Art ‘One Glove’ Jimmerson dead at 60: UFC legend who fought on first ever card passes away
UFC legend Art Jimmerson, who fought at the first ever UFC event, has died aged 60.
His daughter confirmed the death of the boxing specialist who competed at UFC 1 in 1993.
Known as “One Glove”, he earned his nickname by fighting Royce Gracie at UFC 1 in Denver, Colorado while wearing only one boxing glove.
Jimmerson was boxing’s representative on the card, but was stopped by jiu-jitsu specialist Gracie in two minutes and 18 seconds.
He wore a glove on his left hand in order to jab opponents, with his right left bare-knuckle to go for the knockout.
At UFC 1, however, the St Louis-born boxer became the first UFC star to ever be submitted.
Former UFC referee and current Bellator commentator John McCarthy, 61, paid tribute, saying: “People can say whatever they want about Art Jimmerson.
“But Art Jimmerson was a man who practiced an art — the art of boxing — and became incredibly successful with it.
“He was brave enough to take that art and test it against something he had no knowledge of.”
Jimmerson, he returned to professional boxing following his appearance at UFC 1.
He finished with a pro record of 33 wins and 18 losses, primarily competing in his home town of St Louis.
Three times he fought for NABF gold, once at light heavyweight and twice at cruiserweight, but he was unable to win either title.
Jimmerson fought professionally for the final time in 2002, being defeated by Rydell Booker in Danville, Virginia.
In his later years he went on to become head boxing coach at the UFC Gym in Torrance, California.
As for Gracie, he went on to beat Ken Shamrock and Gerard Gordeau to triumph in the tournament format at UFC 1.
The Brazilian, now 57, would fight in the UFC until 2006, and even rematched Shamrock at Bellator 149 in 2016.