UFC 1

UFC 1: The Beginning

November 12th 1993

McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado, USA

Prior Event: N/A

Following Event: UFC 2: No Way Out

 

 

 

Results

Royce Gracie def. Gerard Gordeau via Submission (rear-naked choke) 1.44 Tournament Final
Gerard Gordeau def. Kevin Roiser via TKO (corner stoppage) 0.59 Tournament Semi Final
Royce Gracie def. Ken Shamrock via Submission (rear-naked choke) 0.57 Tournament Semi Final
Gerard Gordeau def. Telia Tuli via TKO (head kick) 0.26 Tournament Quarter Final
Royce Gracie def. Zane Frazier via TKO (punches) 4.20 Tournament Quarter Final
Kevin Roiser def. Art Jimmerson via Submission (position) 2.18 Tournament Quarter Final
Ken Shamrock def. Patrick Smith via Submission (heel hook) 1.49 Tournament Quarter Final
Jason DeLucia def. Trent Jenkins via Submission (rear-naked choke) 0.52

 

Event Information

UFC 1 used an eight-man tournament format, with the winner receiving $50,000.

The tournament had no weight classes and consisted of single-round fight to the finish. The match only ended by submission, knockout, throwing in the towel, or referee stoppage due to a severe cut or injury.

Despite being billed as having “no rules” there were limitations on what the fighters could do, including no biting and no eye gouging.

The referees UFC 1 were João Alberto Barreto and Hélio Vigio, two veteran vale tudo referees from Brazil.

The commentary team for the pay-per-view was Bill Wallace, Jim Brown and Kathy Long, 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.

Under the current five-minute round rules, every fight on this card would have ended within the first round.