MMA/NHB before UFC

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Acts2384lyphe

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I have a question about finding known footage of MMA/NHB/mixed style fighting footage prior to 1993. The history of MMA is vast. It crosses numerous fighting styles & cultures, and goes all the way back to ancient times. So I know there were tons of various mixed fights going on in the fringes of society, prior to the UFCs formation. I don't post here often but I'm a long time fan and need help or insight about this curious subject.

1. I know Shooto was going strong from 1989 onward, so why is it so hard to find almost any early footage of the organizations fights? I've found 1 full length event from 7-7-90 on YouTube. How can you get your hands on that stuff!

2. Brazil was running Vale Tudo on national TV during the 50s & 60s. The program was called Heróis do Ringue. Can't find almost any footage there either. Therefore there's footage of legends like Helio Gracie, Rei Zulu, Carlson Gracie, Eulicides Periera, Waldemar Santana, and others that exist(ed?) and its largely unseen. Not to mention various random BJJ vs Luta Livre vs Caporeira events that seem to exist in the 80s and 90s. They're on fight records...anyone know about how to find some of these fights?

3. Aside from the obvious Shooto & Vale Tudo events going on, there were some "different style"/shoot wrestling fights going on in Japan in NJPW & UWF. I know most of it was worked matches but sometimes I see rumors of real shoot matches? Anyone know which matches where actual shoot?

4. Now onto mixed style fights. I've know about some of the famous wrestler vs Boxer matches that have taken place. (Listed below) I remember reading about a supposed NHB karate tournament that Chuck Norris & Joe Lewis were supposed to be apart of/organizers of in the 70s. Also heard about a "White Dragon Tournament" from 1993. Taktarov competed and won it. Saw some photos looked like blood sport sorta arena & setup lol. Does anyone know about some of these lesser known organized events. Anyone ever find footage of these mixed fights or Karate fights with ground fighting involved?

5. Basically I'm just trying to find anything pre UFC that might be out there for viewing. The early history of MMA is super fascinating to me. But unfortunately this stuff is hard to find. I've included a list of fights we do have footage of that's worth checking out. But I wanna find more!

Nick Lutze vs Pio Pico 1937 Boxer vs Wrestler
Helio Gracie vs Yukoi Kato 1950 Vale Tudo
Helio Gracie vs Masahiko Kimura 1951 Vale Tudo
Rikidozan vs Masahiko Kimura 1954 JPW (worked match, turned shoot)
Carlson Gracie vs Waldemar Santana 1955 Vale Tudo
Gene Lebell vs Milo Savage 1963 Judo vs Boxer
Antonio Inoki vs Muhammad Ali 1976 NJPW Boxer vs Wrestler
Rickson Gracie vs Casimiro Martins Nascimento 1984 Vale Tudo
Satoru Sayama vs Akira Maeda 1985 UWF (possible worked shoot)
Ken Shamrock vs Don Nakaya Neilson 1992 PWFG
Superman Sattasaba vs Yoshiki Takahashi 1992 PWFG
 
Acts2384lyphe said:
I have a question about finding known footage of MMA/NHB/mixed style fighting footage prior to 1993. The history of MMA is vast. It crosses numerous fighting styles & cultures, and goes all the way back to ancient times. So I know there were tons of various mixed fights going on in the fringes of society, prior to the UFCs formation. I don't post here often but I'm a long time fan and need help or insight about this curious subject.

1. I know Shooto was going strong from 1989 onward, so why is it so hard to find almost any early footage of the organizations fights? I've found 1 full length event from 7-7-90 on YouTube. How can you get your hands on that stuff!

2. Brazil was running Vale Tudo on national TV during the 50s & 60s. The program was called Heróis do Ringue. Can't find almost any footage there either. Therefore there's footage of legends like Helio Gracie, Rei Zulu, Carlson Gracie, Eulicides Periera, Waldemar Santana, and others that exist(ed?) and its largely unseen. Not to mention various random BJJ vs Luta Livre vs Caporeira events that seem to exist in the 80s and 90s. They're on fight records...anyone know about how to find some of these fights?

3. Aside from the obvious Shooto & Vale Tudo events going on, there were some "different style"/shoot wrestling fights going on in Japan in NJPW & UWF. I know most of it was worked matches but sometimes I see rumors of real shoot matches? Anyone know which matches where actual shoot?

4. Now onto mixed style fights. I've know about some of the famous wrestler vs Boxer matches that have taken place. (Listed below) I remember reading about a supposed NHB karate tournament that Chuck Norris & Joe Lewis were supposed to be apart of/organizers of in the 70s. Also heard about a "White Dragon Tournament" from 1993. Taktarov competed and won it. Saw some photos looked like blood sport sorta arena & setup lol. Does anyone know about some of these lesser known organized events. Anyone ever find footage of these mixed fights or Karate fights with ground fighting involved?

5. Basically I'm just trying to find anything pre UFC that might be out there for viewing. The early history of MMA is super fascinating to me. But unfortunately this stuff is hard to find. I've included a list of fights we do have footage of that's worth checking out. But I wanna find more!

Nick Lutze vs Pio Pico 1937 Boxer vs Wrestler
Helio Gracie vs Yukoi Kato 1950 Vale Tudo
Helio Gracie vs Masahiko Kimura 1951 Vale Tudo
Rikidozan vs Masahiko Kimura 1954 JPW (worked match, turned shoot)
Carlson Gracie vs Waldemar Santana 1955 Vale Tudo
Gene Lebell vs Milo Savage 1963 Judo vs Boxer
Antonio Inoki vs Muhammad Ali 1976 NJPW Boxer vs Wrestler
Rickson Gracie vs Casimiro Martins Nascimento 1984 Vale Tudo
Satoru Sayama vs Akira Maeda 1985 UWF (possible worked shoot)
Ken Shamrock vs Don Nakaya Neilson 1992 PWFG
Superman Sattasaba vs Yoshiki Takahashi 1992 PWFG
Click to expand...


Is this Tiger Mask?
 
Check both gracie in action volumes, they have the best collection of footage you're looking for.
 
Pre 1990 footage is hard to find because mma was such an unknown commodity back then.
 
chamcham said:
The upcoming Rizinn card has Yuki Motoya vs Allan Nascimento.
Are Casimiro and Allan related?
Click to expand...

Nah man. Casimiro is better known by the name Rei Zulu. Legendary Luta Livre fighter. His son Zuluzhino was a fighter as well got killed (not literally) by Fedor in Pride. Nascimento is (I believe) a somewhat common Brazilian last name.
 
Last edited:
chaos_36 said:
Is this Tiger Mask?
Click to expand...

Satoru Sayama is the original Tiger Mask aka. Super Tiger aka. Tiger King. He was pioneer of the shoot style pro wrestling org UWF (forerunner to MMA) &a he was the founder of Shooto. He had some mixed fights, exhibition fights, and some kickboxing style fights too.
 
Those Gracie in action tapes are gold.

Really hoping to find a hidden MMA treat out there. I know pre 1990 stuff is rare. Hoping someone knows something I don't. Would love to find something rare and awesome.
 
Acts2384lyphe said:
Satoru Sayama is the original Tiger Mask aka. Super Tiger aka. Tiger King. He was pioneer of the shoot style pro wrestling org UWF (forerunner to MMA) &a he was the founder of Shooto. He had some mixed fights, exhibition fights, and some kickboxing style fights too.
Click to expand...
Oh ok. I didn't realize he had anything at all to do with MMA, I'm a huge fan of his pro wrestling matches with the Dynamite Kid though.
 
Acts2384lyphe said:
2. Brazil was running Vale Tudo on national TV during the 50s & 60s. The program was called Heróis do Ringue. Can't find almost any footage there either. Therefore there's footage of legends like Helio Gracie, Rei Zulu, Carlson Gracie, Eulicides Periera, Waldemar Santana, and others that exist(ed?) and its largely unseen. Not to mention various random BJJ vs Luta Livre vs Caporeira events that seem to exist in the 80s and 90s. They're on fight records...anyone know about how to find some of these fights?
Click to expand...
Heróis do Ringue was pro-wrestling, lol.

Brasil held some obscure "shootfighting" events in the 60's/70's/80's that are really hard to find anything about other than old paper news and stuff. Mostly, it was either the Gracies challenging someone, or other fighters doing that trying to make money off the "Art X vs Art Y" thing but it was mostly bodybuilders, failed pro wrestlers and street brawlers vs trained Capoeira/Boxing/BJJ/Judo fighters and it usually ended very bad for one of them.

It was like this :



A brawler vs a pro wrestler.
 
You only need to search Renato Laranja. He is the true GOAT. He is a 27 world champion of BJJ, he also is a champion if full contact capoiera and vale Tudo.
 
dontlaugh said:
Heróis do Ringue was pro-wrestling, lol.

Brasil held some obscure "shootfighting" events in the 60's/70's/80's that are really hard to find anything about other than old paper news and stuff. Mostly, it was either the Gracies challenging someone, or other fighters doing that trying to make money off the "Art X vs Art Y" thing but it was mostly bodybuilders, failed pro wrestlers and street brawlers vs trained Capoeira/Boxing/BJJ/Judo fighters and it usually ended very bad for one of them.

It was like this :



A brawler vs a pro wrestler.
Click to expand...


However, this circus term did not enter popular use until 1959–1960, when it was used to describe the style-versus-style bouts featured in a Rio television show called Heróis do Ringue ("Heroes of the Ring"). The matchmakers and hosts of the show included members of the Gracie family, including Carlson Gracie and Carley Gracie. The participants were all legitimate practitioners of their styles.
One night during the show, João Alberto Barreto (later a referee for UFC 1) was competing against a man trained in Luta Livre. Barreto caught his opponent in an armbar and the man refused to submit. Barreto broke the man's arm. Consequently, the show was canceled and soon replaced by a Professional Wrestling show called Telecatch.
From 1960 onwards, Vale Tudo remained a mostly underground subculture...

This is what I picked up on Wikipedia says the Pro Wrestling show was called Telecatch. idk.
 



Vintage early shooto footage. Some brutal striking & tons of early submission>position favored grappling exchanges. Rare little find.
 
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