When did you guys start watching UFC/MMA?

Got hooked on the first TUF. Been a fan ever since.

i talk about mine at my first few posts i had, but 2007 caught UFC UNLEASHED on spiketv

I had seen MMA but really had no interest until I started training Jiu Jitsu in the summer of 2009. Then slowly but surely things started making more sense.

I started watching UFC back in 94 via rental video. My grandmother had a cable scrambler box so I caught every UFC after that until the blackout. Those were dope times. I loved the style vs style days. I saw the evolution of MMA.

My favorite beat downs from those days were Don Frye vs Gary Goodridge and Marco Ruas vs Paul Varelens. I always loved seeing the smaller guy win with technique. Frye's dirty boxing was so dope to me. And watching Marco Ruas was amazing. I think he was the first "vale tudo" guy in the UFC. I just remember seeing this total package. His BJJ was on point. His muay Thai was on point. And watching him chop down Varleans with leg kicks for like 15 minutes was awesome. Or watching Taktarov get beat down for 30 minutes to choke out a gassed Tank Abbot. Or witnessing Vitor's speed for the first time in the UFC. Dude, so many memories. I could go on for maybe an hour straight.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chris Herzog

Nah, I didn't think anyone would get killed. I had been doing Judo and JuJitsu at the time as was all ready fighting in Full Contact Jujitsu matches, so I was rooting for the Jiu Jitsu guy and thought becasue of the grappling advatage Royce would have a good shot at winning. I had read an article in a old MA magazine about a martial artist going to Brazil and training, I believe with the Machados and told the whole story about how he got his ass kicked, etc. So when they introduced Royce I figured he must have been associated with the Machados.

---

Damn coach. OG like a MF'er. Props.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bobby rivers

From then on I started rnc'n my big brother when he picked on me and completely changed my life. I didn't start training formally till 12 years later.

---

Ha dude, similar reason here. My uncle was a HS wrestler and would always try moves on me and bully me. After picking up a few things from Royce, it evened things out and I started tapping him out.Then it was ME asking him to try moves out. Eventually he didn't like playing anymore. I wish I knew about schools back then. I didn't start officially training until a month or so ago. Now my body's so damn out of shape. I regret it. But I would regret it more if I never started at all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by David Rosado

Damn coach. OG like a MF'er. Props.



Ha dude, similar reason here. My uncle was a HS wrestler and would always try moves on me and bully me. After picking up a few things from Royce, it evened things out and I started tapping him out.Then it was ME asking him to try moves out. Eventually he didn't like playing anymore. I wish I knew about schools back then. I didn't start officially training until a month or so ago. Now my body's so damn out of shape. I regret it. But I would regret it more if I never started at all.

---

You're doing fine brotha, you have the right mind set and you're willing to learn, you'll catch on quick!

I had just started training in 2002 and found some King of the Cage dvds at a comic book store. I loved listening to the commentary on how the jiu jitsu guys we moving to set up submissions. Don 'The Dragon' Wilson and this guy named Eddie Bravo..... I wonder what happened to him?? :-)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Chris Herzog

I saw UFC 1 live on PPV.

---

Same here. I miss those $14.99 ppv prices.

My Old man ordered UFC 3 and thought it would be good for my to watch to see wrestling in a different light. He was taken back when I told him I was going to fight before I opened the gym. I told him it was his fault and he said, yeah it probably was.

It was a grimy UFC 1 VHS tape at my local mexican video rental store. The video was side by side with Faces of Death and the soft porn section. I've been in love ever since.

I don't know why it took me so long to train in the shit.