UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock Victorious in Lousiana

"The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock got a rare win yesterday. Flying below the radar, as the MMA world focussed on UFC 120 in England, Shamrock beat veteran Johnathan Ivey at the Cajun Dome in Lafayette, Louisiana. Around the Octagon was on hand for the action:

The first round was pretty much even and could’ve gone either way. The second was pretty much the same until Ivey knocked down Shamrock at the end of the round which could’ve given the round to Ivey. In the third both guys were feeling each other out until Shamrock accidently poked Ivey in the eye. Ivey took a few minutes to recover but after the eye poke it was all Shamrock as Ivey was having a hard time seeing where the punches where coming form. "The World’s Most Dangerous Man" picked up a unanimous decision (30-27 on all three cards).

The 46 year old UFC legend had previously lost six of his last seven, including a brutal bout this July where he was eviscerated by Pedro Rizzo in Australia. Many at the time were begging Shamrock to call it quits. For long time fans, like me and others here at Bloody Elbow, it was a depressing night:

Ken Shamrock should be settling into a life of comfortable retirement. He should be introduced to the crowd during every UFC event to raucous applause. He should be making media appearances as the sport's elder statesman. Instead, Ken Shamrock is 46 years old, broke, and has burned his bridges with both the UFC and Showtime/CBS. So we get what we got last night.

It was a sad moment for the man who once inspired such fear and awe. Shamrock, wearing every one of his 46 years on his weathered face, was thrown to the wolves against Pedro Rizzo for Impact FC in Australia. Rizzo, one of the most successful and dangerous leg kickers of all time, wailed away on Shamrock's brittle bones. Each shot made the audience wince in empathy-it didn't help that Ken looked like he wanted to cry with every blow.

Unfortunately for fans looking for Shamrock to make a graceful exit stage left, this win will only extend a career that should have ended in 2006 after a box office success against Tito Ortiz. Down $175,000 in legal fees after a failed attempt to sue the UFC, Shamrock will soldier on. It's an ugly situation that reflects badly on the entire industry.