Bob Sapp on K-1, Mike Tyson, and Bobby Lashley
Published by Paul Kocoras on June 11th, 2009 in Interviews

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There are few figures more central to the modern growth of combat sports than Bob Sapp. After a brief NFL career, Bob quickly learned that his physical gifts, coupled with his brash, outspoken demeanor, could be put to good use in fightsport. After a shocking TKO defeat of Ernesto Hoost, Bob Sapp found himself one of the biggest stars in Japan as combat sports grew more popular and more profitable. After a contentious split from K-1, Bob recently found himself back with the promotion, winning at Dynamite!! 2008 and losing in the first round of the DREAM 9 Super Hulk Tournament.

Love him or hate him, Bob’s polarizing personality kept fans buying tickets and tuning in to K-1 and MMA. After seven years as one of Japan’s biggest draws, Bob reflects on his recent fights, popularity, K-1 career, and looks ahead to his fight with Bobby Lashley.

MMAMemories.com: You recently returned from Japan after fighting in the Super Hulk Tournament. Please tell us about that experience.

Bob Sapp: The experience was great other than coming back with loss. I was caught in a leglock there by Minowaman. I was really hoping to return with a victory. But you have to give it to him, I really new nothing as far as that move was concerned, which happens sometimes in MMA. You have to know what the move is. So now I’m back here in the U.S. training and working even harder for my next fight against a rather tougher opponent named Bobby Lashley.

MMAMemories.com: Great, I would like to get to that fight in just a moment. Are you still training with Maurice Smith?

Bob Sapp: Yes, I’m working with Maurice Smith, Matt Hume, and Ivan Salaverry. Those are primarily the three guys that I work with.

MMAMemories.com: Tell me about being back in Japan Bob, is the experience different these days than it was during the kakutogi boom, let’s say the 2004-2005 timeframe, or are you still swarmed with fans?

Bob Sapp: It’s pretty much the same. It’s been that way now for about 9 or 10 years now. So it’s still going to be pretty much the same as it has been. I love it, sometimes it can lay me down from being so beat, with the training as well, but it’s awesome. I enjoy every minute of it.

MMAMemories.com: You have been keeping extremely busy between MMA, kickboxing, acting, professional wrestling, and other pursuits. What do you enjoy doing the most?

Bob Sapp: I kind of fit right in the middle, it just depends on what time it is and my mood. So let’s say I’ve lost while kickboxing, then I feel like “Let me give MMA a shot” and then I start winning at MMA, but I might get injured, so I say “Let me do pro wrestling,” And as I’m doing pro wrestling, “Let me work on my acting skills and do some movies.” Then if I get really excited, I’ll try to do an album or something like that.

MMAMemories.com: We like to tackle the historical aspects of MMA, so I’d like to talk about some of the past. One of the things fans know you best for is beating Ernesto Hoost twice in K-1. Tell us about your memories of those fights and what stands out to you.

Bob Sapp: My biggest memories are going in there without any experience or very little experience and going in there and taking a lot damage and keep going. So it was about perseverance, it was about keeping my head going, and no matter what, doing my best to stay alive, and I was able to do that. Ernesto Hoost is a very strong champion and he had been there a number of years and it was a great opportunity to take him down. It was a huge thing that I will always remember, being celebrated in Japan and around the world, and of course, everyone in America sleeping in, and no one knowing what the hell happened, and I came back to the U.S. and everyone was like “Who are you? So what? Get back in line!”

MMAMemories.com: You had a big rise shortly thereafter, your K-1 career flourished, and shortly after beating Kimo Leopoldo in Las Vegas, there was a confrontation with Mike Tyson. Can you tell us what happened and why didn’t Sapp vs. Tyson get put together?

Bob Sapp: Mike Tyson really wanted to come after me and wanted to do the fight. We thought things were going to work there, but unfortunately Mike Tyson had some things in his past that prevented him from fighting outside the country, and that’s what the emperor or someone had went on ahead and ruled. It related to some time he spent in prison. So that’s some wild reason why the fight could never really get going. He had already lost his license, and whatever had happened that sent him to jail, they decided it was a big enough crime that he was basically not allowed in the country. That’s the reason the fight could never really get going.

MMAMemories.com: You found your way to MMA, and as you sit now, we’re on the eve of a fight with Bobby Lashley. Can you give us your thoughts on Bobby Lashley?

Bob Sapp: Bobby Lashley is a big, muscular, athletic guy. One of the things about Bobby Lashley is he is now transitioning from one arena to another, we’ll see how well he does. He started in the fight game fighting once a month so he can get his feet wet and get the ball rolling, and I take my hat off to him for that. He’s got to keep doing that for a while, and then he can slow it down. That’s where most fighters get into danger later on down the line. They start believing the hype, and say “Oh, I’ve got to train for this guy and I’ve got to get ready for that guy” and that kind of kills their career all by itself. You will see Bobby Lashley be successful if he keeps taking fights, and win or lose, he can bounce back, heal up, and is ready to go again. Then you can continue to see him around the world. But if you see “Oh, I’ve got to train. Give me 4 months. Give me 8 months” when all these guys have over 50 fights, they don’t even have the opportunity to do that stuff. That’s when they slow themselves down. Then they’re too slow, they’re no longer making moves in the fight game.

MMAMemories.com: Bobby Lashley is an accomplished collegiate wrestler as well as a professional wrestler. You are an intimidating stand up fighter. Tell us a little about your preparation for this fight. What are you specifically working on so you can take this fight where you want to?

Bob Sapp: Well, I’ll tell you what, I’m training so I don’t get taken down or ground and pounded or controlled on the ground. If it goes to the ground, I’ll take it back up and throw a real big Beast punch and let him feel it, and that’s how I’ll stop it.

MMAMemories.com: In your career, you’ve faced some of the great MMA and K-1 fighters. I know you are focused on this Lashley fight and don’t want to look too far ahead, but is there anyone you’d like to fight or you could see yourself getting in the ring with in either K-1 or MMA?

Bob Sapp: Yes, I’d love to fight Josh Barnett or Fedor Emelianenko, whoever wins that big matchup coming up. Anybody else, put them up, and I’ll shut them up.

MMAMemories.com: You still have plenty of fights ahead, but when you’re ultimately done, how do you want Bob Sapp to be remembered by fight fans?

Bob Sapp: I want Bob Sapp to be remembered as a big, loud, crazy guy that got in there and did everything. It might not have looked too pretty, but was able to get it done in impressive fashion. And now he’s enjoying all the fruits of his ugly labor with a nice big bottle of tequila on a pretty tropical island.

MMAMemories.com: One of your legacies will be a central figure in the kakutogi boom in Japan, which led to not only great fights out of you, but the overall popularity of MMA and K-1 where we were treated to many great fights. Tell us about some of the stuff that you enjoyed watching or still enjoy in combat sports.

Bob Sapp: I loved when I was over there to see any fight with Mark Hunt or Ray Sefo. I thought that was very exciting. Those guys were awesome.

MMAMemories.com: For fans who are looking at the Ultimate Chaos card, what will they see if they tune in on June 27th with Bob Sapp vs. Bobby Lashley?

Bob Sapp: They’re going to see Bob Sapp bull rush Bobby Lashley, Bobby Lashley try to take down The Beast, and the Beast flip him over, throw a couple of real big punches, and the ref will have to jump in there real quick. It’s going to be an excellent fight, and I encourage everyone to watch it on June 27th.

MMAMemories.com: Thanks a lot for joining us Bob, and we wish you the best of luck in your fight with Bobby Lashley.

Bob Sapp: Thank you very much, talk to you soon.