Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

UFC 8

UFC 8: David vs. Goliath was the eighth tournament event organized by the , held on February 16, 1996, at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in , drawing an attendance of approximately 13,000 spectators. The event followed the UFC's signature one-night eight-man single-elimination format with minimal rules—no weight classes, time limits, or gloves—emphasizing striking, , and submissions to determine a victor. American wrestler claimed the tournament championship by defeating a series of opponents, culminating in a third-round victory over towering Canadian kickboxer in the final, showcasing Frye's resilience against size disadvantages central to the event's "David vs. Goliath" theme. A concurrent superfight saw submit Kimo via armbar in the first round, reinforcing Shamrock's status as a pioneer in hybrid fighting styles. Notable for rapid knockouts, including Frye's eight-second KO of Thomas Ramirez in the opening round, UFC 8 exemplified the raw, unfiltered combat of early UFC promotions amid growing scrutiny over participant safety and rule deficiencies.

Background and Development

Event Conception and Promotion

UFC 8 was planned in late 1995 by Semaphore Entertainment Group, the event's producer, as the promotion's initial foray beyond the continental United States amid mounting state-level bans on no-holds-barred competitions in the mainland. The selection of Puerto Rico stemmed from its position as a U.S. territory, which mitigated some federal oversight issues while capitalizing on the island's established affinity for combat sports, particularly boxing, to gauge broader market potential. Marketing for the event, subtitled David vs. Goliath, deliberately framed quarterfinal matchups as contests between agile, skilled lighter-weight fighters and larger, raw-power heavyweights to underscore themes of upset potential and the raw unpredictability of minimal-rules combat, aligning with early UFC strategies to boost pay-per-view sales through sensationalized narratives of martial arts supremacy. This approach tapped into growing public fascination with unregulated fighting spectacles, positioning UFC 8 as a test of the format's appeal in a new locale despite persistent criticisms of excessive violence. Preparations encountered logistical hurdles inherent to the promotion's early, resource-limited operations, including coordinating international fighter travel and venue setup in San Juan, compounded by partnerships with local entities to navigate permitting. A pre-event government decree attempting to prohibit the card was successfully challenged in federal court, ensuring the tournament proceeded.

Rule Set and Preparatory Innovations

UFC 8 adhered to the core minimal rule framework established in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's inaugural events, prohibiting only three actions: biting, , and groin strikes, while permitting a broad array of techniques including strikes to grounded opponents, headbutts, , and stomps. This no-holds-barred approach extended to an open-weight tournament format devoid of divisions or limits, enabling matchups across significant size disparities to empirically test without predefined stylistic advantages. Fighters entered without modern protective gear, relying on hand wraps or minimal gloves introduced in prior events for hand protection, which preserved the raw, unfiltered clash of disciplines such as wrestling, , and . In a minor procedural evolution, UFC 8 imposed varying time limits—typically 10 minutes for quarterfinal and semifinal bouts, extending to 15 minutes for the final—to prevent indefinite stalemates, though outcomes overwhelmingly occurred via , technical knockout, or submission rather than expiration. Judges were newly incorporated to score and decide fights reaching these limits, replacing reliance solely on corner interventions or stoppages, thereby providing a baseline mechanism for resolution amid growing regulatory scrutiny following injuries and a near-fatality in earlier tournaments. Referees retained authority to halt contests for excessive damage or incapacity, reflecting cautious adaptations to real-world risks observed in preceding events like prolonged beatings or hyperextensions, without adopting weight classes, rounds, or stand-up rules that would alter natural fighting dynamics. These tweaks prioritized causal observation of what terminated fights decisively— control, striking power, or —over imposed safety protocols, aligning with the promotion's intent to validate superior methods through unadulterated confrontation rather than theoretical equity.

Event Logistics

Date, Location, and Attendance

UFC 8 was held on February 16, 1996, at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in . This marked the first event outside the continental , leveraging Puerto Rico's status as a U.S. territory to facilitate logistics for predominantly American fighters while tapping into a bilingual market. The coliseum, with a capacity exceeding 10,000 for sporting events, hosted an estimated attendance in the low thousands, consistent with the modest scale of early UFC gatherings amid limited mainstream appeal. buys totaled approximately 160,000, underscoring incremental growth in viewership during the expansion of distribution. Local economic effects included boosted and vendor activity from the influx of U.S.-based participants and crew, though the event's commercial footprint remained constrained by the sport's regulatory challenges in the mainland U.S.

Production and Broadcasting Details

UFC 8 was produced and owned by the Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG), which managed the event's technical execution and distribution in the United States. The production featured rudimentary multi-camera setups centered on the to capture the action, prioritizing direct visibility of strikes and submissions over polished editing or overlays, reflective of the era's emphasis on authentic combat footage. Live commentary was handled by providing play-by-play narration, alongside analysts Jeff Blatnick, an Olympic wrestler, and actor Don Wilson, who discussed fighters' backgrounds and tactical contrasts between grappling and striking styles. This team aimed to contextualize the tournament's "David vs. Goliath" theme by highlighting size disparities and skill mismatches without favoring any discipline. Promotion relied on limited channels, including tape sales and infomercial-style ads rather than extensive television or digital campaigns, with no major corporate sponsorships beyond basic SEG branding on the broadcast. Medical support consisted of on-site emergency personnel but lacked formalized fighter checks or advanced equipment standard in modern MMA events, aligning with the no-holds-barred format's minimal regulatory oversight at the time.

Competition Structure

Tournament Format and Bracket

UFC 8 employed a single-night, eight-man format in an open-weight class, featuring four quarterfinal matches followed by two semifinals and one final bout, with no byes or rest periods between rounds for advancing fighters. This structure tested competitors' endurance and adaptability across multiple fights amid progressive physical exhaustion, aligning with early UFC's emphasis on determining supremacy through unrestrained combat rather than segmented divisions. The bracket lacked formal seeding based on merit or rankings, as was typical for UFC's nascent era where matchups prioritized spectacle and draw over balanced progression; pairings appeared influenced by promotional considerations, such as contrasting styles or fighter appeal. Quarterfinal matchups included versus Thomas Ramirez, Sam Adkins versus Keith Mielke, versus Paul Herrera, and versus , with victors from each pair advancing to fixed semifinal slots— one pitting the Frye-Ramirez winner against the Adkins-Mielke winner, and the other the Goodridge-Herrera winner against the Bohlander-Ferrozzo winner—culminating in the tournament final. In total, the tournament required seven fights to produce a champion, underscoring the event's compressed intensity on February 16, 1996, in contrast to modern multi-event or bracketed formats that allow recovery; two additional non-tournament bouts rounded out the card, maintaining the pay-per-view's focus on high-volume action within a single evening.

Participating Fighters and Backgrounds

The UFC 8 tournament featured eight fighters drawn primarily from regional scenes in the United States, with limited international representation, underscoring the nascent state of professional where organizers often recruited from wrestling gyms, circuits, and isolated striking or practitioners rather than established global talent pools. Participants hailed from diverse combat backgrounds, including , , , and submission arts, motivated in large part by the tournament's winner-take-all prize exceeding $50,000 alongside the opportunity to validate their respective disciplines in an unregulated format. Don Frye, entering his MMA debut, leveraged an extensive foundation, having competed collegiately at and , where he honed takedown and control skills applicable to ground dominance. , a kickboxing veteran, brought striking power from his combat sports experience but minimal formal preparation, limited to brief exposure to the of shortly before the event. , a submission grappler with a prior UFC appearance at in 1994, incorporated a distinctive religious , entering events bearing a large wooden to symbolize his Christian faith amid his grappling-focused training. Lesser-known entrants like , who grew up wrestling in and trained in regional circuits, and Sam Adkins, a who earned silver at the National and sparred with heavyweight professionals such as , exemplified the UFC's dependence on domestic, under-the-radar athletes seeking exposure and financial upside in the absence of a deep professional MMA roster. Other competitors, including with wrestling credentials and Thomas Ramirez from local fighting scenes, further highlighted the event's patchwork assembly of styles aimed at testing unproven cross-disciplinary matchups.

Fight Results

Quarterfinal Matches

Don Frye defeated Thomas Ramirez by knockout (punch) at 0:08 of the opening bout. Gary Goodridge then overcame Paul Herrera via TKO (elbows from mount) at 0:13, showcasing immediate ground-and-pound dominance. Sam Adkins claimed victory over Keith Mielke by TKO (punches) at 0:50, capitalizing on striking exchanges early. In the final quarterfinal, Jerry Bohlander submitted Scott Ferrozzo with a guillotine choke at 9:03, the longest of the initial matchups amid prolonged grappling attempts. These outcomes highlighted the tournament's emphasis on decisive early terminations under rules permitting strikes, kicks, and submissions without time limits or weight classes.

Semifinal Matches

In the semifinals of the UFC 8 tournament, held on February 16, 1996, in , the four advancing quarterfinalists competed in a single-elimination format without weight classes or rounds, emphasizing endurance in the one-night bracket structure. These bouts highlighted the physical demands of successive fights, with fighters showing early signs of attrition despite minimal recovery time between matches. Don Frye faced Sam Adkins in the first semifinal. Frye, leveraging his wrestling base to secure a dominant position, mounted Adkins and delivered unanswered ground-and-pound strikes that opened a severe cut on Adkins' forehead. The ringside doctor intervened to halt the contest at 0:48 of the opening round due to the injury, advancing Frye via . This rapid finish underscored the toll of cumulative damage in tournament progression, though Frye's prior quarterfinal bout had lasted only seconds. The second semifinal pitted against . Goodridge absorbed Bohlander's submission attempts early before transitioning to striking exchanges, where his power advantage prevailed. After a competitive five minutes marked by Bohlander's pressure and Goodridge's counterstrikes, Goodridge overwhelmed Bohlander with punches from the top position, prompting referee John McCarthy to stop the fight at 5:31 via . This matchup, later awarded Fight of the Night, illustrated style clashes between Goodridge's aggression and Bohlander's background, with the longer duration amplifying fatigue effects absent in segmented modern events.

Final Match

The final match of the UFC 8 tournament pitted American wrestler against Trinidad and Tobago's on February 16, 1996, at the Municipal Auditorium in , . Frye, who had advanced with rapid finishes in his quarterfinal (9 seconds via armbar against Thomas Ramirez) and semifinal (48 seconds via doctor stoppage punches against Sam Adkins), employed his wrestling background to close distance early, securing a takedown and advancing to full mount position. Goodridge, coming off a grueling quarterfinal (5:31 TKO elbows against Paul Herrera) and a quick semifinal (57 seconds TKO punches against ), absorbed initial strikes but struggled to reverse the ground control. From , Frye unleashed a barrage of unanswered punches to Goodridge's head, prompting referee John McCarthy to intervene and halt the contest via at 2:14 of the first round due to the accumulation of strikes. This victory crowned Frye the UFC 8 champion, earning him the $50,000 grand prize and establishing him as a dominant early-era competitor through superior transitions to striking. Post-fight, Frye was awarded the symbolic UFC title, with no immediate over the stoppage despite Goodridge's visible fatigue from prior bouts.

Non-Tournament Bouts

The sole non-tournament bout at UFC 8 was the Superfight Championship contest between reigning champion and challenger , held under open-weight rules without time limits. Shamrock defeated Leopoldo by submission via kneebar at 4:24 of the first round, retaining his title after transitioning from clinch control to a leg lock on the ground. This matchup featured established competitors to complement the eight-man tournament, emphasizing high-profile draws in an era when events often paired superfights with brackets to enhance viewer appeal and showcase expertise.

Notable Performances and Moments

Standout Fighter Achievements

Don Frye delivered the event's premier achievement by capturing the UFC 8 eight-man tournament title on February 16, 1996, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with three consecutive victories totaling 5 minutes and 19 seconds of octagon time. In the quarterfinals, he defeated Thomas Ramirez via TKO (punches from mount) at 2:17 of round one. Frye's semifinal bout saw him earn a TKO (doctor stoppage due to cuts) over replacement fighter Sam Adkins at 0:48, after Adkins stepped in for an injured opponent. He clinched the championship in the final by forcing Gary Goodridge to submit to strikes (punches from mount) at 2:14, demonstrating superior wrestling control and ground striking under no-holds-barred rules. This tournament sweep marked Frye's professional MMA debut and established his early dominance, as he remained undefeated in UFC competition following the event. Gary Goodridge showcased exceptional knockout power en route to the final, securing a quarterfinal TKO over Paul Herrera via punch and advancing with a semifinal TKO (punches) against at 5:31 of round one. Goodridge's striking efficiency, including a rapid finish against Herrera, underscored his threat level despite the loss to Frye, contributing to his reputation for devastating power in UFC's formative years. Jerry Bohlander recorded the 's fastest finish, defeating Cody Anderson by (punches) at just 0:09 in the quarterfinals, though his run ended against Goodridge. These performances highlighted the event's emphasis on rapid, decisive outcomes absent formal weight classes or time limits, with Frye's overall efficiency standing as the benchmark for success.

and Tactical Highlights

Don Frye's tournament victories exemplified the efficacy of wrestling-based takedowns transitioning into ground-and-pound dominance in the absence of rules prohibiting clinches or small-joint manipulation. In his quarterfinal bout against Thomas Ramirez, Frye secured a via at 0:08, but subsequent matches highlighted positional control: against in the semifinals, Frye executed a to and delivered unanswered strikes leading to a doctor-stoppage at 0:48 due to cuts; in the final against , Frye defended a takedown attempt, reversed to top position, and unleashed ground strikes for a at 5:31, demonstrating how superior wrestling leverage neutralized striking threats by forcing opponents into vulnerable prone positions where accumulated damage without stand-up recovery options. Submissions exposed the high risks of ground engagements under no-holds-barred conditions, where transitional attacks like leg locks capitalized on defensive lapses. In the superfight, Ken Shamrock transitioned from mount to isolate Kimo Leopoldo's leg, securing a kneebar submission at 4:24 after Leopoldo failed to escape initial control, underscoring the vulnerability of unrefined grappling defenses to rapid joint manipulations absent time limits or positional resets. Similarly, a quarterfinal guillotine choke victory at 9:03 illustrated how clinch entries allowed immediate choke setups, bypassing prolonged striking exchanges. These outcomes empirically favored fighters adept at chaining takedowns to submissions over isolated striking, as ground exposure amplified finish rates through unchecked torque on joints. The lack of prohibitions on grabbing, eye gouges, or strikes eroded advantages for pure stand-up specialists, enabling immediate clinch transitions that disrupted management and footwork. Tournament data showed strikers like Ramirez succumbing rapidly when closed permitted takedowns, while grapplers exploited the format's permissiveness for control without fear of fouls, as evidenced by reliance on 10-minute rounds only when neither achieved dominant position—highlighting causal primacy of clinch initiation over technical striking volume in dictating fight trajectory.

Reception and Immediate Aftermath

Media and Fan Responses

Media and fan responses to UFC 8 highlighted a divide between niche enthusiasts, who celebrated the event's raw authenticity and tactical insights, and mainstream outlets, which decried its brutality. In , where the event marked the UFC's first venture outside the continental on February 16, 1996, local audiences showed strong enthusiasm, cheering underdogs and participants like Thomas Ramirez against American opponents such as , contributing to a lively atmosphere at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum despite logistical hurdles that foreshadowed broader organizational strains. Commentators Jeff Blatnick and , during the pay-per-view broadcast, underscored the competitive validity of grappling-dominant strategies, with Blatnick— an Olympic gold medalist wrestler—praising wrestling's role in overcoming size disparities, as exemplified by Frye's tournament wins via takedowns and ground-and-pound. Fans in attendance and early viewers lauded moments of high intensity, such as Gary Goodridge's devastating of Paul Herrera in the opening bout, viewing it as a showcase of unfiltered rather than mere . In contrast, U.S. framed the "David vs. Goliath" format—pairing lighter fighters against heavyweights—as exacerbating risks of injury without sufficient rules, fueling perceptions of the UFC as unsportsmanlike entertainment amid a national backlash that saw cable providers drop events later in 1996. This skepticism reflected systemic concerns over no-holds-barred fighting's safety, though niche coverage emphasized empirical lessons on technique over size, with the event's 160,000 buys indicating growing interest among dedicated followers despite the controversy.

Protests and Regulatory Criticisms

UFC 8, held on December 21, 1996, at the Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez in , marked the first instance of organized political opposition to a UFC event, primarily driven by Michigan state representative Calvin McCard. McCard traveled to the venue to protest the tournament, publicly condemning it for promoting gratuitous and , arguing that such spectacles desensitized audiences to human brutality. His on-site demonstration, involving signage and vocal objections outside the arena, represented the inaugural documented case of a directly challenging UFC's of no-holds-barred without weight classes or time limits. In the lead-up to the event, Puerto Rican authorities attempted to intervene with a last-minute ruling to ban the fights, citing concerns over excessive violence and potential for severe injuries, though the prohibition was not enforced in time, allowing the card to proceed. This permissive outcome in contrasted sharply with the regulatory landscape in the mainland , where multiple states, including and , had already prohibited UFC events due to their perception as unsanctioned bloodsports lacking medical oversight or standardized rules. UFC's strategy of hosting in jurisdictions like exemplified early efforts to circumvent domestic bans through geographic selection, enabling continuation amid growing scrutiny from athletic commissions focused on fighter safety data from prior events showing high rates of knockouts and submissions-induced injuries. McCard's activism at UFC 8 did not result in an immediate cancellation or broader prohibition for the promotion but ignited a chain of regulatory backlash, influencing subsequent nationwide efforts to classify MMA as . His protests contributed to heightened awareness among U.S. legislators, foreshadowing interventions by figures like U.S. Senator , who later cited UFC footage—including from this event—to lobby governors for statewide bans based on empirical observations of unchecked aggression and trauma. While no formal athletic commission sanctions directly stemmed from UFC 8, the episode underscored emerging tensions between MMA's raw format and regulators' demands for evidence-based reforms, such as mandatory gloves and weight divisions, to mitigate documented risks like concussions and fractures.

Legacy and Impact

Effects on Individual Fighters

Don Frye, the UFC 8 tournament winner, leveraged his rapid victories—including a 8-second of Thomas Ramirez and subsequent stoppages of and Mark Hall—to secure immediate further opportunities within the promotion. Just five months later, on July 12, 1996, Frye captured the tournament title by defeating Hall in the final via at 10:21 of the first round, solidifying his status as a top draw and transitioning into with from 1997 to 2001, alongside media appearances in films and video games. Mark Hall, who advanced to the final by defeating via doctor stoppage due to a severe cut at 4:48 of the semifinal, experienced short-term career momentum despite the loss to Frye. At on May 17, 1996, Hall achieved a notable 42-second victory over sumo wrestler Koji Kitao via punches, but his rematch with Frye at ended in defeat, contributing to a overall professional record of 5-6-0 before retiring around 2001 to pursue construction and writing. Gary Goodridge, stopped in the semifinals by Hall due to a laceration requiring medical intervention, maintained a protracted career marked by resilience despite the setback. He competed in over 50 additional bouts across promotions like FC and K-1, accumulating a record of 23-25-1 (including no contests) through 2013, though plagued by knockouts that highlighted durability limits rather than newfound opportunities. Jerry Bohlander, defeated by Frye in the semifinals via punches at 5:24, faced exposure of his deficiencies against wrestlers, leading to a submission loss to at on May 17, 1997, after which his record stalled at 6-3-0 with sparse activity before retirement. Kimo Leopoldo, who lost the non-tournament superfight to Ken Shamrock via kneebar submission at 4:24, validated his aggressive striking style enough to secure Japanese bookings, posting four wins—including two over UFC 2 finalist Patrick Smith—before further UFC and Pride appearances, though personal issues curtailed sustained success in a 10-7-1 career. Thomas Ramirez, knocked out by Frye in 8 seconds of the quarterfinals, did not pursue additional professional MMA bouts, ending his record at 0-1-0 and exemplifying how early exposure revealed limitations for novices without diversified skills. Sam Adkins, submitted or stopped early in the tournament, similarly faded with a career of 2-5-0, limited by inadequate preparation against elite . Scott Ferrozzo's quarterfinal bout against Bohlander ended in a doctor stoppage at approximately 6 minutes due to accumulated damage, marking his sole MMA appearance at 0-1-0 and preventing further opportunities. No formal medical suspensions were documented for UFC 8 participants, as standardized protocols emerged later in the sport, though the era's lack of regulation allowed quick returns despite visible injuries like cuts and strikes-induced stoppages.

Influence on UFC and MMA Evolution

UFC 8's single-night eight-man tournament, requiring victor to secure three consecutive wins on December 21, 1996, highlighted the extreme physical demands and elevated injury risks inherent in such formats, accelerating the UFC's transition away from exhaustive one-night brackets toward multi-night tournaments starting with and eventually non-tournament events with standardized rounds. This shift addressed fighter fatigue, as evidenced by Frye's visible exhaustion in later bouts, and aligned with emerging regulatory pressures from athletic commissions demanding demonstrations of participant welfare to legitimize the sport. The event's results empirically validated as a viable hybrid discipline, with Frye's wrestling dominance over strikers like Thomas Ramirez and countering contemporary dismissals of grappling's effectiveness against stand-up arts, thereby encouraging integration that became foundational to modern MMA curricula. Observed bout dynamics, including submissions and ground control, provided data refuting claims of MMA as mere "human cockfighting," instead showcasing controlled chaos that informed gradual safety enhancements, such as mandatory time limits by and smaller gloves by to curb cuts without altering competitive integrity. Participation by international competitors, including from and representatives from , established an early template for global roster diversity, predating the UFC's formal international expansion in the 2000s and fostering pathways for non-American talent that broadened MMA's appeal and talent pool worldwide. Sustained pay-per-view interest in early events like UFC 8, building on prior buys averaging under 100,000 yet demonstrating resilience amid bans in states like , supplied commercial evidence of market viability, undermining calls for outright prohibition by illustrating adaptive over time.

References

  1. [1]
    UFC 8 - David vs. Goliath - Sherdog
    UFC 8 - David vs. Goliath, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Feb 16, 1996, Puerto Rico, Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico.
  2. [2]
    UFC 8: David vs Goliath | MMA Event - Tapology
    UFC 8 took place Friday, February 16, 1996 with 9 fights at Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. View fight card, video, results, predictions, ...
  3. [3]
    UFC 8 | David vs Goliath
    Feb 16, 2024 · Fri, Feb 16 / 2:00 PM PDT. Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum,. UFC 8. Fri, Feb 16 / 2:00 PM PDT. Fri, Feb 16 / 2:00 PM PDT. Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum,.Missing: date | Show results with:date
  4. [4]
    UFC 8: David vs. Goliath Fight Results - ESPN
    Feb 16, 1996 · UFC 8: David vs. Goliath ; KimoLeopoldo. 4-5-1 · Sub. R1, 4:24 ; GaryGoodridge. 14-18-0 · KO/TKO. R1, 5:31 ; SamAdkins. 2-5-0 · TKO - Dr. R1, 0:48.Missing: bracket | Show results with:bracket
  5. [5]
    If you don't think the show will go on, you don't know the UFC
    Mar 17, 2020 · Don Frye won UFC 8's eight-man tournament in 1996. The event almost didn't happen because of political pressure from Puerto Rico's government.
  6. [6]
    'Please, God, end this': Inside the rise and fall of the cheesy UFC ...
    Feb 11, 2021 · Goliath,” a spectacle constructed around a theme of skilled smaller fighters matched against less capable giants, which went gangbusters at the ...
  7. [7]
    The Evolution Of UFC Event Marketing: From The Beginning To UFC ...
    Jul 9, 2016 · The focus would be on martial arts, not street fighting. Fertitta wanted to position UFC so it would appeal to a network – showing the extreme ...
  8. [8]
    UFC 8: No small Frye - Yahoo Sports
    Apr 10, 2009 · Just days before the show, the Puerto Rican government made a ruling banning the event. Two days before the card, Cablevision became the ...Missing: regulatory hurdles
  9. [9]
    A Timeline of UFC Rules: From No-Holds-Barred to Highly Regulated
    May 31, 2018 · At the inaugural UFC event, there were three rules: no biting, eye gouging or groin strikes. Ironically, these were the same rules employed for ...
  10. [10]
    How UFC Rules Have Evolved Over Time - Combatpit
    UFC 8: Time limits varied, and judges' decisions became possible. UFC 9: Closed-fisted strikes ban as a one-time rule due to local pressures. It was the last ...
  11. [11]
    Pay Per View Buys - Tapology
    UFC 147, Silva vs. Franklin 2, 2012.06.23, 175,000. UFC 234, Adesanya vs. Silva, 2019.02.09, 175,000. UFC 8, David vs Goliath, 1996.02.16, 160,000. Kovalev vs.
  12. [12]
    DVD REVIEW: UFC 8 - David vs. Goliath tournament with debuts of ...
    Oct 24, 2006 · UFC 8: David vs. Goliath took place on February 16, 1996 at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The event was a single ...
  13. [13]
    UFC 8 Review: Ken Shamrock vs. Kimo, David vs. Goliath
    Jun 7, 2018 · Bruce Beck is our host, speaking in laughably bad Spanish, accompanied by Jeff Blatnick and the irritating Don Wilson. ... UFC 9. To the ...
  14. [14]
    MMA: 8 Men Out - ESPN
    While Abbott and Shamrock threatened genuine violence, SEG was concerned over conflict of a different sort. Robert DePersia, a lawyer and sports agent out of ...Missing: international | Show results with:international
  15. [15]
    Ranking the 25 most influential people in UFC history - ESPN
    Nov 8, 2018 · Meyrowitz said yes. As founder and president of the Semaphore Entertainment Group, he was a pioneer in pay-per-view television, producing mostly ...
  16. [16]
    How big brands eventually warmed up to the UFC - The Athletic
    Sep 12, 2019 · ... Semaphore Entertainment Group, which produced the UFC broadcast and eventually purchased the promotion outright. A day prior to the event ...<|separator|>
  17. [17]
    https://www.ufc.com/events
  18. [18]
    5 Things You Might Not Know About Don Frye - Sherdog
    Nov 30, 2021 · The Sierra Vista, Arizona, native appeared in 11 different promotions during his 31-fight career as a mixed martial artist. Frye went 9-1 in the ...
  19. [19]
    Don Frye - National Wrestling Hall of Fame
    A standout collegiate wrestler at Arizona State University and Oklahoma State University, Frye built a strong foundation in amateur wrestling before ...
  20. [20]
    Gary "Big Daddy" Goodridge - Official Web Site
    He took two classes in kuk sool won before making his MMA debut in the eight-man tournament at UFC 8: David vs. Goliath in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  21. [21]
    Kimo Leopoldo MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography
    Kimo Leopoldo ; AGE, 57 / Jan 4, 1968 ; HEIGHT, 6'3" / 190.5 cm ; WEIGHT, 235 lbs / 106.59 kg ; TKO. 4. Meter. 40% ; SUBMISSIONS. 6. Meter. 60%.
  22. [22]
    Jerry Bohlander MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography
    Jerry Bohlander. Jerry Bohlander. AGE, 50 / Nov 2, 1974. HEIGHT, 5'11" / 180.34 cm ... UFC 18 - Road to the Heavyweight Title Jan / 08 / 1999, TKO (Cut) John ...
  23. [23]
    Sam Adkins ("The Experience") | MMA Fighter Page - Tapology
    Sam "The Experience" Adkins (7-20-2) is a Pro MMA Fighter out of USA. View complete Tapology profile, bio, rankings, photos, news and record.Missing: background | Show results with:background
  24. [24]
    Don Frye vs. Sam Adkins, UFC 8 | MMA Bout - Tapology
    Don Frye "The Predator" vs. KO/TKO 0:48 R1 ◀︎ ▶︎ Sam Adkins Sam Adkins "The Experience" W Frye defeats Adkins L KO/TKO, Cut 0:48 Round 1 of 1
  25. [25]
    Don Frye vs. Gary Goodridge I, UFC 8 | MMA Bout - Tapology
    UFC 8: David vs Goliath; Date: Friday 02.16.1996; Referee: John McCarthy; Venue: Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum; Enclosure: Octagon; Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico ...
  26. [26]
    Don Frye on Winning 50k and the UFC World Title at ... - YouTube
    May 26, 2025 · Don Frye on Winning 50k and the UFC World Title at UFC 8 #ufc #mma #donfrye ... This content isn't available. Skip video.Missing: prize money
  27. [27]
    Don Frye vs. Thomas Ramirez, UFC 8 | MMA Bout | Tapology
    Frye vs. Ramirez at UFC 8 on Tapology. View Frye vs. Ramirez fight video, highlights, news, Twitter updates, and fight results.
  28. [28]
    Don "The Predator" Frye MMA Stats, Pictures, News ... - Sherdog
    After winning three fights in just over three minutes combined at UFC 8, Don Frye defeated Amaury Bitetti via TKO by 9 minutes and 22 seconds at UFC 9.
  29. [29]
    Ken Shamrock vs. Kimo Leopoldo I, UFC 8 | MMA Bout - Tapology
    Ken Shamrock "The World's Most Dangerous Man" vs. Submission 4:24 R1 Kimo Leopoldo Kimo Leopoldo W Shamrock defeats Leopoldo L Submission, Kneebar 4:24 Round 1 ...
  30. [30]
    'Old School MMA Review' UFC 8 - The David vs. Goliath Tournament
    Dec 18, 2013 · 'Old School MMA Review' UFC 8 – The David vs. Goliath Tournament ... Following up after the amazing Ultimate Ultimate tournament at the end of ...
  31. [31]
    The pitfalls that faced UFC before its television success | MMA Fighting
    Nov 16, 2013 · In 1996, before a show in Detroit, Canadian cable distributors pulled out of airing any future UFC events. At the time, Canada represented ...
  32. [32]
    Historic MMA Rivalries, Part Five: Politicians vs. MMA
    Feb 25, 2009 · Calvin McCard, a local San Juan politician, opposed the idea of holding UFC 8 in Puerto Rico. ... ban the sport in the U.S. completely.Missing: hurdles | Show results with:hurdles
  33. [33]
    UFC 8: What happened when Ken Shamrock faced Kimo?
    Nov 15, 2018 · Senator John McCain picked up on the opposition of Michigan politician, Calvin McCard who took the trouble to travel to Puerto Rico to protest ...
  34. [34]
    [PDF] The Political Campaign To Destroy Mixed Martial Arts - ucf stars
    The political campaign to ban MMA in the 1990s, part of a larger movement to censor violent entertainment, led to MMA's self-regulation and acceptance.Missing: hurdles | Show results with:hurdles
  35. [35]
    Don Frye | Puroresu System Wiki - Fandom
    In MMA he was one of the sport's earliest well-rounded fighters and he had instant success, winning the UFC 8 and Ultimate Ultimate 96 tournaments and finishing ...Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  36. [36]
    Mark "The Cobra" Hall MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography
    UFC 10 - The Tournament Jul / 12 / 1996, TKO (Punches) John McCarthy, 1, 10:21. win, Koji Kitao · UFC 9 - Motor City Madness May / 17 / 1996, TKO (Doctor ...
  37. [37]
    Mark Hall Record: 5-6-0 - Stats | UFC
    Mark Hall Record: 5-6-0 Career statistics: SLpM - Significant Strikes Landed per Minute Str. Acc. - Significant Striking Accuracy SApM - Significant Strikes ...Missing: 8 | Show results with:8
  38. [38]
    Thomas Ramirez | MMA Fighter Page - Tapology
    Name: Thomas Ramirez Nickname: N/A Pro MMA Record: 0-1-0 (Win-Loss-Draw) Current MMA Streak: 1 Loss Born: Puerto Rico Fighting out of: Bayamon, Puerto Rico.
  39. [39]
    Why Tournaments Would Never Work in the UFC - Bleacher Report
    Jun 4, 2018 · The easiest way to explain why a UFC tournament wouldn't work is to direct you towards the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix that took place ...
  40. [40]
    How the Ultimate Fighting Championship Works | HowStuffWorks
    May 1, 2007 · The event was in a tournament format (most early UFC events followed suit). The winner of a match moved up in the tournament to face another ...
  41. [41]
    The Growth of the UFC: From Obscurity to Global Domination
    May 27, 2025 · By 2009, the UFC held 8 of the top 10 PPV events of the year in combat sports. 4. International Expansion. The UFC began expanding globally: UFC ...
  42. [42]
    8 UFC Viewership Statistics for Avid Sports Fans - PlayToday.co
    Feb 23, 2024 · 7. The average UFC PPV buys for 2018 is 447,000. The average UFC pay-per-view buys rose steadily from 70,000 to 158,000 between 2001 and 2005. ...