Ken Shamrock Speaks On UFC 41, Tito Ortiz, Wrestling Return
Submitted by Matt Boone on Friday, February 28, 2003 at 1:52 PM EST



The following is a complete transcript with WrestleZone Radio's interview with "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock. You can listen to the interview in two different audio formats. You can check it out in streaming Real Media format by clicking here, or in Windows Media Audio format by clicking here. Don't forget to order UFC 41: Onslaught on pay-per view live tonight. Contact your cable service and satelitte provider for time and channel information.

Matt Boone: We are joined now by a true legend in the mixed-martial arts industry. Also, one of the best MMA fighters to make the transition into pro wrestling. You can see him calling the live blow-by-blow tonight at UFC 41: Onslaught on pay-per view, we've got "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock on the line. Ken, how's it going brother?

Ken Shamrock: Good man, how you guys doing?

Matt Boone: We're doing great man.

Ken Shamrock: Right on.

Matt Boone: Alright, first things first here man. How have you been keeping yourself busy since the last fight against Tito Ortiz in November, and what is your general take on that fight as well?

Ken Shamrock: Keeping myself busy, I've been just enjoying my kids. I've been spending a lot of time with my family which is something I haven't been able to do in the past because of training and traveling. So, I've really enjoyed myself the last two months, or three months. It's been fun. As far as the fight, you know, you take them as they come. You know, I've won a lot of big shows, a lot of big fights, and this one didn't work out for me, but you take the good one's and you take the bad one's. It didn't work out, but life goes on, and I'm definitely moving on.

John Hartnett: You had two grudge matches against Don Frye and Tito Ortiz recently where neither fighter liked you going into the match, and vice-versa, but despite losing it seemed your courage and determination won their respect in the end.

Ken Shamrock: Yeah, well, it's like this. Anything that goes up, must come down. I've been on top for a long time in mixed-martial arts. I've had a lot of great fights. The last two fights, the one with Don Frye that was a great fight that could have went either way. The one with Tito Ortiz, I got beat. You accept that, you have to accept that as you get older. There's new faces coming in and younger kids coming in with better ability and that's just the way things go, it's the circulation of life. That's the way it works out dude. I'm fully aware that things have to change and I'm not going to stay on top forever, but I'm going to sure enjoy myself [laughs].

Matt Boone: Yeah [laughs]. Was the quote-unquote passing of the torch to Tito Ortiz the last we'll see of Ken Shamrock in the octagon, or any MMA fight in general? There were some rumors about a fight with Vitor Belfort, or maybe even Tank Abbott for you to end your career on a high-note. Basically, are you done with the fight-game?

Ken Shamrock: No, I haven't even made the decision as to whether I'm finished or not finished. I got to take it a little bit at a time, I'm taking a lot of time off on this one to let my body heal. I'll get back into training, we'll see how it goes. If I'm okay, and everything works out, I'll probably do one more fight. As far as ending on a high-note, man, I am on a high-note. Just because I didn't get the win, doesn't mean I didn't go out there and light it up. I thought we had a great show in Vegas and we really turned out a great card and a lot of fans showed up and fans that weren't fans are fans now. We really built it up a lot so I'd just like to keep the fire going and keep things pumped up. That's why I'm doing the announcing on tonight's show in Atlantic City. I'm really kind to mixed-martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting and I think what we did in Vegas on November 22nd was a big step. As far as being on top and finishing on top and ending on a high-note is me going out and throwing down and doing the best I can. So, like I said, I've had my ups and I've had my downs. I've had a great career. When I fight for the last time, or if I fight one more time, I'm gonna throw down and I'm going to end on a high-note whether it's a win or a loss. I'm gonna throw down and the fans are gonna enjoy what's happening.

John Hartnett: How did things get worked out for you to be involved in tonight's show?

Ken Shamrock: It's kind of, well, they just asked me if I'd be interested in commentating, and I said yeah. I told them I'd like to be part of the event in some way or somehow to keep the event moving. If the Ultimate Fighting Championship isn't successful and dies out then Ken Shamrock dies out. That's basically the way I see it. I mean it's who I am, what I'm about, so it's very important for me to keep the Ultimate Fighting Championship on fire.

Matt Boone: What do you think of tonight's card? We got the infamous Tank Abbott return fight and Ricco defending his..

Ken Shamrock: That's great man. Tank Abbott coming back, I'm just like "Yeah!" Come on dude, these are the old fighters coming in and saying, "Listen, I'm coming in, I'm ready to throw down, it don't matter. I wanna keep this thing on fire also." So, for Tank to come back and fight, man, it's a big deal. I'd like to see a few other people come back and fight. It would definitely be a big thing for Ultimate Fighting Championship for the people who helped start this thing out to come back and fight. If you win, you win, you keep moving along. If you lose, you lose, but you're moving somebody else along. So, that's what it's all about man, let's keep this thing going.

Matt Boone: What are some of the other fights you're looking forward to tonight man?

Ken Shamrock: I'll tell you what, this whole card is a good card. There's Pedro Rizzo vs. Vladimir (Matyushenko), that's a Heavyweight fight. That's gonna be good. Two bangers, guy who like to throw down. Phil Baroni, who is [laughs]

Matt Boone: [Laughs]

John Hartnett: [Laughs]

Ken Shamrock: [Still laughing] He's definitely got a lot to say and he fought Matt Lindland once before and lost, and he basically said he's embarassed. So, he said he's going to beat this kid down. Matt Lindland is an Olympic wrestler man, he's a great fighter. That one is going to be a very good fight also. Lightweight championship fight. This one here is going to be a real technical fight. Caol Uno looks in great shape, looks like he put on some muscle. It's B.J. Penn vs. Caol Uno, B.J.'s the champ. He beat Caol Uno if you didn't watch the fight. A couple of fights ago he knocked him out. Impressive knockout, like 5 seconds.

Matt Boone: Yeah, I saw that one.

Ken Shamrock: But, Caol's a great-crazy fighter. So, he's going to get to come in and show his skills. We've got the big Tank Abbott coming in to throw down with Frank Mir. Then the Heavyweight title fight. Ricco Rodriguez the gifted one, the smooth one, the babyface [laughing]. He's fighting the guy who knocked out Pedro Rizzo, well he didn't knock him out, but Tim Sylvia. So, that's going to be...I'll tell you what man, it's a loaded card. We got some eye-candy too, Lisa Durgins. She's from FOX Sports and she was in Playboy. She's a very pretty girl. She's going to be doing some of the interviews with the fighters. So, we get the beauty and the beasts. [Laughs].

Matt Boone: [Laughing] Oh yeah

John Hartnett: Last time UFC ran a pay-per view with the mega-fight between yourself and Tito Ortiz, they sort of dropped a bombshell with bringing Tank Abbott back. Any surprises or bombshells to look out for tonight?

Ken Shamrock: Uhm, you know what? I think that's why you gotta watch. Call your cable or satelitte operators, you know what I mean? Watch the show. See what transpires man, you never know what's going to happen in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Matt Boone: Alright man, real quick before we get going, what's the latest on Ken Shamrock in pro wrestling?

Ken Shamrock: Right now I'm just kind of kicking back and enjoying myself. I've had some talks with some people in Japan. Basically, most of my attention is doing the commentating. You know, I get to sit on the other side of the camera and watch these guys throw down. I get to be able to put some of my insight on how the fights are going and things that are happening inside the ring. I'm really excited about it, I'm gonna enjoy it.

John Hartnett: Anything else before we wrap it up here Ken? Any plugs, final comments?

Ken Shamrock: Yeah, I'd just like to say, you know, thank the fans and appreciate the way they've supported me in the wins and losses over the years. I'll tell you what, I've had a great run, and you gotta tune into this show tonight man. It's gonna be a big bomb dude. These guys are gonna throw down so don't miss it man. Call your cable operators or your satelitte providers and tune into the Ultimate Fighting Championship 41.

Matt Boone: I know I'm watching, everybody else should watch it as well. Alright Ken, thanks for stopping by brother.

Ken Shamrock: No problem, thanks a lot.

Matt Boone: Alright that was "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Ken Shamrock. You can see him calling the fights live tonight on pay-per view for UFC 41: Onslaught. We're going to take a quick break, and we'll be back with more right after this.



• Don't forget to order UFC 41: Onslaught on pay-per view live tonight. Contact your cable service and satelitte provider for time and channel information.
  
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