EliteXC Heat Isn't The First Main Event Ken Shamrock Has Ruined

by Kid Nate on Oct 5, 2008 11:32 AM EDT in MMA History

Ken Shamrock battered Even though I stand by my recent post praising Ken Shamrock's career accomplishments, I would be remiss in my role as self-appointed historian of MMA if I didn't point out that Ken has a track-record of botching main events going back to 1994.

UFC 3 - The American Dream: Ok, this one wasn't entirely Ken's fault but still. After Ken's close loss to Royce Gracie in the first UFC, a rematch was much anticipated. Especially after an injured Shamrock sat out UFC 2 and Gracie rolled through four more opponents en route to the tournament win.

But when Royce Gracie barely survived a war with Kimo Leopoldo, Royce had to throw in the towel before his second round match. Shamrock had already won two fights and apparently had an easy win over karateka Harold Howard in front of him. Instead, Ken dropped out of the tournament too, sticking the fans with alternate Steve Jennum vs Harold Howard for the finals.

UFC 5 - The Return of the Beast: After that fiasco, the UFC adapted and instead just booked a super-fight: Royce Gracie vs Ken Shamrock. More than 200,000 eager fans paid for the PPV to see the much anticipated fight. And it sucked. And it was Shamrock's fault. Fearing Royce's submission skills, Ken got the take down and laid in Royce's guard. For 30 minutes. This was the debut of the lay and pray. Ken was so afraid of getting arm-barred, he hardly extended his arms, much less threw punches. The original UFC never recovered from this fiasco. But Ken wasn't done...

UFC 9 - Motor City Madness: With the UFC on the run from the authorities, Superfight Champion Ken Shamrock defended his title in a rematch with Dan Severn. This time instead of a layNpray exhibition, we got to see Shamrock and Severn dancing in the ring, throwing no punches for nearly the whole duration. There was a late takedown and some ground action, but this was an utterly awful fight.

So take heart noobs, Ken's been ruining main events as long as the sport's been around and thankfully it looks like his career at the top of the card is over... unless EliteXC and CBS decide to book Ken vs. Kimbo: Fiasco 2.

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Good stuff Kid Nate, I’m interested in seeing this stuff.

by The Bronzeville Bully on Oct 5, 2008 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

You absolutely nailed it!

I told you I can't build your candy house! It will fall apart, the sun will melt the candy, it won't work!

by mma_dude on Oct 5, 2008 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

I think Ken Saved the main event here by pulling out…

by mmalogic on Oct 5, 2008 12:01 PM EDT reply actions

haha

by The Bronzeville Bully on Oct 5, 2008 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Kid Nate Learn your Stuff

At UFC 9 Due to the Modified rules that night brought on by Arizona Senator John McCain’s letter writing campaign against the “brutal spectacle” of no holds barred fighting. It was illegal to throw closed handed strikes for every punch you threw you got an increasly higher fine so Dan and Ken basically had a wrestling match and neither wanted to get shot on so they danced around in whats widely considered the most boring MMA fight of all time.

So Kid Nate before you start cursing people out look up the things you are writing about ya tool.

by CageFighter on Oct 5, 2008 12:38 PM EDT reply actions

Ken has thrown plenty of strikes while standing when closed fists strikes were illegal in Pancrase, that’s a lame excuse.

by Phildo on Oct 5, 2008 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

That's an old canard

That Shamrock has been pushing since the fight.

Two main problems with the argument:

1) No other fighter on the card refrained from throwing punches. The match immediately prior to Shamrock/Severn featured Don Frye beating the absolute bejesus out of Amaury Bitteti.

2) If Shamrock and Severn had put on an entertaining submission grappling match I’d have no complaint. In fact the 2 or 3 minutes when they did actually grapple instead of dancing were pretty cool.

by Kid Nate on Oct 5, 2008 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Not to mention...

that Severn went forward to put on an equally shit awful fight against Kimo at PRIDE 1

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 5, 2008 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions

UFC 5 memory...

I was cheering for Gracie, but ended up pissed off at both fighters (and the UFC) by about the 15 minute mark. I was 15 years old at the time, but I still remember this as the most boring fight I have ever seen.

by nandez44 on Oct 5, 2008 9:27 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe Gracie could have done something besides just wait with an inactive guard. Ken kept position but so did gracie. It takes 2 to tango. When they got stood up Ken walloped Gracie and Gracie immediately pulled guard and held on for dear life till the end.

Another crap article from Bloody Elbows worst :p

by skwirrl on Oct 6, 2008 1:39 AM EDT reply actions

oh definitely the limitation's of Royce's game

contributed, but Ken totally turtled up and gave Royce no leverage or opportunity. As lame as both guys’ performances were, Royce was throwing strikes at least, Ken was just turtling.

by Kid Nate on Oct 6, 2008 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions