UFC 8
| Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
|---|---|
| Founded | November 12, 1993 |
| Founder | Art Davie, Rorion Gracie |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas , United States |
| Products | Mixed martial arts events, pay-per-view broadcasts |
| Website | www |
UFC 8: David vs. Goliath was a mixed martial arts pay-per-view event organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 16, 1996. The event took place at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum located in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. To date, it stands as the sole UFC event conducted in Puerto Rico and was subsequently distributed on home video formats.
History
Representing the UFC's inaugural event beyond the Continental United States, UFC 8 showcased an eight-competitor tournament with no divisions or weight restrictions. Alongside this, it featured a UFC Superfight Championship clash between the current UFC titleholder Ken Shamrock and challenger Kimo Leopoldo. Standard bouts were limited to 10 minutes, whereas both the Superfight and tournament final extended to 15 minutes. The event’s concept, "David vs. Goliath," emphasized contests pitting larger opponents against smaller adversaries.
The local promotion company Sports & Entertainment Ltd, headed by Richy Miranda-Cortese, secured the event through legal action against Puerto Rican authorities, including Governor Pedro Rosselló and Erick Labrador, Director of Sports and Recreation, who had attempted to prohibit the show. This legal confrontation resulted in new regulations from the boxing commission and a temporary prohibition that was later reversed by court order.
In the tournament finale, Don Frye emerged victorious over Gary Goodridge via submission. Mere days prior to the event, a ban was imposed by Puerto Rican officials. Additionally, Cablevision became the first major North American cable provider to block UFC broadcasts, indicating increasing opposition to MMA content.
UFC 8 also ignited considerable political controversy; protests at the venue led by Michigan politician Calvin McCard fueled a nationwide campaign against mixed martial arts throughout 1996. This movement, spearheaded by Arizona Senator John McCain, ultimately forced the sport into a period of obscurity within the United States during 1997.
Results
{{MMAevent bout | N/A | Jerry Bohlander | def. | Scott Ferrozzo | Submission (guillotine choke) | | 9:03 |} {{MMAevent bout | N/A | Gary Goodridge | def. | Paul Herrera | KO (elbows) |
| 0:13
|}
UFC 8 bracket
- Sam Adkins replaced Varelans due to injury.
Encyclopedia awards
The October 2011 edition of the UFC Encyclopedia honored these fighters:
- Fight of the Night: Gary Goodridge vs. Jerry Bohlander
- Knockout of the Night: Gary Goodridge def. Paul Herrera
- Submission of the Night: Jerry Bohlander def. Scott Ferrozzo