Though it wasn’t the birth of mixed martial arts, UFC
1 was the event that really kick started the popularization of the sport to the masses in the West.
Taking place in Denver, Colorado on November 12, 1993, the event invited fighters of all styles to put themselves to the test for a $50,000 prize.
Royce Gracie famously won the eight-man bracket by tapping out three opponents in one night, proving the efficacy of ground-fighting that was vastly overlooked at that time. However, there were many more styles on offer.
Here’s a look at what each competitor brought to the Octagon and whether their style had a lasting impact on the sport moving forward.
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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Grappling-Based Art Honed In South America
- Royce represented the famous fighting family
- The Gracies were famous for revolutionizing jiu-jitsu
- Showcased the importance of technique over size
Royce Gracie’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu stylings were the biggest revelation at UFC 1 and brought the grappling style to prominence on the international stage.
After tapping out bigger opponents with relative ease, the Gracie family’s martial art exploded in popularity and it’s now synonymous with modern-day combat.
While BJJ alone isn’t enough to dominate at the top level, all competitors need to have knowledge of it – and most will actively practice it.
Current UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja might be the only one who could be deemed a “BJJ stylist” but other champions such as Tom Aspinall, Alex Pereira, and Ilia Topuria also hold black belts in the art.
9
Savate
French Kickboxing Style
- Savate is a full-contact form of kickboxing
- Name derives from the footwear, meaning ‘old boot’
- Very popular in its native France
Gerald Gordeau was billed as a representative of the French striking style of savate.
A European and World Champion in the art, Gordeau had his start in karate before turning to savate competition.
Many French fighters have some background in the slick stand-up sport and have used it to great effect, including the likes of Cheick Kongo and Christian M’Pumbu.
While it wouldn’t be considered a staple, a full-contact savate background can be helpful for MMA.
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8
Sumo
Giant Men Wrestling Giant Men
- Sumo is the famous Japanese martial art
- It involves throwing and shoving an opponent
- Competitors are renowned for their size
Despite not getting much of a chance to showcase it, the late Teila Tuli represented sumo wrestling at UFC 1. Weighing over 400 pounds, the Hawaiian was quickly felled and finished by Gordeau.
Sumo has never had a major impact on the sport of MMA since then, although former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida was a national champion in the sport alongside his karate success.
7
Kickboxing
Dominant Stand-Up Striking Style
- Kickboxing featured heavily in UFC 1
- Primarily involves punching and kicking an opponent
- Stand-up based with no grappling
Kevin Rosier had an extensive kickboxing background prior to entering UFC 1, winning various titles with a multitude of different bodies.
It set him in good stead to defeat Zane Frazier after a back-and-forth battle before a loss to Gordeau in the semis.
Kickboxing remains a prominent part of MMA, although there are many different styles within the sport itself.
Reigning UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira was an elite-level kickboxer in Glory, as was his old foe Israel Adesanya.
6
Karate
Effective Traditional Martial Art From Japan
- Influenced by Chinese martial artists in 1300s
- Modern practitioners are almost solely stand-up based
- Extremely popular across the globe
Zane Frazier was brought into UFC 1 as an established black belt in Kenpo karate, though he was also a kickboxing champion.
The line between full-contact karate and kickboxing was blurred back in the eighties and nineties America, so this wasn’t uncommon. Alternate Trent Jenkins also had a similar path.
From a karate angle, there have been many successful fighters who came from karate backgrounds and had success at MMA’s top level, albeit often with extensive cross-training in other striking styles.
UFC welterweight legend Georges St-Pierre was a karateka, though in terms of performances inside the Octagon, Lyoto Machida and Stephen Thompson are fighters who exemplified the martial art more overtly.
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5
Boxing
Popular Western Boxing With Centuries-Old History
- One representative from the world’s biggest combat sport
- Uses only punches to attack an opponent
- Limited capacity meant limited success
Although Art Jimmerson will always be more remembered for his lone glove than his performance, the American was the first to officially bring boxing into the UFC’s Octagon.
The late Jimmerson was a well-versed pugilist who continued his career until 2002.
The fundamentals of “the sweet science” are key to modern MMA success and form a bedrock of striking for many athletes.
Former UFC champion Holly Holm was a professional boxing world champion, and a list of fighters who have trained in the sport wouldn’t leave out many.
4
Shootfighting
A Pioneering Blend Of Styles Pre-MMA
- An early blend of striking, wrestling, and submissions
- Very popular in Japan
- Crossover with professional wrestling
Ken Shamrock was ahead of his time in terms of cross-training, bringing shoot fighting to UFC 1.
After some background in wrestling at home in the USA, Shamrock went to Japan where pro wrestling was inspired by catch wrestling, and hybrid fighting styles were already in play.
Shootfighting was an early blend of striking, wrestling, and submissions, so it could be seen as a precursor to the modern sport of MMA, with Shamrock as a pioneer.
3
Tae Kwon Do
Stand-Up Style Known For Impressive Kicks
© Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
- Kick-heavy striking martial art
- Formed in Korea
- Some roots in karate
Patrick Smith had a mixed striking background, though he was cited as a tae kwon do specialist.
Like karate, a lot of modern fighters started their journeys in the traditional martial art and bring elements of it to the cage, although it is usually trained alongside other styles.
Anthony Pettis was one fighter who wore his TKD stripes on his sleeve, and current UFC favorite Yair Rodriguez also spent years in the stand-up art.
2
Kung Fu
Broad Term For Martial Arts From China
- Martial arts that exploded in popularity through movies
- Wide range of styles with varied practitioners
- Forms vary from non-contact to full-contact
Alternate Jason Delucia represented Kung Fu, though he was another martial artist who had worked across styles.
There is no one established kung fu style, with the name itself meaning ‘work that takes time,’ so its proponents can vary massively.
UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang started with Shaolin Kung Fu, and because of its broad base, could be said to bring elements of that background to her current repertoire, in particular sanda.
1
What Has Stood The Test Of Time?
What UFC 1 Told Us About Combat
- Some styles remain relevant while others have faded
- Grappling was the real winner
- Had massive impact on martial arts globally
If there was one takeaway from UFC 1, it was that the vision of striking arts being the most dominant in ‘no holds barred’ combat was, at best, unjustified.
Royce Gracie’s incredible use of skill to overcome bigger men and force them to submit changed the martial arts landscape forever.
And, while any martial arts can bring some merit to MMA, the ones that have remained dominant forces are the ones where live resistance plays a pivotal role.
Most crucially, though, is that no one style on its own is enough. The modern athlete has to be adaptable and draw from a range of martial arts to succeed.
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