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UFC Japan
''UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan '' (also known as ''UFC Ultimate Japan'' or ''UFC 15.5'') was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 21, 1997, in Yokohama, Japan. The event was seen on pay per view in the United States, on cable TV in Japan, and was later released on home video. History The event featured a four-man heavyweight tournament, the first ever UFC Middleweight Championship bout, a Heavyweight Championship bout, a Superfight and an alternate bout. Ultimate Japan 1 featured the first UFC appearance of MMA legends Kazushi Sakuraba and Frank Shamrock. The event was the first appearance of longtime UFC announcer Mike Goldberg, who replaced Bruce Beck as the play by play announcer. Another notable first was the use of unique entry music for each fighter, though this was not repeated in UFC 16. Also, this UFC event was the first to be located in a country other than the United States or its territories. Sakuraba's Tale In an attempt to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor (company), Endeavor Group Holdings. The largest MMA promotion in the world, the UFC has over List of current UFC fighters, 578 fighters contracted that fight across 11 Weight class, weight divisions (eight men's and three women's). The organization produces events worldwide and abides by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. , it had held List of UFC events, over 700 events. Dana White has been its president since 2001 and CEO since 2023. Under White's stewardship, it has grown into a global multi-billion-dollar enterprise. The UFC was founded by businessman Art Davie and Brazilian martial artist Rorion Gracie, and the UFC 1, first event was held in 1993 at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado. The purpose of the UFC's early compet ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yoji Anjo
(born March 28, 1967) is a retired Japanese professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and kickboxer. Anjo is considered to be one of the pioneers of the shoot style movement during the 1980s and early 90s. Professional wrestling career Universal Wrestling Federation and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1985–1988) A former practitioner of judo, sumo and muay thai, Anjo tried professional wrestling after meeting Nobuhiko Takada. He passed the original Universal Wrestling Federation's entrance tests and had his debut on July 6, 1985, against Osamu Hoshina. He only wrestled a handful of matches for the company, as it collapsed later in the year and its roster moved back to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where Anjo debuted as a low-ranking member of the UWF "invading" army. Often teaming with fellow shooter Tatsuo Nakano, he feuded with names like Akira Nogami, Osamu Matsuda and Masakatsu Funaki as part of the NJPW junior heavyweight division. He eventually left the company in 1988 follow ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
List Of UFC Encyclopedia Award Recipients
The UFC Encyclopedia Awards are four separate unofficial award categories based on selections from UFC/Zuffa LLC editorial director and senior editor of UFC.com Thomas Gerbasi, who also compiles the UFC.com Half-Year and Year-End Awards. The hand-picked "unofficial" performance awards, published in Gerbasi's 400-page official UFC book entitled ''"UFC Encyclopedia - The Definitive Guide to the Ultimate Fighting Championship"'' in October 2011, were for events prior to the introduction of the UFC Bonus Awards in January 2006. The first documented UFC Bonus Awards event, where fighters received official cash bonuses, was on January 16, 2006 at Ultimate Fight Night 3. Gerbasi's book reviewed 63 events prior to that date as well as subsequent events that did not have bonuses, and noted the "unofficial" awards including the official UFC Bonus Awards. The following categories were documented: * Fight of the Night: Awarded to the two fighters who delivered the most impressive fight ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Brad Kohler
Bradley Kohler (born May 26, 1964) is an American retired professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division. A professional from 1997 until 2012, Kohler competed for the UFC, RINGS and DEEP. Career Kohler made his professional debut in July 1997 at the HOOKnSHOOT: Absolute Fighting Championship 2 Heavyweight Tournament, winning a grueling quarterfinal fight against then 8–4 Travis Fulton via TKO at 52:24. In the semifinal he won via TKO due to a hand injury, and in the final faced Caz Daniels. He won after Daniels submitted from strikes at 17:35. After amassing a professional record of 7–0, he made his UFC debut against Tra Telligman at UFC Japan. Kohler was handed his first professional loss via armbar at 10:05. Kohler's most notable fight occurred at UFC 22 against Steve Judson. Thirty seconds into the first round, Kohler feigned a takedown attempt, only to land a right cross. Judson was knocked out instantly, and suffered a deep gash to h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tra Telligman
Tracy Telligman (most often billed as "Tra" Telligman ; born February 7, 1965) is a retired American mixed martial artist and boxer who has fought in the UFC, PRIDE, and Pancrase. He is also known for fighting despite having only one pectoralis major muscle. Background Telligman was born in Dallas, Texas. He was in a car accident when he was only one and a half years old, and as a result, he is missing his right pectoral and also his right lung, leaving a deep recess in his chest. The accident also crushed his ribs and he has lived with the deformity ever since. Telligman began training in Karate when he was 8 years old, continuing until he was 13 years old, and then began Boxing until he was 15. He then began training in Jujutsu and participated in a full-contact Karate contest when he was in high school. Telligman also trained in Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Judo, and Wrestling. Mixed martial arts career Early career Telligman began training with the famed Lion's Den gym after meeting ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kevin Jackson
Kevin Andre Jackson (born November 25, 1964) is an American retired freestyle and folkstyle wrestler, and mixed martial artist. Following his competitive career, Jackson would become a wrestling coach. During his international career, Jackson became an Olympic Gold medalist in 1992, a two-time World Champion (1991 and 1995), a three-time World Cup Gold medalist (1993, 1995 and 1997, bronze in 1994) a two-time Pan American Games Gold medalist (1991 and 1995) and a two-time Pan American Champion (1990 and 1991). In folkstyle, Jackson was a four-time NCAA Division I All-American, thrice for the LSU Tigers and once for the Iowa State Cyclones, after Louisiana State University dropped its wrestling program. He also stepped into the UFC Octagon in four occasions, winning his first two bouts and losing the next two, all finishing via submission. After spending the last four years as USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Developmental Coach, Jackson made the move to Ann Arbor, MI t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships. Historical notes At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight classes. Instead of the traditional championship model, the UFC held tournaments with the winner receiving a permanent appellation. In response to criticism from Senator John McCain that saw the loss of its television deal and the banning of the sport in thirty-six states, the UFC increased its cooperation with state athletic commissions and introduced weight classes in 1997, starting with UFC 12, and began introducing weight-specific titles. The original codification for weight classes introduced only two divisions: heavyweight, which grouped together all competitors above , and lightweight, which encompassed all competitors 199 pounds (90 kg) and under. At UFC 14 the lightweight division would be renamed to middleweight, though it w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joe Charles
Joe Charles (born July 18, 1958) is an American mixed martial artist. He competed in the Heavyweight division. He is best known for his time in the UFC from 1994 to 2000. Background Born and raised in Los Angeles, Charles trained in Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Karate, Boxing, Wrestling, Judo, Sambo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. While preparing for the 1984 Olympics, Charles broke his femur in a work accident involving a forklift. Personal life After his fighting career, he developed a fitness program called GI Joe Boot Camp. Mixed martial arts record , - , Loss , align=center, 6-13 , Kengo Watanabe , Decision (unanimous) , Pancrase: 2000 Anniversary Show , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 10:00 , Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan , , - , Loss , align=center, 6-12 , Marcelo Tigre , Submission (smother choke) , RITC 2: Marching of the Warriors , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 9:40 , Honolulu, Hawaii, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6-11 , Mark ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vitor Belfort
Vítor Vieira Belfort (; born 1 April 1977) is a Brazilian professional boxer and retired mixed martial artist who competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he fought in the Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, and Middleweight divisions. He is the UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament Champion, as well as a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and Cage Rage World Light Heavyweight Champion. Known for his explosive knockout power, Belfort is tied for fifth for the most finishes in UFC history with 14. Belfort also competed for MMA promotions Pride FC, Strikeforce, and Affliction. Background Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Belfort began training in boxing at the age of 12 under Claudio Coelho. Belfort later studied Brazilian jiu-jitsu with Carlson Gracie, who gave him his black belt. Gracie scouted Belfort at the Brazilian National Jiu-Jitsu Championships, where he won the Absolute and Heavyweight titles for blue belts under age 18. Belfort, 17 at the ti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maurice Smith (fighter)
Maurice Smith (born December 13, 1961) is a retired American kickboxer and mixed martial artist. In kickboxing, he held the WKC (World Kickboxing Council) world light heavyweight championship, the WKA (World Kickboxing Association) world heavyweight championship, and the ISKA (International Sport Karate Association) world heavyweight championship. In mixed martial arts, he held the Heavyweight championship in Battlecade Extreme Fighting and the UFC, and became a member of the UFC Hall of Fame in 2017. A professional competitor since 1980, Smith has formerly competed in kickboxing for the companies All Japan Enterprise and K-1, Pancrase, RINGS, PRIDE, Strikeforce, International Fight League and RFA. Career Raised in Seattle, Washington, Smith got into martial arts at the age of 13 after watching Bruce Lee's '' Chinese Connection'', and having had to retreat from a fight. He trained in karate, kung fu, and taekwondo, until he found the sport of kickboxing at age 18. Smith a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Randy Couture
Randall Duane Couture (; born June 22, 1963) is an American mixed martial arts commentator, actor, former United States Army sergeant, former professional mixed martial artist, and former Collegiate wrestling, collegiate and Greco-Roman wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestler. During his tenures in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), he became a three-time UFC Heavyweight Championship, UFC Heavyweight Champion, two-time List of UFC champions, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, an interim UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, making him a six-time UFC Champion and the List of UFC champions#Tournament winners, UFC 13 Heavyweight Tournament winner. He is the first fighter in history to win a UFC championship in two different divisions. He currently serves as a commentator and analyst for the Professional Fighters League. Couture has competed in a record 16 title fights. He is tied for the record for the most wins in UFC Heavyweight Championship bouts (6) with former UFC Heavyweight champion St ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
UFC Heavyweight Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships. Historical notes At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight classes. Instead of the traditional championship model, the UFC held tournaments with the winner receiving a permanent appellation. In response to criticism from Senator John McCain that saw the loss of its television deal and the banning of the sport in thirty-six states, the UFC increased its cooperation with state athletic commissions and introduced weight classes in 1997, starting with UFC 12, and began introducing weight-specific titles. The original codification for weight classes introduced only two divisions: heavyweight, which grouped together all competitors above , and lightweight, which encompassed all competitors 199 pounds (90 kg) and under. At UFC 14 the lightweight division would be renamed to middleweight, though it wo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
