Have you ever wondered what happens after someone achieves the impossible and proves everyone wrong? Do skeptics admit they were mistaken, or do they demand more proof? After Royce Gracie shocked the martial arts world at UFC 1, many traditionalists claimed it was a fluke, that the competition wasn’t tough enough, or that fighters would eventually figure out how to defeat Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. At Gracie Brandon, we teach the art that answered all these doubts decisively—Royce Gracie returned to defend his dominance at UFC 2, UFC 3, and UFC 4, defeating increasingly prepared opponents who came specifically to stop his ground game. This continued success cemented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s reputation as the most effective martial art and forced the entire fighting world to acknowledge what the Gracies had known for decades.
Table of Contents:
- After UFC 1: The Doubters and the Believers
- UFC 2: No Way Out – Proving It Wasn’t a Fluke
- The Sixteen-Minute War: Royce vs. Remco Pardoel
- UFC 3: The American Dream – Four Fights in One Night
- The Epic Battle: Royce vs. Kimo Leopoldo
- UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors – The Toughest Tournament Yet
- Facing Dan Severn: The Ultimate Test of BJJ vs. Wrestling
- The Gracie Strategy: Why Royce’s Approach Was Unbeatable
After UFC 1: The Doubters and the Believers
The weeks following UFC 1 saw the martial arts community split into two camps: those who immediately recognized Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s superiority and began seeking training, and those who made excuses for why Royce had won. The doubters claimed the competition was weak, that real fighters weren’t invited, that the rules favored grapplers unfairly, and that given time to prepare specifically for BJJ, strikers and wrestlers would find ways to defeat it. Traditional martial arts instructors whose entire teaching was challenged by UFC 1 had strong incentives to dismiss what they’d witnessed rather than admit their training was incomplete.
The believers, however, began a pilgrimage to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu however they could. Rorion Gracie’s academy in California was flooded with applications. BJJ practitioners who had been teaching small classes suddenly couldn’t accommodate all the interested students. Fighters from various disciplines reached out to the Gracies, seeking to learn the ground fighting skills they’d realized were essential. Wrestling coaches began studying BJJ techniques to understand how Royce had controlled and submitted experienced grapplers. The demand for authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction exceeded the supply of qualified instructors, leading to both rapid expansion of legitimate BJJ schools and unfortunately, some fraudulent instructors claiming expertise they didn’t possess.
The UFC organizers, recognizing they had created something special and controversial, immediately began planning UFC 2. This time, they would address the critics by bringing in tougher competition, including fighters who had studied the UFC 1 footage and trained specifically to counter Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The Gracies were confident that Royce could defeat anyone regardless of preparation, and they were eager to prove that UFC 1 wasn’t a fluke. The stage was set for Royce to either cement his legacy or have his dominance exposed as temporary. The martial arts world watched eagerly to see if the slim Brazilian could repeat his shocking success.
UFC 2: No Way Out – Proving It Wasn’t a Fluke
UFC 2 took place on March 11, 1994, just four months after the first event, held in Denver, Colorado. The tournament was aptly named “No Way Out,” both referring to the cage structure and suggesting that competitors couldn’t escape their fate. The UFC had recruited tougher competition this time, including fighters who had specifically trained to counter Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after studying Royce’s UFC 1 performance. The field included Remco Pardoel, a massive Dutch judoka and sambo practitioner weighing over 250 pounds, Johnny Rhodes, a tough street fighter with judo experience, and Jason DeLucia, a kung fu practitioner who had cross-trained in multiple styles.
Royce’s first opponent was Minoki Ichihara, a 220-pound Japanese karate and jiu-jitsu practitioner who entered wearing both a gi and wrestling shoes—a combination that suggested he was taking the grappling threat seriously. The fight lasted just 2:08 before Royce secured a chokehold and forced the tap. Royce made it look effortless once again, calmly closing distance despite Ichihara’s attempts to maintain spacing, executing a clean takedown, and methodically advancing to a submission position. The speed of the victory suggested that even fighters with some grappling knowledge were woefully unprepared for high-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
In the semifinals, Royce faced Jason DeLucia, who had defeated Scott Baker in the first round. DeLucia came out aggressively, attempting to use leg kicks to keep Royce at distance and prevent the takedown. However, Royce demonstrated patience and tactical awareness, waiting for the right moment to clinch and drag DeLucia to the mat. Once there, the outcome was inevitable—Royce secured the mount position and locked in an armbar submission, forcing DeLucia to tap at 2:15. After two fights, Royce had again reached the finals without suffering any damage, setting up a showdown with the massive Dutch fighter Remco Pardoel, who had impressed by submitting his first two opponents despite weighing well over 250 pounds.
The Sixteen-Minute War: Royce vs. Remco Pardoel
The UFC 2 final between Royce Gracie and Remco Pardoel became one of the most significant fights in early MMA history, demonstrating Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s effectiveness even against larger opponents with legitimate grappling credentials. Pardoel was a judo and Russian sambo practitioner who outweighed Royce by approximately 80 pounds. He had studied Royce’s UFC 1 fights and came with a strategy to use his size and strength to overwhelm the Brazilian. This was exactly the kind of challenge that skeptics claimed would expose BJJ’s limitations—a much larger, stronger grappler who understood ground fighting and had prepared specifically to defeat Royce.
The fight lasted 16 minutes and 59 seconds, making it the longest UFC fight up to that point. For many viewers watching live, this extended duration raised concerns that Royce had finally met his match and might be defeated. Pardoel used his size advantage to create stalling situations, making it difficult for Royce to advance positions as quickly as he had in previous fights. The Dutch fighter was strong enough to resist many of Royce’s initial submission attempts, creating scrambles and forcing the Brazilian to work harder than he had in any previous UFC appearance. However, Royce never panicked, never rushed, and never abandoned his systematic approach to gaining positional control.
Throughout the sixteen-minute contest, Royce demonstrated incredible patience and technical precision, gradually wearing down the larger opponent through superior positioning and constant submission threats. Pardoel’s size and strength allowed him to survive longer than Royce’s previous opponents, but he was never able to threaten Royce or take control of the fight. Eventually, Royce secured a mounted triangle choke—a highly technical submission that uses the legs to trap the opponent’s head and arm—forcing Pardoel to tap out. The victory proved that even when facing a much larger opponent with grappling knowledge and specific anti-BJJ preparation, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s technical superiority would eventually prevail. Royce had won UFC 2, silencing critics who claimed his UFC 1 success was a fluke.
UFC 3: The American Dream – Four Fights in One Night
UFC 3, held on September 9, 1994, in Charlotte, North Carolina, featured Royce Gracie’s most grueling performance yet—winning four fights in a single night to claim the tournament championship. Titled “The American Dream,” this event brought even tougher competition and a more experienced group of fighters who understood that preventing the takedown and staying off the ground was essential to defeating Royce. The tournament included Keith Hackney, a tough boxer with wrestling credentials, Christophe Leininger, a large heavyweight with kickboxing experience, and Harold Howard, a muscular martial artist with multiple style backgrounds.
Royce’s first fight was against Kichiro Hasegawa, a 250-pound karate and sambo practitioner from Japan. Despite the size disadvantage, Royce quickly closed distance and secured a takedown, transitioning to an armbar submission that forced Hasegawa to tap at just 2:16. The efficiency of the victory demonstrated that Royce’s skills hadn’t diminished and that he remained the fighter to beat in early MMA. His second fight came against skilled striker Christophe Leininger, who attempted to use his kickboxing background to keep Royce at distance. However, Royce weathered the initial striking assault, secured a clinch, and dragged Leininger to the mat, submitting him with a rear naked choke at 2:51.
In the semifinals, Royce faced perhaps his toughest challenge yet: Keith Hackney, who had brutally knocked out Emmanuel Yarbrough (a massive 600-pound sumo wrestler and judo practitioner) in the first round with devastating ground-and-pound strikes. Hackney was aggressive, athletic, and had shown a willingness to brawl on the ground rather than just accept bottom position. The fight was competitive, with Hackney landing some strikes and making Royce work harder than usual. However, Royce’s superior grappling eventually prevailed, securing a rear naked choke submission at 4:59. With three victories already that evening, Royce advanced to the finals exhausted but determined to complete his mission.
The Epic Battle: Royce vs. Kimo Leopoldo
The UFC 3 final between Royce Gracie and Kimo Leopoldo became one of the most legendary fights in early MMA history and nearly ended Royce’s undefeated streak. Kimo was an intimidating figure—a massive Hawaiian fighter who entered the octagon carrying a cross, weighing well over 250 pounds with incredible strength and athleticism. Unlike Royce’s previous opponents, Kimo had trained specifically to survive on the ground and had practiced defending against submissions. He also brought an aggressive, relentless fighting style that would test Royce’s stamina after already fighting three times that evening.
The fight began explosively with Kimo charging forward and slamming Royce to the mat with tremendous force. For the first time in UFC history, Royce appeared to be in serious trouble. Kimo used his size and strength to land heavy strikes from top position, and Royce’s usual calm composure was tested as he defended against the brutal assault. The crowd sensed that Royce might finally be defeated, and the energy in the arena shifted as spectators witnessed the BJJ master being hurt for the first time. However, Royce’s defensive skills and mental toughness kept him in the fight even as he absorbed punishment.
Working from his back—a position that would spell doom for most fighters—Royce methodically worked to control Kimo’s posture and create submission opportunities. After nearly five minutes of intense struggle, Royce managed to secure an armbar, forcing Kimo to tap out at 4:40. However, the victory came at a tremendous cost. Royce was completely exhausted and had sustained significant damage during the fight. When his corner helped him backstage, it was clear he was severely depleted. In an unprecedented decision, Rorion Gracie withdrew Royce from the superfight match that was scheduled against Harold Howard, who had won the alternate tournament that evening.
This withdrawal sparked controversy and provided ammunition for BJJ critics who claimed Royce had finally been exposed. However, those who understood fighting recognized the significance of what had actually happened: after fighting four times in one night, including three finishes before facing Kimo, Royce had still found a way to submit a much larger, stronger opponent who had specifically trained to defeat him. The Kimo fight didn’t diminish Royce’s legacy—it enhanced it by showing that even when pushed to his absolute limits, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu provided the tools to survive and ultimately win. At Gracie Brandon, we teach students this same resilience and problem-solving ability that allowed Royce to overcome such adversity.
UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors – The Toughest Tournament Yet
UFC 4, held on December 16, 1994, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was subtitled “Revenge of the Warriors” and featured the deepest, most experienced field of competitors yet assembled. Fighters had now had over a year to study Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, cross-train in grappling, and develop strategies specifically designed to counter Royce’s approach. The tournament included Dan Severn, an accomplished collegiate and Olympic-style wrestler with hundreds of matches of experience, Keith Hackney returning for another attempt, Marcus Bossett, a 6’8″ kickboxer, and Ron van Clief, a 51-year-old kung fu master attempting to prove traditional martial arts could still compete.
Royce’s first opponent was Ron van Clief, the oldest competitor in UFC history at that point. Despite van Clief’s extensive martial arts experience and black belt credentials in multiple styles, the fight demonstrated the generational gap in fighting knowledge—traditional martial arts simply hadn’t evolved to deal with modern grappling expertise. Royce respectfully but decisively took van Clief down and submitted him with a rear naked choke at 2:59, showing that age and traditional credentials couldn’t overcome technical grappling superiority.
In the semifinals, Royce faced Keith Hackney for the second time, in a rematch of their UFC 3 encounter. Hackney came better prepared this time, having trained more extensively in ground defense and submission awareness. The fight was more competitive than their first meeting, with Hackney showing improved grappling defense and landing some effective strikes. However, Royce’s technical superiority again prevailed, as he secured a rear naked choke submission at 1:59. With two victories, Royce advanced to the finals to face his most dangerous opponent yet: Dan Severn, a wrestler with credentials and experience that dwarfed all of Royce’s previous opponents.
Facing Dan Severn: The Ultimate Test of BJJ vs. Wrestling
The UFC 4 final between Royce Gracie and Dan Severn was the fight that many wrestlers and grappling purists had been waiting for—a high-level collegiate and international wrestler versus the world’s most famous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Dan Severn brought credentials that made him arguably the most accomplished pure grappler Royce had faced: he was a two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, had competed internationally in Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, and possessed strength, technique, and mat experience that far exceeded Royce’s previous opponents. At 6’2″ and 250+ pounds, Severn also had a massive size advantage.
The fight began with Severn demonstrating his wrestling superiority, taking Royce down and establishing top position. For most of the sixteen-minute fight, Severn controlled position from the top, landing occasional strikes and maintaining heavy pressure that prevented Royce from working his usual game. To casual observers, it appeared that wrestling might finally prove superior to BJJ—Severn was winning the positional battle and inflicting more damage through ground strikes. However, those familiar with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu recognized that Royce was never in serious danger. He was calmly defending, waiting for an opportunity, and gradually working to create submission openings.
At 15:49 of the fight, after patiently defending for over fifteen minutes, Royce caught Severn in a triangle choke—a submission that uses the legs to trap the opponent’s head and arm, cutting off blood flow to the brain. Severn, despite his extensive wrestling experience, had no training in triangle choke defense and was quickly forced to tap out. The victory was stunning—after appearing to lose for the entire fight, Royce had proven that in BJJ, you don’t need to “win” the fight until the very end. Position is important, but submission trumps everything. This fight more than any other demonstrated why wrestlers needed to learn BJJ: wrestling alone, even at the highest level, left critical gaps in submission defense.
The Royce versus Severn fight created a paradigm shift in how grapplers viewed their training. Wrestlers began seeking BJJ instruction in droves, recognizing that their grappling was incomplete without submission expertise. Many collegiate wrestlers transitioned into MMA and became some of BJJ’s most dedicated students. The integration of wrestling’s positional control with BJJ’s submission expertise would eventually create the grappling foundation of modern MMA. But in 1994, this fight proved conclusively that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu had answers even for world-class wrestling, cementing the Gracies’ claims about their art’s superiority.
The Gracie Strategy: Why Royce’s Approach Was Unbeatable
Looking back at Royce Gracie’s dominance across UFC 1, 2, 3, and 4, several strategic elements explain why he was so successful and why even prepared opponents couldn’t defeat him. First, the Gracies had decades of experience testing their techniques against resisting opponents in challenge matches and vale tudo fights in Brazil. Royce’s techniques weren’t theoretical—they had been battle-tested thousands of times against fighters of all styles. This empirical approach to technique development meant that Royce was only using moves that actually worked under pressure, unlike many martial artists whose techniques had never been tested in real combat.
Second, Royce’s emotional control and tactical patience gave him enormous advantages. While opponents came in aggressively trying to finish quickly, Royce remained calm and methodical, never wasting energy or taking unnecessary risks. He understood that in a fight with no time limits, patience and efficiency would overcome aggression and strength. This mental approach—which we emphasize in all our training at Gracie Brandon—meant that Royce could win even when tired or hurt because he never panicked and always continued working his systematic game plan.
Third, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu approach to positional hierarchy and submission sequences was more developed than any other grappling art at the time. While wrestlers understood positioning, they didn’t have the submission knowledge to finish fights from their dominant positions. While other submission grapplers knew some joint locks and chokes, they didn’t have BJJ’s systematic approach to gaining the positions where submissions could be applied safely and efficiently. Royce’s success came from this completeness—he could take opponents down, control them in any position, and submit them from anywhere. No other martial art could match this comprehensive approach to fighting.
Join the Gracie Brandon Family Today!
The techniques that allowed Royce Gracie to dominate the early UFC events, defeating larger, stronger opponents from all martial arts backgrounds, are the same techniques we teach every day at Gracie Brandon. Your child will learn the proven effectiveness of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—not theoretical techniques that look impressive in demonstrations, but practical skills that actually work when tested under pressure. They’ll develop the same patience, emotional control, and strategic thinking that made Royce successful, qualities that will benefit them far beyond martial arts training. Contact us today to give your child the advantage of authentic Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, building confidence through proven effectiveness and character through disciplined training. Start your child’s journey today—contact us now!
