Those who started following mixed martial arts recently have no idea what events were like back in the 1990s. Instead of sporting contests between athletes versed in numerous arts, like we see in modern MMA, we witnessed true duels between warriors unbound by gloves or rounds, each seeking to prove the superiority of his fighting style.
Many epic clashes marked the conflict between wrestling and jiu-jitsu during the decade, but one in particular is remembered as a landmark in the sport’s history: the World Vale Tudo Championship 3 tournament final on Jan. 19, 1997. Organized by Frederico Lapenda and Sergio Batarelli, it pitted the 192-pound Fabio Gurgel against the 242-pound Mark Kerr.