A memorable competitor from the inaugural Ultimate Fighting Championship show has died at
the age of 60.
Art
Jimmerson represented the sport of boxing at UFC 1 in
1993, famously wearing one glove when facing Royce Gracie.
This drew him the nickname of “One Glove,” and despite competing
just once in the sport of MMA, it was a memorable appearance.
Gracie, around 20 pounds lighter, took Jimmerson down and forced
him to submit 2:18 into their bout. The UFC’s broadcast partner of
ESPN reported that Jimmerson had died on Wednesday, according
to Jimmerson’s daughter. His son also
confirmed Jimmerson’s passing on social media.
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“It’s funny looking back, I just never knew,” Jimmerson told
Sherdog in 2009 about his match with Gracie. “But I said, ‘No
problem,’ because it was only going to take me one punch.”
Jimmerson continued, “I won’t say I was young and dumb, it’s that
I’m always up for a challenge. I don’t want to be perceived as a
punk. So, when they offered me the fight I was like, ‘This is going
to be a piece of cake. I know how hard I can hit, so what can a guy
do to me?’ But he was a whole different level…I’d never heard of
Royce
Gracie. I didn’t know who he was as a fighter.”
Before and after his time in MMA, Jimmerson served as a boxer and a
trainer. The St. Louis native amassed a professional record of
33-18 with 17 knockouts to his credit in the sweet science, in a
career that spanned from 1985 to 2002. After leaving active
competition, Jimmerson fully devoted himself to coaching. The
former Golden Gloves champ eventually took over as the head boxing
coach for the UFC Gym in Torrance, California.
Above all, Jimmerson conveyed to Sherdog that he was a man of faith
who loved his family and always strove to help people.
“I fear God; I am saved. I try to live by the Bible, I’m a
hard-working man, I love to take care of my family, and I love a
lot of people.”