UFC 8

TUFC 8: David vs. Goliath was a mixed martial arts event held by Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 16, 1996, at Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The event was broadcast live on pay per view in the United States, and later released on home video.

History

UFC 8 featured an eight-man tournament, and a UFC Superfight Championship fight between reigning UFC Champion Ken Shamrock and Kimo Leopoldo. The event also featured one alternate fight, which was not shown on the live pay-per-view broadcast. The tournament had no weight classes, or weight limits. A 10 minute time limit was imposed for all matches in the tournament.

Also, this was the first UFC where three judges scored the fights - in order to eliminate any potential draws - possibly in response to UFC 7 where a draw was declared after 33 minutes of the Superfight where Ken Shamrock fought Oleg Taktarov. The referee for the night was 'Big' John McCarthy. The event's matchups pitted larger fighters against smaller fighters, hence the term "David vs. Goliath".

Local promoter for the historical first and only professional mixed martial arts event was Richy Miranda-Cortese, whose company Sports & Entertainment Ltd had to take local Government officials to Federal Court in order to avoid cancellation of the event by the Government. Among those government officials was Governor Pedro Rosello and Sports and Recreation Director Erick Labrador. The presentation of the event developed into a new boxing commission rules and regulations and Imposition of a banning Law that was later overturned after Miranda-Cortese fought it in court.

The championship fight featured Don Frye against Gary Goodridge, with Frye taking the victory via strikes 2:14 into the fight.

The event is also notable as being the first MMA event to draw criticism, including local politician Calvin McCard’s on site protests at UFC 8. These protests would spark the nationwide movement against MMA in 1996, spearheaded by Arizona Senator John McCain, which would later temporarily push the sport in the United States underground in 1997.

Results

Alternate bouts

* United States Sam Adkins vs. United States Keith Mielke

Adkins wins by submission due to strikes at 0:50.

Quarterfinals

* United States Don Frye vs. Puerto Rico Thomas Ramirez

Frye wins by KO at 0:08.

* United States Paul Varelans vs. Brazil Joe Moreira

Varelans wins by unanimous decision at 10:00. Due to injury sustained in this fight, Varelans was unable to continue in the tournament and was replaced by Sam Adkins.

* United States Jerry Bohlander vs. United States Scott Ferrozzo

Bohlander wins by submission (guillotine choke) at 9:05.

* Canada Gary Goodridge vs. United States Paul Herrera

Goodridge wins by KO due to elbow strikes at 0:13.