Have you ever watched a sporting event that completely changed your understanding of something you thought you knew? Do you remember where you were when you witnessed something that changed an entire sport forever? On November 12, 1993, martial artists around the world experienced exactly that moment when they watched UFC 1: The Beginning. At Gracie Brandon, we teach the same Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that shocked the martial arts world that night, when a slim 178-pound fighter named Royce Gracie defeated three larger, stronger opponents in a single night using techniques that most American martial artists had never seen before. This wasn’t just a tournament—it was a carefully orchestrated demonstration that would validate everything the Gracie family had been proving in Brazil for decades and launch the modern mixed martial arts era.
Table of Contents:
- The Setup: Why the Gracies Created the UFC
- Choosing the Perfect Representative: Why Royce, Not Rickson?
- The Tournament Format: No Weight Classes, Minimal Rules
- Fight One: Royce Gracie vs. Art Jimmerson (The Boxer)
- Fight Two: Royce Gracie vs. Ken Shamrock (The Wrestler)
- The Finals: Royce Gracie vs. Gerard Gordeau (The Savage)
- The Aftermath: How UFC 1 Changed Everything
- Lessons for Young Martial Artists: What UFC 1 Teaches Our Students
The Setup: Why the Gracies Created the UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship wasn’t created by sports promoters looking to build the next big combat sport—it was conceived by Rorion Gracie specifically as a platform to demonstrate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s superiority to the American public. Rorion had spent years teaching BJJ in his garage in California, building a dedicated following among martial artists who recognized the effectiveness of his family’s art. However, most Americans still believed that striking arts like karate and boxing, or wrestling and other grappling arts, were the most effective fighting systems. The Gracies needed a spectacle that would prove once and for all that BJJ was superior.
Rorion partnered with Art Davie, an advertising executive fascinated by martial arts, who helped develop the concept and marketing strategy. They brought the idea to Bob Meyrowitz’s Semaphore Entertainment Group, which had the resources to produce a pay-per-view event. The concept was brilliant in its simplicity: gather fighters from different martial arts backgrounds, put them in an octagonal cage with minimal rules, and let them fight until someone won. The marketing asked the question that martial artists had debated in dojos for decades: “Which martial art is truly the most effective?”
But here’s what most people didn’t know—the UFC wasn’t designed to be a fair test of all martial arts equally. It was designed specifically to showcase Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s advantages. The rules (or lack thereof) heavily favored grapplers over strikers: no time limits, no rounds, no judges, and fights only ended by submission, knockout, or corner stoppage. There were no weight classes, which would allow the Gracies to demonstrate that technique could overcome size and strength. The entire tournament was structured to create the perfect conditions for a BJJ practitioner to dominate, and the Gracies had chosen their fighter carefully.
Choosing the Perfect Representative: Why Royce, Not Rickson?
When deciding which family member would represent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at UFC 1, the Gracies faced a crucial strategic decision. The obvious choice seemed to be Rickson Gracie, who was considered by many (including his family members) to be the best fighter in the family. Rickson was undefeated in competition, a fierce competitor with an intimidating presence, and had proven himself in countless challenge matches and vale tudo bouts in Brazil. He was the fighter who other BJJ practitioners feared, the one who elevated the art to its highest level. So why didn’t Rickson fight at UFC 1?
The answer reveals the Gracies’ strategic brilliance: Royce Gracie was chosen specifically because he DIDN’T look like a dominant fighter. At 6’1″ and 178 pounds, wearing a traditional white gi, Royce appeared thin, almost frail compared to the muscular fighters he would face. He had a quiet, humble demeanor and a boyish face that made him seem non-threatening. This was exactly what Rorion wanted—if the smallest, least impressive-looking Gracie could defeat larger, more muscular fighters from other martial arts, it would prove beyond doubt that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s techniques, not the practitioner’s physical attributes, were responsible for victory.
Royce was also an excellent technical practitioner with a calm temperament perfect for the pressure of this showcase event. He had competed successfully in Brazil and had the experience to handle different fighting styles. Perhaps most importantly, Royce was willing to follow his older brother Rorion’s strategic guidance completely, trusting the game plan that had been developed specifically for this event. The choice of Royce over Rickson was a marketing masterstroke—it made the victories even more impressive and the lesson even clearer: technique beats strength, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu beats other martial arts.
The Tournament Format: No Weight Classes, Minimal Rules
UFC 1’s format was unlike anything most Americans had ever seen in combat sports. Eight fighters entered a single-elimination tournament with the goal of winning three fights in one night to become the champion. There were no weight classes, meaning a 170-pound fighter could face a 250-pound opponent. There were no rounds—fights continued until someone won by knockout, submission, or their corner threw in the towel. There were no judges, so every fight had a definitive winner and loser. The only forbidden techniques were biting, eye-gouging, and fish-hooking, though even these rules were somewhat loosely enforced.
The fighters represented diverse martial arts backgrounds, each bringing their own fighting philosophy and techniques. Art Jimmerson was a professional boxer with an 18-1 record who believed his hands were deadly weapons. Ken Shamrock was a tough submission wrestler and shootfighter from Japan who had experience in Pancrase, a Japanese mixed fighting organization. Gerard Gordeau was a savage Dutch savate and karate fighter known for his aggressive striking and willingness to fight dirty. Kevin Rosier was a massive kickboxer. Trent Jenkins practiced ninjutsu. Teila Tuli was a 400-pound sumo wrestler. Patrick Smith was a taekwondo and kickboxing competitor. And then there was Royce Gracie, the slim Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner that most American viewers had never heard of.
The octagonal cage itself was chosen for both practical and promotional reasons. The cage prevented fighters from falling out of the fighting area (as could happen in a boxing ring) and created a distinctive visual that separated UFC from traditional boxing or kickboxing. The octagon became iconic, but its design also favored grapplers—the fence provided additional leverage for takedowns and control, giving BJJ practitioners even more advantages. Everything about UFC 1’s format was designed to create an environment where the best fighting system would emerge, and the Gracies were confident they knew which system that would be.
Fight One: Royce Gracie vs. Art Jimmerson (The Boxer)
Royce Gracie’s first opponent was Art Jimmerson, a professional boxer who entered the octagon wearing one boxing glove—a decision that would become one of UFC history’s most memorable images of misplaced confidence. Jimmerson believed his boxing skills and punching power would be sufficient to defeat any opponent, and he kept one glove on to maximize his punching effectiveness while leaving his other hand bare to defend against grappling attempts. This decision revealed how little understanding traditional martial artists had about the nature of real fighting and ground combat.
The fight lasted just 2 minutes and 18 seconds and demonstrated everything the Gracies wanted to prove. At the opening, Jimmerson attempted to maintain distance and throw punches, but Royce calmly closed the distance, seemingly unbothered by the threat of strikes. Royce secured a clinch and executed a basic but effective takedown, putting Jimmerson on his back—a position the boxer had likely never experienced in training. Once on the ground, Jimmerson was completely helpless. He had no concept of guard, no understanding of how to create space or escape, and no defense against Royce’s methodical advance to a dominant position.
Royce moved smoothly to the mount position, sitting on Jimmerson’s chest with complete control. From there, he began to threaten with a submission, and Jimmerson—a professional fighter with an 18-1 boxing record—simply tapped the mat in submission after minimal resistance. The boxing glove that was supposed to be his weapon never landed a significant strike. Commentators and viewers were shocked by how easily the boxer was defeated, but this was exactly what the Gracies had been demonstrating for decades: striking without grappling skills leaves you completely vulnerable once the fight hits the ground, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expertise means controlling exactly where the fight takes place.
Fight Two: Royce Gracie vs. Ken Shamrock (The Wrestler)
After defeating the boxer in the first round, Royce faced a much more dangerous opponent in the semifinals: Ken Shamrock, a fierce submission wrestler who had fought in Japan’s Pancrase organization and understood ground fighting far better than Art Jimmerson. Shamrock was muscular, aggressive, and had legitimate grappling skills including leg locks and wrestling-based submissions. This fight would be a true test of whether Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s approach to ground fighting was superior to wrestling-based submission grappling. The martial arts community watching pay-per-view expected this to be Royce’s toughest challenge of the night.
The fight began with both competitors showing mutual respect for each other’s grappling abilities, circling more cautiously than Royce had with Jimmerson. Shamrock attempted to use his strength and aggressive style to overwhelm Royce, but the BJJ practitioner remained calm and technical, using superior positioning and weight distribution to neutralize Shamrock’s strength advantages. The key moment came when Royce secured his guard position—a concept that Shamrock understood but hadn’t trained extensively—and began working for submissions while Shamrock tried to posture up and strike or pass to a more dominant position.
After nearly five minutes of strategic grappling, Royce caught Shamrock in a rear naked choke, forcing the tough wrestler to tap out at 57 seconds of the match. What made this victory particularly significant was that Shamrock wasn’t just a tough guy—he was a legitimate grappler who understood submissions and ground fighting. Royce’s victory demonstrated that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s systematic approach to positional dominance and submission attacks was more refined and effective than the catch wrestling and shootfighting techniques Shamrock had learned. This fight convinced many viewers that BJJ wasn’t just effective against strikers who couldn’t grapple—it was superior even to other grappling arts.
The Finals: Royce Gracie vs. Gerard Gordeau (The Savage)
Royce’s final opponent of the evening was Gerard Gordeau, a Dutch savate and karate fighter who had brutally knocked out opponents in his previous two fights, including a horrific knockout of Teila Tuli that resulted in teeth being knocked out. Gordeau was known for his aggressive, almost savage fighting style and his willingness to fight dirty when necessary. He was fresh and dangerous, while Royce had already fought twice that evening. Many observers thought this would finally be the fight where Royce’s smaller size and accumulated fatigue would catch up to him, especially against such a vicious striker.
The fight began with Gordeau immediately pressing forward with aggressive kicks and strikes, trying to finish Royce quickly before the BJJ practitioner could close the distance and take the fight to the ground. Royce absorbed several strikes while working to clinch, showing the same calm patience he had displayed in his previous fights. Once Royce secured the clinch, he executed another efficient takedown, bringing Gordeau to the mat where the striker’s advantages evaporated. Gordeau attempted to bite Royce during the ground struggle—a fact that was largely ignored by the referee—but Royce continued working methodically toward a dominant position.
Royce mounted Gordeau and began working for a submission, eventually securing a rear naked choke that forced Gordeau to tap out at 1:44 of the fight. With this victory, Royce Gracie won the entire UFC 1 tournament, defeating three opponents from three different martial arts in one evening, without suffering any significant damage himself. The martial arts world was stunned. The slim Brazilian in the white gi had made defeating larger, stronger, more aggressive fighters look almost easy. Everything martial artists thought they knew about fighting had been challenged, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu had emerged as the undeniable king of combat sports.
The Aftermath: How UFC 1 Changed Everything
The impact of UFC 1 on martial arts cannot be overstated—it literally changed how the entire world viewed fighting, self-defense, and martial arts training. Before UFC 1, most martial artists trained in a single discipline, believing their art was complete and effective for real fighting. Traditional martial arts schools taught forms, prearranged techniques, and point-sparring with minimal contact. After watching Royce Gracie dominate UFC 1, martial artists everywhere realized that ground fighting was essential, and most of them had zero preparation for it.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools exploded in popularity almost overnight. Rorion Gracie’s academy in California had a waiting list of hundreds of students wanting to learn the techniques they’d seen Royce use. BJJ practitioners who had been teaching small private classes suddenly found themselves overwhelmed with students. Traditional martial arts schools scrambled to add “ground fighting” to their curriculum, though most had no qualified instructors to teach it properly. The Gracies had accomplished exactly what they set out to do—prove to the world that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was the most effective martial art for real fighting.
The term “mixed martial arts” began to emerge as fighters realized they needed to train in multiple disciplines to be complete fighters. The era of the pure striker or pure grappler dominating MMA was over after UFC 1—successful fighters would need to understand both striking and grappling, with ground fighting being the most critical gap to fill for most martial artists. Wrestling programs around the United States suddenly found renewed interest as people realized that controlling where the fight takes place was crucial. But the foundation of this new approach to fighting was undeniably Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and at Gracie Brandon, we continue teaching these same proven techniques to the next generation.
Lessons for Young Martial Artists: What UFC 1 Teaches Our Students
At Gracie Brandon, we don’t teach our young students to become cage fighters—we teach them the same principles that made Royce Gracie successful at UFC 1, principles that apply far beyond fighting. The first lesson is that technique and intelligence can overcome size and strength. Royce wasn’t the biggest or strongest fighter that night, but his superior technique and strategic approach allowed him to defeat larger opponents. This teaches children that developing their skills and thinking strategically is more valuable than just being physically imposing—a lesson that applies to academics, athletics, and life challenges.
The second lesson is the importance of remaining calm under pressure. Throughout UFC 1, Royce maintained a composed demeanor even while absorbing strikes or facing aggressive opponents. He never panicked, never rushed, and never abandoned his game plan even when things got difficult. This emotional control and stress management is something we emphasize in every class at Gracie Brandon, helping children develop the ability to think clearly and act decisively even when they’re uncomfortable or scared—skills that serve them during tests, competitions, and challenging social situations.
The third lesson is about preparation and dedication to fundamentals. Royce didn’t win UFC 1 with flashy or spectacular techniques—he won with basic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fundamentals executed at the highest level. His takedowns were simple and effective. His positional control was methodical and patient. His submissions were fundamental techniques that every BJJ student learns. This teaches children that mastering the basics and drilling fundamental techniques is more valuable than constantly seeking advanced or complicated moves—a principle that applies to any skill they’re developing in school, music, sports, or other activities.
Join the Gracie Brandon Family Today!
The techniques that Royce Gracie used to shock the world at UFC 1 are the same techniques we teach every day at Gracie Brandon. Your child doesn’t need to be the biggest or strongest to be successful—they need proper technique, consistent training, and the right instruction. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu proved its effectiveness against all other martial arts in the most dramatic way possible, and now your child can learn this proven art in a safe, supportive environment designed specifically for their development. Contact us today to learn how your child can start their journey in authentic Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, building confidence, discipline, and real-world skills that will serve them for life. Give your child the advantage of learning what actually works—contact us now!
