Igor Vovchanchyn vs. Ken Shamrock... Fight Of the Year?

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

We all know Igor, the monster anti-grappling kickboxer. Toughest guy out there and if you ask most MMA fans, they'll rate him as the #1 or 2 Heavyweight in the world. And we all know Ken Shamrock, under his belt he has two of the most boring fights in MMA history, he "sold out", he talks trash, Guy Mezger is on his team, and he lost to Fujita by throwing in the towel. How can he do such a thing?! Ken Shamrock is an awful, awful man.

If you go on any forum, you'll see thousands of threads on this fight. Some are pro-Ken, but most of them go a little something like this:

"Igor is gonna kill Glamrock!"
"SHAMrock is going to get his ass kicked by Vovy!"

or the best one yet

"Petey! My Heart!"

I mean come on, don't you people give him a chance? He's only unbelievable at subs, a decent striker for a grappler, and he's one of the first shootfighters to figure out Jiu Jitsu. This is his make or break it fight, he has to give it his all. I have a feeling he's out training the hardest he's ever trained for this fight. He does know who he's going up against. I'm not saying Shamrock will win, but I don't you'll see him throwing in the towel this time. This seems like a potential fight of the year...

[MEB Boy]

I'll give Shamrock credit. By taking on the top heavyweight out there, it shows he is really serious in his bid for the top spot in NHB fighting.

If Vovchanchin wins, everyone will say "see, I told you so". But if Shamrock wins, it'll be a big upset. I think Ken needs to take it to the ground in order to win. I don't think he has the tools to go toe to toe w/ Vovchanchin. Goodridge, Enson and Fransisco Bueno all proved that's a bad idea. I know Ken has improved his striking as seen by his peppering of Fujita's face w/ everything but the kitchen sink, before he gassed, but, I still think it's suicide to try striking w/ Vov.

However, Vov fights like Pedro Rizzo, as he's initially passive (I guess a counter-puncher) and waits for you to shoot or come in punching before he engages w/ killer strikes. So Ken better watch out on the shoot or he'll be KO'd like Nick Nutter.

Also, Ken better have good cardio (unlike his last fight w/ Fujita) as Vov has gone several 30 minute fights in a row in a tournament. He's gone 25 minutes w/ Nutter, 30 mins w/ Leo Castello Branco, 30 mins w/ Mikhail Avetychukin (?sp), and others. If Ken isn't ready for a long fight, he'll be KO'd.

My prediction is Ken by guillotine at 11 minutes. :-)
MEB Boy

[Robbie]

No matter who wins,this will be a great fight IMO.This fight could go either way.

[bobby_steeles]

this time it will be: "petey! my nose! ouch! my eye! ahhh! stop it! time out! oooooof! there goes my lunch..."

ken shamrock=the biggest quitter in mma

[Hawk]

Shamrock was having real problems before his fight with
Fujita. He'd passed out a couple times and everyone in Dallas that was around him while he was training knew he had to get it over with quick. Why he fought is beyond me based on the stories I heard before that fight took place. If he still has those problems, he'll have a real problem. If whatever was wrong with him before is under control, then he's got a real chance.
Hawk

[Mad Dog]

I have a world of respect for Shamrocks abilities, but he must have been smoking the crack pipe when he took this fight! Can he beat Igor? He certainly has shown he has the skills in the past. Will he beat Igor? Probably not and will take a pounding trying to do so. Especially if he tries to exchange strikes. If Igor wins, Shamrock will not be diminished in my eyes. If Shamrock wins, it will show me he still has what it takes. My prediction; Igor by KO or ref stoppage.

[Americana]

It sounds like age and health (Ken's) may be a big factor in this fight. If its the same Ken that fought Severn the first time or Kimo, anything could happen. Vov has not fought anyone with Ken's skills and strengths (I don't count Sak here, he was worn out from Royce). Vov has beaten submission guys, but they were all bjj style (e.g., Barreto, Inoue). The Lion's den is not so committed to a style as to developing a game plan for a certain opponent.

I'm not sure what the Den will plan against Vov, but I'm sure it will not involve Ken eating punches, holding Vov in his guard. I think Fujita screwed up a great game plan by absorbing incredible punishment. Ken had nothing to turn to. The Den will not make the same mistake twice.

On the other hand, Ken is in his late 30's which is very old for nhb. If he's really passing out and the Fujita match is an example, he's going to have problems.

[bobby_steeles]

there's nothing wrong with shamrock(health wise, that is). i read an interview he did in full contact fighter . he was asked about that and he said during the fight he thought he was having a heart attack, but later realized that he simply wasn't in the shape he thought he was in.

I don't think Ken will get destroyed, but I do think he will be beaten squarely and retire.

I think Igor is just too much for Ken at this point in his career.

But props to him for stepping up, especially after the humilating loss to Fujita.

[Hawk]

Yea Bobby,
There was nothing wrong with Ali before he fought Holmes either. How do we know? Because he said so?
There was definitely something wrong with Ken before he fought Fujita. Hopefully he's got it under control, but I'm not going to take his word for it until I see it happen.
Hawk

[TKOU]

Lots of BIG QUESTIONS about Ken's ability to get through the fight. I think physically he will be in better condition, but the real challenge will be can he mentally recover from his last outing. If he lays the leather to Vov the same way and Igor doesn't "go away" will he encounter a huge mental hurdle when fatigued again.
I see Vov in a metal chomping, gut stomping, demolition derby of the "World's Most Dangerous Man".

Peace.

[Stuart S. Igarta]

I thought Shamrock was doing great against Fujita, I really liked the way he kept preventing Fujita's takedowns. It was a big surprise to me when he threw in the towel.

I'm looking forward to Silva vs. Sakuraba, that should be a great fight.

[bobby_steeles]

stuart, i agree. ken's takedown defense were very impressive. but it wasn't a total surprise that he quit. he completely stopped throwing punches in the last few minutes and when they were in the corner at the end he had a kind of a "i wanna go home" look on his face.

hawk, shamrock going 30+ minutes with royce doesn't make him superman. he didn't have royce to use as a pillow this time.

[Hawk]

Bobby,
I agree as to the 30+ etc., however its my information that Sham has health problems of the chemical variety, much as Kerr has been experiencing. If he's got that under control, he could possibly pull it off, however we can only wait & see. IMO to have a chance, he better get it to the ground quick.
Hawk

[Shimora]

This fight might be the most anticipated fight since Tyson v McNealey.

On one hand we have a top 10 MMA heavyweight, one who with the exeption of Coleman, has destroyed the best heavyweights in MMA . Igor has KO'd or stopped them all, Kerr, Saku, Goodridge, Nutter, Inoue, etc, etc.

Shamrock has had epic battles gaining victories over top MMA fighters such as Christophe "Mr Excitement" Leninger, Felix "the Cat" Mitchell, Brian "If I wear Apollo Creeds trunks I might win" Johnson, Patrick "Quick Tap" Smith, Dan "The Beathth" Severn". He had impressive losses to 175lb Royce "The Anaconda" Gracie and stole Royces warrior spirit by punching him in the face in the rematch. Then he Ko'd a pro wrestler "Fighting Otsuka" who Igor Vov could not KO, does this mean that Ken has bigger guns than Igor? In his latest fight against "The Mighty Fujita" he was clearly winning before suffering a massive coronary attack. Truly an impressive record from this great white warrior.

Prior to his UFC fights, Shamrock only participated in Worked Pancrase matches. After his UFC fights he joined the WWF and continued to appeal to MMA fans by performing fake submissions in his WWF matches. No doubt this helped to promote our sport to new audiences and improved the reputation of MMa in the main stream.

Ken is a master tactictian also. His brilliant strategy to break his hand in both the Mitchell and the Johnston fights
shows the mindset of a true genius.

Although the fight will be very close I predict that Igor will win either by breaking Kens hand on his chin or by TKO when Ken suffers another coronary.

GO KEN!!!