Frank Shamrock is considered by many to be the first true mixed-martial artist. The first guy to be good or great at all the disciplines involved plus have the athleticism and other miscellaneous tools to back it up. He reigned in the UFC as the first ever Middleweight champion all-the-while considered by all in the sport as the pound-for-pound king at the time. He would retire without losing his title.
In early 2003, Shamrock would come out of retirement to fight for the WEC promotion, submitting journeyman Bryan Pardoe with an armbar in just over a minute. Still, it wasn't enough to lure the former great back into the sport full-time. The champion would go back into retirement until a Gracie came knocking almost exactly three years later.
Seeing the dollar signs in reviving the Shamrock-Gracie feud at a time when the sport had now reached incredible success in the mainstream, Frank put ink to paper and agreed to fight Cesar Gracie for Strikeforce, a California based local promotion. This would be Cesar's MMA debut. It was clear there was life left in the feud as the two helped set a North American attendance record for MMA, and Frank added another notch to his belt, knocking Gracie unconscious a mere 20 seconds into the opening round.
Frank's next fight (and his most recent to date) would come against another Gracie. This one had quite a bit more experience in MMA though, and is considered by many to be the most well-rounded Gracie. Renzo Gracie would lock horns with Shamrock in the main event for the first ever MMA event promoted by a premium cable network. Showtime was aboard and Elite XC was born. The main event of the first show would be another Shamrock vs. Gracie classic. Or would it? The bout ended at two minutes into the second round with Shamrock being disqualified.
Coming up in June, Frank will shake off the memories of that unfortunate bout and settle another grudge. The two promotions Shamrock put on the map, Elite XC and Strikeforce will team up to present the battle between the two brashest personalities in the sport today. It will be Frank Shamrock vs. Phil Baroni …finally.
Earlier today, MMANews.com's own Chris Howie caught up with the MMA legend to discuss all of these topics and more. Below is part one of their discussion. Make sure to check back tomorrow for part two of the exclusive interview with Frank Shamrock.
FRANK SHAMROCK INTERVIEW — PART ONE
Chris Howie of MMANews.com: This is Chris Howie for MMANews.com and I’m here today with former UFC Middleweight champion and current Elite XC star Frank Shamrock. How are you today Frank?
Frank Shamrock: I’m doing well.
MMANews.com: You have the much anticipated fight with Phil Baroni coming up at the EliteXC/Strikeforce: Judgment Day show on June 22 at the HP Pavillion in San Jose, CA. How are things going for that fight?
Frank Shamrock: They are going fantastic. I started about eight weeks out and I’m ready to fight today or tomorrow but I’m holding it all inside.
MMANews.com: Are you looking forward to getting in there with him [Baroni]?
Frank Shamrock: Oh yeah. It’s been a long time coming – almost two and a half years we’ve been working on this fight. It’s hard when you’re an independent but I think this is going to be a big deal and a good time.
MMANews.com: There has been a lot of back and forth talking between you and Phil and a lot of fans have been waiting a long time to see this. It's refreshing to see the fight get made unlike many other built up grudges that never materialized into a match.
Frank Shamrock: Yeah, it has been a long time. This will be the second fight born, actually the third fight born from the internet. The fans really demand it. To me it’s going to be a good time. Phil’s a great opponent because more than anything he gets out and he markets the fight and he works it. That’s what you need to be doing in the sport.
MMANews.com: How do you see the fight going when the first bell sounds?
Frank Shamrock: Well, I’m going to stand him up. I think he lacks real skill and timing in the stand up so I’m going to stand it up and bang it out with him and see what he has to offer. I don’t think he understands the level of striking that I do possess. I hope it’s a stand up fight. I think it will be a lot more exciting, not only for the new fans that came in with Showtime but I think fans in general will appreciate a good stand up and bang fight.
MMANews.com: If the fight goes to the ground are you worried there at all?
Frank Shamrock: No. No, no, no. I don’t think he is very skilled on the ground. In fact, that’s how I met Phil. A few years ago I was actually training with Jeff Blatnick back in the day and Phil was sitting there like a puppy dog asking questions. That’s how I became acquainted with him. I don’t think he knows anything on the ground.
MMANews.com: Jeff Blatnick, there is a name I haven't heard in a while.
Frank Shamrock: Yeah man, Jeff and I are from the old school. Anytime we get together we like to wrestle. He's 50 years old man and still goes at it like a 20 year old.
MMANews.com: [laughs]. After the fight with Phil Baroni where do you see yourself going from there? Any ideas?
Frank Shamrock: I hope to fight Renzo [Gracie] again in September. I plan on fighting every quarter. I’d really like to get in there with Renzo though and get all that sorted out. The fans deserve better than that. I played a safe game. Next time I’m just going to go out and crush him and not give him a chance to find a way out.
MMANews.com: I read an interview with Renzo last week in which he said you “have the personality of a dead man and if you were a company you’d be sued for false advertising.”
Frank Shamrock: [laughing]. I think that's fantastic. Well I'm glad Renzo is finally getting out there and working it because he didn't do much last time. And then he quit on me to top it off.
MMANews.com: The way that fight ended did you think he over-reacted?
Frank Shamrock will battle nemesis Phil Baroni on June 22nd live on Showtime PPV …
Frank Shamrock: For one, he needs acting lessons and for two, if he's had acting lessons than he's a terrible actor. You know I've been in a lot of fights throughout my life and when you hit somebody and hurt them they go soft their body changes and their energy changes.
MMANews.com: Right.
Frank Shamrock: When he stuck his head in front of my knee I knew he was looking for a way out. The moment I touched him I knew that he was going to quit. I could feel it in his body. He was sucking wind like he was an 80 year old man. But here’s how I look at it: God bless him. He found a way out and more power to him.
MMANews.com: Yeah, I was watching the fight and when it happened it was kind of like… wait, what just happened here?
Frank Shamrock: Yeah. His corner told him to stay down and he was winded as all hell and he was done. I know when a man is done fighting and he was done fighting. He found a way out and that was my bad for letting him find that opportunity. That's how I look at it.
MMANews.com: In that fight you were controlling the stand up from my perspective but he was taking you down at will. When he got you there he wasn't doing a whole lot though.
Frank Shamrock: Yeah, he just took me down and held me and just prayed that I wouldn't get up and punch him in the head. Here's a master of jiu-jitsu and he took me up and held me in one position and it's like – okay, I was under the impression that we were going to fight a stand up-go down high activity fight. I knew he couldn't keep pace with me. He ran out of things to do. He took the easy way out.
MMANews.com: So you figure that fight will happen in September?
Frank Shamrock: Yeah, I’m going to try and get him in there in September. It's not decided yet but it should be the next one for me.
MMANews.com: With the EliteXC, Strikeforce, K-1, and other organizations working together do you think we’ll see other Shamrock vs. Gracie fights… maybe Royce Gracie vs. Frank Shamrock?
Frank Shamrock: I really hope so. The door has always been open to the Gracie's. Cesar was the first one to step up and I knocked him out. Renzo was the second one and then he quit on me. I'd have no problem fighting any of them. To be honest with you, I like the younger, more athletic fighters. They bring a better game and show a better fight. My two fights with the Gracie's have both been crap.
MMANews.com: Who are some of your favorite fighters to watch?
Frank Shamrock: I love the young guys man. I love Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes. Matt Hughes is getting older though. I love Mirko CroCop though it was sad to see him get smashed. The younger generation has a better handle on the athleticism and the completeness of mixed-martial arts. That's where my style and my mind have been for years, the completeness of MMA. That is the most entertaining thing in the world. This laying and praying crap is boring. This is the most exciting sport in the world and it needs to be presented that way. I just love it when the young guys go for it.
MMANews.com: Definitely. What did you think of [Matt] Serra's knock out of GSP?
Frank Shamrock: Well you know what? I’ve known Serra for a long time and he’s always been on the verge of doing something spectacular. That's what I love about MMA, anything can happen.
MMANews.com: What is your relationship with Dana White at this time?
Frank Shamrock: I don’t have any relationship with that guy at this time. I don't do any business with him.
MMANews.com: Do you think we'll ever see you back in the UFC or in their newly acquired PRIDE?
Frank Shamrock: You know, I don't know. If Dana is running PRIDE I won't be in PRIDE. If he's not, I'd love to fight in PRIDE. I've always wanted to. I don't believe in who they [UFC] are and what they are doing though. If I don't like you, I don't want you in my life.
MMANews.com: That's understandable.
Frank Shamrock: Why would you want an asshole in your life?
Don't forget to catch part two of our exclusive interview with Frank Shamrock here at MMANews.com tomorrow afternoon.
To read more exclusive MMANews.com fighter interviews, simply CLICK HERE for our full interview-archive section.
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