Saying that 38 year old Jeremy Couball is obsessed with MMA would be an understatement.

The Southern Cali native has what is likely the largest collection of MMA memorabilia in the world. His astonishing collection mainly consists of UFC and Pride memorabilia but also contains various other items from other organizations.

The roots of Couball’s infatuation with MMA go all the way back to September 9, 1994, when Jeremy and his father witnessed UFC 3 in Charlotte, NC.

Jeremy’s spectacular collection, estimated to be worth in excess of $70,000 at the time of this article, all started when he got his hands on a UFC 27 poster. The rest is history.

We were lucky enough to get an interview with Couball who tells the story behind his massive mixed martial arts collection, detailing some of his favorite pieces along the way.

To begin Jeremy welcomes you as he kneels in front of an official UFC 52 billboard.

Interview with Jeremy Couball:

RedSweat: First off tell us a little bit about yourself and what got you into mixed martial arts? 

Jeremy: I saw my first UFC (3) with my dad. Ever since then I was hooked on this style of fighting. I ended up ordering a sweatshirt from an MMA website. They sent me a UFC 27 (Bad Boys) poster in with my order. Then I got a few other posters from different places online. When I saw that I had UFC 5, 11, 22, 27, and other shows, I wanted to have them all in order from UFC 1 to present time. So I started searching for all the UFC posters I could find. 

I then did the same with Pride, KOTC, and Battlecade. While looking for the event posters, I got a few shirts, passes, and event programs. And like the posters, I had to have them all in order. It has become a big part of my life now. I have 2 boys, Seth and Sam, whom I hope will follow me into the world of MMA.

RedSweat: How long have you been collecting MMA memorabilia? 

Jeremy: I have been collecting for almost 6 years now. I was collecting MMA memorabilia when there were only like 3 or 4 other cats that even cared about MMA posters and stuff. Now that there are a lot other people involved with collecting mma, its getting a lot harder to find things. There are guys who like only fight worn items, some guys just want posters, and some other specific MMA items. But I’m into ALL MMA memorabilia which can make things hard and a challenge. As the sport grows like baseball, football, soccer, etc it will have the memorabilia to go with it like those other sports.

RedSweat: How many pieces are in your collection, or can you at least give us an estimate? 

Jeremy: As far as what’s in my collection? I will break it down as best as I can.

• POSTERS - I have just about all the UFC posters with the exception of UFC 17 and 23. I have most of the Pride posters as well as multiple versions (Japanese and English). I have all 4 Battlecade’s and some King of the Cage posters. I also have a lot of assorted shows and other fighter posters. All together I have hundreds of posters that I now have stored.
• PASSES - I have most UFC passes, some Pride, some KOTC, and other assorted shows. I think i have a few hundred passes as well.
• PROGRAMS - Programs are a lot harder to come across because these are items that are only sold at the shows. I have a lot of UFC, Pride, Vale Tudo, Cage Rage, and other MMA related shows. I have all 4 UFC Japan (UFC-Japan, 23, 25, 29) programs that are extremely hard to get seeing is how they were only sold in japan at the shows. All together I have maybe a hundred different programs.

RedSweat: What is your all time favorite piece in the collection?

Jeremy: My favorite piece? That’s a tough one seeing is how I have a few favorites. Here are my top 5 I guess.

1. Both UFC Brazil posters (English and Portuguese version). UFC Brazil was one of my favorite events plus the posters for this show are among the coolest posters the UFC has ever made.
2. An actual UFC lightweight tournament medal. These were issued to the fighters back in the old days after winning a 4 man tournament. These were the only fights the UFC ever had for the lightweights at the time.
3. Pride 1 poster. I have a pride 1 poster that I paid a small fortune for and at the time I had never seen this version aside from a small picture in the Pride 1 program from the press conference. As far as know there are 7 versions of the pride 1 poster. I have 6 of the 7 and again getting old Pride stuff is next to impossible!!!
4. All 4 of the UFC Japan programs. The UFC had 4 shows in Japan. I have the programs from UFC Japan 1, UFC 23, UFC 25, and UFC 29. UFC Japan 1 is where Randy won the HW title for the first time against Mo Smith and Frank Shammy won the first ever MW title against Kevin Jackson. UFC 23 is where Kevin Randleman beat Pete Williams for the vacant HW title when Bas left. UFC 25 had Tito beating Wanderlei Silva for the vacant MW title when Frank left. UFC 29 had Pat Miletich beating Yamamoto for the LW title and Tito defending his MW title against Yuki Kondo.
5. All 4 Battlecade posters. Battlecade was the best show in my opinion. The poster are extremely rare and hard to come by. There were only 4 shows and all 4 shows had all of the who’s who in MMA compete like Ralph Gracie, Mario Sperry, John Lewis, Matt Hume, Kevin Jackson, Erik Paulson, Conan Silvera, Mo Smith, etc…
6. (5.5) UFC 1 through 5 all access passes. The foundation of MMA in this country!

RedSweat: If there is one thing you don’t have that could have, what would it be? 

Jeremy: There are things I’m actively after, but there are a few things I will most likely not have that I wish I could have. I would like to have the UFC 2 or UFC Brazil floor canvas, some fight worn gloves from certain fighters, UFC 17 and 23 posters, a Pride ring canvas, Royce Gracie’s gi from UFC 1, just to name a few things.

RedSweat: What was the very first piece of memorabilia that you started your collection with? 

Jeremy: The first thing I ever got was that UFC 27 poster. That started the whole thing.

RedSweat: How did you get your hands on the official octagon canvas?

Jeremy: That canvas you see in the pictures is from UFC 30, the first show that Zuffa did after the purchase of the UFC from SEG. That’s the canvas Tito dumped Evan Tanner on his head on. Believe it or not, that was going to be thrown away by an old UFC employee. I guess back in the day, the UFC use to give the floors to whoever wanted them (employees, fighters, and sponsors). I ran across this chick at a UFC show and we got to talking. She had one and was moving. She had planned on leaving it behind for the trash guy. I caught her just in time, went to her house and got it. (I paid a descent amount for it in the end)

RedSweat: What would you estimate your collection is worth as of now? 

Jeremy: Worth? When I got most of my more rare items nobody was interested in this stuff. I got a lot of stuff for peanuts and even given to me at times. Today you have people like Harley Davidson and Bud Light executives who pay a LOT for certain MMA items. You also have the guys who want a few posters on their walls in their game rooms at home. Value is based on the growing market and what people are willing to pay. Today’s prices would have my collection at around 70,000 dollars. Could i get 70k? Maybe. In a another 10 years could I get 70k? Fo sho!

RedSweat: How many MMA events have you been to in person? 

Jeremy: I have been to thee first KOTC before it was called that (it was the Bas Rutten Invitational). I sat next to Bas for that show and it was right after he beat Randleman at UFC 20. I then went to the next 4 shows of KOTC. I went to 2 Gladiator Challenges (I sold tickets to KOTC and GC in the beginning). I’ve been to UFC 33, 36, 49, 51, and 84. I’ve been to Pride 32, and 33 in Vegas. I’ve also been to countless smaller shows and grappling tourneys.

RedSweat: Who is your all time favorite mixed martial artist and why?

Jeremy: My favorite martial artist? Funny you ask me this one. Bas Rutten was the one guy besides Frank Shamrock who I felt could have dominated their weight classes for a long time. When Bas came into the UFC at UFC 18, he was billed as “the worlds greatest martial artist”. The event poster actually said that on it with a big picture of Bas on it. Age stopped Bas from killing everyone in the UFC in my opinion. Frank was the first cat who put fighting together as a science with cardio and technique.

Jeremy’s Closing Statement: I’m a collector of all MMA related things. If anyone has a question, want’s to sell/trade, or just want’s to know about something you have, feel free to email me. I’m always looking for other collectors in Brazil, Japan, Europe, etc. 

Contact Info:
Email Address: jnlcouball@hotmail.com

Thanx Todd at redsweat.com for having me on here!

Stay tuned as we will be catching up with Couball in the future to recap his collection and new MMA museum.

World’s Largest MMA Collection Gallery (50 pics):
Note: Look at the bottom right corner of each pic for a general description of the items.

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