Media Celebrating Black History Month - UFC’s first black champion

[Levi_]

Yeah, I've often listed it as one of the greatest upsets in UFC history but not many current fans know about it.

As a sport, the UFC is harder to follow than others in terms of understanding the relationship of old and new fights and unpacking how the sport evolved. You can tell many new fans miss context and have a skewed perspective.

It was a bit later, but another epic upset was when BJ first moved up and beat an invincible looking (at the time) WW champ Hughes. Few saw that one coming, and those kinds of accomplishments get missed when you only looked at fight finder and read his 16-14 record years later.

 

[TWAK]

Bruce fresh out of High School!

 

[mkt]

As a sport, the UFC is harder to follow than others in terms of understanding the relationship of old and new fights and unpacking how the sport evolved. You can tell many new fans miss context and have a skewed perspective.

It was a bit later, but another epic upset was when BJ first moved up and beat an invincible looking (at the time) WW champ Hughes. Few saw that one coming, and those kinds of accomplishments get missed when you only looked at fight finder and read his 16-14 record years later.

While it wasn't as big of an upset at the time, Frank Shamrock beating Tito aged well, especially as weight classes evolved. Tito would still be a big LHW while Frank might be a WW if he fought now (though he didn't want to cut to 170 when he fought). Like his training partner Mo Smith, Frank let his opponent continually take him down and wear himself out. It was like Ali's rope-a-dope for MMA (or NHB as it was called at the time).

 

[IronGolem007]

His explosiveness, his raw, uncut power. His relentless pace and ability to bang other men into submission. His thick, strong muscular body with tremendous girth, and size helped him become the first black champion.

Who gives AF about "blacks" (or "whites"), or anything NOT directly relevant to skills and heart?

Anyone who favors any fighter due to "race" is an asshole.
The ONLY factors true fight fans give a shit about are:

Heart, durability, stamina, and skill.
At the Championship level.

No honest fan gives two shits about "race" or background.

 

[mkt]

Who gives AF about "blacks" (or "whites"), or anything NOT directly relevant to skills and heart?

Anyone who favors any fighter due to "race" is an asshole.
The ONLY factors true fight fans give a shit about are:

Heart, durability, stamina, and skill.
At the Championship level.

No honest fan gives two shits about "race" or background.

TS is joking, but there are people like that. There's an NFL "diversity" group saying it would be really bad for a team with white quarterback (49ers) to beat a team with a black (actually half-white) quarterback tomorrow...since it's Black History Month. Ridiculous. Just go for the teams/athletes you like for their own merits.

 

[Levi_]

While it wasn't as big of an upset at the time, Frank Shamrock beating Tito aged well, especially as weight classes evolved. Tito would still be a big LHW while Frank might be a WW if he fought now (though he didn't want to cut to 170 when he fought). Like his training partner Mo Smith, Frank let his opponent continually take him down and wear himself out. It was like Ali's rope-a-dope for MMA (or NHB as it was called at the time).

Frank's athleticism from the guard in that fight is widely unrecognized, but quite amazing (spinning around into different positions, fence walking, etc.). Tito was good at smashing smaller guys on the ground but had a futile time trying to do damage to Frank (until he tires out and gets finished). Frank had improved standing working with Mo, so Tito couldn't lean into the standup too much. Epic early fight for sure.

 

[barillas]

Black history month

 

[barillas]

Who gives AF about "blacks" (or "whites"), or anything NOT directly relevant to skills and heart?

Anyone who favors any fighter due to "race" is an asshole.
The ONLY factors true fight fans give a shit about are:

Heart, durability, stamina, and skill.
At the Championship level.

No honest fan gives two shits about "race" or background.

I believe in race realism but I don't give a shit about race in MMA, my fav fighter all time is Anderson Silva, I just wanna see the violence

 

[Osculater]

The most recent African champ deserves a shoutout

South Africa's native son

 

[Osculater]

We all black on February, bruh!

 

[Osculater]

Older than that but as Rickson said in the 1990s "I don't believe in age."

Apparently age believes in Rickson, though, as he could barely roll around on the ground with Rogan awhile back.

He mentioned he didn't want to hurt Rogan and get sued

 

[mkt]

He mentioned he didn't want to hurt Rogan and get sued

Not worth it just to improve his record to 401-1.

 

[Osculater]

Not worth it just to improve his record to 401-1.

He's all about hespect

 

[dreek. S-470]

1981 here Sherbro! Lol.

1978 here lol. Been on here since 99..but when the board rolled to a new server in 01 we all got Dec 2001 start dates

 

[Brigfa2]

He is not african american, he is BLACK AMERICAN, he has no ties to the africa. Just like how Sean Strickland is not a european american or DDP is not a european african. One is white american the other is white african. You can say african american to maybe guys like Usman