Issue 001
February 2005
Kimo Leopoldo
Christian Kimo Leopoldo (9-4-1 in MMA, 0-3 in kickboxing) was born in Munich, Germany. His father Dennis was born in Hawaii, and while in the military in Germany he met Kimo’s mother. The two moved to Hawaii and raised their son in Waikiki. Kimo was promoted as a ‘warrior in the service of the Lord’ and cornered by loudmouth ‘fireplug’ Joe Son (‘Random Task’ from the ‘Austin Powers’ film). Known simply as ‘Kimo’, he dedicated his fighting career to his faith and was a practicing minister, preaching six months of the year. ‘The Hawaiian Fighting Legend’ came into the public eye in 1994 at UFC3.
Royce Gracie
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Royce Gracie (13-2-2 in MMA) began training in the family’s style as a young boy and was competing in tournaments by the age of eight. As one of Helio’s seven sons (he has two daughters as well), jiu-jitsu was more of a way of life, a birthright if you will, than a hobby. The family legacy would carry on and champions would be born and bred into the house of Gracie. The opportunity presented itself for Royce to defend the family art and he did so in dramatic fashion, becoming the only three-time, eight-man tournament winner in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history.
The tournament
The Gracie/Leopoldo bout was the last of the quarter-final match-ups at UFC3. In the opening bout, White Tiger Kempo stylist Keith Hackney faced sumo champion Emmanuel Yarborough in the fight that earned Hackney the nickname of ‘Giant Killer’. Ken Shamrock returned in his second tournament and made short work of judo stylist Christophe Leninger. And in the other quarter-final bout, Canadian jiu-jitsu stylist Harold Howard pummeled Muay Thai fighter Roland Payne. Shamrock would advance to the semi-finals and defeat boxer Felix Lee Mitchell.
In an ironic twist, Shamrock would withdraw from the competition due to a combination of injury and a lack of motivation because Gracie was out of the tournament. It was likely his best shot at winning an eight-man tournament, something he was never able to accomplish before the format change. Harold Howard would score the win over Royce Gracie via TKO due to the fact that Gracie entered the cage but did not fight. Howard’s road to the title seemed like a formality as he would be facing an inexperienced alternate in the final. However, no one told Ninjitsu practitioner Steve Jennum to play along and lie down. The Oklahoma police officer pounded Howard and snatched a cool $60,000 for less than 90 seconds of work.
Business as usual… or not
The drama for this match started even before the cage door was shut, as a cloaked Kimo carried a large, wooden cross on his back and was lead to the cage by his flamboyant trainer Joe Son. Even Royce couldn’t help but be momentarily distracted by all the pageantry and props his opponent displayed. The Gracie train, a familiar site to UFC fans, included Rorion, Relson and Grandmaster Helio Gracie.
From the bell, Kimo charged across the ring and Royce answered with his trademark low kick, locking up and pushing the action towards the side of the cage. They grappled, with Royce throwing knees in the clinch and Kimo losing his mouthpiece. They fought back and forth with neither fighter allowing themselves to be toppled to the mat. At one point the gate of the octagon swung open behind the combatants and ‘Big’ John McCarthy momentarily called a halt to the action. Rumour has it that Kimo also lost one of his contact lenses early in the scrap.
Hit ’em where it hurts
As hard as he tried, Kimo couldn’t bring Royce down. Royce delivered knees to the thighs and tried a leg sweep but those tactics failed and Royce changed targets to Kimo’s groin (a legal tactic at the time). The Gracie family — literally leaning over the side of the cage — and Joe Son continuously jawed at each other, with McCarthy periodically scolding Son. Still on the feet, Royce attempted a leg trip that unintentionally forced Kimo onto Royce’s back.
Kimo tried to sink his hooks and work one of the chokes Royce is known for but Royce was able to get to his knees and force Kimo’s weight forward, trying to roll him off. Kimo had a grip inside Royce’s gi and attempted to get his hooks in again, grabbing Royce’s left-pant leg. He kept his head down and covered up but he rode too high and fell forward to the mat. Royce moved to a half guard on top and Kimo bucked his hips as Royce got mount, completing the reversal of position.
Through adversity, a champion finds a way
In guard, Kimo was unable to get a solid punch off. He threw a head-butt that allowed Royce to reach up and grab a hold of his head. Royce attempted an armbar but Kimo reacted well and stood up, allowing him to tag Royce in the back of the head. To keep Kimo’s head down, Royce took a firm grip on his ponytail. Kimo threw multiple strikes but they were all off target as his weight was always being pushed forward. They fought in guard, but four minutes in Gracie’s punches had nothing to them and Kimo’s head was free. Kimo landed a good left to Royce’s face before they were brought back to their feet and he had an opportunity to suplex Royce who then brought it back to the mat.
With Royce’s legs creeping up, Kimo punched down at him and didn’t realise the danger he was in or was too tired to do anything about it. Royce rolled to his stomach, twisted Kimo’s arm and forced him to tap out. Though Kimo’s face was bloody and he submitted, it was clear that he had tested the champion. Royce needed to be helped from the cage, limping and sporting a badly swollen left eye. Although he walked into the cage for the final, Royce could not fight. His corner was forced to throw in the towel for the first time and it was the only tournament Gracie participated in that he did not win.
