If a DVD or series of DVD's came out with a collection of the most significant fights and footage in MMA history, what should be on it? What are the most significant, interesting, and historically important moments on film? A few I can think of that I know are still around (in chronological order): 1880-1914 Jigoro Kano and Kyuzo Mifune demonstrating Judo (foundation of modern gi-based grappling) Billy Edwards vs. Unknown (only bareknuckle champion caught on film) Corbett vs. Courtney (first Queensberry champion; beginning of modern boxing) Corbett vs. Fitzsimmons (last title fight involving fighters using the earlier boxing style) Jim Jeffries (training, sparring, wrestling, and fight clips--a fighter who was good at both Greco-Roman wrestling and early gloved boxing; excellent at clinch fighting) Gichin Funakoshi Performing Kata (foundational figure of modern karate) Roeber Wrestling 1901 (European Greco-Roman wrestling champion; beat Fitzsimmons in a mixed bout) Miscellaneous Combat Sports Clips (wrestling, boxing, possibly judo and jujitsu) 1914-1945 Dempsey vs. Willard (first heavyweight title fight using a truly modern style; Willard is the last champion of the transitional era) Stecher vs. Caddock (possibly the last "legitimate" wrestling title fight) Larsen vs. Martini (boxer vs. wrestler) Herman vs. Pagantis (boxer vs. wrestler) Louis vs. Schmeling, Baer (Louis demonstrates the textbook modern style of boxing. 1950-1993 Gracie vs. Kato Gracie vs. Kimura JKA Shotokan competitions PKA Full Contact Karate Bruce Lee Sparring Footage Gene Lebell vs. Milo Savage Ali vs. Inoki, Monsoon Maeda vs. Sayama 1993- UFC I-IV, Gracie's Fights First PRIDE Championships (Silva and Nogueira) Rickson at Vale Tudo Japan Coleman vs. Severn, Smith Pride GP #1 Bonnar vs. Griffin (not living up to the hype--but the point is that this fight was important because it was the final and widely watched segment of the reality show that brought MMA into the mainstream). Fedor vs. Crocop What else?
if you follow the logic of a progression of mma, then maurice smith v. coleman because it proved that striking still had a huge effect, at the time it seemed like boxers/kickboxers were in danger of no longer being relevant.
Yep, that was my train of thought as well (I have Smith right next to Severn-Coleman, which was the foundation of a unified lineage for the UFC heavyweights). And, of course, I'm missing several lighter-weight fights...perhaps you guys could help me out?
