UFC 4
UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on December 16, 1994, at the Expo Square Pavilion in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[1] The event was the fourth in the UFC series and was broadcast live on pay-per-view television before being released on home video.[1] It featured an eight-man single-elimination tournament with no weight classes, time limits, or rounds, where the winner was awarded $64,000.[2] Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Royce Gracie won the tournament for the third consecutive time, defeating Dan Severn via triangle choke submission in the final at 15:49.[1] The event drew an attendance of 5,857 and a buyrate of 120,000 buys.[3]Background and Development
Context in UFC Series
The EA Sports UFC series began in 2014 with the release of EA Sports UFC for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, marking Electronic Arts' entry into licensed UFC video games after THQ's UFC Undisputed series ended in 2012. Developed by EA Vancouver, the franchise focused on realistic MMA simulations using motion capture and advanced graphics to replicate UFC fights. EA Sports UFC 2, released in 2016, introduced female fighters and knockout physics, expanding the roster and gameplay depth. EA Sports UFC 3 followed in 2018, adding a customizable career mode and Ultimate Team features, but received criticism for stamina mechanics and online modes. UFC 4 continued this evolution as the fourth main installment, building on fan feedback from UFC 3 to refine combat systems and accessibility while maintaining the series' emphasis on authentic UFC presentation, including licensed fighters, venues, and commentary. The game was the last in the series for eighth-generation consoles before UFC 5 launched on ninth-generation hardware in 2023.Planning and Promotion
Development of EA Sports UFC 4 was led by EA Vancouver under creative director Brian Hayes, with a focus on unifying progression systems across modes and overhauling mechanics like clinch transitions and ground game based on player input and consultations with UFC fighters and president Dana White. The game utilized Real Player Motion technology for more fluid animations and introduced features like the S.T.R.I.K.E. system for striking.[4][5] Announced on July 11, 2020, during a UFC Fight Night broadcast, UFC 4 was promoted with a reveal trailer featuring cover athletes Israel Adesanya and Jorge Masvidal. Pre-order incentives included early access to boxers Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua as playable characters, along with customization packs for backyards and kumite arenas. The marketing campaign emphasized iterative improvements for realism and player agency, targeting both longtime fans and newcomers through tutorials and varied modes. The game launched worldwide on August 14, 2020, exclusively for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.[6][7]Event Details
Date, Location, and Attendance
UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors took place on December 16, 1994, at the Expo Square Pavilion in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[8][3] The event drew an attendance of 5,857 spectators.[9][3] It was broadcast as a pay-per-view event, marking the first time play-by-play announcer Bruce Beck and color commentator Jeff Blatnick were paired together in the booth.[10][11]Tournament Format and Rules
UFC 4 employed an eight-man single-elimination tournament structure, featuring four quarterfinal matches, two semifinals, and a single final bout, with all contests scheduled to take place over the course of one evening.[9] The event operated under an openweight format, eschewing any weight classes and allowing fighters of varying sizes to compete directly against one another.[9] Bouts featured no predefined rounds or time limits, continuing until a fighter secured a victory via submission, knockout, or referee intervention.[9] This ruleset permitted a broad array of techniques, encompassing punches, kicks, elbows, knees, and all forms of grappling, while explicitly banning eye-gouging, biting, and strikes to the groin—though these restrictions were occasionally overlooked or leniently applied during the nascent stages of the sport.[12][13] To accommodate potential injuries or disqualifications within the tournament bracket, three alternate bouts were contested outside the main draw, serving as contingency matches to fill any vacated slots and maintain the event's progression.[9] Officiating was led by veteran referee John McCarthy, alongside limited support from additional officials, with a focus on balancing competitive freedom against emerging concerns for fighter welfare amid the sport's developing oversight.[14]Fight Results
Alternate Bouts
The alternate bouts at UFC 4 were designed to serve as contingency matches, allowing replacement fighters to step into the tournament bracket if any participant became injured during the event, while also providing entertainment by highlighting diverse fighting styles from participants outside the main draw.[8] These non-tournament fights did not affect the progression of the eight-man bracket and were not broadcast live on the pay-per-view, emphasizing their role as backups rather than core competition elements.[1] All three alternate bouts ended quickly, underscoring the intense and often brutal nature of early UFC encounters under minimal rules, where finishes came via strikes or submissions without weight classes or time limits beyond a 30-minute cap. None of the winners advanced to the tournament, maintaining the isolation of these matches from the main event outcomes.[3]| Fighter 1 | vs. | Fighter 2 | Result | Method | Time | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Charles | def. | Kevin Rosier | Submission (armbar) | Armbar | 0:14 | 1 |
| Marcus Bossett | def. | Eldo Dias Xavier | KO/TKO (punches) | Strikes | 4:55 | 1 |
| Guy Mezger | def. | Jason Fairn | TKO (corner stoppage) | Punches | 2:13 | 1 |
Tournament Quarterfinals
The tournament quarterfinals at UFC 4 featured four matchups that showcased the event's emphasis on quick resolutions through grappling and striking, with all bouts concluding in under 5 minutes of the first round. These fights highlighted the effectiveness of submissions and ground-and-pound techniques in the no-holds-barred format, setting the stage for the bracket's progression.[8] In the first quarterfinal, Royce Gracie faced Ron van Clief in a clash of Brazilian jiu-jitsu expertise against van Clief's karate background. Gracie quickly took the fight to the ground and secured a rear-naked choke submission victory at 3:49 of Round 1, demonstrating the dominance of ground control in early UFC tournaments.[1] Keith Hackney's bout against Joe Son was marked by intense striking exchanges and controversy, as Son repeatedly delivered illegal groin strikes that prompted referee intervention. Hackney weathered the low blows and finished the fight with a submission (blood choke) at 2:44 of Round 1, underscoring the physical toll and rule enforcement challenges of the era.[8][15][16] Dan Severn, a wrestling standout, dominated Anthony Macias with superior takedown ability, transitioning to a rear-naked choke submission at 1:45 of Round 1 after a brief ground battle that tested both fighters' endurance.[17] The final quarterfinal saw Steve Jennum overpower Melton Bowen with grappling control, earning an armbar submission at 4:47 of Round 1.[8] Overall, the quarterfinals' short durations—ranging from 1:45 to 4:47—emphasized the high intensity of submissions, with no fight extending beyond the initial round. Alternate bouts served as potential fillers for the tournament bracket in case of injuries.[1]| Matchup | Winner | Method | Time (Round 1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royce Gracie vs. Ron van Clief | Royce Gracie | Rear-naked choke submission | 3:49 |
| Keith Hackney vs. Joe Son | Keith Hackney | Submission (blood choke) | 2:44 |
| Dan Severn vs. Anthony Macias | Dan Severn | Rear-naked choke | 1:45 |
| Steve Jennum vs. Melton Bowen | Steve Jennum | Armbar submission | 4:47 |