Art Jimmerson remembers UFC 1, and that one glove
Art Jimmerson: went out, and I said, ‘Oh, my goodness, what did I get myself into?’”
25 years ago today, Art Jimmerson entered UFC 1 on a 15-fight win streak, having won the IBC light heavyweight title two years previously. He entered into the 8-man tournament, and his first opponent was a skinny kid named Royce Gracie.
At the outset, nobody knew quite what to expect — least of all Art Jimmerson, the boxer who was arguably the most celebrated fighter on that first card, at least to American audiences. The St. Louis product, who in November 1993 was on a 15-fight win streak and had taken home the IBC light heavyweight title two years earlier, eventually signed on for a $25,000 cash payout.
When they showed me who was fighting, recalled Jimmerson to Sean Keeler for the Denver Post. I thought, ‘I’m gonna kill this guy.’”
I’m shadow-boxing and [John] McCarthy came to the back and I said, ‘I never heard of this [Brazillian jiu-jitsu].’ He said, ‘Come here,’ and he grabbed me and showed me some jiu-jitsu, and he said, ‘He’s going to do you like this.’ And I was like, ‘Whatever.’”
Then Jimmerson watched Gerard Gordeau kick Teila Tuli’s tooth into the stands.
I went out, and I said, ‘Oh, my goodness, what did I get myself into?’”
It was then that Jimmerson made a famous tactical decision. He put a glove on his left hand to cause damage, and kept his right hand bare, to wrestle off chokes with. Or tap.
[Royce] took three steps back at first, recalled Jimmerson. That’s the time I should’ve rushed him, in hindsight.
Jimmerson tapped at the 2:18 mark, and never competed in MMA again. He retired from fighting with 33-18 record, and a brave spot in the sport’s history. He recalls a time in 2003 when he was in a St. Louis restaurant with old friend Evander Holyfield, and a crowd formed, presumably for ‘Real Deal’.
They go, ‘Oh, my gosh, it’s One Glove Jimmerson!’ recalled Jimmerson. ’No offense, Evander, could we get a picture with One Glove?’ Crazy, man.
Now 55, Jimmerson is good friends with Royce. At the 20th anniversary of UFC 1, Royce inscribed one of Jimmerson’s gloves with the following:
THANKS FOR NOT HITTING ME
Jimmerson ended up getting paid $25,000 for his first fight, which is more than debuting UFC fighters make now.
