Hello readers!
On March 11, 1994, I invited some friends over for an evening of Pay Per View action. It was the Ultimate Fighting Championship's second tournament, and those of us who watched in my home in Buffalo will never forget the awesome (and gruesome) spectacle we witnessed.
We saw Patrick Smith destroy Scott Morris. We saw Remco Pardoel crush Orlando Wiet. We also saw a thin Brazilian in a Gi dominate everyone he stepped into the Octagon with, no matter how fast, strong or big they were. He won the whole tourney by choking out 2 opponents, one arm-bar (from his back) and a submission due to strikes in the finals against kick-boxer Patrick Smith.Some of the people I was watching with were not impressed, along with some of the crowd at Mammoth Gardens that night, but I saw something big happen.
At the time I was (and still am) a fledgling martial artist. I had studied under a few different teachers, and a few different styles. I saw Royce Gracie use what Bruce Lee talked about time and time again; tossing out what didn't work, and keeping only what did. The beginning of MMA had been seeded, and over the years not only would the style of fighting evolve, but the company would as well.
Much like the thin Brazilian, not many people thought this upstart company would survive for very long. It was a flash in the pan, a new fad that would die out. But no matter how big and bad the opposition was, this little company, dedicated to bringing the greatest fighters in the world together, managed to hold on, adapt, and flourish. Senators tried to kill it, cable companies refused to show it, states banned it, but still, it held fast, and against all odds, landed on cable TV.
Now we are on the eve of the Ultimate Finale for season 8, and MMA has come a long way. Its still not the equal of hockey or football, but most people out there have at least a slight inkling of the sport. I look forward to what the next fifteen years bring, and I hope you all do to.
Thanks for reading!
