UFC Classics, Volumes 11 & 12
Directed by Mark Lucas
Starring, Tank Abbott, Mark Coleman, Dan Severn, Jerry Bohlander, Vitor Belfort
Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 10, 2009

For all of you hybrid geeks out there, such as myself, who love sports as much as they love movies and games — here’s some more good old fashioned Ultimate Fighting Championship action for you. This time we’re looking at the 11th and 12th volumes of UFC Classics.

The last time I reviewed UFC Classics, it was for volumes 5, 6, 7, and 8. When I did that review, there was oh, so much I could say about the UFC as a very passionate fan of mixed martial arts. Unfortunately, I didn’t know that I would have the chance to do more of these reviews, which leaves me with much less to say. This becomes a problem, as it’s very difficult to actually review fights. You can read my previous review here to catch up: DVD Review: UFC Classics Collection Volumes 5-8.

These classic events are still back when the UFC was still a no rules competition that was banned in many countries. Being a big fan of the sport, I can watch these and find entertainment, but if you’re not a super-fan, you may not be as impressed. The current UFC is such a well-oiled machine with the best athletes and fighters on the planet, that it’s amazing to go back and witness this sort of primal early stage before the sport evolved.

People who just love a brawl wouldn’t have to look any further than these DVDs. This is back when someone like Tank Abbott was still dangerous with his bar fight style. You also see legends like Dan Severn, who would basically just knock you on your ass and slap you repeatedly. Then there’s people like Mark Coleman in his prime before he went on to a long career in the UFC and Pride — hell, he’s still fighting today.

This is also still back when there were no weight classes and it was tournament style. With this now-impossible (in the USA anyway) format, a 200 lb. man might fight a 150 lb. man or he could find himself looking at a 300 lb. nightmare. If that wasn’t scary enough, if they won, they could do this up to three times in one night!

Again, there’s not much that can be said in a review of these fights, but if you’re into the UFC, MMA, or just fighting in general, you can go out and grab these DVDs with confidence that entertainment is to be had.

Special Features

UFC Classics Volume 11

– Fight Selections
– Fighter Bios & Professional Records
– Mark Coleman: Back-to-Back Tournament Titles

UFC Classics Volume 12

– Fight Selections
– Fighter Bios & Professional Records
– Brazilian Jiujitsu Basics with Shawn Williams