Shamrocked: Time for UFC Hall of Famer to Retire?
Published by on September 29th, 2008 in Current Events

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By Dave Sholler

Ken Shamrock was once considered “The World’s Most Dangerous Man.” A feared submission expert, the San Diego, California native was regarded by many as one of the world’s finest fighters of the 1990s.

His style was entertaining. From guillotine choking Dan Severn at UFC 6 to submitting Kimo Leopoldo by kneebar at UFC 8, Shamrock was adored for his unique style of shoot fighting.

Yes, Ken Shamrock was a great fighter. However, the key word is was. Take his recent stretch of miserable losses as proof. Shamrock’s demise has been as noticeable as his receding hairline.

The Lion’s Den founder, who took a hiatus from MMA from 1997-2000 to pursue a professional wrestling career, has just three wins in eleven fights since returning to the sport. What’s more, in eight years since returning to competition, the 44-year-old Shamrock (26-13-2) has been knocked out an astounding eight times.

Shamrock’s track record since 2000 begs a few serious questions. First, what in the world is Shamrock doing headlining this Saturday’s EliteXC card? Better yet, how on earth can an athletic commission approve letting MMA’s version of Evander Holyfield continue to fight?

Quite honestly, Shamrock’s bout versus Kimbo Slice (3-0) on Saturday night is a mockery to the sport. When CBS airs the EliteXC main event bout this weekend, the powerful network is condoning a broken, fading fighter’s quest to show that he can still compete. In essence, CBS is giving Shamrock the green light despite the fact that he has been viciously stopped in recent years by the likes of Tito Ortiz (twice), Rich Franklin, and Kazushi Sakuraba.

But what about Shamrock’s safety? At what point does Shamrock’s inherent passion to fight skew the lines of making logical, cognitive decisions based on health and well-being? And at what point does CBS and EliteXC admit that Shamrock is just a pawn to further Slice’s marketing prowess? After all, CBS isn’t bringing in Shamrock to defeat Slice, right? Come on. We all know the truth. They are bringing Ken in so that his name can sparkle on Slice’s record.

Undoubtly, we all admire Shamrock’s desire to demonstrate that he can still be a force in mixed martial arts. But sadly, the game has clearly passed him by. MMA is no longer a sport in which you can be a one trick pony. If you are a striker, you better know how to wrestle. And if you are a grappler, you better know how to punch. Simply put, only the versatile survive. Shamrock is a submission artist and that’s it.

At one point in his career, Shamrock was a dominant, persistent fighter. But that was then and this is now. The heel-hook honcho no longer boasts the physical skills and reflexes to withstand the rigors of life inside the cage. Likewise, he no longer instills fear in opponents. Rather, he has become a worn warrior whose armor has been chinked one too many times.

Ken Shamrock was a great fighter. Unfortunately, it’s time for him to let go.

STIFF JABS: For the record, I like Kimbo by stoppage. I’ve never been a big fan of Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson, but be prepared to add Shamrock to the growing list of washed up fighters defeated by the YouTube sensation. It was good to see Chuck Liddell training in the Philippines last week. After being stopped by Rashad Evans on Sept. 6, no one would have blamed “The Iceman” for going into seclusion. But Chuck being Chuck, he’s out to prove that he still belongs. Call me crazy, but I think Andrei Arlovski, if ever granted the bout, could give Fedor Emelianenko fits. Sure, Fedor had an easy time with Arlovski-conqueror Tim Sylvia, but The Pitbull’s hands have vastly improved.

Dave Sholler is a featured columnist and analyst for publications across the country. He can be reached at shollerholla4@hotmail.com.

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