Frank Shamrock vs Sakuraba....

[Damhara22]

In the new Black Belt magazine there is an article stating that a match would be held in Las Vegas or San Jose. Hopefully in Febuary 2001, saying that it may be put on by a team called Strike Force which does a kickboxing show for ESPN. Any predictions???


James S.

[cello]

Damhara, that would be nice. I say, frank would take it.


c

[Patterson]

Did it actually say vs. Sakuraba or are you jumping to conclusions. I highly doubt he will be fighting Frank because Sakuraba has for one thing never been in a match outside of Japan.

[Jaguar Wong]

Frank Shamrock is trying to set up a new submission grapling format as a sport. Similar to the sport jj rules, but I think he's adding a few more rules to keep them more exciting. He was in Las Vegas discussing all this stuff while he was at John Lewis's school, but I don't know any of the real details.

I don't know if it was going to be held in Las Vegas (Man I hope, though), but I know he wanted to bring something here later on. I know John Lewis is setting up a whole MMA NHB commision here in Vegas, but again, I don't know any details. I'll do my best to dig some stuff up, though.

[Chad W. Getz]

I read the article as well. It said the fight is being planned for sometime around March/April(?) 2001. I don't think it is definite yet. Should be good though. How do alot of people watch these events. Here in Hawaii, there aren't too many PPV events shown on MMA. Is there a place to get videos? Any one from Hawaii?

[GROUND CONTROL]

Guys Frank told me about this when I trained with him back in Sept. He said that he had a Japanese business man who was willing to put up the money for the fight. So money wasn't an issue.

I asked him how he was going to get Sak to come here to fight and he said he was going to go to Japan and talk so much shit about Sak that he would have to fight him.

We will see. Lets hope this fight happens.

[L3FTH00K]

From what I have read both this fighters respect each other. But I agree if it takes Frank talking smack to get the fight to happen I'm for it.

[yusul]

I hope this fight happens, but didn't Sak himself mention that he has no interest fighting outside Japan? Does Shamrock really think that Sak really gives a f#@k if Shamrock trashes him? Sak is a total professional who wants to entertain fans and will fight people due to contractual obligations for Pride. I've never heard him of fighting someone out of "you challenge my honour" mentality. If that were true, he would have demanded Rickson Gracie by now, in pride, or else he would have fought him in the states. Either Shamrock doesn't realize this, or he's trying to make it look like he wants a piece of Sak when he knows it probably won't work.

Sak doesn't care who he fights, he'll fight anyone in Pride. also, IMO Sak doesn't have to fight outside Japan to prove he's the best, he has to fight the top fighters which he continually does.

[GROUND CONTROL]

Yusul - Sak takes on all comers but always on short notice. They tried to short Frank. They did short Renzo, Royler, Vitor, Guy, and others. Sak is a warrior but he hides in Japan and always fights guys who have 4 weeks or less to prepare for him.

I do think Sak is the best middle weight. But do you think the outcome of the Renzo fight would have been different if it had taken place in the U.S.? In Brazil? For Sak to gain my complete respect he must travel other places and show that he can perform at the same level without the comforts of home.

Let him deal with the day long flight, the time change, foreign cuisine, strange surroundings, train in a strange gym, a hotel room, and an anti Sak crowd. Again Sak is a bada$$ but these things do make a difference.

[Ronin]

Ground Control:

Not to mention Pride rules which allow Sak to turtle without fear of absorbing severe punishment.

Good post.

[Edited by Ronin on 10-24-2000 at 01:58 PM]

[Hitchahard]

If this fight occurs, Frank will beat him. Unless the fight is in Japan and it goes to a decision. I will rate them equal on the ground, and Sak would be best served leaving it there. Frank will "chew him up" in the standup game, and I am not sure about Sak's shooting abiliites vs. an opponent as quick as Frank. Although, I didn't see the his fight with Vitor so that instance may prove me wrong.

[GROUND CONTROL]

When I talked to Frank about Sak he said Sak would have no chance. Frank said he would win by K.O.

[Mad Dog]

Oh. In that case it must be true!

[GROUND CONTROL]

Frank thinks so.

[yusul]

Ground Control:

i kan't argue with the short notice part, which is most important point you mentioned, but an anti-sak crowd in another country wouldn't matter that much IMO. besides, from what i've seen, the Japanese treat all foreign fighters with respect, and many who have fought in Pride have said that Japanese fans are the best. (though i have no idea what your instructor said). It's not like the gaijin were getting struck with beer cans. Also, none of the fighters in any interview i've read complained about jet-lag or other adjustment problems when they arrived in Japan, they probably had enough time. Being totally unbiased about the Renzo/Sak fight, I have no problem agreeing with you that Sak might have lost in Brazil. Sak might even lose in a rematch in Japan, the fight at the last pride was a tight fight.

Maybe Sak wants to fight just in Japan because the promoters treat him well and the $ is great. Hell, if was a pro, i'd only want to fight in Japan, whether it was colesium, pride or K-1. I could be wrong, maybe Sak just stays in Japan because afraid of flying