The day Art Jimmerson knew MMA was here to stay

Tuesday will be the 21st anniversary of the UFC. On Monday, Art Jimmerson, the man brought into UFC 1 to represent boxing, posted a story on The UnderGround about the day he knew MMA was here to stay.

MMA VS BOXING

From: Art One Glove Jimmerson 38

Member Since: 10/20/12

Posts: 9

Can you believe it’s been over 20 plus years since UFC 1??? I was SO PISSED at the UFC and it’s handlers because of the way I was PORTRAYED! I wanted nothing to do with the UFC after it was over! Put Royce in a BOXING RING under my RULES and see the OUTCOME! 

TRUE STORY: I was out one night in Downtown St. Louis having Dinner with, a Lawyer (Boxing Client – Friend), Evander Holyfield and our dates. Two guys walk by and go… Art “One Glove” Jimmerson! I was SHOCKED, I hadn’t heard that name in years! Then they look over and go… Evander “Real Deal” Holyfield! Then the next thing they did just “BLEW MY MIND”! They look back at me and go, Art “One Glove” Jimmerson can we PLEASE get a PICTURE with you??? Now, I LOVE Holyfield, he’s a LEGEND! But these guys were just HUGE UFC FANS! That’s when I knew this UFC THING WAS’NT GOING NO WHERE! Lol

I love the way the Co – Creator of the UFC put it on Twitter…

@campbellcombate: It is not how would boxer do but how boxing skills can be used in MMA

Jimmerson was at the time a top ranked boxer, but knew nothing about grappling, and was tapped out by Royce Gracie.

“I’d never heard of a Royce Gracie, I’d never heard of grappling, I’d never heard of MMA,” he said recently. “The only thing that came to mind was Rolls Royce the car! When they offered me the fight it was something different I’m up for a challenge, I mean I was in my twenties, I’m always looking for a challenge and to me it was a great challenge. I thought it was easy money, I really did!”

Jimmerson is now the head boxing coach at the UFC GYM in Torrance, CA.

When did you know MMA was here to stay?