30 years ago. (I’m not a smart man, but I think that’s right around 3 decades 
.) I was the 24th or 25th person to set foot into the now famous octagon. I have no idea how many people have stepped in there to date (it would be interesting to know), but I’m sure it’s in the thousands.
Back then it was different than it is now. It was like the Wild West compared to modern times. We were called crazy, barbarians, human cock fighters, and worse. We competed in a small, dirty, dump of a venue. There became a huge, powerful, movement from very powerful people to squash the event. But look at it now, a multi billion dollar business, other organizations have taken root, watched by millions, covered by ESPN, etc., in huge, fancy venues and the participants are considered elite athletes.
I endured the agony of defeat and the years of
insults that followed, but although I’m now long forgotten, I know I was there and played a tiny role in helping in the formative beginning of what The UFC was to become.
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Congrats Fred , Not Long Forgotten On The UG
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Frank the freak Hamaker had his fist pro fight there, won then never fought again in NHB
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Great name, as was his opponents name Thaddeus Luster
Both names sound like male porn actors
Frank was listed there as 6’7 , he’s actually 6’2
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Seems like yesterday when the UFC started.
Well, Mr. Fred you can bet that the Tae Kwon Do community would have dickroad with you had you won the UFC.
Glad things are good for you.
MM
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Happy 30th Anniversary!
You deserve to feel proud of being a part of MMA history!
And we thank you for your contribution!
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Respect to you Mr Ettish! and Happy 30th Anniversary to one of the most entertaining Tournaments ever put on in anything.
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I remember. That was real fighting, for true aficionados. They even allowed groin strikes, and Pat Smith used one on Johnny Rhodes. Papa Hemingway would approve, even if the government didn’t. Then came the bargain with the devil.
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Thats @Bobby_Razak
My Rites
Rites of Passage ^
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Yup, fixed, forgot to copy paste, so still had bobby’s vid saved for pasting
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Fred Ettish commands nothing but respect on here.
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