Now, you mention the UFC to anyone on the street and you will get a reaction; back in 2001, you were lucky if you got a puzzled stare. It’s been a spectacular decade for the organization to say the least, but every success story had to begin somewhere, and for Zuffa, the first test would be its first event, at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

That perception was about to change, and things really kicked into gear in 2005 when a little show called “The Ultimate Fighter” brought the sport into everyone’s living room. Now there are sold-out arenas both here and around the world, DVDs, action figures, trading cards, a magazine, and the UFC is everywhere.
And February 23, 2001 started it all. Here’s the way I saw things from the Auxiliary Press section that night…
UFC XXX - There's A New Sheriff in Town, and Ortiz is Packing The Guns
By Thomas Gerbasi
ATLANTIC CITY, Feb. 23 - It has gone from spectacle to sport; from "human cock fighting" to an art practiced by superior athletes. And as Zuffa undertook its maiden voyage into the Octagon tonight at the Trump Taj Mahal, the future looks brighter than it ever has for the fledgling sport of mixed martial arts.
Put the glitz aside. Forget that the royalty of the UFC (Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Mark Kerr, Ken Shamrock, Marco Ruas) was in attendance. And disregard the superior production values that marked the coming of the new sheriff in town. It has to be about the fighters and the fights. All the other 'stuff', which is necessary to appeal to the mainstream, means nothing to the hardcore fan. And it is doubtful if any fan left disappointed after last night's superior card.

"Keep bringing the middleweights, and I'll keep stompin 'em," said the champion after a post-fight grave digging display. Ortiz has undoubtedly risen to the top of the UFC in a short time, and as his ritual T-shirt read after the bout, "If you can read this, I just stomped his ass".
Nuff said.

In the end, Pulver's striking attacks, and his utter disregard for Uno's power and strength, proved to be the difference. See Uno vs. Pulver

"To be honest, I really don't know what hit me," said Barnett, who lost for the first time in 25 mixed martial arts bouts. The Seattle resident, who is one of the few to stand and trade with Rizzo for any length of time, will definitely be heard from again. As for 'The Rock', Rizzo will get his chance at heavyweight champion Randy Couture in UFC XXXI, also at Atlantic City's Taj Mahal.
In other undercard action:
Fabiano Iha made short work of Paul Johns, submitting him with an armbar in 1:47
'The King of Rock and Rumble', Australia's Elvis Sinosic, made a huge splash in his UFC debut, submitting highly regarded Jeremy Horn with a triangle armbar at 2:59 of the first round.
Iowa's Bobby Hoffman was able to free himself from the clutches of 285 pound South African Mark Robinson long enough to land a brutal right elbow, ending the heavyweight match in 3:27. "People thought it was gonna be a close match, so I wanted to thump his ass," said Hoffman after the bout.
Preliminary bouts:
Sean Sherk defeated Tiki via verbal submission (4:47), lightweights
Phil Baroni defeated Curtis Stout via unanimous decision, middleweights
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