UFC 5: Dan Severn Carries the Wrestling Banner

 UFC 5 was a big night for Dan Severn.

(Photo: caulifloweralleyclub.org)

UFC 5: Return of the Beast – Charlotte, N.C. – Independence Arena – April 7, 1995

UFC’s evolution continues here, as a “superfight” between Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock is added to the usual eight-man tournament.

Bruce Beck welcomes us and introduces us to the only announcer to call the first five UFC shows, Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown.

Also, we have Jeff Blatnick on color commentary as well. We’ll see if the 1984 Greco-Roman gold medalist gets into another scrape with Brown over the merits of wrestling as the “best fighting style.”

Time limits also make their debut here at UFC 5, with a 20-minute time limit for the opening rounds, and a 30-minute limit for the tournament final.

Before we get started, Beck talks about the alternate fights, in which Dave Beneteau crushed Asbel Cancio in 21 seconds, and Guy Mezger knocked off John Dowdy.

Now wait a minute! Didn’t Mezger win a fight at UFC 4 to earn a spot in tonight’s tournament? So now he wins AGAIN and he still has to wait for someone to get hurt to enter the tournament? I would get my lawyer on the phone if I were him.

UFC 4: Can Royce Gracie Win His Third Tournament?

Royce Gracie and Dan Severn
(Photo: Yahoo.com)

UFC 4:  Revenge of the Warriors – Tulsa, Okla. – Dec. 16, 1994

Royce Grace’s quest to reclaim the undisputed top spot in mixed martial arts was the theme of UFC’s fourth show.

After winning the first two tournaments, Gracie suffered an injury in his first-round win over Kimo at UFC 3. This allowed alternate Steve Jennum to surprise everyone and win the tournament.

Bruce Beck and Jim Brown return on commentary, joined by Jeff Blatnick, who won a gold medal for the U.S. in Greco-Roman wrestling in 1984.

The announcers helpfully explain that the UFC has solved the problem from the last show by having alternates win a prelim fight so they won’t be totally fresh like Jennum if they are pressed into service.

UFC 3: Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock and Alternate Reality

 

Kimo's memorable entrance 

UFC 3: The American Dream – Grady Cole Center – Charlotte, NC – Sept. 9, 1994

Royce Gracie entered UFC 3 with the chance to continue his legacy as the Michael Jordan of the fledgling sport of mixed martial arts.

While the eight-man tournament was set up like the first two UFC events, as a battle to see which style of martial arts was superior, everyone knew that one athlete – Royce Gracie – had to be knocked off to keep everyone else from being irrelevant.

Big John McCarthy was the referee for all of the fights, and for the first time, he had the discretion to stop the fight, rather than waiting for the cornerman to throw in the towel.

Bryan Kilmeade, Jim Brown and Ben Perry returned as the announce crew, and they worked together very smoothly. Rich “G-Man” Goins continued his streak as ring announcer for all three UFC shows.

UFC 3: an eight-man tournament for $60,000. Let’s fight!

1. Emanuel Yarborough (Sumo) vs. Keith Hackney (kempo karate)

Hackney was facing a man more than three times his weight (200 pounds to 616). There’s something you don’t see these days.

UFC 2: Solving the Royce Gracie Riddle

UFC 2 – Mammoth Event Center - Denver – March 11, 1994

We return to the Mile High City four months after the first UFC, as the one-night tournament has expanded to 16 fighters. Somebody will have to win four fights in one night.

The live crowd has already watched seven of the eight first-round bouts. Now we check in for the last one, featuring the winner of UFC 1, Royce Gracie.

1. Royce Gracie (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) vs. Minoki Ichihara (karate)

Ichihara was supposed to be one of the favorites, and he looks bummed that he drew Gracie in the first round. Still, in his pre-match interview, he resolutely states, “I would like to fight this dangerous man.”

His wish is granted as Gracie smothers him and starts nailing him with punches to the ribs and palm strikes to the face. The announcers talk about how Gracie wants to win via rear naked choke, but it’s not happening. Realizing that he has to fight three more times, Gracie switches to a lapel choke and gets the tap out.

UFC 1: The Birth of Modern Mixed Martial Arts

Royce Gracie (Photo: Bleacher Report)

UFC 1: The Beginning – McNichols Arena – Denver, CO – Nov. 12, 1993

UFC 1 is still an entertaining show to watch nearly two decades after the mixed martial arts competition debuted on pay-per-view.

Instead of focusing on who was the best fighter, UFC 1 was about determining which style of fighting was the greatest.

None of the fights made it past the five-minute mark, and that’s a good thing, since the finalists would endure three fights in one night. That's a full year’s schedule for some of today’s fighters.

In an alternate bout that didn't air, Jason Delucia beat Trent Jenkins with a rear naked choke.

1. Gerard Gordeau (savate) destroyed Telia Tuli (sumo).

Like a good sumo, Tuli rushed at Gordeau and pushed him to the outside of the Octagon. However, Gordeau pushed him back. Tuli landed in a seated position, and Gordeau blasted him with a kick to the face.

Give credit to Tuli; once the cobwebs cleared, he wanted to keep fighting. After a period of confusion that lasted longer than the fight itself, the ref ruled that Gordeau had won by knockout.

2. Kevin Rosier (kickboxing) beat Zane Frazier (karate) by TKO.

These two weren’t even thinking about grappling. They were just blasting each other with bare-knuckle shots.

Late in the first round, both men ran out of gas, but Rosier gathered himself for a flurry of punches and stomps, and Frazier’s cornerman threw in the towel.

3. Royce Gracie (Brazilian jiu jitsu) beat Art Jimmerson (boxing) by submission.