Ken Shamrock def Jason Delucia
Delucia was the clear fresher man of the two but you wouldn't have known it, as beside a brief flurry of offence initially, Shamrock controlled the match and after an unfortunate slip by Delucia, Shamrock was on him and pounding away and although the kung fu expert managed to back away, a badly timed chop, led to him being countered into a arm lock for the submission at 4:07.



UFC Tournament Semi Final-2 Ron Van Clief def Teila Tuli
A 50 year old man and a sumo wrestler, who had both gone to decisions in their quarter final matches, were not expected to give the crowd much of a thrill and to be honest, they didn't wow the crowd but provided a surprisingly decent bout. Tuli showed some surprisingly crisp punches for a sumo wrestler and Van Clief just seems to be a little energizer bunny in the way that he just keeps going and going. At times Tuli did rely on his gameplan of the previous fight, much to the chagrin of the crowd but for the most part it was a solid fight. As the time drew to a close, Van Clief went for a submission but his oppenent was able to avoid it and the decision went to the judges, who all thought that the oldest man in the tournament deserved to survive for one more fight.



UFC Tournament Final- Ken Shamrock def Ron Van Clief
A 50 year old man, who went to 2 decisions vs a much younger and fresher man who took less than half the time to dispatch his opponents. It was not pretty......Shamrock showed respect by giving the veteran his moment to bask in the accomplishment of making it this far but as soon as Van Clief made his move, Shamrock was on him and dispatched him rather quickly, making the veteran submit in 2:08.



Ken Shamrock shares a handshake with a disappointed but still proud Ron Van Clief, before accepting his trophy from UFC matchmaker John Peretti. Peretti puts over the winner of the first ever UFC tournament and promises more great action to come from Ken and indeed the UFC itself, before handing over the mic to the winner. Ken says how proud he is to have won the tournament and how he believes...no he KNOWS that it will take one hell of a fighter to ever beat him in the octagon.

Hope you enjoyed it

p.s. Ken Shamrock is a sexy, sexy man.

[Rabbitman]

After a surprising but very entertaining first show, we were left with one man standing tall in the octagon. His name was Ken Shamrock and now he is back to defend his trophy!

Standing in his way are the returning Teila Tuli and Ron Van Clief but making their first appearences in the UFC are the big Russian Oleg Taktarov, the craft Denver native Patrick Smith and the unpredictable 'Pele' Jose Landi-Jons. Plus Ken's own mentor Masakatsu Funaki and the undefeated Gracie brother Renzo.

Also all previous fighters from UFC 1, will be taking part in preliminary matches, looking to hopefully present their case for a spot in the inevitable UFC 3 tournament.


UFC 2 No Way Out-Quarter Final Matches

Masakatsu Funaki (Catch Wrestling) 0-0 vs Patrick Smith (Tae Kwon Do) 0-0
Ken Shamrock (Shoot Fighting) 3-0 vs Oleg Taktarov (Sambo) 0-0
'Pele' Jose Landi-Jons (Muay Tai) 0-0 vs Ron Van Clief (Chinese Goju) 2-1
Renzo Gracie (Gracie Jiu Jitsu) 1-0 vs Teila Tuli (Sumo) 1-1


Prelimary Bouts

Royce Gracie (Gracie Jiu Jitsu) 0-1 vs Jason Delucia (Kung Fu) 1-1
Art Jimmerson(Boxing) 0-1 vs Murilo Bustamante (Jiu Jitsu) 0-1
Trent Jenkins (Freestyle) 0-1 vs Zane Frasier (Karate) 0-1

Breaking news: Ken Shmarock OUT of UFC 2!
18th December 1993

UFC 1 Champion Ken Shamrock is NOT going to participate in the UFC 2 Tournament!

Injuries he accumulated during UFC 1, are taking slightly longer for him to recover from than first thought and thusly, he will miss the UFC tournament by around 10 days.

A replacement has already been found. He is Kazuo Takahashi, a 24 year old from Chiba in Japan, Kazuo is proficient in Pancrase and is said to be delighted at the opportunity to be a part of UFC 2, although saddened that he will not get to face a great warrior like Ken Shamrock.

Kazuo will be a direct replacement for Ken Shamrock and will line up against Russian Oleg Taktarov at UFC 2.

Filler text.

[Rabbitman]

UFC 2: No Way Out


Date: Saturday 26th December 1993
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentary Team: Bill Wallace & Jim Brown
Attendance: 184 for a gate of $372
PPV Buys: 577 for a revenue of $4616



The commentary team tries its best to cover for the loss of UFC 1 Champion Ken Shamrock. Well Bill Wallace called him Kane Hamrick but at least he was trying dammit! Jim Brown said he was disgusted at the way Teila Tuli won his match against the younger Gracie and predicts Renzo to avenge that stain against the Gracie name and go on to win the tournament. He thinks that 'Pele' may end up being a dark horse and that we should keep an eye out for him now and in the future of UFC.


Preliminary Bout-Zane Frazier def Trent Jenkins

Really nothing special. Both men tried hard enough but failed to get in any consistent offence(or anything resembling excitement for that matter). Zane took it, in a unanimous decision.

UFC 2 Tournament Quarter Final 1-Telia Tuli def Renzo Gracie

Lightning can strike twice, for the fat ass took a unanimous decision victory over another Gracie family member. Tuli used the exact same tactics and got the exact same response from the crowd. If he ever wins a tournament with fights like this, people will riot.


UFC 2 Tournament Quarter Final 2-'Pele' Jose Landi-Jons def Ron Van Clief

Thank God for 'Pele' He knocked the veteran to the ground after less than 30 seconds with the Kao Loi. The veteran Van Cleif did not get up! The crowd stood up and applauded.


UFC 2 Tournament Quarter Final 3-Oleg Taktarov def Kazuo Takahashi

Thanks for coming Kazuo! After a minute of back and forth action, A single punch and Kazuo was down! He looked like he was still active enough, So Oleg dropped down and started dropping elbows, before the referee jumped in and stopped the fight! It was all over and the crowd are really coming alive here!


UFC 2 Tournament Quarter Final 4-Patrick Smith def Masakatsu Funaki

The two men warily circle each other and it's Funaki who approaches, trying to get that all important first blow in but it's Smith who takes first blood, with a nice front kick. Funaki didn't expect that and he treats his opponent more carefully from then on. Funaki works on Smith's right arm and eventually gets a takedown and quickly goes for the arm, looking for some kind of submission but Smith rolls out of the way and manages to make it to his feet in time. His right arm is useless and Funaki is smelling blood and closes in but Smith stuns him with a spinning backfist for the knockout! Smith may have won but he is one arm down and the fist on his good hand has to be sore after that knockout blow after 20:10 of some fine mma action!



UFC 2 Tournament Semi Final 1-'Pele' Jose Landi-Jons def Teila Tuli

Tuli again proved to be a one trick pony, as 'Pele' ran rings around him and almost seemed to be toying with him. However when Tuli actually knocked him down, with a stiff shoulder block, 'Pele' realised that enough was enough and dropped the fat man with a spinning heel kick, for the knock out win, in just less than 10 minutes.


UFC 2 Tournament Semi Final 1-Oleg Taktarov def Patrick Smith

Smith was still favouring his arm and it wasn't long before the big Russian knocked him down and went for an armbar, which got him the quick submission victory, after barely more than 2 minutes.



UFC 2 Tournament Final-Oleg Taktarov def 'Pele' Jose Landi-Jons

'Pele' respected the power of the big Russian and kept his distance and basically implemented hit and run tactics, hoping that eventually he would get the knockout blow. 5 minutes from time, the big Russian visibly started to get frustrated and 'Pele' sensed the end was near and closed in and started to hammer away with kicks and Oleg seemed to be absorbing them but suddenly he grabbed an outstreched leg and drew 'Pele' in close and started hammering away with an elbow. It seemed like he may have even broken his nose! 'Pele' is dazed and prey for a front choke and the submission victory........less than 10 seconds before time expired!



John Peretti comes out, shakes Oleg's hand and puts over all the competitors in tonights fights. The UFC matchmaker says that they already have some more promising young fighters lined up for UFC 3 and Ken Shamrock WILL return! Oleg is apparently keen on fighting Ken and proving that he is the one true champion of the octagon!

Sets things up nicely for UFC 3

[Rabbitman]

Changes in the UFC: Hirings/Firings plus other news
30th December 1993



Firings

-Management have reached their tolerance limit with Bill Wallace and he has been given his walking papers.


Hirings

-Jay Glazer is expected to join Jim Brown in the new look UFC commentary team.


4 new fighters have been hired:

-Kevin Rosier:-30 years old, Kevin is a kick boxer from Tampa Bay, Florida.

-Minoki Ichihara:-28 years old. Minoki is a karate expert from Tokyo, Japan.

-Thaddeus Luster:-30 years old. Thaddeus is a freestyler from somewhere over the rainbow.

-Remco Pardoel:-22 years old. Remco is a Jiu Jitusu expert from Oss, Holland.


Other News

-Rickson Gracie was apparently approached by the UFC but negotiations broke down, when Rickson wanted a reported 25 times more than their highest paid fighter. It is believed that the failure to land Rickson is the reason why 'Grizzly' Pardoel was signed.

MMA End Of Year Awards 1993


Fighter of the Year: Oleg Taktarov

Rookie of the Year: 'Pele' Jose Landi-Jons

Show of the Year: UFC 2: No Way Out

Fight of the Year: Oleg Taktarov vs 'Pele' Jose Landi-Jons (UFC 2)

Worst Fight of the Year: Royce Gracie vs Teila Tuli (UFC 1)

Knockout of the Year: Patrick Smith vs Masakatsu Funaki (UFC 2)

Submission of the Year: Ken Shamrock vs Jason Delucia (UFC 1)

Main Event of the Year: Oleg Taktarov vs 'Pele' Jose Landi-Jons (UFC 2)

Upset of the Year: 'Pele' Jose Landi-Jons vs Ron Van Clief (UFC 2)

Well what a night of excellent MMA action we saw at UFC 2! A new champion was crowned and it was the Russian giant Oleg Taktarov!

However that was then and this is now, this is UFC 3: Backlash! Ken Shamrock is back and in the same half of the tournament draw as Oleg, one will NOT make the final!

Also Royce Gracie gets another shot at the tournament proper, as does KOTY winner Patrick Smith and joining them are UFC newcomers Remco 'Grizzly' Pardoel, Kevin Rosier, Minoki Ichihara and Thaddeus Luster!

In the preliminaries, Renzo Gracie and Murilo Bustamante are looking to rebuild their records and send Trent Jenkins and Art Jimmerson to a unenviable record of 0-3. Last second UFC signing Frank Hamaker will look to get off to a good start but Jason Delucia will not lay down for anybody!


UFC 3: Backlash

Remco 'Grizzly' Pardoel (Jiu Jitsu) 0-0 vs Kevin Rosier (Kickboxing) 0-0
Royce Gracie (Gracie Jiu Jitsu) 1-1 vs Minoki Ichihara (Karate) 0-0
Ken Shamrock (Shoot Fighting) 3-0 vs Patrick Smith (Tae Kwon Do) 1-1
Oleg Taktarov (Sambo) 3-0 vs Thaddeus Luster (Freestyle) 0-0


Prelimary Bouts

Renzo Gracie (Gracie Jiu Jitsu) 1-1 vs Trent Jenkins (Freestyle) 0-2
Art Jimmerson(Boxing) 0-2 vs Murilo Bustamante (Jiu Jitsu) 1-1
Frank Hamaker (Freestyle) 0-0 vs Jason Delucia (Karate) 1-2

Shaping up to be a nice card I reckon

[Rabbitman]

UFC 3: Backlash


Date: Saturday 27th February 1994
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentary Team: Jay Glazer & Jim Brown
Attendance: 242 for a gate of $4980
PPV Buys: 728 for a revenue of $5824


Jim Brown welcomes all the viewers to another year and one that is sure to be a boom year for the UFC. Speaking of new things Jay Glazer then introduces himself and does a good job putting over his mma knowledge and enthusiasm for his new position. As for who they think should be considered the favourite, Jay thinks Royce will finally live up to his unlimited potential and take home the trophy and give the UFC his 3rd different winner. Jim thinks differently and that the winner will be one of the previous champions but he can't split Oleg and Ken. They then talked about dark horses and both seemed to agree that if Patrick Smith hadn't gotten such a rotten draw, he may have at least made the final but instead they agree that Grizzly Pardoel is the one now in with a shot of shock a few people here tonight.

UFC 3 Tournament Quarter Final 1-Remco 'Grizzly' Pardoel def Kevin Rosier

Really nothing that flash, at least early on, A lot of stalling(mostly on Rosier's part), with the occasional move and counter move. 'Grizzly' stumbles slightly and it gives Rosier an opening and he comes charging in and starts to tear into his oppoent with kick, after kick. 'Grizzly' is reeling but he gets close enough to lock up with Rosier. 'Grizzly' slips a foot behind one of Rosier's and Rosier stumbles back into the cage. 'Grizzly follows up and starts chopping, punching and kicking pressure points and vulnerable areas, until somehow Rosier reverses and has 'Grizzly' up against the cage but time expires before he can do anyyhing. The first judge scores it for Rosier 29-28 but he is the only one, as the other two believe Remco Pardoel is worthy of going to the semis with scores of 30-27 each!


UFC 2 Tournament Quarter Final 2-Royce Gracie def Minoki Ichihara

Royce and Minoki feel each other out for a a minute and then move in and start exchanging simple lefts and rights, before Minoki suddenly drops to one knee. Royce hits Minoki in the jaw with a knee and locks in a standing guillotine. After just 2:15, Minoki taps and a Gracie has finaly won a quarter final!


UFC 3 Tournament Quarter Final 3-Ken Shamrock def Patrick Smith

Ken was on the offence straight away, Hammering away at Smith, with those dangerous soup bones of his, Smith was in full retreat mode, trying to put some distance between himself and his opponent, but it was all for naught, as Ken knocked him flat on his back with a nice hook and Smith isn't moving, it's all over after only 1:38!


UFC 3 Tournament Quarter Final 4-Oleg Taktarov def Thaddeus Luster

Really ordinary contest, it's hard to apportion blame and is thought that Luster and Oleg either just didn't click, or it just wasn't their night. Uninspired brawling and sloppy wrestling, plus plenty of fat man Tuli's favourite offensive move, shoving the other guy up against the cage and just holding him there for minutes at a time. Near the end of the fight, Oleg had Luster in an armbar and looked likely to get the submission but sadly time expired first. Oleg to face Ken Shamrock by way of a unanimous decision!




UFC 3 Tournament Semi Final 1-Remco 'Grizzly' Pardoel def Royce Gracie

These two men fought like they knew each other. Remco and Royce had a counter for everything the other threw at them. Remco had Royce in a headlock, only for Royce to counter with a hip toss into an armbar! Remco was in trouble but he managed to counter the counter by grabbing a foot of Royce's and upending him and the unprepared Royce lost his grip as he fell. With time almost expired Remco had Royce in a guillotine choke but Royce manages to gut it out for the final few seconds and this bout goes to the judges. The winner by a split decision(all scores being 29-28) and UFC 3 tournament finalist is Remco 'Grizzly' Pardoel!


UFC 3 Tournament Semi Final 1-Ken Shamrock def Oleg Taktarov

The crowd was hot for this one! UFC 1 Champ vs UFC 2 Champ, one goes to the finals and a chance at defending their trophy and the other loses their undefeated record, Slugging it out at first, Oleg knows he has to step it up after his last fight and has Ken rockin' and reelin' with some well placed hard shots to the upper body and face. Ken backs off for a while and dodges Oleg, playing it smart and waiting for the right moment. Shamrock turns the tide with a right to the temple that looks like it knocked Oleg out! However UFC rules give Oleg a 10 count to get up and he somehow does just that at 9! Shamrock is on Oleg and not letting up, hammering him with everything he's got! Ken charges forward with a raised knee but Oleg drops to the ground, Ken trips and stumbles forward into the cage. Oleg is up and behind and and assaulting Ken's unprotected back. The referee was threating to stop it but Ken managed to headbutt Oleg to give himself a chance to recover. Both men are looking battered and bruised and meet back in the center of the octagon and trade punches til time expires a short time later. One judge gives it to Ken Shamrock 30-27, another to Oleg Taktarove 29-28 but the final judge sees it as 29-28 to the UFC 1 Champion Ken Shamrock! The UFC 1 Champion has a shot at the UFC 3 title!



UFC 3 Tournament Final-Ken Shamrock def Remco 'Grizzly' Pardoel

Remco thinks he has a good chance here and taunts Ken Shamrock in the begining but quickly regrets it and Ken drops him with a knee and locks in an armbar for the submission and the UFC 3 Championship Trophy at a mere 1:01!



John Peretti comes out, congratulats Ken Shamrock for winning his second UFC title and proving he is the standard bearer in Mixed Martial Arts. However that is not all that UFC's matchmaker has to say, as he drops a bombshell that the UFC has signed a short term deal with a local tv sports network to bring you UFC: In Your House! The first show will be in a months time and will feature a 4 man tournament to crown a UFC television champion! As well as some one on one bouts with some great new fighters and some old UFC favourites! Handing the focus back to Ken Shamrock, Shamrock says that he says he is proud to be the focal point for a company that is truly going places and promises that he will be back at UFC 4 to defend his trophy and challenges anybody to stop him if they dare step into the octagon with "The World's Most Dangerous Man!"

Ken is still undefeated!

[Rabbitman]

Changes in the UFC: Hirings/Firings plus other news
4th March 1994


Firings

-None to report. Trent Jenkins has a fan following for some reason and Art Jimmerson has a cool name. Both stay for now.


Hirings

-4 new fighters have been hired

Sean Daugherty:-18 years old, Sean is a karate practioner from Akaron, Ohio.

-David Levicki:-34 years old. David is a karate expert from somewhere over the rainbow.

-Orlando Weit:-26 years old. Orlando is a kick boxer from Paris, France.

-Fred Ettish:-27 years old. Fred is a karate expert from Bemiji, Minnesota.


Other News

-Rickson Gracie was apparently approached by the UFC again for the tv special but still wanted too much money.

Ken Shamrock is still the man in the UFC!

However while some things don't change, others do. The UFC is coming to your local sports network with 2 hours of in your face action with UFC: In Your House!

As a special treat for our television viewers, a title belt will be on the line on every television show that the UFC brings to the airwaves! That title will be called the UFC Television Title!

Competing for this brand new shiny belt, will be four of the UFC's finest competitiors in a special 4 man tournament. Patrick Smith looks to redeem himself against UFC 2 tournament finalist 'Pele' Jose Landi-Jons. The other bout will give the Gracie clan another shot at redemption when Teila Tuli takes on Renzo Gracie! Both matches are sure to be very competitive and whoever wins the Television Title will be a most deserving Champion!

Also on the card will be two UFC newcomers facing each other, when young Sean Daugherty takes on fellow karate expert David Levicki. Sean already has a win outside of the UFC and the youngster will be looking to continue that form in the octagon.

Another bout on the undercard will see another 1-0 karate star in action, Fred Ettish. Fred will be taking on highly rated kick boxer Orlando 'The Gladiator' Weit. Can Fred go to 2-0 or will Orlando also start his MMA career off with a win?

The final fight will be between two returning UFC stars Kazuo Takahashi and 'Nasty' Zane Frasier. Zane is coming off a win but you have to think Kazuo will be mustard keen to make up for his "blink and you'll miss it" debut showing.



UFC: In Your House
Renzo Gracie (Gracie Jiu Jitsu) 2-1 vs Teila Tuli (Sumo) 2-2
'Pele' Jose Landi-Jons (Muay Tai) 2-1 vs Patrick Smith (Tae Kwon Do) 1-2


Non-Tournament Bouts
Kazuo Takahashi (Pancraseism) 0-1 vs 'Nasty' Zane Frasier (Karate) 1-1
Fred Ettish (Karate) 1-0 vs Orlando 'The Gladiator' Weit (Kick Boxing) 0-0
Sean Daugherty (Karate) 1-0 vs David Levicki (Karate) 0-0

Been a while

[Rabbitman]

UFC: In Your House

Date: Saturday 27th March 1994
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentary Team: Jay Glazer & Jim Brown
Attendance: 242 for a gate of $4980
TV Ratings: 97 014 viewers

UFC Television Title Tournament Semi Final 1-Renzo Gracie vs Teila Tuli

This is becoming a nightmare for the Gracie family. Nearly the same as every other fight fattie has had with a Gracie, it consisted of Tuli pushing Renzo up against the cage and using his bulk to hold him there. One bright spot was when Renzo knocked him down and tried to go for the submission but Tuli backed away and for reasons unknown, Renzo allowed him to get to his feet. However when Renzo moves in close, Tuli stiffs him and picks him up and slams him, which actually got the fatman his only ever cheer. However other than that, it was stock standard from the sumo and yet again, he got the unanimous decision victory and moves on to the final.


UFC Television Title Tournament Semi Final 1-Patrick Smith vs 'Pele' Jose Landi-Jons

Both men traded various punches to start with, 'Pele' getting the better of the exchange. Then they started to trade kicks but that doesn't last for long, when Smith knocks him down with a roundhouse kick. Smith starts peppering 'Pele' with various kicks as he tries to get to his feet. 'Pele' ends the pain by grabbing an outstreched leg and upending him. 'Pele' refuses to let go of the leg but can't apply a submission in the time it took Smith to work his leg free. Both men end up back on their feet in a clinch and nothing seems to be happening, until 'Pele' connects with a kao kong to Smith's rib cage. A few more knees and Smith looks to be almost gone. A desperation hammer fist, which probably has broken 'Pele's' nose gives Smith his much needed breathing room. Both men are barely moving and the time expires before anything else can happen. The judges scores are in and the first gives it to Smith 30-27, another to 'Pele' 29-28 and the final judge gives his score to the winner and finalist Patrick Smith 29-28!




UFC Television Title Tournament Grand Final-Patrick Smith vs Teila Tuli

Patrick Smith looked like walking dead and there appeared to be blood coming out of the corner of his mouth. Tuli moves in and starts to work on the injured ribs of Smith. However this newfound aggresiveness only lasts long enough for Smith to get in a palm heel, which knocks the fat man clean out! Patrick Smith has won the UFC Television Title by knockout after only 1:28!


John Peretti comes out, congratulates Patrick Smith and starts to shill UFC 4, which will suprisingly feature none other than the notoriously overpriced RICKSON GRACIE! He then gives the mic to Patrick Smith, on whom the referee has just finished strapping the UFC Television title belt onto. Smith says he's overjoyed to be the champ and this proves that he has finally arrived in mma! He always knew that he was the man and now the world knows it to! Smith closes off by saying that he will be back in the octagon for UFC 5 and he doesn't care if it's Oleg Taktarov, Rickson Gracie, or even the so-called 'World's Most Dangerous Man' Ken Shamrock that he has to face in the final, he says he will win and prove that there's no steppin' up to an athlete of his calibre!

I like that Patrick Smith won this.

[Rabbitman]

What a big time television debut for the UFC at In Your House!

We saw Patrick Smith crowned the first ever UFC Television champion and the Gracie family fail yet again to knock off the sumo Teila Tuli.

However that is then and this is UFC 4: Do or Die!

We have the most competitive tournament so far, with former winners Ken Shamrock and Oleg Taktarov once again in the Octagon. Also we will see the return of Murilo Bustamante to the main tournament as well as several fighters making their UFC debuts! That includes none other than the one and only RICKSON GRACIE!

The preliminaries will see the debuts of Gerard Gordeau, Ray Wizard and Marcus Bossett. Others featured will be Frank Hamaker(looking to go to 2-0 in the UFC), the returning Masakatsu Funaki and Art Jimmerson will also be involved and desperate for a win,


UFC 4: Do or Die

Murilo Bustamante (Jiu-Jitsu) 2-1 vs Christopher Leninger (Judo) 0-0
Ken Shamrock (Shoot Fighting) 6-0 vs Robert Lucarelli (Brawling) 0-0
Oleg Taktarov (Sambo) 4-1 vs Scott Morris (Ninjitsu) 1-0
Rickson Gracie (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) 2-0 vs Akihiro Gono (Judo) 0-0


Preliminary Bouts

Gerard Gordeau (Karate) 0-0 vs Art Jimmerson (Boxing) 0-3
Ray Wizard (Karate) 0-0 vs Masakatsu Funaki (Catch Wrestling) 0-1
Marcus Bossett (Freestyle) 0-0 vs Frank Hamaker (Sambo) 1-0

GO ART!