When I was younger I trained with many great Martial Art Masters like Sensei Benny Urquidez. I saw many of his fights and trained with him, and although I was told by many of my instructors I was gifted, Sensei Benny was the only one I thought I could never beat no matter how hard or much I trained. One of the true greats!!!
The Jet's record is mind boggling. I remember those days of yore where prize fighters would fight multiple bouts in a day. Benny has this kind of work ethic. He is a fighter for all eras and styles.
I am not much of a fighter yet I have learned so much from Benny from watching him and understanding how he lives his life have improved my spiritual and physical body. This man is a Gold Dragon in human form. He is something else! The world will never see the like of him for a very long time. I would rate him as the finest warrior in my lifetime. Our lifetimes if you are watching this years from now.
Good fight! I remember watching this fight on ESPN (I think) a long, long time ago, 1st Benny fight I saw & it made a lasting impression. So cool, martial arts legends Chuck Norris & Mike Stone being there, too. I'd love to see the Blinky Rodriguez fight they mentioned, too, but in any case thanks very much for sharing this stuff.
What a great fight. Thank you Benny for posting this fight for all the fans to see. These were never broadcast in the UK to my knowledge, what a crime. Great fighter, great champion and true martial artist, always pushing the positive. Massive respect.
I used to go to his gym in the barrio in Van Nuys, CA. back in the day. He wasn't a large man, but he had a powerful presence (some would call it aura) and a burning intensity when you looked him in the eyes. Actually, his beautiful sister Lilly, was my instructor, and she was every bit as bad-ass as her brother Benny. Great gym, I learned a lot. Those were the days...
Mr. Urquidez is the GOAT American Kickboxer beat everybody worldwide he beat the Japanese, The Dutch, and the Thais his style influenced what is now known as the "the Dutch" style kickboxing
You said that very well. It just strikes me how odd it is that he hasn’t received more Recognition and acknowledgment. When you consider what he was doing, how he was doing it (technique, skill and pure warrior spirit) and when he was doing it it is just amazing. A fighter ahead of his time.
I haven't looked it up, but I'll ask anyway. Does anyone know if there's a dvd or bluray collection of all of Benny's fights? That would be worth purchasing. They could upscale the old footage, if at all possible.
I took a few pictures of the Jet in Hawaii, back in 1975 or 76, and have one where he is pounding the Japanese fighter in the corner of the ring. His hands are blurred in the picture and his opponent is in a sitting posture holding on to the ropes. I gave the picture to Paul Maslak of the Star Rating System, and told him about the fight. Paul said it verified one of Benny's fights and was able to add it to his record since I was the third person who remembered the fight and outcome.
I was fortunate to see Benny fight 15 very brutal rounds with Earnest Harte in 1974 in Hawaii. Benny earned the decision...but what an amazing fight..both lightening fast and very powerful!! May Jesus bless and guide you both in this life. Benny had a similar body style to the great Duran..not so muscular but very very fast and extremely powerful.
Rick is great champion. and a great teacher, the spinning back fist saved me a lot of wear and tear in street fights. when there are no gloves that is always the last punch.thank you Rick
11:16 That spinning hook kick didn't look like Simmerly Blocked it with his glove hardly at all, I see it as going right over the glove, I'm amazed that Simmerly was still standing, looked to me like a very clean shot. Amazing shot by an incredible fighter, I'd still be laying on the canvas to this day. :)
Everyone seems to wonder how Bruce Lee would have done in MMA. Well I say that Benny is the guy from the 60s/70s that could have definitely competed in modern MMA. His standup is superior, toughness is unquestioned and with his Judo background it would not have been that big of a transition for him to adapt to submission grappling. Tremendous martial artist and person.
A true master.In the 70s he was on the cover of every martial arts magazine each month.Incredibly gracious as a human being.Not completely unbeaten contrary to legend he lost to a Thai fighter and to Billye Jackson..Super long career won innumerable title fights first international superstar..Would love to see how imaginary matches with Saenchai and Bruce Lee would go..Benny the best ever
I really respect you Benny and you are my idol as well, but seem likes you really look down other martial arts , I hope you still remember your rival The Muay Thai fighter " Narongnoy"
This sounds like a "JET" informercial. No talk about Rick Simmerly. ...norris is a personal friend of the jet! ..Hey I have Nothing but RESPECT for Benny Urquidez, But I would have like'd to know more about Rick Simmerly, It took real Big Ball's to take on the "Jet"! 3:)
simmer lay was one tough guy ,to have fought the greatest ,while Bruce Lee was making movies ,would have been a good fight ,did Bruce Lee ever fight ?yet they so praise him ,Benny was the best Simmerly fought the best and freakin took it ,one tough hombre
My teenage hero, Benny "the jet" Urquidez. I started to know you "Kings of the square ring" documentary movie. You started the real MMA fighting coz you are karate, judo, aikido blackbelt and professional boxer. You got blackbelts in more than 10 martial. What else? Salute to you Sensei Benny "the jet" Urquidez. Because of you I learnt a lot of martial arts even though I'm not professional fighter but I'm an engineer.
