by Art Davie
“This would make a great movie.”
— JOHN MILIUS, Academy Award Nominated Screenwriter & Director, Conan the Barbarian
“Is This Legal? is an honest, shocking, enthralling and nostalgic look back at the creation of the modern age of mixed martial arts in the United States. This is all the real stuff that no one gets to see or hear about, when the newest combative sport of MMA was forged, and Art Davie was one of its founding fathers! Thanks goes out to Art for persevering, and giving all professional martial artists a place to ply our wares and test our skills.”
— RANDY COUTURE, UFC Hall of Famer & Former UFC Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Champion
“The first Ultimate Fighting Championship reset the martial arts culture in the U.S., and created a brand-new American sport that’s now become a global phenomenon. Art Davie’s vision of blending combat sports and entertainment inspired a PPV and martial arts generation, while creating new careers for combat sports athletes.”
— FRANK SHAMROCK, First-Ever UFC Middleweight Champion
“Is This Legal? is a fantastic read for anyone, regardless of MMA knowledge. Compelling. Funny. Honest. Art and Sean depict both notable and behind the scenes information that most people never get the opportunity to experience or hear about. As someone who’s been involved in the sport wholeheartedly since 1994, I really appreciated and enjoyed learning more about how this all came together from an insider’s view.”
— ROB HINDS, MMA Referee, Judge & ABC Officials’ Trainer
“This book shows even a hardcore fan just how little they know about the origins of the UFC. It’s amazing to think that the sport I love was created by a cast of characters straight out of Alice In Wonderland. This book is a truly illuminating read.”
— JIMMY SMITH, Television Color Commentator, Bellator MMA
“I thought, ‘This is crazy!’ when Art Davie first told me he was going to pit fighters from different fighting styles against one another. This was the birth of the UFC. Having been in the ring as a kickboxer, the idea of “no rules” was exhilarating to me. This book will entertain fans and newcomers, while at the same time reveal Art Davie’s tenacity in attaining his dream, and making it a reality. I’m honored to call Art a lifelong friend. Is This Legal? tells the whole story.”
— EARNEST HART, Jr., Former PKA Kickboxing World Champion
“I know a thing or two about the sport of MMA, having managed some of the best fighters in the business. Art Davie single-handedly changed the world’s understanding of martial arts. Because of him, the age old question about who would win in a real fight has finally been answered. Art was a true genius and a pioneer. It’s been an honor to call him my friend.”
— DARIN HARVEY, President, Fight Tribe Management
“It’s about time we MMA addicts were told the ‘rest of the story’ as to how our sport was birthed. Without Art Davie’s vision and perseverance there would never have been a Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, Georges St-Pierre or Anderson Silva. Thank you Art and Sean for letting us know all the hurdles that were overcome to create the sport of MMA. Is this Legal? is epic!”
— KEN PAVIA, Founder, MMAgents & International MMA Promotional Consultant
“My brother Barry, my father and I used to go to watch the UFC in towns no one had ever heard of, because at that time there was no sanctioning body to regulate MMA. It was love at first fight. Eventually, we moved the company that Barry founded, Tuff-N-Uff Productions, to Las Vegas and began promoting MMA events full-time. All of us in the MMA world owe a great debt of gratitude to Art Davie. He was the visionary for what has become a worldwide recognized legitimate sport. Thank you Art!”
— JEFF MEYER, CEO, Tuff-N-Uff Productions
“Is This Legal? tells the Genesis story of the first Ultimate Fighting Championship. This was a ship of fools--an ark that carried one of every type of martial artist. The champion who emerged was a man whose art means gentleness, Royce Gracie. He showed that jiu-jitsu would inherit the earth, as he submitted every opponent with grace and dignity, rather than sheer violence. And the only man who can tell this story was the navigator, Art Davie. He was our Noah. Even though I was there, as one of the 10 fighters, this book blew me away.”
— JASON DELUCIA, Fighter, First Ultimate Fighting Championship
“Is This Legal? is a great history on the development of the world of mixed matial arts. It’s a remarkable account of taking a sport from a thought to a reality. Art and Sean explain all the trials and tribulations that had to be overcome to make it all happen.”
— MICHAEL MAZZULLI, Director, Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation & Contributing Author, Unified Rules of MMA
“When Art Davie created the Ultimate Fighting Championship, it changed the way the world looked at the martial arts. Misunderstood, misjudged and revolutionary, the UFC led the way to the future of unarmed combat sports. I’m honored to have been there at the first UFC as the manager of Kevin Rosier. Art is the man!”
— CHARLIE ANZALONE, Deputy Inspector, Nevada State Athletic Commission
“Art Davie’s vision, without a doubt, created an entire industry that did not exist prior to UFC 1. People like myself, having started martial arts in the early 1970s, had to pursue their passion as a hobby. Trying to make martial arts a career meant that you were struggling every day to keep the lights on. I’m thankful for Art Davie and the opportunity that he afforded me by creating the foundation we now know as Mixed Martial Arts. Because of this man, I’m able to be a full-time coach, and put food on my family’s table by doing what I love.”
— TY PILGRIM, MMA Judge & Head Coach, Fight Science Center
“The first ever Ultimate Fighting Championship changed my life. When I was 10 years old, me and my best friend saw an ad for UFC 1 in Black Belt magazine. We were able to convince his dad to order the Pay-Per-View. It started with a gruesome fight where Teila Tuli got kicked in the face, which knocked his tooth out; then he got punched in the eye. Blood was dripping out of his eye and mouth. I was traumatized! I really thought I was going to witness someone die—like a real life Bloodsport. But by the end of it, a skinny Brazilian dominated the whole thing. I was blown away. It was right then and there I looked at my friend and said, ‘I’m going to do that, and I’m going to be the champion!’ I then dedicated my life to becoming the best martial artist I can be”
— BEN SAUNDERS, Pro MMA Fighter & UFC Veteran
“I thought I knew just about everything there was to know on the birth of MMA in this country. What I found out in Is This Legal? is that I knew barely anything. Art and Sean have masterfully crafted a fascinating and compelling must-read for anyone who prides themselves on being a combat sports fan.”
— KEVIN KAY, President, Spike TV
“This is a must-read for all UFC fans! The Man, the Myth, the Legend, Art Davie tells the true, inside story of how he created the Ultimate Fighting Championship. You will laugh out loud when you discover the human side of how the toughest sport on the planet got its start!”
— TEDD WILLIAMS, Owner, Gladiator Challenge & UFC Veteran
“My buddy Sean knows more about MMA than anyone else I’ve met, plus he’s a fellow Kansan, so how can you go wrong? For someone like me, who knows little about the beginnings of mixed martial arts, this book is a great tool to learn about the sport. I have a newfound respect for everything MMA, and the amount of research and knowledge that Art and Sean have put into Is This Legal? is astounding.”
— RICHARD CHRISTY, Comedian, Musician & Actor
Copyright © 2014 by Art Davie
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher.
All names, logos, and symbols that appear in this book are trademarks of their individual organizations and institutions and have been reproduced with permission. This notice is for the protection of trademark rights only, and in no way represents the approval or disapproval of the text of this book by those organizations or institutions.
Requests for permission should be addressed to: Ascend Books, LLC, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, 12710 Pflumm Road, Suite 200, Olathe, KS. 66062
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN: print book 978-0-9912756-4-9
ISBN: e-book 978-0-9912756-5-6
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publications Data Available Upon Request
Publisher: Bob Snodgrass
Editor: Jim Bradford
Publication Coordinator: Christine Drummond
Sales and Marketing: Lenny Cohen and Dylan Tucker
Dust Jacket and Book Design: Rob Peters
All photos courtesy of Art Davie unless otherwise indicated.
Every reasonable attempt has been made to determine the ownership of copyright. Please notify the publisher of any erroneous credits or omissions, and corrections will be made to subsequent editions/future printings. The goal of Ascend Books is to publish quality works. With that goal in mind, we are proud to offer this book to our readers. Please note however, that the story, the experiences and the words are those of the authors alone.
Printed in the United States of America
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION
FOREWORD
By “Big” John McCarthy
PREFACE
PROLOGUE
Chapter 1 THE VERY BEGINNING
Chapter 2 THE WORLD’S BEST FIGHTER
Chapter 3 THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL
Chapter 4 THE GRACIE CHALLENGE
Chapter 5 W.O.W. PROMOTIONS
Chapter 6 THE ROAD TO MANDALAY
Chapter 7 THE NEW YORK BANKEES
Chapter 8 SHARKS AND GOLDFISH
Chapter 9 IS THIS LEGAL?
Chapter 10 THERE ARE NO RULES
Chapter 11 THE FIRST UFC
Chapter 12 MONSTERS BALL
AFTERWORD
By Sean Wheelock
EPILOGUE
THE STATS
INDEX
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
AUTHOR BIOS
DEDICATION
Dedicated to the 10 men who competed in the first Ultimate Fighting Championship:
Royce Gracie
Gerard Gordeau
Ken Shamrock
Kevin Rosier
Teila Tuli
Zane Frazier
Art Jimmerson
Pat Smith
Jason DeLucia
Trent Jenkins
FOREWORD
“BIG” JOHN McCARTHY
THIS has taken me 20 years, so this is no doubt coming later than it should have. But there is something that I need to say. Art Davie—thank you for providing me a chance at a life I only dreamed of. I have had such a rich life, seen so many things, gone to so many places and been part of the growth of the sport that I love, all made possible because of a dream you fought for. You took big chances, rolled the dice and created a legacy not only for you, but also for others. Some from the past, some from our present and many more who will be part of the future of MMA.
What is it about people who change the world, push evolution forward and make an impact that positively affects millions of people’s lives? The real question is how do you even realize when you cross paths with one of those special few? I have always said I needed a crystal ball. Not just one that sits on your desk at work or a mantel at home. But one that is true to life, gets all cloudy, dark and scary, and then blazes out beams of light showing the future. At least the crystal ball would have been able to answer the questions of my future. It would have told me about a family from Brazil that would have a great impact in my life. And it would have also told me that the loud, smartass ad man who I first met at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy would be someone who was going to help change my life in ways I never thought possible!
Simply put, Art Davie changed my life. That’s a bold statement to make, and one that over 20 years ago I never would have made. But he absolutely did, and I have always known I needed to thank him for it. Not that my life before the Ultimate Fighting Championship was bad; it absolutely was not. However, as you get older and have the ability to look back at the road traveled, you can see where the road forked, and get a very good indication of who and what helped make those changes possible.
The first time I met Art, I really didn’t know what to think of the Brooklyn raised salesman who seemed like he could out talk everyone in the place, and probably sell ice to Eskimos. Art is a fast talker who can capture your attention with bold statements and slick lines, but there is no denying that he is smart. Maybe not MIT smart, but definitely smart at what he does, and street smart as hell. He can read people well, and knows how to use what I call “Verbal Jiu-jitsu” as well as anyone. He is a black belt with words. He possesses the qualities that you find in very successful people. Art doesn’t take “no” for an answer, and works tirelessly to get to where he wants to go before anyone else can get there.
Over the years I came to know Art well. In one way or another we worked together debating about fighters, writing rules, giving nicknames or just kicking back in his office talking about fights. Art gave me the nickname “Big John.” He wasn’t the first to say it—that would be my mom. But he was the first to push it in every introduction he made, and eventually had announcers following his lead.
Many people take credit for starting the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or are given credit for it by other misinformed individuals. Even more say they were there, or were part of the circus that finally came to fruition on November 12, 1993. Well I can tell you that I was there, I was part of that circus and I can emphatically state that I had nothing to do with the beginning of the UFC. But I know who did, and the man at the top of that list is Art Davie.
The story you are about to read is true. None of the names were changed to protect the innocent, and fortunately none of the names were changed to protect the clueless. You will learn the exact involvement of key players, because Art needed them all to pull off one of the most amazing feats in modern day sports. Though a dream by any standard, Art was able to create a sport that in 20 years has become common around the world. And the very company that he created is now worth approximately $3.5 billion! Think about every other major sport on the planet, and they all have a long history dating back decades and even centuries.
Twenty years ago I was listening to Art talk about the fighters who were going to be part of the very first UFC. He compared them to guys like Chuck Yeager, stepping into the X-15 rocket plane, and attempting to break the speed of sound. Art dramatically labeled them as guys testing the outer boundaries of the martial arts, and said that they would someday be remembered for changing the martial arts in a way that was never seen before. Art was right. If not for guys like Teila Tuli, Gerard Gordeau, Kevin Rosier, Zane Frazier, Trent Jenkins, Jason DeLucia, Ken Shamrock, Pat Smith, Art Jimmerson and Royce Gracie taking that first step, we never would have heard of Georges St-Pierre, Randy Couture, Anderson Silva, BJ Penn and Chuck Liddell.
As we get older, we hopefully get wiser. And we probably get a little more sentimental about life, and what part we have taken in the grand scheme of things. I know that in the end, my hope is that I did enough to make my children proud. I hope that I went about doing things the right way, even if that meant that there was going to be a lot of hard work involved in getting things to their rightful place. One of the best and truest statements I have ever heard spoken about Art and the UFC was actually said by Art himself. When he was interviewed about the 20th anniversary of the UFC, he said, “Long after I’m gone, MMA will still be around.”
Yes it will,
Art. Oh, yes, it will!
PREFACE
THERE IS A TIDE IN THE AFFAIRS OF MEN, WHICH, WHEN TAKEN AT THE FLOOD, LEADS ON TO FORTUNE...
— WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
THIS is the inside, behind-the-scenes, no bullshit story of the most important Ultimate Fighting Championship event in history: the first UFC. Yes, the very first one—held in Denver, on November 12, 1993. When finally unleashed on an unsuspecting public, it gave birth to the sport that became known as mixed martial arts (MMA). It was of course the most significant event in UFC and MMA history because it was the first. If it had failed, there would be no UFC today. Moreover, having been the first, it still stands as the most difficult and unlikely to have ever been staged. Without a doubt, if it had flopped, the entire genre would never have been born, not as we know it anyway.
Despite being just a loose cannon advertising executive, I truly believed that I could pull this off. As you’ll discover in this book, I enlisted those who gave me the credibility and the money that I knew I lacked, and so desperately needed, to make my dream a reality.
Now I’m not going to tell you that I invented mixed match fighting—taking different styles from the various martial arts and combat sports and throwing them together. Far from it.
I was simply the guy who knew that it would consistently work on a major scale, and then went about trying to prove it.
How the UFC was created, and who really built it will be disclosed in this book; nothing will be held back. You will see what part I played, and what parts were played by the talented people who joined this circus.
As I said, all true.
The creation of the first Ultimate Fighting Championship evolved over four years, from a modest idea that I had for an advertising client, into a quest that consumed my entire life. The UFC was not pre-destined to be a success, nor even happen, and the rejections and roadblocks seemed endless. I knew where I wanted to go—I just had no road map on how to get there, or even if it was possible to reach my destination.
