Customer Rating: 
Summary: Judgement Day in Alabama
Comment: February 7, 1997
Dothan Civic Center
Dothan, Alabama
UFC Judgement Day.
Jerry Bohlander vs. Rainy Martinez:
This one ends quickly. It appears that one of these fighters has no business in the UFC and the other has what could be a bright future.
Wallid Ismail vs. Yoshiki Takahashi:
This fight evolves into a standing battle briefly, then turns into a standing struggle for position. Ismail's protective cup somehow gets ripped out of his pants, which I'd never seen happen in a fight before, nor have I seen it since. The fight grows less and less interesting - and it eventually goes to a decision.
Scott Ferrozzo vs. Jim Mullen:
Ferrozzo is a mess and he bothers me, haha... Tank Abbott, who amazingly lost to Ferrozzo, sits in on commentary for this fight. Ferrozzo looks more than ridiculous in his WWF wrestler-like tights with his huge gut hanging down over them. Ferrozzo predictably bulldozes Mullen into the fence and basically lies on him until the fight ends with a TKO. Granted, Ferrozzo uses his weight effectively - he's just amusing as a comical figure, not a fighter.
Tra Telligman vs. Vitor Belfort:
Belfort, the young phenom, simply overwhelms Lion's Den fighter, Tra Telligman... Very entertaining fight. Belfort has amazing hand speed and strength.
Takahashi had broken his hand in his first fight of the event and us unable to continue. Alternate Nick Sanzo steps in to face Jerry Bohlander in the finals of the tournament. This is another joke of a fight for Bohlander. It ends quickly.
Scott Ferrozzo vs. Vitor Belfort:
This one lasts 52 seconds. The fat man in tights gets absolutely lit up by Belfort... He lunges for Belfort after the fight has been stopped, attempting to lift Belfort and slam his. It is broken up and the octagon is filled with Belfort's team who carry him around in celebration. Ferrozzo didn't belong in there with the likes of Vitor Belfort. Not at all.
Mark "The Hammer" Coleman vs. Dan "The Beast" Severn:
This was to be an exciting fight. Severn, already 38 years old at this point, takes on the new bad boy on the block, Mark Coleman. Two of the finest grapplers the UFC has ever seen will go at it. The fight, however, is something of a letdown. It doesn't last all that long and it doesn't end all that spectacularly.
Not a bad night for the UFC, but certainly not too notable an event. I recommend at least seeing it, but it is not exactly "required viewing" for MMA and UFC fans.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Judgement Day is here!
Comment: UFC 12 was on February 7, 1997 from Dothan, Alabama. This is the first UFC with weight classes. And with guest commentating from Ken Shamrock in the lightweight tournament, Tank Abbott in the heavyweight tournament and Don "The Predator" Frye in the main event. In the lightweight tournament is Lion's Den fighter, UFC 8 and 11 veteran and Super Brawl 1 Middleweight tournament champion Jerry Bohlander, Pancrase veteran Yoshiki Takahashi, Universal Vale Tudo Fighting veteran Wallid Ismael, and rookie fighter Rainy Martinez. This was a good tournament but I didn't care for it.
In the heavyweight tournament is Lion's Den fighter and Super Brawl 1 heavyweight tournament champion Tra Tellingman, Super Brawl 2 veteran and Carlson Gracie Jr. student Vitor Belfort, UFC 8 and 11 veteran Scott Ferrozo and kickboxer Jim Mullen. This tournament was good too, but finals were great.
The main event is between UFC 5 Champion, UFC Ultimate Ultimate 1995 champion and UFC 9 "Super" fight winner Dan "The Beast" Severn and UFC 10 and 11 champion Mark "The Hammer" Coleman. This fight was to crown the first UFC Heavyweight champion. This was good but not great.
Overall good tape.
Customer Rating:
Summary: honest commentary ok
Comment: i expected dan severn ultimate ultimate champion to actually put on a great show against the hammer, but he just tensed out. it would have been a great match if the beast was to be unleashed. dan severn has great wrestling background, so that is really a let down. mark coleman showed in the final that he had the superior strength to defeat severn. ufc 12 is o'right
Customer Rating:
Summary: how many apples does mary have in the basket?
Comment: The first two tournament format in the UFC reaffirmed my belief that weight classes aren't needed. There was a five-pound weight difference between the winners of the middleweight and heavyweight tournaments. Both tournaments were action-packed, with commentators Ken Shamrock and Tank Abbott. Tank is a riot. He should replace the normal commentators. The first heavyweight champion is crowned in a Dan Severn-Mark Coleman battle. Listen to what Severn says when Bigjohn asks him if he has any questions. Severn's really too old for this kind of thing. Of course, that was in '97, and he's still fighting. He's like some kind of...non-stopping...wrestling guy...
Customer Rating:
Summary: Two tournaments and a Superfight!
Comment: The last UFC(Ultimate Ultimate 2) saw a scattering of injuries, this UFC we would see 2 tournaments, (a heavyweight and an under 200 lb. tournament) and of course the long awaited return of Dan Severn vs. Mark Coleman.The heavyweight tournament saw the return of "The Rotund One", Scott Ferrozzo and the debut of BJJ sensation Vitor Belfort. Belfort only 19 yrs. old would impress all in this action-packed tourney.
The lightweight tourney(now known as middleweight) saw the return of Lions Den fighter Jerry Bohlander, along with the debut of BJJ fighter Wallid Ismail, and Japanese fighter Yoshiki Takahashi. Takahashi and Ismail would battle in a crazy match that saw a lot strange things. Bohlander would be his same solid self and prove his skills.
As far as the Super Fight, Dan Severn would battle Mark Coleman for the gold. Dan Severn was without one defense since winning the Superfight in UFC IX. While Mark Coleman was "given" a shot at the title via Don Frye's injury. This would be a rare chance to see a wrestler vs. wrestler fight. Many questions had to be answered,(who would strike first?, who would shoot in first?, who would wind up taking guard?) and this fight would show all this.
A good show with great fights and great fighters.
