All that ‘human cockfighting’ stuff really started at UFC 8 on this date in MMA history

It’s a given that the early version of the UFC looked nearly nothing like it looks today.

Far, far in the rearview mirror are the days when the promotion was worried about just being able to put events on legally, or get them broadcast – in large part thanks to Arizona Sen. John McCain, whose “human cockfighting” campaign against the UFC created a lot of early struggles.

The event said to give McCain his big push in the fight against legal MMA was UFC 8, which took place Feb. 16, 1996, in Puerto Rico. It was the first time the UFC went outside the country, and there were 11th-hour issues with the government, with broadcast bans – just general chaos.

Historically, the even is more notable for its importance in the UFC origin story – though the superfight title fight between Ken Shamrock and Kimo Leopolodo was a spectacle that you can watch in the video above.