Ultimate Ultimate 1996

Started 10804 days, 2 hours, 26 minutes ago

Date & Time
Sat 7th December 1996 Local
Sat 7th December 1996 12:00am UTC

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League
UFC

Season
1996

Round
Round 5

Status

Location
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Fair Park Arena
(6,000 Attendance)

Video Highlights

Event Statistics

Description

Ultimate Ultimate 1996 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 7, 1996. The event took place at the Fair Park Arena in Birmingham, Alabama, and was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States, and released on home video.

Background:
The card featured an eight man tournament with two alternate bouts, and was the UFC's second "Ultimate Ultimate" tournament, held to find the best of the winners and runners up from past UFC events. This event was the first to introduce the "no grabbing of the fence" rule. Ken Shamrock appeared as a guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on the mainstream network NBC to promote the event, a groundbreaking moment for the young sport of mixed martial arts. UFC 10 and UFC 11 champion Mark Coleman was originally scheduled to compete in the tournament but was forced to withdraw from the event due to a virus. The Ultimate Ultimate 1996 also marked the final appearance of UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock before leaving the UFC to go to the World Wrestling Federation. Shamrock would not return to the UFC until 2002 at UFC 40. The event would also be the last time Don Frye fought in the UFC, as he would also transition into pro wrestling, signing with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Main Card:
Ultimate Ultimate 1996 Final / Don Frye vs. Tank Abbott
Ultimate Ultimate 1996 Semifinal / Tank Abbott vs. Steve Nelmark
Ultimate Ultimate 1996 Semifinal / Don Frye vs. Mark Hall
Ultimate Ultimate 1996 Quarterfinal / Ken Shamrock vs. Brian Johnston
Ultimate Ultimate 1996 Quarterfinal / Tank Abbott vs. Cal Worsham
Ultimate Ultimate 1996 Quarterfinal / Don Frye vs. Gary Goodridge
Ultimate Ultimate 1996 Quarterfinal / Kimo Leopoldo vs. Paul Varelans

Reports

Result List

01	David Abbott	UFC Heavyweight	LOSS
01	Don Frye	UFC Heavyweight	WIN
03	Mark Hall	UFC Light Heavyweight	LOSS
04	Ken Shamrock	UFC Heavyweight	WIN
04	Brian Johnston	UFC Heavyweight	LOSS
05	Paul Varelans	UFC Heavyweight	LOSS
05	Kimo Leopoldo	UFC Heavyweight	WIN
06	Cal Worsham	UFC Heavyweight	LOSS
07	Gary Goodridge	UFC Heavyweight	LOSS