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[Brutus]

Irish Whip Fighting: Ken Shamrock Interview (Our Second)

Ben Zeidler recently chatted with legend Ken Shamrock about his own future in MMA, the future of his son, a potential match up with brother Frank, and of course…Dana White.

Ben Zeidler: What do you think of the IFL changing to a true camp format?

Ken Shamrock: I think that they tried to start out with one concept and it wasn’t working. No one could keep the teams together. We [Nevada Lions] were the only ones who could really do it. Since the guys don’t really train together all the time, they were going in different directions. Now, you can just pull the people in your camp who are ready and it’ll work out well.

Ben Zeidler: Can the IFL serve as a viable opposition to the UFC or should we not even be comparing the two organizations.

Ken Shamrock: They’re not even the same competition. The UFC has been there since the beginning and they’re a brand of individual fighting. Of course, it takes a team for an individual to get there, but saying that the IFL can or should compete with the UFC is very premature. The UFC is so strong because guys like me and Randy [Couture] and Royce [Gracie] built it into a strong brand.

Ben Zeidler: Recently, one of your biggest adversaries, Tito Ortiz, has been expressing the same displeasure you’ve exhibited regarding Dana White and how he handles his business. Why would Dana purposely cut off all of his “legends?”

Ken Shamrock: Everyone understands that he wants to be the show and if anyone threatens his popularity or strength, whether he’s right or wrong, Dana will go after them. He always says, verbatim, “I’m gonna bury him.” It’s this power thing for him and it’s gonna work for a while because myself, Chuck [Liddell], Tito [Ortiz], Randy [Couture] built this thing up. We gave Dana White the strength to do what he’s doing now but he’s hurting everything that we built. He can’t stop and just admit that this isn’t about him. It’s about the guys who went the distance with the UFC and kept them strong. Dana handles the UFC hall of fame and he inducted me. Even then, he had to be the center of attention. He needs to learn that it’s not about him. He calls fighters out. He calls managers out. Is Dana White a promoter or a fighter?

Ben Zeidler: Is it possible that Dana White is jealous of Tito’s success with The Apprentice and Punishment Athletics? Maybe Tito is becoming too big for Dana’s liking.

Ken Shamrock: Tito is not a “yes-man.” Dana White has a hard time people who have some edges and we all have them. We all know that being a fighter, you have to have some edges. One thing that I can say is that if you look down the history of the UFC and track and see what has happened with different guys, you’ll se a pattern. If you don’t follow Dana’s rules, he’ll pack up his toys and go home and he won’t let you play with his toys anymore. Somewhere along the line, as time goes on, the guys who built this will make him answer to his actions.

Ben Zeidler: I recently read that you’re in the best shape of your life. Can you talk a little bit about how you got there so late in your career?

Ken Shamrock: Unfortunately, I’ve gone through injuries stemming from my cutting weight. I blew my knee out and then that took some time to get that where it needed to be. Then my shoulder went out and I needed some things replaced. One after another plagued me during the last few years. I’m one of those guys who will not quit and I’ll keep fighting, which is important to me but I know it means even more to my fans. My injuries restricted what I like to do, which is grapple, and I haven’t been able to do that due to my serious injuries. I’ve fought through those and now I’m able to sit back and go, you know what? I’m back. I can go into training and grapple punch, kick, take down, throw in leg locks, and I don’t get tired or worse during training. I get better. It’s a good feeling, man, and it’s been four years since I felt this good. I need to get some matches under my belt now. I’ve got a fight on March 8th and I’m gonna put a hurting on him.

Ben Zeidler: Let’s talk about this fight. You’ll be fighting at Cage Rage 25 against Robert Berry. What do you know about this guy and what’s your game plan for the fight?

Ken Shamrock: He’s 11-7, 6’3”, 250 pounds. He doesn’t like to go past the first round and I respect that he doesn’t want it to go to a judge’s decision. I respect a guy like that. I’m looking forward to stepping in there. For four years, I’ve been struggling and it’s time. Knock on wood.

Ben Zeidler: I was gonna say. You better be careful during training.

Ken Shamrock: (Laughs) I know it, man. I’m gonna give it back to the fans. I know it’s been a hard time and it’s been very frustrating. But now, I can give it back.

Ben Zeidler: Your son, who is 1-0 in MMA competition, is also fighting at the event. What is more exciting, your comeback or your son’s first mainstream fight?

Ken Shamrock: Definitely my comeback, but when my son is on the same card, that’s great too. It’s never been done in MMA fighting. People ask me if I’m scared about his fighting. I don’t get scared, I know what the dangers are, I know what he faces, and I am comfortable with him going in. I know that he’s trained well and he’s trained properly and he’s in no more danger than in a school fight.

Ben Zeidler: He’s probably safer than he would be in a school fight. He’s got a referee, a cutman, and set rules.

Ken Shamrock: Exactly! He’s definitely safer.

Ben Zeidler: What pieces of wisdom have you passed along to your son?

Ken Shamrock: Well, you know, one thing that comes to mind is when we were traveling on a train going to an IFL championship fight. I like to take the train, it’s about a two day trip, and they have a whole restaurant on there and everything. Anyway, he was still doing culinary arts school and fighting never entered my mind for him. If he wanted to, I would support it, but they had never expressed any interest in fighting as a profession. I’ll let their minds float and they’ll do what they want to do. So he says “Dad, I want to talk to you about something.” I was really nervous, but then he goes “I want to put college on hold and try fighting.” For me, it was just…wow. I stepped back for a second and asked him where this came from. He told me that he had been training and it was something he wanted to do. I told him that it was great, but I made him promise me that if we put college on hold, you’re gonna go back. He told me that it sounded good and that he just wanted to be able to focus 100% on his first few fights.

Ben Zeidler: Would you ever support him signing with the UFC?

Ken Shamrock: You know, the UFC is something that I built with the help of other people. White has taken that away from me and it’s not his to take. I’m hoping that options will open up and my son will able to fighting there and take back the UFC. For now, I want to be able to control his opponents until the changes are made to the UFC where Royce [Gracie] and Randy [Couture] could have their kids fight and not have to worry about the politics.

Ben Zeidler: Yeah, if he went in now, theyd probably throw him to the sharks. First opponent: Sean Sherk.

Ken Shamrock: Dana White hasn’t always been that way. He really loved the sport and now he’s let some animal take over.

Ben Zeidler: I’ve read that a fight with Frank [Shamrock] could be in the works. Can you confirm that with us?

Ken Shamrock: Yes. I have already said that this is something that I want to happen. Frank made the challenge and I accepted it. Frank loves that hype and then finds a way to drop the fight. We have lots of difference and we don’t see eye to eye and that’s why we’re gonna fight.

Ben Zeidler: Brother vs. Brother. That should be a media circus.

Ken Shamrock: I’ve done lots of firsts in MMA. First with my son and then my brother.

Ben Zeidler: If you do fight Frank, what would your game plan be? Where do you have the edge?

Ken Shamrock: Mentally. I have beaten him down so many times mentally, he’s never gotten the best of me and he knows that. Frank won’t wait though – we’ll do this soon. He keeps doing this show with his countdown but the date keeps getting pushed back. I think it’s a countdown of me getting older.

Ben Zeidler: I think it’s a countdown until you’re on your deathbed.

Ken Shamrock: (Laughs) Yeah, that’s when he’ll want this fight.

Ben Zeidler: He’s getting older too, though.

Ken Shamrock: Yeah, but he’s still ten years younger!

Ben Zeidler: Okay, okay, anything to say to your fans that have been waiting for the old Ken to return?

Ken Shamrock: I appreciate all of the support through the ups and downs. The last few years have been so difficult and I know it’s been difficult for you guys. These next couple of years, hey Ben, I’m giving those years back.

It pains me to see Ken fighting altho if he says he's in the best shape of his life, then he still might have a bit in the gas tank for some scrubs.

[Ramma]

Great find. I still pick him over Frank..

The only reason I think Frank will win is because Ken does not do well at 205 AT ALL.

[Brutus]

Originally Posted by Ramma

Great find. I still pick him over Frank..

The only reason I think Frank will win is because Ken does not do well at 205 AT ALL.

i agree, he has done horrible at 205 in the past but i will always remember the punch that put Tito to a knee in their first fight. its burned into my brain forever.

[maxp84z]

LOL still no love for Dana! I liked Dana back in 2001-2002, the Dana of today is drunk with power and makes bad business decisions/bad PR

[UFC Fann]

If Dana really does cut off all his 'legends' on purpose, i guess its sorta messed up. But its like having new pairs of socks to wear coming out of the dryer. You just throw away the old dirty pair with holes in it because they pretty much have no use anymore. To me it seems like he does give some veteran fighters chances to come back, but when he sees that they can't live up to the hype they present in interviews n such, then he shoves them a side a bit and focuses on newer fighters that are willing to step up and put on a show. Just like when Ken had 2 chances to beat Tito, he couldn't hang. And when Tito got a chance at Chuck, he just couldn't pull through. Most importantly lets not forget the horrible Tito/Rashad fight. The mma superstar wasn't even close to finishing the TUF champ. Oh damn i forgot that he couldn't even finish another TUF champ...Forest Griffen. Hell if i was Dana White i would neglect washed up fighters too imo. Why hype up some one that can't throw down in the octagon?

[carbondioxide830]

i hope frank doesnt hurt him too bad.

[form-guy]

If Ken connects with a punch on Frank it could be the end of the fight right there, Ken has dynamite in those hands. But he has lost a step with age.

[Punk Ass]

Originally Posted by form-guy

If Ken connects with a punch on Frank it could be the end of the fight right there, Ken has dynamite in those hands. But he has lost a step with age.

If Frank lands a punch on Ken it's over as well.

MMA and age has left Ken behind. While Frank kept on improving, Ken just stayed the same.

Frank would kill Ken standing up, and Frank's BJJ is much better. Frank can beat Tito's ass, no way Ken can win.

[darkmanfb44]

My Favorite line

"
Ben Zeidler: Your son, who is 1-0 in MMA competition, is also fighting at the event. What is more exciting, your comeback or your son’s first mainstream fight?

Ken Shamrock: Definitely my comeback, but when my son is on the same card, that’s great too."

at least he's honest

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by Shammy

Ken Shamrock: Dana White hasn’t always been that way. He really loved the sport and now he’s let some animal take over.

Money changes everything. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

rh