Photo: / UFC publicity
Previously exclusive to those with a complete collection of GRACIEMAG and NOCAUTE magazines, the history of vale-tudo and MMA in Brazil condensed into a single print will now reach bookstores in the South American country. On April 3, the journalist harking from Rio de Janeiro Fellipe Awi will launch the book “Filho teu não foge à luta”,
(“No son of yours will duck a fight” loosely translated) telling the story of MMA from Count Koma to Carlos Gracie up to the UFC being broadcast on Brazil’s most popular television network, Globo.
With a focus on the grudges and rivalries that helped draw in fans and practitioners, Awi’s book tells, culminating in a time line that is at once condensed and expansive, recounting the most striking, tragic and vibrant facts of the sports history, a useful tool for future researchers. GRACIEMAG.com thus reproduces it below, and asks: is there anything missing from this time lime from vale-tudo to MMA? Comment below.
MMA TIME LINE
1917 Count Koma is introduced to Carlos Gracie.
1920s Carlos faces capoeira stylist Samuel, “Negro Gigante,” at an event called “Estilo versus estilo” (“style versus style”).
1932 Helio Gracie has his first vale-tudo fight.
1951 Helio Gracie faces Makahiko Kimura.
1955 Helio Gracie fights Waldemar Santana, who next faces Carlson Gracie.
1956 Carlson and Waldemar face off again.
1962 A broken arm on television show “Heróis do ringue” (“Heroes of the ring”) leads to vale-tudo being banned in Brazil’s capital.
1978 Rorion Gracie moves to the United States.
1980 Rickson Gracie fights Rei Zulu.
1982 Rilion fights Marinho in Teresópolis; Rolls and others invade Academia Naja, a Muay Thai gym; Rolls dies in hang gliding accident.
1983 Rickson and Zulu face off again.
1984 “Noite das Artes Marciais” (“Night of Martial Arts”), the first vale-tudo between Jiu-Jitsu and Thai boxing stylists, is held.
1988 Rickson fights with Hugo Duarte on Praia do Pepê beach; luta livre fighters invade Gracie academy in Humaitá.
1991 “Grande Desafio” is broadcast on Globo television network.
1993 Maiden UFC event held in United States.
1994 Rash of fights involving Jiu-Jitsu fighters breaks out in Rio de Janeiro night clubs.
1995 Rorion Gracie leaves UFC; Marco Ruas makes his debut at seventh installment of the event.
1997 Dust up at “Pentagon Combat” event at Tijuca Tênis Clube in Rio de Janeiro; Pride holds first installments in Japan.
1998 First UFC in Brazil
2000 Fertitta brothers and Dana White buy UFC.
2002 Minotauro faces Bob Sapp in Pride FC.
2003 Popular Brazilian Sunday television show “Fantastico” does special on success of Brazilian fighters in Japan.
2005 First season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show held in US.
2007 UFC purchases Pride. Ryan Gracie found dead in cell at São Paulo police station.
2011 UFC Rio/134 broadcast live on Globo television network in Brazil and on Fox in the United States.
