UFC 25th Anniversary Attendance and Gate Numbers from Denver

25 years ago in Denver, Colorado the Ultimate Fighting Championship held its inaugural event. McNichols Sports Arena played host to UFC 1 on Nov. 12, 1993. On Saturday, the fight promotion celebrated 25 years where it all started.

11,426 spectators attended UFC Fight: Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez at the Pepsi Center in downtown Denver generating $946,706.78 in gate receipts. Those in the arena witnessed Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone set records for the most wins and finishes in UFC history in the card’s co-main event.

Cerrone faced Mike Perry in a welterweight bout the didn’t make it out of the first round.  Perry secured a takedown.  Cerrone reversed the position but Perry regained top position in a scramble.  Cerrone quickly looked to set up a triangle choke before transitioning to an armbar forcing Perry to tap out.  Following the fight, Perry revealed that he suffered a broken arm due to the submission. 

This article first appeared at News – MMAWeekly.com