UFC legend Art Jimmerson, who fought in the first UFC event, has died at the age of 60.
His daughter confirmed the death of the boxing specialist who competed in UFC 1 in 1993.
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Known as “One Glove”, he earned the nickname when he fought Royce Gracie at UFC 1 in Denver, Colorado, wearing only a boxing glove.
Jimmerson was the boxing representative on the card, which sought to determine the best fighting discipline, but was stopped by jiu-jitsu specialist Gracie in two minutes and 18 seconds.
He wore a glove on his left hand to strike opponents, with his right and left hands bare for knockouts.
At UFC 1, however, the St Louis-born boxer became the first UFC star to be submitted.
Former UFC referee and current Bellator commentator John McCarthy, 61, paid tribute, saying: “People can say whatever they want about Art Jimmerson.
“But Art Jimmerson was a man who practiced an art – the art of boxing – and had incredible success with it.
“He was brave enough to take this art and test it against something he had no knowledge of.”
Jimmerson returned to professional boxing following his appearance at UFC 1.
He finished with a professional record of 33-18, having competed primarily in his hometown of St Louis.
He fought for NABF gold three times, once at light heavyweight and twice at cruiserweight, but failed to win either title.
Jimmerson last fought professionally in 2002, losing to Rydell Booker in Danville, Virginia.
In recent years, he became a boxing coach at the UFC Gym in Torrance, California.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani in 2011, Jimmerson admitted he never could have expected the UFC to grow so much.
He said: “I’m totally shocked. In the beginning there were only eight fighters.
“I never thought it would be this big, ever. So to be a part of this, I’m really excited.”
As a ranked light heavyweight, Jimmerson’s participation was a huge coup for the UFC’s inaugural event – so much so that he was made an incredible offer.
He added to Helwani: “I was even offered a percentage of the UFC, because they didn’t really have the money to start with.
“We had a few things they offered me, but I never thought it would get this big.”
Asked if he accepted the offer, he admitted: “No, I didn’t” – before adding that his manager at the time told him to “take the money and run, because this thing is only going to last a few years and then blow up.” outside”.
Gracie defeated Ken Shamrock and Gerard Gordeau to triumph in the UFC 1 tournament format.
The Brazilian, now 57 years old, would fight in the UFC until 2006, and even rematched Shamrock at Bellator 149 in 2016.
Last year, Jimmerson and Gracie reunited 30 years after their UFC 1 fight.
The pair laughed and hugged affectionately as they met up with fellow UFC 1 legends Gordeau, Zane Frazier, Shamrock and Teila Tuli.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
