‘It was the Wild West’: MMA pioneer Elvis Sinosic remembers becoming first Aussie in the UFC

Elvis Sinosic became the UFC’s first Aussie fighter, back when the sport was still considered a freak show. Once a world title contender, Sinosic was barely known back home, writes BRENDAN BRADFORD.

MMA veteran Elvis Sinosic was the first Australian to fight in the UFC. Picture: Angelo Soulas

On February 23, 2001, Elvis Sinosic stepped into the Octagon to face Jeremy Horn at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.

In doing so, Sinosic became the first Australian to ever fight in a relatively new thing called the UFC.

Back then, mixed martial arts and the UFC was seen as a no holds-barred, free for all sideshow for madmen and lunatics.

To a certain extent, it was.

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Back in the day. Joe Stevenson, Sinosic, Wanderlei Silva, George Sotiropoulos, Cain Velasquez and Chris Haseman in Sydney.

But Sinosic was well-spoken, had a degree in IT and had worked at places like Microsoft, Qantas, Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Colonial Bank. When fighting abroad, the UFC regularly asked him to conduct newspaper, TV and radio interviews as the company looked to present a clean cut image.

But even when he fought Tito Ortiz in June 2001 for the light heavyweight world title, he couldn’t dream of getting a mention in the sporting media back home.

“I fought for a world title and couldn’t get a byline in the paper,” he says. “The majority of people had no idea about it.

“There was a hard core martial arts community, but most people thought it was a fight to the death type of thing.

“It was pretty crazy. It was seen as something from the Wild West and was very sensationalised.”

Sinosic (L) took on UFC legend Forrest Griffin at UFC 55 in 2005. Picture: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

Now, 22 years later, Alexander Volkanovski will headline the UFC’s flagship event of the American summer when he defends his featherweight world title against Yair Rodriguez at UFC 290 in Las Vegas.

The fight card is the tentpole event of the UFC’s annual International Fight Week extravaganza, and also features Aussies Rob Whittaker, Jack Della Maddalena, Jimmy Crute and Shannon Ross, as well as New Zealander Dan Hooker.

“If I could go back and tell my five-year-old self that I’d be fighting on International Fight Week, I don’t think he’d believe me,” says Crute of the magnitude of the event.

Sinosic (blue shorts) attempts to submit Michael Bisping at UFC 70 in Manchester in 2007. Picture: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

A pioneer of the sport in Australia, Sinosic points to two other stars who helped grow the sport globally.

“I think Tito Ortiz was the first big star and the first guy to talk trash and get people to watch,” he says. “He had that mindset from professional wrestling that it doesn’t matter if you like me or hate me, as long as you’re watching.

“Then Ronda Rousey became that first mainstream, or crossover star. She built that fanbase outside the UFC.”

Sinosic had a bloody battle with Renato ‘Bebalu’ Sobal in 2002. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

For a guy who couldn’t get in the paper, and had to fight for years to change people’s perceptions of the UFC, Sinosic can scarcely believe the impact today’s Aussie fighters are having.

“As an Australian, I feel privileged,” he says. “These guys are all super talented athletes, but they’re great people and respectful individuals.

“That makes it even better, that we have great athletes, but also great role models as well.

“It’s pretty awesome to see. Over the years, we’re going to have many champions from Australia.”