This Month’s MMA Birthdays: Maurice Smith Turns 60

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Maurice Smith remains one of MMA’s most overlooked pioneers. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight titleholder turns 60 on Dec. 13.

Smith was a multiple-time world championship kickboxer who befriended ground specialist Frank Shamrock—together, they formed The Alliance—and unknowingly provided one of the blueprints to the cross-training methods that now dominate modern mixed martial arts. The Seattle native made his Octagon debut at UFC 14, where, despite his middling 5-7 record, he challenged the heavily favored Mark Coleman for…