Maurice Smith
Born (1961-12-13) December 13, 1961
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Other namesMo
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight206 lb (93 kg; 14 st 10 lb)
DivisionHeavyweight (1993-2008, 2013)
Light Heavyweight (2012)
StyleKickboxing
TeamThe Alliance
Years active1980–2008, 2012–2013
Professional boxing record
Total1
Losses1
By knockout1
Kickboxing record
Total71
Wins53
Losses13
Draws5
Mixed martial arts record
Total28
Wins14
By knockout8
By submission3
By decision3
Losses14
By submission8
By decision4
Unknown2
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Last updated on: May 24, 2013 (2013-05-24)

Maurice L. Smith[1] (born December 13, 1961) is a retired American kickboxer and mixed martial artist. In kickboxing, he held the WKC (World Kickboxing Council) world light heavyweight championship, the WKA (World Kickboxing Association) world heavyweight championship, and the ISKA (International Sport Karate Association) world heavyweight championship.[2] In mixed martial arts, he held the Heavyweight championship in Battlecade Extreme Fighting and the UFC, and became a member of the UFC Hall of Fame in 2017. A professional competitor since 1980, Smith has formerly competed in kickboxing for the companies All Japan Enterprise and K-1, Pancrase, RINGS, PRIDE, Strikeforce, International Fight League and RFA.

Career

Raised in Seattle, Washington, Smith got into martial arts at the age of 13 after watching Bruce Lee's Chinese Connection, and having had to retreat from a fight. He trained in karate, kung fu, and taekwondo, until he found the sport of kickboxing at age 18. Smith attended West Seattle High School, where he played football and participated in gymnastics.[3]

Kickboxing career

Smith won his first seven amateur kickboxing matches and then turned professional. His first fight was on March 4, 1982 against World Kickboxing Council's Light Heavyweight Champion Tony Morelli, who defeated him by decision after the seventh round. Seeing he had lost due to his lack of cardio, Smith started to train extensively to improve it, and fourteen months later, he went to his rematch as a new fighter. He then defeated Morelli by KO via roundhouse kick also in the seventh round, winning the championship.

Later that year, he was called for a non-title fight in Japan against the renowned Don "The Dragon" Wilson, and although Smith lost the fight, he had shown heads in the kickboxing world that he was on the way up. Maurice moved up a weight class and won the World Kickboxing Association Heavyweight Championship from Travis Everett, knocking him out via low kicks.

In 1984, Smith went to compete in Holland, beating Marcel Swank in the first round. Smith went ten straight years without a loss.

He also had a notable win in 1991 over Stan Longinidis who, at the time, was tearing through the ranks and was regarded as a super up and coming fighter. Maurice won this 12 round match by split decision after coming back from a knockdown in the first round by Stan and surviving an early onslaught.

In 1993, Smith was invited to the K-1 Grand Prix '93 along with seven of the world's best Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight kickboxers. Smith won his first match by defeating Japanese fighter Toshiyuki Atokawa in the quarterfinals by unanimous decision. In the semifinals he met Dutch fighter and future K-1 legend, Ernesto Hoost, where after a hard-fought battle Smith was knocked out by left highkick in the final round, ending his tournament.

Mixed martial arts career

Smith had his first contact with mixed rules of fight, when he was invited in November 1989 by the Japanese professional wrestling promotion UWF Newborn. He was scheduled to face up-and-coming wrestler Masakatsu Funaki in a mixed rules fight, but his opponent got injured and was replaced with training partner Minoru Suzuki. During the fight, Smith kept negating Suzuki's takedown attempts by employing the pro wrestling-ruled rope scapes and a rudimentary sprawl ability, knocking him out several times with strike before finishing him with a right punch at the fourth round. The event sold out the Tokyo Dome and broke record gates. On October 4, 1992, Smith would face Funaki in an exhibition fight for Pro Wrestling Fujiwara Gumi, ending in a draw.

In 1993, Smith debuted for the mixed martial arts promotion Pancrase founded by Funaki and Suzuki. He took part in a kickboxing rules fight against Suzuki in the event Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 3. Later, he was scheduled to compete in a special rules MMA fight, in which the first and third rounds would be fought wearing boxing gloves, the second and fourth barehanded, and the fifth with only Smith wearing them. However, Smith lost the fight when Suzuki took him down at round 3 and made him tap to an armbar.

The next year, he took part in the King of Pancrase tournament. Maurice beat Takaku Fuke on the first round but fell to Ken Shamrock via arm triangle choke. He would go to lose twice to Bas Rutten, however his loss to Shamrock was more instrumental to his career, as he became friends with him and was sent to his dojo in United States, the Lion's Den, to learn proper MMA. There he met Frank Shamrock, who he formed a close relationship with. Shamrock and Smith worked synergistically; Shamrock, a submission specialist, improved Smith's ground game, while Smith in return improved Shamrock's striking. Along with Japanese fighter Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, who had befriended Frank after a fight between them in Fighting Network RINGS, Smith and Shamrock eventually formed their own MMA team, called the Alliance.

Smith joined Battlecade Extreme Fighting in 1996 to fight against the Heavyweight Champion Marcus "Conan" Silveira. Throughout the fight, Maurice showed excellent use of the sprawl technique which negated the Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter's attempts at takedowns, as well as a remarkable submission defensive whenever Silveira was able to engage him on the ground. Smith then knocked out Silveira in the third round with a roundhouse kick to the head. In doing so, he became the Extreme Fighting Heavyweight Champion and became the first legitimate striker to win a top-end MMA event.

He then defended his title in the fourth show against judo and pro wrestling exponent Kazunari Murakami. Although Murakami surprisingly dropped Smith with a palm strike at the beginning, Smith escaped from his ground game and hit a barrage of leg kicks against the prone Japanese, and later knocked him out with a single punch. After the win, the company folded and Maurice joined the largest MMA promotion in the United States, the UFC.

At UFC 14 on July 27, 1997, Smith faced UFC Heavyweight Champion Mark Coleman in a title fight. Smith was considered to be a massive underdog for the bout, but shocked the mixed martial arts world with a unanimous decision victory to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship. With this win, Smith became the first striker to survive the attack of a world class wrestler. Through the use of an active guard, Smith was able to negate Coleman's vaunted ground and pound attacks. After nearly 15 minutes of attempting to damage Smith through his guard, Coleman was exhausted, allowing Smith to capitalize on the feet. Eventually, he won the decision against an exhausted and damaged Coleman.

Smith then successfully defended his belt against David "Tank" Abbott winning after Abbott was too exhausted to continue, before losing his belt to MMA legend Randy Couture by majority decision, in a controversial fight that many viewers deemed as a fight that Smith should have won; especially since Smith was the reigning and defending UFC heavyweight champion.

Return to MMA

On May 19, 2007 Maurice Smith had his first MMA bout in almost seven years when he defeated Marco Ruas by TKO in a rematch at an International Fight League show held in Chicago. He saved his energy for the first rounds, making little action, before turning to attack and dropping Ruas thrice with striking combinations for the towel throw.

On February 23, 2008 at a Strikeforce event entitled Strikeforce: At The Dome held at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, Smith defeated kickboxer Rick Roufus, who was making his MMA debut, by submission at 1:53 of the first round.

Maurice Smith was the coach of the Seattle Tiger Sharks of the International Fight League from 2006 to 2007. He is currently associated with Team Alliance.

Smith returned to MMA on March 30, 2012 at the second Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) card against Jorge Cordoba, his first career fight as a Light Heavyweight. After spending the first two rounds picking apart Cordoba with various strikes, Maurice finished the fight with a head-kick knockout. He was scheduled to fight Ryan Lopez on June 30, 2012 at Resurrection Fighting Alliance's third event, RFA 3.[4] Weeks before the fight, though, Lopez was forced to pull out of the fight due to an unspecified illness.

Smith returned to the Heavyweight division and lost a unanimous decision to Matt Kovacs at Cage Warrior Combat (CWC) 9 on November 2, 2013.[5]

Championships and accomplishments

Kickboxing

Mixed martial arts

Kickboxing record

Kickboxing record
53 Wins, 13 Losses, 5 Draws
Date Result OpponentEventLocation MethodRoundTimeRecord
2005-11-07LossAustralia Chris ChrisopoulidesNo Respect 3Melbourne, AustraliaDecision33:00
2003-05-02LossUnited States Rick RoufusK-1 World Grand Prix 2003 in Las Vegas Semi FinalsLas Vegas, Nevada, United StatesDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2003-05-02WinCanada Giuseppe DeNataleK-1 World Grand Prix 2003 in Las Vegas Quarter FinalsLas Vegas, Nevada, United StatesDecision (Unanimous)33:00
2003-04-06WinJapan TsuyoshiK-1 Beast 2003Yamagata, Yamagata, JapanDecision (Majority)33:00
2001-08-11LossNetherlands Peter AertsK-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Las Vegas Semi FinalsLas Vegas, Nevada, United StatesExt.R Decision (Unanimous)43:00
2001-08-11WinSweden Jörgen KruthK-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Las Vegas Quarter FinalsLas Vegas, Nevada, USADecision (Unanimous)33:00
2001-05-05WinCanada Michael McDonaldK-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Preliminary USA FinalLas Vegas, Nevada, United StatesExt.R Decision (Split)43:00
Wins K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Preliminary USA and qualifies for K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Las Vegas.
2001-05-05WinAustria Gunter SingerK-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Preliminary USA Semi FinalsLas Vegas, Nevada, United StatesKO (Right punch)20:24
2001-05-05WinMexico Pedro FernandezK-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Preliminary USA Quarter FinalsLas Vegas, Nevada, United StatesDecision (Unanimous)33:00
1999-08-22LossSwitzerland Andy HugK-1 Spirits '99Tokyo, JapanDecision (Unanimous)53:00
1999-06-06LossNetherlands Peter AertsK-1 Survival '99Sapporo, JapanTKO (Corner stoppage)32:44
1998-09-27LossSouth Africa Mike BernardoK-1 World Grand Prix '98 opening roundOsaka, JapanDecision (Unanimous)53:00
Fails to qualify for K-1 Grand Prix '98 Final Round.
1998-08-07LossNetherlands Ernesto HoostK-1 USA Grand Prix '98Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesDecision (Unanimous)53:00
1998-05-24DrawUnited States Jean-Claude LeuyerDraka VLos Angeles, California, United StatesDecision Draw
Fight was for Draka World Super Heavyweight title.
1998-04-09DrawJapan Masaaki SatakeK-1 Kings '98Yokohama, JapanDecision Draw53:00
1997-02-01LossFrance Jérôme Le BannerLe Choc des ChampionsParis, FranceDecision53:00
Fight was for Le Banner's ISKA Full-contact World Super Heavyweight title.
1994-07-30WinNetherlands Frank LobmanAJKF Destiny VIINagoya, JapanKO (Left high kick)3
Wins the WKA World Heavyweight Muay Thai title.
1993-12-04WinVenezuela Alex DesirLas Vegas, Nevada, United StatesKO (Punch)10
Retains WKA Heavyweight World title.
1993-11-08WinJapan Minoru SuzukiPancrase: Yes, We Are Hybrid Wrestlers 3Kobe, JapanKO (Right hook)30:52
1993-04-30LossNetherlands Ernesto HoostK-1 Grand Prix '93 Semi FinalsTokyo, JapanKO (Left high kick)31:18
1993-04-30WinJapan Toshiyuki AtokawaK-1 Grand Prix '93 Quarter FinalsTokyo, JapanDecision (Unanimous)33:00
1993-03-27WinGermany Marcus FucknerAll Japan Kickboxing FederationTokyo, JapanKO5
1993-03-07LossNetherlands Peter AertsThe Night of the ShockAmsterdam, NetherlandsKO (Right high kick)42:07
1992-04-09LossNetherlands Peter AertsParis, FranceDecision92:00
1992-03-16WinUnited States Steven KruwellWorld Martial Arts ChallengeLas Vegas, Nevada, United StatesTKO (Low kicks)21:41
Fight was an elimination fight for the WMAC Heavyweight World title held by Dennis Alexio. Despite talks Smith and Alexio would never meet in the ring.
1991WinAustralia Stan LonginidisSydney, AustraliaDecision (Split)122:00
Retains WKA Heavyweight World title.
1991-06-29WinNetherlands Andre MannaartThriller from Paris IParis, FranceKO2
1991-05-26WinNetherlands Peter Smit"Soar Into Space" Chapter IIITokyo, JapanKO51:1338-3-3
1991-03-30WinNetherlands Kees Bessems"Soar Into Space" Chapter IITokyo, JapanKO1
1990-12-09WinNetherlands Kees BessemsSammi Kebchi PromotionFrance, ParisKO2
1990-09-09WinEngland Floyd Brown"Inspiring Wars Heat-928"Tokyo, JapanDecision (Unanimous)53:00
1990-01-20WinUnited States Kevin Rosier"Inspiring Wars" 1Tokyo, JapanKO233-3-3
Retains WKA Heavyweight World title.
1987-09-05WinCanada Steve TremblayAll Japan Kickboxing Federation "Super Fight 2"Tokyo, JapanKO5
Retains WKA Heavyweight World title.
1987WinUnited States Dino Homsey
Retains WKA Heavyweight World title.
1987WinUnited States Bill MorrisonLas Vegas, Nevada, United StatesTKO (Low kicks)80:55
Retains WKA Heavyweight World title.
1986WinUnited States Raymond HorseyAtlanta, Georgia, USAKO (Low Kicks)
Retains WKA Heavyweight World title.
1984WinNetherlands Marcel SchwankNetherlandsKO1
1983WinAustralia Dana Goodson
Retains WKA Heavyweight World title.
1983WinUnited States Travis EverettMexico City, MexicoKO (Low Kicks)13-2
Wins WKA Heavyweight World title.
1983Win

Bob Smith

12-2
1983-05-21LossUnited States Don WilsonTokyo, JapanDecision112:0011-2
Fight was for vacant WKA Cruiserweight World title.
1983-00-00Win11-1
1983-00-00WinUnited States Tony MorelliHawaii, United StatesKO (Kick)710-1
Wins WKC Light Heavyweight World title.
1983-00-00WinUnited States Don Nakaya NielsenLas Vegas, Nevada, United StatesDecision72:009-1
1983-00-00LossCanada Tony MorelliSurrey, CanadaDecision72:008-1
Makes professional kickboxing debut.
1981-00-00WinUnited States Marcus EctorEverett, WASHINGTONKO7-0
1981-00-00WinCanada Pat PetersSurrey, CanadaKO6-0
1981-00-00WinUnited States Scott RohrPortland, ORKO5-0
1981-00-00WinUnited States Ken OrrEverett, WASHINGTONKO4-0
1981-02-26WinCanada Wade WoodburyVancouver, British Columbia, CanadaDecision (Split)3-0
1981-01-17WinUnited States Rich MasonEverett, WASHINGTONKO2-0
1980-09-20WinUnited States Kelly WordenTacoma, WASHINGTONKO1-0
Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
28 matches 14 wins 14 losses
By knockout 9 0
By submission 2 8
By decision 3 4
Unknown 0 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 14–14 Matt Kovacs Decision (unanimous) CWC 9: Cage Warrior Combat 9 November 2, 2013 3 5:00 Kent, Washington, United States Return to Heavyweight.
Win 14–13 Jorge Cordoba KO (head kick) RFA 2: Yvel vs. Alexander March 30, 2012 3 2:05 Kearney, Nebraska, United States Light Heavyweight debut.
Loss 13–13 Hidehiko Yoshida Submission (neck crank) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 3 June 8, 2008 1 2:23 Saitama, Japan
Win 13–12 Rick Roufus Submission (straight armbar) Strikeforce: At The Dome February 23, 2008 1 1:53 Tacoma, Washington, United States
Win 12–12 Marco Ruas TKO (corner stoppage) IFL: Chicago May 19, 2007 4 3:43 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Loss 11–12 Renato Sobral Decision (unanimous) UFC 28 November 17, 2000 3 5:00 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 11–11 Bobby Hoffman Decision (majority) UFC 27 September 22, 2000 3 5:00 New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Loss 10–11 Renzo Gracie Submission (straight armbar) RINGS: King of Kings 1999 Block B December 22, 1999 1 0:50 Tokyo, Japan
Win 10–10 Branden Lee Hinkle Decision (majority) RINGS: King of Kings 1999 Block B December 22, 1999 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 9–10 Marcus Silveira Submission (arm-triangle choke) WEF 7: Stomp in the Swamp October 9, 1999 2 2:48 Kenner, Louisiana, United States
Win 9–9 Branko Cikatic Submission (forearm choke) Pride 7 September 12, 1999 1 7:33 Yokohama, Japan
Win 8–9 Marco Ruas TKO (corner stoppage) UFC 21 July 16, 1999 1 5:00 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
Loss 7–9 Kevin Randleman Decision (unanimous) UFC 19 March 5, 1999 1 15:00 Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States
Loss 7–8 Randy Couture Decision (majority) UFC Japan December 21, 1997 1 21:00 Yokohama, Japan Lost the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Win 7–7 Tank Abbott TKO (leg kicks) UFC 15 October 17, 1997 1 8:08 Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States Defended the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Win 6–7 Mark Coleman Decision (unanimous) UFC 14 July 27, 1997 1 21:00 Birmingham, Alabama, United States Won the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Fight of the Year (1997).
Win 5–7 Kazunari Murakami KO (punch) Extreme Fighting 4 March 28, 1997 1 4:23 Des Moines, Iowa, United States Defended the Extreme Fighting Heavyweight Championship.
Loss 4–7 Akira Maeda N/A RINGS: Budokan Hall 1997 January 22, 1997 N/A N/A Tokyo, Japan
Win 4–6 Marcus Silveira TKO (head kick) Extreme Fighting 3 October 18, 1996 3 1:36 Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States Won the Extreme Fighting Heavyweight Championship.
Loss 3–6 Kiyoshi Tamura Submission (armbar) RINGS: Maelstrom 6 August 24, 1996 1 10:58 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 3–5 Tsuyoshi Kohsaka N/A RINGS: Budokan Hall 1996 January 24, 1996 N/A N/A Tokyo, Japan
Loss 3–4 Bas Rutten Submission (rear-naked choke) Pancrase: Eyes Of Beast 6 November 4, 1995 1 4:34 Yokohama, Japan
Win 3–3 Manabu Yamada KO (punch) Pancrase: 1995 Anniversary Show[6] September 1, 1995 2 1:46 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 2–3 Bas Rutten Submission (kneebar) Pancrase: Eyes Of Beast 4 May 13, 1995 1 2:10 Chiba, Japan
Loss 2–2 Ken Shamrock Submission (arm-triangle choke) Pancrase: King of Pancrase Tournament opening round December 16, 1994 1 4:23 Tokyo, Japan
Win 2–1 Takaku Fuke KO (knee) Pancrase: King of Pancrase Tournament opening round December 16, 1994 1 2:48 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 1–1 Minoru Suzuki Submission (armbar) Pancrase: Road to the Championship 1 May 31, 1994 3 0:36 Tokyo, Japan
Win 1–0 Minoru Suzuki KO (punch) UWF U-Cosmos November 29, 1989 4 1:05 Tokyo, Japan

References

  1. NSAC report of K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Preliminary USA
  2. Meltzer, Dave (April 23, 2017). "Maurice Smith named to 2017 UFC Hall of Fame class". MMA Fighting. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  3. "Strikeforce | Maurice Smith can't subdue competitive drive". February 22, 2008.
  4. "Maurice Smith returns to the RFA to face TUF alum Ryan Lopez at RFA 3". onthemat.com. June 5, 2013. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014.
  5. "Matt Kovacs vs. Maurice Smith". tapology.com. November 2, 2013.
  6. "Pancrase: 1995 Anniversary Show Official Results". mixedmartialarts.com. September 1, 1995.
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