Introduction
UFC 26: Ultimate Field of Dreams. June 9, 2000. Five Seasons Events Center (U.S. Cellular Center), Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Kevin Randleman finally got his title defence, three months after he knocked himself unconscious on a concrete floor before UFC 24. He defeated Pedro Rizzo by unanimous decision over five rounds, retaining the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Pat Miletich defended the Welterweight Championship. And Jens Pulver fought in the first-ever UFC bantamweight bout — one of the smallest weight classes the promotion had ever introduced — defeating Joao Roque by decision.
The event also featured a disqualification finish unlike any in UFC history. Under Iowa’s local MMA rules, kicking while wearing wrestling shoes was prohibited. Alex Andrade kicked Amaury Bitetti three times while wearing wrestling shoes. Referee John McCarthy disqualified him. Bitetti won by DQ in 43 seconds. The rule has not been widely replicated.
Quick Stats
📅 Date: June 9, 2000
📍 Venue: Five Seasons Events Center (U.S. Cellular Center), Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA
🏆 Heavyweight Championship: Kevin Randleman (c) def. Pedro Rizzo — Decision (Unanimous) — R5, 25:00 (rescheduled from UFC 24)
🏆 Welterweight Championship: Pat Miletich (c) def. John Alessio — Submission (Armbar) — R2, 1:43
🌟 Historic: First-ever UFC bantamweight bout (Jens Pulver def. Joao Roque); DQ for kicking with wrestling shoes
The First UFC Bantamweight Bout
UFC 26 introduced a bantamweight division for fighters under 155 pounds. Jens Pulver, who had made his first televised UFC appearance at UFC 24 and previously fought an untelevised prelim at UFC 22, was matched with Joao Roque in the inaugural UFC bantamweight bout. Pulver won by unanimous decision over three rounds. The bout and the division represented part of the UFC’s movement toward a more structured weight class system. Pulver would go on to become the UFC’s first official Lightweight Champion (under the renamed classification) at UFC 30 in 2001.
The Disqualification for Kicking with Shoes
Iowa’s local MMA rules at the time banned kicking while wearing wrestling shoes. Alex Andrade was wearing wrestling shoes and kicked Amaury Bitetti three times. Referee John McCarthy disqualified him immediately. Bitetti won by DQ at 0:43 of round two. It is one of the most unusual finishes in UFC history — a rule specific to the state where the event was held, applied to a local ruleset that no longer exists in its original form.
Full Results
Preliminary Bouts
Shonie Carter def. Adrian Serrano — Decision (Unanimous) — R2, 5:00
Ian Freeman def. Nate Schroeder — TKO (Submission to Punches) — R2, 2:13
Main Card
Jens Pulver def. Joao Roque — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (First-ever UFC bantamweight bout)
Matt Hughes def. Marcelo Aguiar — TKO (Doctor Stoppage) — R1, 4:34
Amaury Bitetti def. Alex Andrade — DQ (Kicking with Wrestling Shoes) — R2, 0:43 (unique Iowa rule: kicking while wearing wrestling shoes was banned)
UFC Welterweight Championship
Pat Miletich (c) def. John Alessio — Submission (Armbar) — R2, 1:43 (Miletich retains)
Tyrone Roberts def. David Dodd — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00
UFC Heavyweight Championship (5 rounds × 5 minutes)
Kevin Randleman (c) def. Pedro Rizzo — Decision (Unanimous) — R5, 25:00 (Randleman’s first successful HW title defence; originally scheduled for UFC 24)
Records & Milestones
🌟 First-ever UFC bantamweight bout — Jens Pulver defeated Joao Roque by unanimous decision in the inaugural contest in a new weight class for fighters under 155 lbs.
❌ Most unusual DQ in UFC history — Alex Andrade was disqualified for kicking Amaury Bitetti three times while wearing wrestling shoes, which Iowa’s local MMA rules prohibited.
🏆 Kevin Randleman’s first successful HW title defence — the fight originally scheduled for UFC 24 finally took place, with Randleman retaining by unanimous decision over five rounds.
Legacy & Impact
UFC 26 is remembered for its structural quirks as much as its results. The bantamweight introduction and the shoe DQ capture the patchwork quality of UFC regulation in 2000 — a sport that was still being governed by inconsistent local rules in the few US states willing to host it. Both fights point in the same direction: toward the Unified Rules of MMA that would arrive later in the year at UFC 28, replacing state-by-state chaos with a single framework.
Randleman’s successful defence against Rizzo was the last positive note of his reign. At UFC 28 in November 2000, he would lose the title to Randy Couture by third-round TKO. The heavyweight championship changed hands again, and Randleman’s run ended.
FAQ
What was the first UFC bantamweight fight?
The first UFC bantamweight fight was Jens Pulver vs. Joao Roque at UFC 26 on June 9, 2000. Pulver won by unanimous decision. The bantamweight division introduced at UFC 26 was for fighters under 155 pounds. Pulver would go on to become the UFC’s first official lightweight champion when the divisions were restructured.
Why was Alex Andrade disqualified at UFC 26?
Under Iowa’s local MMA rules at the time, kicking while wearing wrestling shoes was prohibited. Andrade was wearing wrestling shoes and kicked Amaury Bitetti three times. Referee John McCarthy disqualified him at 0:43 of round two, awarding Bitetti the win by DQ. The rule was specific to Iowa’s regulatory framework and does not appear in the modern Unified Rules of MMA.
Did Kevin Randleman successfully defend the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 26?
Yes. Randleman defeated Pedro Rizzo by unanimous decision over five rounds. It was the rescheduled title bout that had been scheduled for UFC 24, where Randleman knocked himself unconscious backstage. Randleman held on to the title until UFC 28 in November 2000, when he lost to Randy Couture by third-round TKO.