Tale of the tape: UFC 2: No Way Out

Four months later, on March 11, 1994, the UFC sequel took place at the Mammoth Gardens, again in Denver Colorado.

UFC 1 was an eight-man tournament. This time, sixteen martial-arts veterans squared off in ‘no holds barred’ combat. And like the first event, ‘no holds barred’ sounded great, but it wasn’t quite true: biting and eye gouging were prohibited.

Sixteen contestants meant one extra confrontation to get to the finals. A lot of the fighters were untested outside their discipline and rule set, so an extra round allowed for the quick elimination of anyone not truly up for the challenge. The full sixteen fights are available on the home video, but were not part of the Pay-Per-View broadcast, with the exception of the first fight of returning champion, Royce Gracie.

Two other changes were made from the initial event. First, the unlimited five-minute rounds were abandoned. This time there were no rounds at all. The fights would go on as long as they had to, without interruption. (The longest bout was just over twelve minutes.) Second, the mat inside the octagon was made “quicker”. That is to say, firmer material was used to give equal advantage to strikers as to grapplers; however, the term ‘strikers’ was not yet common parlance. These fighters were referred to as ‘punchers and kickers.’

Royce Gracie was back to defend his title, of course, and tae kwon do authority Patrick Smith returned for a second try after an early upset against Ken Shamrock in the quarter-finals of UFC 1. Shamrock, though, did not make an appearance in UFC 2 (except for a sideline interview in which he tipped Gracie as the winner). Also, now a household name for UFC fans, referee “Big” John McCarthy made his debut.

Gracie’s first-round fight against Japanese sensation Minoki Ichihara ended quickly in a collar choke submission, although the announcers called it as an arm-bar. Gracie’s quarter-final match against red sash kung fu practitioner Jason DeLucia ended with an arm-lock in a minute and seven seconds. He took thirty seconds longer to win the semi-final, but his technique paid off once again. He submitted the Dutchman Remco Pardoel, a multiple title-holding jiu-jitsu expert with a ninety-pound advantage, with a lapel choke. (Gracie got on Pardoel’s back and pulled the lapel of his gi – the traditional martial arts robe – around his neck.)

Patrick Smith won his quarter-final match in less than thirty seconds with a quick mount and brutal ground and pound. His semi-final match ended in a guillotine choke in the same amount of time as it took Gracie to submit Jason DeLucia. And that brought Mr Smith to stand before the defending champion.

When Royce Gracie fights, his face is cast in zen concentration, like a guitar master shredding an epic riff, or a thirteen-year-old Call of Duty soldier fragging a school bully. He moves precisely. He lashes out low with his right leg to keep his opponent at bay while he prepares for an assault. It was a world caught unprepared for the Gracie style of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Few could see his take-downs coming, let alone do anything to defend them.

Patrick Smith was a strong opponent, and he definitely landed some fists and knees, but it was all defensive, all from within Gracie’s clench. And for the $60,000 prize, Gracie didn’t even need to submit Smith. He cinched his mount until his knees were up at Smith’s armpits. He rained down a few head shots. And then Big John McCarthy pulled Gracie off. The towel was in. Smith’s corner knew it was futile. The contest was decided.

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