WVC 1: World Vale Tudo Championship (1996)

The World Vale Tudo Championship, or WVC, was a no holds barred-style MMA fighting promotion based in Brazil. The promotion was founded by Brazilian promoter Frederico Lapenda. It debuted at NK Hall Bay auditorium in Japan to a packed house, but future shows would all take place in Brazil. The WVC helped to launch the careers of MMA stars such as Pedro Rizzo, Mark Kerr, Heath Herring, Igor Vovchanchyn, and many others. Many WVC fighters went on to fight in either the UFC or for the PRIDE promotion in Japan. WVC super fight champions Francisco Bueno Hugo Duarte Martin Malkhasyan Stefanos Miltsakakis Mario Neto Nick Nutter Marco Ruas Pedro Rizzo Igor Vovchanchyn Gilbert Yvel WVC tournament winners Heavyweight: Richard Heard (WVC 1, 1996), Pedro Rizzo (WVC 2, 1996), Mark Kerr (WVC 3, 1997), Igor Vovchanchyn (WVC 5, 1998), Travis Fulton (WVC 6, 1998), Mikhail Avetisyan (WVC 7, 1999), Alexandre "Cacareco" Ferreira (WVC 8, 1999), Heath Herring (WVC 9, 1999) Light heavyweight: Maxim Tarasov (WVC 7, 1999), Amar Suloev (WVC 11, 2000) Middleweight: Johil De Oliveira (WVC 4, 1997), Dinarte Silva (WVC 12, 2001), Moacir Oliveira (WVC 12, 2001), Darrel Gholar (WVC 13, 2001), Phillip Miller (WVC 14, 2002) Lightweight: Eli Soares (WVC 10, 2000)