UFC 1: Conspiracy Theories About How Savate Helped Build the Power of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu

Savate vs. Sumo Clash.

On November 12, 1993, UFC 1 began. The very first fight in UFC history was a clash between savate — represented by Gerard Gordeau — and sumo wrestler Teila Tuli. No one could have predicted that this bout would go down in history not only in sports, but also in… conspiracy theories. The opening fight of the tournament ended in a lightning-fast, brutal knockout via a kick to the face.

That very moment later became fuel for speculation. Some fans began wondering whether the outcome may actually have benefited the Gracie family. According to this theory, sumo could have been a more stylistically difficult matchup for Royce Gracie than the other participants, so it was “better” for the style to be eliminated early. Matching Tuli against an aggressive striker like Gordeau increased the chances of a quick knockout.

Supporters of this hypothesis point to the lack of a random draw, the bracket being predetermined, and the fact that the organizers (meaning the Gracies) had influence over the matchups.

Skeptics respond simply: there is no evidence, and the differences in fighting styles — along with many competitors’ lack of ground-game knowledge — explain the results far better than any conspiracy theory.

Regardless of where the truth lies, one thing is certain — the savate vs. sumo fight marked the beginning of the MMA era.

And the rest? The rest is history.

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