The title belt for the UFC 5 Superfight between Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie is up for auction.
Expected to sell for between $25,000 and $100,000, this belt went unrewarded after the classic Superfight between Gracie and Shamrock ended in a draw. The 36 minutes and 6 seconds of fighting seemed like stalemate and frustrated the audience live and on PPV. After watching Dan “The Beast” Severn tear through the eight man tournament, a half hour stalemate wasn’t quite what people had in mind.
But goddamn did that championship belt look sweet.
UFC 5 and the uncrowned Championship match marked the last time Royce Gracie would fight for the UFC until UFC 60, when Matt Hughes smashed him.
Seems like an old school MMA merchandise collector needs some liquid capital. Included in the auction lot with the belt is also various historic paperwork and fighter physicals from UFC 1, most signed by Royce Gracie. Particularly cool is a copy of the agenda for the fighter’s meeting before UFC 1, as well as Royce Gracie’s contact to fight at the first Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Below is a full description from the auction website:
“Also included in this lot is a collection of documents and negotiations pertaining to Royce Gracie’s involvement in UFC 1. Included is a copy of his Physician’s Examination from October 27th, 1993 signed by Gracie, his manager, and the physician who performed the examination. It was at UFC 1 that Gracie introduced the world to the devastating physicality and grace of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, punishing Art Jimmerson, Shamrock, and Gerard Gordeau to win UFC’s inaugural championship. As the Ultimate Fighting Championship approaches its 25th anniversary in 2018, Gracie remains one of the figures central to its explosion in popularity and prominence in the world of mixed martial arts.
Other spectacular documents fundamental to the history of UFC that are included in this lot are a copy of Gracie’s hematology laboratory report. from before UFC 1, a copy of his fighter’s application, a signed letter from the Federação de Jiu-Jitsu do Estado do Rio de Janeiro acknowledging Gracie as the heavyweight Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, a copy of the “Agenda for Fighter’s Meeting” dated to November 11th, 1993 signed by Gracie, and his signed, nine-page contract from UFC 1. This collection of documents is a true treasure trove for the enterprising mixed martial arts aficionado, and it includes many rare and early Gracie signatures. The belt comes with a LOA from Art Davie, the creator of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the promoter of the Superfight and there is also a LOA from JSA for the signature.”
The belt comes with a Letter of Authenticity from Art Davie himself. It is probably the coolest UFC collectible currently out in the market.
The GoldinAuctions.com auction starts on January 22nd for those interested.
(h/t: TMZ Sports)
