Who was the first true superstar in mma |
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Who was the first true superstar in mma |
 Feb 25 2010, 01:06 PM
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#1
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Regional Champion  Group: Members Posts: 7,867 Joined: 12-February 08 From: Whitechapel, London Member No.: 55  |
Probably Shamrock overall for me. The WWF thing.
You can make arguments for a few of the others for different reasons depending on how you personally want to view the term "superstar" |
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Feb 25 2010, 01:32 PM
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#2
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Contender Group: Members Posts: 3,166 Joined: 11-February 08 Member No.: 37 |
Considering how small MMA's fan base was (in North America) before the UFC blew up 2005, i'd have to say Liddell.
I don't think any fighter before this time was well known enough, globally, to be considered a "star". |
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Feb 25 2010, 01:35 PM
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#3
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World Champion Group: Members Posts: 12,383 Joined: 9-May 08 Member No.: 396 |
Royce Gracie and it's not even close. Overnight he helped UFC become huge. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu schools opened up everywhere and grappling became a must for all MMA since. He was legend for taking on bigger guys and winning.
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Feb 25 2010, 01:38 PM
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#4
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Contender Group: Members Posts: 3,166 Joined: 11-February 08 Member No.: 37 |
QUOTE (2P1S @ Feb 25 2010, 07:35 PM)  Royce Gracie and it's not even close. Overnight he helped UFC become huge. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu schools opened up everywhere and grappling became a must for all MMA since. He was legend for taking on bigger guys and winning.  They almost went bankrupt. |
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Feb 25 2010, 01:51 PM
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#5
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World Champion Group: Members Posts: 10,445 Joined: 9-February 08 From: California Member No.: 27 |
It kind of depends on your definition of "superstar". Royce was the first star in the UFC community. Meaning, his stardom was limited to the UFC.
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Feb 25 2010, 01:53 PM
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#6
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World Champion Group: Members Posts: 12,383 Joined: 9-May 08 Member No.: 396 |
QUOTE (Bad Intentions @ Feb 25 2010, 01:38 PM) QUOTE (2P1S @ Feb 25 2010, 07:35 PM) Royce Gracie and it's not even close. Overnight he helped UFC become huge. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu schools opened up everywhere and grappling became a must for all MMA since. He was legend for taking on bigger guys and winning. They almost went bankrupt. When they were banned from just about everywhere yeah but how did that come about? If they were small they would never have gotten on a political radar to begin with. Royce Gracie was such a superstar that Shamrock's claim to fame was that he landed 1 punch on him in 2 matches and got a draw the 2nd time. It was such a victory for him to do even that. |
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Feb 25 2010, 01:56 PM
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#7
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Contender Group: Members Posts: 2,575 Joined: 21-February 08 Member No.: 85 |
Shamrock cause his fame wasn't just limited to MMA
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Feb 25 2010, 02:44 PM
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#8
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Contender Group: Members Posts: 4,604 Joined: 12-February 08 Member No.: 60 |
I voted Royce
Bruce Lee he did sort of set the stage for MMA. Also Gene LaBell had a match with a pro boxer in the 70s |
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Feb 25 2010, 02:48 PM
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#9
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World Champion Group: Members Posts: 20,407 Joined: 3-February 08 Member No.: 17 |
QUOTE (Bad Intentions @ Feb 25 2010, 01:32 PM) Considering how small MMA's fan base was (in North America) before the UFC blew up 2005, i'd have to say Liddell. Agreed. Chuck was the face of the UFC when it blew up. Shamrock and Royce might have been the first 'stars', but they were around when MMA was still illegal in most states and it certainly wasn't drawing the viewers it is now. |
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Feb 25 2010, 03:01 PM
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#10
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Banned in the USA Group: Members Posts: 5,979 Joined: 11-February 08 Member No.: 50 |
QUOTE (97SRAD750 @ Feb 25 2010, 02:56 PM) Shamrock cause his fame wasn't just limited to MMA |
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Feb 25 2010, 03:37 PM
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#11
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World Champion Group: Members Posts: 13,914 Joined: 11-February 08 Member No.: 36 |
Gracie. I remember him from the early 90's when the sport was in it's American TV infancy. His name has continually come up over the years since. He was the skinny guy beating up the much bigger guys back when, which was one of early MMA's draws IMO. You just generally don't get guys giving up 30, 40 lbs in boxing and still beating people. That said, I found his style abysmal and boring, and fighting in his ghi was gay. His hairpull against Sakuraba (IIRC) is also one of the most shameless things ever seen in a cage.
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Feb 25 2010, 03:58 PM
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#12
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Contender Group: Members Posts: 4,604 Joined: 12-February 08 Member No.: 60 |
QUOTE (Doug @ Feb 25 2010, 11:37 AM) Gracie. I remember him from the early 90's when the sport was in it's American TV infancy. His name has continually come up over the years since. He was the skinny guy beating up the much bigger guys back when, which was one of early MMA's draws IMO. You just generally don't get guys giving up 30, 40 lbs in boxing and still beating people. That said, I found his style abysmal and boring, and fighting in his ghi was gay. His hairpull against Sakuraba (IIRC) is also one of the most shameless things ever seen in a cage. It is Gi  . Yes fighting in the Gi was gay especially since he used it as a weapon other fighters did not understand.
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Feb 25 2010, 05:20 PM
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#13
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Contender Group: Members Posts: 4,561 Joined: 14-February 08 Member No.: 70 |
No way it was Gracie. When I think "superstar", its almost like a rock star. There were no superstars in the sport until probably Chuck, maybe Ken Shamrock.
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Feb 25 2010, 05:26 PM
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#14
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World Champion Group: Members Posts: 11,862 Joined: 12-February 08 Member No.: 63 |
Royce Gracie, easily. The only other guy you could even argue would be Ken Shamrock.
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Feb 25 2010, 05:35 PM
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#15
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Contender Group: Members Posts: 4,561 Joined: 14-February 08 Member No.: 70 |
Id say RG was definitely a pioneer/innovator but not a superstar. The prissy ass chick who cuts my hair even knew who Chuck was 4 or 5 years ago.
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Feb 25 2010, 11:56 PM
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#16
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Prospect Group: Members Posts: 286 Joined: 13-January 10 Member No.: 1,749 |
my vote goes to royce gracie and its not even close. any other answer is reaching.
since you said first true super star in MMA it has to be royce. we arent talking about WWE or any of that bullshit. the question asked in MMA and the answer without a doubt is royce. he single handidly changed the way the whole world looked at fighting. |
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Feb 26 2010, 08:41 AM
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#17
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World Champion Group: Members Posts: 20,407 Joined: 3-February 08 Member No.: 17 |
QUOTE (Blackson187 @ Feb 25 2010, 05:26 PM) Royce Gracie, easily. The only other guy you could even argue would be Ken Shamrock. UFC was still a HUGE niche sport at that time. It didn't approach the popularity it has right now. |
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Feb 26 2010, 01:59 PM
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#18
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Prospect Group: Members Posts: 398 Joined: 12-February 08 Member No.: 57 |
Tito...
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Feb 26 2010, 03:19 PM
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#19
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Regional Champion Group: Members Posts: 6,197 Joined: 13-February 08 Member No.: 66 |
I think Tank Abbot was more well-known, to be honest. He was a character beyond being a douche. Most of the others were just douches.
Not sure I'd call that superstardom, though, unless you're being relative to the time. |
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Feb 26 2010, 03:22 PM
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#20
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World Champion Group: Members Posts: 20,407 Joined: 3-February 08 Member No.: 17 |
QUOTE (Eyesnore @ Feb 26 2010, 03:19 PM) I think Tank Abbot was more well-known, to be honest. He was a character beyond being a douche. Most of the others were just douches. But are you talking about a really big deal, or are you being relative to the time? I base this off of overall popularity. To that end, Shamcock could be the guy because of his WWF crossover. But the UFC was still a novelty along the lines of 'Faces of Death' when he was winning them. When it was completely blowing up a few years ago, Chuck was as popular as anyone. |
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 3rd September 2010 - 11:42 AM |
