Search - Ultimate Fighting Championship Classics, Vol. 1 on DVD

This is what ufc fans have been waiting for

Mark Gilbert | South Padre Island | 02/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, don't let the CLASSICS part of the title fool you. This is not just another "Greatest Hits" DVD (of which there are already way too many). This is the entire first Ultimate Fighting Championship - UFC 1. It features such stars as Royce Gracie (currently making his comeback) and Ken Shamrock. Both men are legends in MMC. The quality is great. Like many other people I have been buying the old videos and burning my own DVDs. I'd much rather have the old UFCs in factory DVD. I can't imagine why they are not listing this in the UFC store online. When everyone catches on, this is going to sell like hotcakes. So far only UFC 1 and UFC 2 have been released, but surely they will go on to 3 and 4 all the way up to 38 when they see how well this sells. (39 and up are already available on DVD). Do not panic when your screen seems to jump all around during the introductions. It is just a special effect they tried. It stops when the fights begin. The announcers are the legendary football great Jim Brown and one of the greatest fighters of all time Mr. Superfoot Wallace who has done everything from PKA Karate to bodygaurding (and training) John Belushi."

In The Beginning

D. Velez | Washington, DC | 01/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 1994 very few outside of Brazil had heard of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. There were no well known national or inter-national MMA events. There was no Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Quinton Jackson, Sakuraba, or Matt Hughes. Bas Ruten may as well have been a fish delicacy from Denmark.

I had studied TKD and Karate and still enjoyed the naivette that I could defend myself, maybe, against a bigger stronger opponent. The question that had always bothered a lot of martial artists was whether there was a 'Best' fighting art? Was there a style or training method that worked consistently? Most instructors never even attempted to answer the question. You studied the way that you did because that's what you were told to do.

Enter 'The Ultimate Fighting Championship', a tournament pitting some of the best martial artists, from a variety of fighting styles, against each other in a no-holds-barred competition with no time limit. It was sold as the ultimate bar brawl. It caught the attention of politicians, decrying it as a disgusting display of human barbarism, a throwback to Caligula and the Roman Coliseum. The outcry only made it more appealing to any kid who loved Kung Fu movies.

I remember watching this event, excited, like I was breaking a taboo that I was not aware existed. This wasn't going to be like boxing, which had lost all excitement and appeal for my generation for various reasons. I thought I was knowledgeable about fighting. I was wrong. It was clumsy, ungraceful, every style devolved once the fighters were let go. The reality of fighting washed away the artifice of my instructors and the illusions created in movies. This was real fighting, and it was mostly ugly.

Royce Gracie, the 'R' pronounced like an 'H', a man who had come to prove that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was the greatest martial art of all time. He was small, seemed humble, walking in with his family in a train. He got no respect from me or the audience. I thought he'd be out pretty quickly.

I can't remember the details very well because I had no idea what I was watching. I'd never heard of an armbar, rear-naked choke, or triangle. I watched him hanging upside down while holding on to a guys arm in what appeared to be the most unnatural position. I misread the game completely, thinking that he was about to lose. But he never did. All the other fighters tapped.

Today, BJJ is standard issue in MMA. It's combined with punching and kicking to make a complete modern fighter. But in 1994 it was something unique, scary even. Royce is a legend. For anyone who grew up watching MMA events like Pride and the UFC, if you haven't seen this one, you don't know how much has changed, how far we have come. Today there are rules, rounds, and time limits. All wonderful things that help ensure that fighters can come back to fight another day. But back then it was uncharted territory for the brave, if not downright crazy, men who jumped in that octagon. They winner would have to survive multiple fights, for very little money. It was amazing."

A Blast from the Past - UFC Numero Uno

greverio | Centreville, Virginia United States | 09/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"They don't make them like they use to and this cannot be stressed more than in the short life of Mixed Martial Arts. In the days before it even had a name (prior to NHB), MMA in United States was only legal in one state and advertised as a "no rules" event. The first installment of this groundbreaking event took place in Denver 's McNichols Arena on November 12, 1993 and formatted in a 8-Man tournament scheme. With Rorion Gracie, Art Davies, and Robert Meyrowitz at the helm the UFC was born and competitive fighting would never be the same.

From the Gracie family's point-of-view a tournament like the UFC would be the ideal platform to show the world their family martial arts system that had dominated Brazil for the better of 60 years. While many consider Grandmaster Helio Gracie as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu's (or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) leader, it was his eldest son Rorion who had the vision to expand Gracie Jiu-Jitsu beyond Brazil to the United States . After setting up shop, the next question would be who from the impressive (and accomplished) stable of Gracies would represent the family in the tournament. Rickson Gracie was the family champion and most respected out of the clan, but his more aggressive style was thought of as not suitable to fully exhibit the subtleness and style Rorion wanted to portray. Young Royce was the choice and immediately many questioned if he would even last one fight. Royce was a tall and slender 176 pound young man that at first glance would not be considered to be dangerous. He was though the perfect subject for Rorion to show the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

Other notable fighters in the tournament included:

Savate champion Gerard Gordeau who was known in the kickboxing world as a lethal striker.

Shootfighter Ken Shamrock who was experienced in the Pancrase organization in Japan that was similar to the UFC.

Kickboxer Pat Smith had established himself as a strong full-contact karate and kickboxer.

The first fight really set the tone for the tournament as it shocked fans, commentators, and the fighters as well. Fans were puzzled and astonished, commentators were left stunned not really knowing what to say, and the fighters expecting a "tough man" type of fight were scared straight.
A fight with limited rules and no time limit really threw off fighters use to the confinements of their respected arts/competition, but what many fighters clearly did not process was any skill on the ground. Aside from Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie no other fighter really knew what to do on the ground and this would be their downfall.

After the night was over, an elated winner was asked what he would do with his winnings; he responded "...going to Disneyland ", a fitting statement considering the importance of this event."

The birth of a new sport

death | USA | 02/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I would have given this (along with UFC 2) a five star rating if the production value and special features would have been a little bit more polished. It seems like a rather half assed job on both as far as I am concerned. With the magnitude of what these early events stand for, I had really hoped that they would have gone all-out on the special features... considering what these events have lead to. Let's face it folks, this DVD is literally the birth of a new sport. Not just ANY sport mind you, but the ABSOLUTE ruler of all sports. MMA was born on the day of this event, and for that reason alone you should buy this DVD... you are actually buying a little slice of history.

One word of caution for those of you who are relatively new to this sport... this is not the same UFC that you are seeing on pay per view and spike TV. This is raw. This is brutal. Everything from the terrible referees, to the terrible commentating speaks volumes about how far this sport has come. If you do not know what Royce Gracie and his family have done for the world of Martial Arts, and the sport of MMA, this is the place to start learning. Before the Gracies, cross training was virtually non-existant. Wrestlers were wrestlers. Karate was Karate. Kick boxing was Kick boxing etc. After Royce, EVERYONE learned BJJ.

Buy this... it is part of history!"