On April 7, 1995, UFC 5 put on the first-ever Superfight with Royce Gracie facing off against Ken Shamrock. The match was supposed to go for 30 minutes but the officials decided to add another five minutes since neither guy could beat the other. After 36 grueling minutes, the fight ended in a tie showing how intense the struggle was between these two amazing fighters who kept wrestling and pushing through exhaustion. Even today, it remains the longest UFC fight in history, a record that probably won’t be broken with the current rules.
Image source: Frame grab from Youtube(“Royce Gracie vs Ken Shamrock 2 | UFC 5 (1995)” © UFC)
UFC 5 Epic Showdown: Royce Gracie vs. Ken Shamrock
Royce Gracie (The Godfather)
Height: 6’1″ (186 cm)
Weight: 180 lbs (81.6 kg)
Royce Gracie became the main guy representing Brazilian jiu-jitsu when the UFC was just starting out. He won UFC 1, 2 and 4 by using a straightforward but really effective submission technique. When UFC 5 happened in 1995, he was still undefeated with a record of 8-0. His big Superfight match against Ken Shamrock turned out to be the longest fight in UFC history at that point, lasting 36 minutes of basically just wrestling on the ground with neither fighter getting the upper hand.
Ken Shamrock (The World’s Most Dangerous Man)
Height: 6’0″ (183 cm)
Weight: 180 lbs (81.6 kg)
Ken Shamrock showed up to UFC 5 with one goal in mind, getting back at Royce Gracie for beating him at UFC 1. Fighting for the Lion’s Den, Shamrock relied on his raw power and submission wrestling skills to stay away from Gracie’s guard and put intense pressure on top. He basically ran the fight for 36 minutes straight. Even though the match ended in a tie, Shamrock showed everyone that he could shut down Gracie’s style and keep their feud going strong.
The following table presents the detailed fight event information, including fighter names, outcomes and event specifics.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | UFC 5: The Return of the Beast |
| Date | April 7, 1995 |
| Venue | Bojangles Coliseum(formerly Independence Arena), Charlotte, North Carolina, USA |
| Fight Type | UFC Superfight Championship |
| Fighters | Royce Gracie (Brazil) vs Ken Shamrock (USA) |
| Result | Draw (Time Expired) |
| Scheduled Time Limit | 30 minutes |
| Overtime | 5 minutes (added after regulation) |
| Total Duration | 36 minutes (31 min regulation + 5 min overtime) |
| Referee | John McCarthy |
| Weight | Both weighed in at 180 lbs (81.6 kg) |
| Height | Gracie – 6’1″ (186 cm), Shamrock – 6’0″ (183 cm) |
| Significant Strikes Landed | Shamrock: 10 of 22 (45%), Gracie: 3 of 12 (25%) |
| Total Strikes Landed | Shamrock: 98 of 123, Gracie: 355 of 366 |
UFC Time Limits Have Changed
In the early days of the UFC, there were no weight classes or time limits. Fights went on until one fighter emerged victorious. However, after the 36-minute draw between Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie at UFC 5 in 1995, changes were necessary. That lengthy and tedious fight prompted the UFC to implement time limits and rules to safeguard fighters and simplify event broadcasting. This was the start of a more organized and professional phase for the sport.
Modern UFC Rules:
- Non-title fights: 3 rounds × 5 minutes = 15 minutes
- Title fights & main events: 5 rounds × 5 minutes = 25 minutes
