MMA Spotlight 9.25.08: Ken Shamrock

Posted by Reuel Mante on 09.25.2008

From an unfortunate youth to a UFC Hall of Famer, Ken Shamrock’s storied career has been one of confusion, excitement and pure guts.



Ever since the year 2000, I keep reading articles about Hulk Hogan readying him for a return to the ring. Now, allow me to be honest. I was a huge Hogan fan growing up. Wrestlemania 3 thru 8 were my amongst my favorite WWF/E years as he headlined every card. The man made history being a top draw in the early days of sports entertainment. Charismatic, inhumanly strong, and indestructible in the face of evil. After leaving his home organization, he made his name in WCW mirroring the exact same feats of heroism he accomplished not too long before. Unfortunately, the year 2000 came and I was sick and tired of the same old crap. Every time I read an article that says he's coming back, I think, "WHY?!" There is nothing new about that guy. He brings nothing special to the show. His attempts at burying the younger talent repeatedly flop. Why put us through the torture of seeing him?

Okay, that's exactly how I feel about Ken Shamrock.

Ken Shamrock started his MMA career in Pancrase in 1993. Three wins via submission earned him a spot in the inaugural UFC event. Winning his first fight against Pat Smith by heel hook, he advanced to the semifinals to face the legendary Royce Gracie. Under a minute, Shamrock found himself tapping to a gi choke. You want an example of how much a sore loser he is, he whines about the way Gracie beat him in his second book, Beyond the Lion's Den, which was written 12 years after the fight was over! Let it go, Kenny.

Shamrock would follow UFC 1 going 4-2 back in Pancrase before returning to the U.S. at the third UFC event. After Royce Gracie was injured, Ken was a shoo-in to win the entire tournament. Unfortunately, he would be injured during his win against Felix Mitchell in the semifinals. After the event, Shamrock racked up his biggest win streak by winning nine in a row including a submission win in his rematch with Bas Rutten before going to a boring draw with Royce at UFC 5. The fight was built as a Superfight and became one of the biggest letdowns in the early days of the organization.

Finally, at UFC 6, Shamrock would gain his first championship in the U.S. by defeating Dan Severn. The Ultimate Fighting Championship crowned Ken as the first Superfight champion. Ken's first title defense was against fellow Lion's Den fighter Oleg Taktarov. I've heard many reviews about how bad the fight was and I refused to believe considering how dominant a wrestler Oleg once was. I watched the fight recently and I'll be the first to admit when I'm wrong. BORING!!! The fight had no end as it went to the time limit and was ruled a draw. Good for Shamrock as he defended his title that way.

His second defense of the Superfight title was against Kimo at UFC 8. Now this is what a superfight is supposed to look like. Not even 5 minutes into the fight, Shamrock caught Kimo in a kneebar and successfully defended his championship. Following that night, UFC 9 billed a second superfight between Shamrock and Severn. Considering how their first fight ended and Ken's victory over Kimo, the anticipation was high for fireworks. Nope. Not going to get fireworks when the fighters just LEAN on each other for 30 minutes! Severn would earn a split decision victory and Ken was without a title. Thank god.

December 7, 1996 would mark the last time Shamrock would be in the UFC. A submission win over Brian Johnston resulted in an injury that did not allow him to continue in the tournament. After the event, Ken would enter in a 4 year stint in the WWE. In terms of exposure, the time spent as a professional wrestler paid off for him. In terms of his fighting career, it spelled the end of it. Any pro wrestling fan will tell you how hard the sport can be on the human body. Taking multiple falls 200+ days a year will cause anyone to come down with an injury. Shamrock damaged his knees pretty badly. It's also been stated that his neck and back were all banged up by the time he left in 1999. Good move? Let's look at the latter half of his MMA career.

In 2000, Shamrock returned to the sport he helped build in the U.S. Only he didn't return to the UFC. He fought Alexander Otsuka in Pride Fighting Championship. In an underwhelming bout, Ken knocked out Otsuka with only 17 seconds left in the first round. A noticeable trait displayed during the fight was that Ken was content in keeping it on the feet as opposed to going for a leglock or a choke. Shamrock's book stated that by the time he returned to MMA, his knees were still pretty bad. It pained him to try and shoot for a takedown. Nevertheless, he still came out with a win. His next two fights in PrideFC would see Ken losing before returning to the UFC.

At UF C 40: Vendetta, Shamrock would face off against Tito Ortiz to settle a feud that started 3 years earlier. In what turned out to be Ortiz's finest performance, Ken's corner would stop the bout after the third round. That would be the last time that Shamrock would see a fight past the first round.

Ken's next fight and last win would come at the hands of Kimo in a rematch from their superfight 8 years earlier. Kimo left his head open in the clinch and Shamrock delivered a knee that stopped him 1 minute and 26 seconds in the first round. Almost a year later, Shamrock challenged Rich Franklin to fight that saw Ken lose in less than 3 minutes via TKO. Ken's next fight was a TKO loss to Kazushi Sakuraba in less than 2 ½ minuets in the first round. Then in a combined time of 3 minutes and 41 seconds, Shamrock lost to Tito Ortiz twice in the first. Astonishingly enough, Ken returned to lose to a no name fighter this past March not even making 3 ½ minutes into the first round.

Despite dropping 5 in a row and his last win being 4 years ago, Ken Shamrock is listed in the main event next Saturday in EliteXC's CBS show against Kimbo Slice. I've been reading articles about how Ken is claiming he will break Kimbo's leg. Allow me, if you will, to add in my opinion on this fight:

Oh, Kenny. Don't you understand that EliteXC is protecting their top draw? Instead of having Slice possibly lose to Brett Rogers, who is extremely dangerous, they wanted to have a surefire win for Kimbo. Considering your record as of late, you are the proverbial whipping boy to EliteXC's answer to Brock Lesnar. I can't stand the fact that of all people main eventing a MMA broadcast, they've picked you. For their sake as well as Kimbo's, I hope he knocks your teeth out into the front row. Then, if I were you, I'd consider hanging up the gloves.

Ken Shamrock, whether I like it or not, is an MMA legend. He has trained some of the most dangerous fighters in the world and has marquee'd more events than he deserves. In 2003, he was inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame alongside Royce Gracie. That's an honor in and of itself, but I truly believe that other fighters deserved that honor before Shamrock did. Regardless, Ken has whined, cajoled, and bored us to death through the annals of MMA history.