John Perretti: My UFC Years – Matchmaking, Rules Changes & The Real Dark Era Story

John Perretti returns to the MMA History Podcast to detail his transition from Extreme Fighting to the UFC and the turbulent early years that followed. The Gene LeBell black belt and key architect of modern MMA discusses the rapid call from the UFC just days after Battlecade closed, the challenges of matchmaking under Japanese financing, and the fight to implement gloves, weight classes, and rounds into a spectacle-driven promotion.

From the controversial UFC Japan card and suspected works to booking future stars like Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson and Carlos Newton, Perretti recounts hostile environments, referee tensions, and the moment five-minute rounds and the ten-point must system finally arrived at UFC 21. Unfiltered stories from one of the key figures who lived it.

0:00 start

0:22 MMA History intro

0:54 Joey Venti’s guest introductions

1:09 interview start

1:11 plugs/ promotions

2:55 Art Davey and Bob Meyrowitz issues

3:55 finding out some fights were works in UFC Japan

6:58 Dealings with Mr Karoke

9:09 UFC Japan Card

10:21 Vitor Belfort vs Joe Charles

12:49 cornered by John McCarthy and Jeff Blatnick

16:00 Tank Abbott pulling out of tournament

17:36 bringing Frank Shamrock to the UFC

18:24 Frank Shamrock vs Igor Zinoviev

21:12 UFC Salary

21:41 170lb 4 man tournament

24:34 Mikey Burnett and Eugenio Tadeu size different

26:00 Jerry Bohlander vs Kevin Jackson

27:22 tension with other UFC staff

29:29 interactions with Joe Silva

29:40 UFC promotion commission

30:53 Chuck Liddell vs Noe Hernandez

32:16 Andre Roberts vs Harry Moskowitz

33:42 Dan Henderson vs Allan Goes

33:57 Carlos Newton vs Bob Gilstrap

34:28 Mike Van Arsdale vs Joe Pardo

35:02 Tank Abbott vs Hugo Duarte

35:39 Dan Henderson vs Carlos Newton

36:46 prize for winning 4 man tournament

38:45 Pete Williams airport story

39:56 Randy Couture cancelled bout with Mark Coleman

41:21 Pete Williams vs Mark Coleman

45:57 Frank Shamrock vs Jeremy Horn

47:34 promoter Sergio Batarelli

49:57 Tank Abbott vs Pedro Rizzo

51:53 talks about Royce Gracie

53:47 Bas Rutten Pedro Rizzo fight announcement

55:47 Rickson Gracie pushback

58:14 offering Rigan Machado fight in “The Contenders”

59:16 Jiu jitsu not favored in Extreme Fighting

1:01:48 dealings with Carlson Gracie

1:03:06 kicked out of the Machado academy

1:04:45 Tito Ortiz showing up to UFC Brazil

1:07:58 Frank Shamrock vs John Lober

1:10:46 Vitor Belfort vs Wanderlei Silva

1:11:42 Ebenezer Braga vs Jeremy Horn

1:12:50 Pat Miletich vs Mikey Burnett

1:15:12 Pete Williams vs Tsuyoshi Kosaka

1:16:40 UFC 18 fight card

1:18:20 Bas Rutten hype for UFC

1:20:28 dealings with Steve Nelson

1:21:00 Pedro Rizzo vs Mark Coleman

1:21:42 Tito Ortiz vs Jerry Bohlander

1:23:13 Bas Rutten vs Tsuyoshi Kosaka

1:24:52 John Perretti attending talk shows

1:26:16 UFC 19 fight card

1:28:12 dealings with Bob Shamrock

1:28:36 feelings about Gary Goodridge

1:29:28 Vitor Belfort pulls out of fight with Guy Mezger

1:31:13 Tito Ortiz double bird to Guy Mezger’s corner

1:31:48 announcing Tito Ortiz vs Evan Tanner

1:32:47 Bas Rutten vs Kevin Randleman

1:33:49 thoughts on Eddie Goldman

1:37:11 Pedro Rizzo Withdraws from Bas Rutten fight

1:37:33 Mark Laimon

1:39:08 Ron Waterman vs Chris Condo

1:40:08 LaVerne Clark vs Fabiano Iha

1:41:32 Marcelo Mello vs David Roberts

1:42:17 Wanderlei Silva vs Tony Patarra

1:44:18 Pedro Rizzo vs Tra Telligman

1:45:57 UFC 21 debut of 5 minute rounds

1:47:10 10 point must scoring system

1:48:08 John Perretti not receiving any credit

1:49:49 UFC 21 fight card

1:51:20 Paul Jones vs Flavio Moura

1:51:39 Pat Miletich vs Andre Pederneiras

1:52:46 Maurice Smith vs Marco Ruas

1:54:20 Frank Shamrock Vs Tito Ortiz announcement

1:55:30 receiving a standing ovation

1:56:48 interview wrap up/ outro