'The Green Ranger' Jason David Frank Responds to his Critics; Is Serious About MMA

When former Power Ranger, Jason David Frank announced that he will be making his MMA debut, critics have got on him, saying he's just in it for the publicity. One example of this, is Maggie Hendricks saying that Jason is only in it to revive his movie career:

And this is the moment where I weep for MMA.

Frank may just turn into a great fighter, though it's doubtful considering that he is 35 and worried about signing a management team before trying to schedule a fight. But this just furthers the notion that MMA is a fad, and can be used as a publicity stunt for someone with a flailing career. Considering that Frank's last acting job was a 2007 direct-to-video film called, "The Junior Defenders," he clearly needs a career boost.

At the same time, the beauty of MMA is that there is no hiding in the cage. When pretenders have tried it out in the past, they've been shown the floor of the cage, very quickly. Right, Jose Canseco?

Jason David Frank, a sixth degree Karate black belt, responds to this:

Karate is different than MMA and I know that. It kind of bothers me, though, when I read all of these interviews. Like [Hendricks] posted this ridiculous story saying, ‘MMA is a fad and does he really think he’s going to be this and that,’ and it’s like I’ve been in martial arts for my whole entire life and I know that mixed martial arts is different.

There are reasons behind why I want to fight. I lost my brother about seven years ago, we were going to do this together and it’s [a] personal thing. It’s not for the money or anything else, or like how Maggie said it’s a publicity stunt… because she said my last film came out in 2007. She is completely wrong. That film was filmed in 1994 and was finally released in 2007.

On Being Compared to Jose Canseco, who fought in what people call a 'freak show' fight against Hong Man Choi:

I’m not Jose Canseco, I’d beat Jose’s ass. You can go online and look at it. He came to my school and he sucked and I don’t like Jose. But this girl compared this whole celebrity thing to Jose. I mean it’s hard for me because before I was a Power Ranger, I was a dedicated martial artist. I was a full contact fighter even though I didn’t do the stuff that everyone else was doing.

Jason David Frank has been training in Shotokan Karate since he was four years old, and is currently a sixth degree black belt. He has his own blend of Karate called, "Toso Kune Do", and has been inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame. He has also won a few Muay Thai tournaments, and is the founder of the popular MMA clothing line 'Jesus Didn't Tap'. While he already possesses a good stand up game, he has been diligently working on his ground game. He is currently a BJJ Blue Belt and has been training out of Gracie Barra and Rising Sun MMA. He has been helping Melvin Guillard prepare for his UFC Fight Night bout against Nate Diaz, and will be there in his corner come fight time.

Much like the same criticism Brock Lesnar has recieved, people tend to overlook their credentials because of the stigma that comes from their past jobs. Maggie and other people criticized him for being a 35-year-old former power ranger, but what they are forgetting (or refusing to see), is that this guy is one of the most decorated Karate practitioners out there. There are far worse who have entered the sport and there aren't much who can match his credentials.

His transition may not be as successful as Brock's, but either way, I don't see why anyone should weep for MMA just yet.

HT: MMA Madness -- Photo by: Fighter Portraits