Maurice Smith (fighter) facts for kids

Maurice Lavonne Smith (born December 13, 1961) is a famous American athlete. He used to compete in two exciting sports: kickboxing and mixed martial arts (MMA). In kickboxing, he won several world championships. These included titles from the WKC, WKA, and ISKA organizations.

Maurice also became a champion in mixed martial arts. He held the Heavyweight championship in Battlecade Extreme Fighting and the UFC. Because of his amazing career, he was added to the UFC Hall of Fame in 2017. Maurice competed professionally from 1980 to 2013.

Maurice Smith's Fighting Journey

Maurice Smith grew up in Seattle, Washington. He started learning martial arts when he was 13 years old. He was inspired after watching the movie Chinese Connection with Bruce Lee. He also wanted to learn how to defend himself.

Maurice trained in different styles like karate, kung fu, and taekwondo. When he was 18, he discovered the sport of kickboxing. He also played football and did gymnastics at West Seattle High School.

Kickboxing: Becoming a Champion

Maurice won his first seven amateur kickboxing matches. Then, he decided to become a professional fighter. His first pro fight was on March 4, 1982. He faced Tony Morelli, who was the Light Heavyweight Champion. Maurice lost that fight because he wasn't strong enough.

He worked hard to improve his fitness. Fourteen months later, he fought Morelli again. This time, Maurice won by knockout with a powerful roundhouse kick. He became the WKC Light Heavyweight Champion!

Later that year, he fought the famous Don "The Dragon" Wilson in Japan. Maurice lost, but he showed everyone he was a rising star. He then moved up to a heavier weight class. He won the World Kickboxing Association Heavyweight Championship by knocking out Travis Everett with low kicks.

In 1984, Maurice competed in Holland and won his fight quickly. He went ten years without losing a single match! In 1991, he had a big win against Stan Longinidis. Stan was a very strong fighter, but Maurice won after a tough 12-round match.

In 1993, Maurice was invited to the K-1 Grand Prix '93. This tournament featured eight of the world's best kickboxers. Maurice won his first match against Toshiyuki Atokawa. In the next round, he fought Ernesto Hoost, a future K-1 legend. Maurice lost by knockout in the final round, but he proved he could compete with the best.

Mixed Martial Arts: A New Challenge

Maurice first tried mixed rules fighting in 1989 in Japan. He faced Minoru Suzuki in a special fight. Maurice used his striking skills to knock out Suzuki. This event was very popular and sold out the Tokyo Dome.

In 1993, Maurice joined Pancrase, a mixed martial arts group. He fought in a kickboxing match and later in an MMA fight. He lost to Minoru Suzuki by armbar. The next year, he joined the King of Pancrase tournament. He won his first fight but then lost to Ken Shamrock.

Losing to Ken Shamrock was important for Maurice's career. They became friends, and Maurice went to Shamrock's gym, the Lion's Den. There, he learned more about MMA, especially ground fighting. He also became close friends with Frank Shamrock. Maurice helped Frank improve his striking, and Frank helped Maurice with his ground game. They later formed their own MMA team called The Alliance.

Winning Major MMA Titles

In 1996, Maurice joined Battlecade Extreme Fighting. He fought the Heavyweight Champion, Marcus "Conan" Silveira. Maurice used a technique called the sprawl to stop Silveira from taking him to the ground. He also defended well when Silveira did get him down. Maurice knocked out Silveira in the third round with a head kick. He became the Extreme Fighting Heavyweight Champion. He was the first fighter known for striking to win a major MMA title.

He defended his title against Kazunari Murakami. Maurice knocked Murakami out with a punch. After this win, Maurice joined the biggest MMA organization in the United States, the UFC.

At UFC 14 on July 27, 1997, Maurice fought UFC Heavyweight Champion Mark Coleman. Maurice was not expected to win, but he surprised everyone! He won by decision and became the UFC Heavyweight Champion. Maurice was the first striker to beat a world-class wrestler in the UFC. He used his guard to stop Coleman's attacks on the ground. Coleman got tired, and Maurice used his striking to win.

Maurice successfully defended his title against David "Tank" Abbott. Abbott became too tired to continue the fight. Maurice then lost his belt to MMA legend Randy Couture. Many people thought Maurice should have won that fight.

Maurice's Return to the Ring

After almost seven years, Maurice Smith returned to MMA on May 19, 2007. He fought Marco Ruas again at an International Fight League event. Maurice saved his energy early in the fight. Then, he attacked and won by TKO.

On February 23, 2008, Maurice fought kickboxer Rick Roufus at a Strikeforce event. Rick was new to MMA. Maurice won by submission in the first round.

Maurice Smith also coached the Seattle Tiger Sharks team in the International Fight League from 2006 to 2007. He is still connected with Team Alliance.

Maurice returned to MMA again on March 30, 2012. He fought Jorge Cordoba as a Light Heavyweight for the first time. Maurice won by a head-kick knockout in the third round. He later returned to the Heavyweight division and lost his last fight in 2013.

Maurice Smith's Achievements

Kickboxing Awards

• K-1
  • Won the 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix Preliminary USA
  • Reached the semifinals of the K-1 World Grand Prix '93 Tournament
• International Sport Karate Association
  • I.S.K.A. World Muay Thai Heavyweight Champion (1996)
• World Kickboxing Association
  • W.K.A. World Kickboxing Heavyweight Champion (1983)
  • W.K.A. World Muay Thai Heavyweight Champion (1994)
• Other Titles
  • W.K.C. Light-Heavyweight World Champion (1983)

Mixed Martial Arts Awards

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Member of the UFC Hall of Fame (Pioneer wing, Class of 2017)
  • UFC Heavyweight Champion (One time)
  • Successfully defended his title once
  • Won Fight of the Night once (against Mark Coleman)
• Extreme Fighting
  • Extreme Fighting Heavyweight Champion (won against Marcus "Conan" Silveira)
  • Successfully defended Extreme Fighting Heavyweight Championship (against Murakami Kazanari)
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • Named Most Outstanding Fighter in 1997
  • Had the Fight of the Year in 1997 (against Mark Coleman on July 27)
• Black Belt Magazine
  • Named Full-Contact Fighter of the Year in 2001

Images for kids

• Smith in 1999

  Smith in 1999