Ken Shamrock on How He Ended Up in the Worst Fight in UFC History (Part 5)

Watch the full interview now as a VladTV KZbin Member - / @vladtv
Part 4: • Ken Shamrock on Fighti...
Part 6: • Ken Shamrock on Leavin...
Part 1: • Ken Shamrock on Gettin...
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In this clip, Vlad started off speaking about a rematch between him and Royce Gracie that was supposed to happen at UFC 3 in 1994, and Royce dropped out. Ken explained that he fought through injuries with every UFC fight, aside from having a broken bone, and he recalled limping out of a fight with Felix Mitchell. Ken then spoke about Royce walking into the ring and throwing in the towel, which he said confused him and made him feel like Royce wanted him to have a disadvantage. Ken explained that his focus to fight was directly on Royce, and when he dropped out, he wasn’t focused on fighting anyone else. Vlad went on to speak about Ken fighting Royce for the third time in 1995, which ended in a draw, and Ken stated, “That was the rules” because of the time limit rule. Ken added that “it had nothing to do with Royce” and came down to pay-per-view. Ken explained that he wasn’t sure why they didn’t tell him about the 30-minute time limit until the day before the fight.
Ken went on to speak about fighting Dan Severn at UFC 5, and Ken addressed how things went left at the press conference. He explained that he was saying things to provoke Severn to get attention for the fight, and Ken spoke about Dan getting up and walking out of the press conference. Ken added that Dan later told him that he was angry that the press wasn’t giving him attention, which Ken pointed out was due to his one-word answers. Speaking about the fight, Ken spoke about making Dan tap out 2-minutes into the fight, and he explained that he was determined to “finish” Dan going into the match. Moving along, Ken spoke about fighting Oleg Taktarov in UFC 7, and Ken explained that they were friends. Ken explained that Oleg was signed to him, and his goal was to knock him out because he thought he could bounce back in a month. Ken then revealed that he didn’t realize the damage he did to Oleg until the following day. When asked about his rematch with Dan Severn at UFC 9, Ken addressed the rules being changed right before the fight. Ken also spoke about wanting to back out of the fight after they took out striking in the fight, and he explained that his injuries prevented him from fighting to his best abilities. However, Ken decided to go ahead with the fight after it was sold out, and he explained that it was one of the biggest regrets of his career.

[@deeznuts3145]

Shamrock looking like Robert De Niro a little when he played in good fellas.

[@yungblacksta5843]

Lol identical

[@stevenjamesgiurbinojr6893]

Lol, great comparison 👊

[@ronnie3xfly293]

You never lied 😂

[@TheFreshSoundsFlorida]

Absolutely.

[@jackjill8129]

I can see that now that you said it

[@taebebe9528]

Ken Shamrock is a legend and pioneer of MMA!!!! Can never get tired of his interviews!

[@X-Factor-22]

He represents the sport so well on so many levels.

[@jay68]

What an absolute legend, this man was my hero as a kid.

[@KBR641]

Mine too

[@X-Factor-22]

Great athlete, great sportsman and great role-model! They sure don’t make ‘em like Ken anymore.

[@williammilestone5386]

He almost chewed his own face off, it it common to do that much meth before an interview?

[@Gs112780]

Him and the beast are so similar in so many ways. Both amazing awesome legends👍🏻.

[@keepontruckinoutlawlife1248]

Yep between himself and Tank ABBOTT

[@AdamAntiumSI]

Ken was a monster. UFC OG & WWF Legend.

[@jawire6347]

WWF* your obviously not a fan

[@AdamAntiumSI]

@@jawire6347 Put him in the WWF HOF then 🤦

[@realng1836]

@@jawire6347 stop tryna be literal fucking nerd

[@jawire6347]

@@realng1836 I’m a nerd but you have been watching wwe for the past 15 years still after that shit turned gay

[@LynnieFleegleJr]

No bro ken was WWF have to get it right I stopped watching at 12 years old when stone cold left

[@noblemanqvittorio4050]

Respect To Shamrock Because He's Always Been The Real Deal. Even Up To Today You Can Still See How Much He Takes Care Of Himself!!!

[@utubewillyman]

Never knew he was so smart and articulate. I now have more respect for him than I already did. I remember that he had to overcome a tough childhood too.

[@KR8810]

How can you not respect an Old MMA legend !! 🙏🏼

[@DDAWGY1]

Salute to Ken shamrock a real pioneer respect to you sir! I appreciate what you did for at risk teens on the street. I was in one of the houses you sponsored.

[@perfectsplit5515]

He has a lot in common with Tito Ortiz, in having bad childhoods.

[@kagemaru259]

I was a big fan of him in the early UFC days and especially during the Attitude Era in the WWF. He still looks like he’d tear you apart.

[@augustwest6637]

Because he would

[@firstgear8022]

@@augustwest6637 i came to say that lol

[@Blessing031]

This is how you diversify your portfolio. Keep content like this coming please

[@johnhanselman6371]

I can listen to Ken Shamrock all day. He earned my respect.

[@davidjasonmilligan9980]

Out of the old school legends,. Ken evolved more than all of them. His stand up skills got good and his takedown defence was like a brick wall. Shamrock vs Fijita..

[@k.t.harmon343]

The worst fight in MMA history was Da Da 5000 vs Kimbo Slice (R.I.P.) but I’m sorry that shit was horrible

[@kagemaru259]

I didn’t think there was a worse fight than Kimbo Slice versus Houston Alexander, where Alexander spent nearly the entire fight circling the Kimbo and not engaging. But the Dada/Slice fight proved that there was…..

[@LM77va]

One thing about Shamrock, he is a fighter. He's got it in his blood. He'd probably fight right now if they had a league targeted for his age group.

[@karlosman6265]

Dan Severn's coach Shamrock is talking about is Phyllis Lee, she was a pro wrestler turned wrestling manager and then started managing Severn in mma and some Pancrase fighters I think Funaki was one of them , she even managed Nate Marquardt and Shane Carwin later in her career.. She was known as "the first lady of no holds barred"

[@trevorwayne3586]

She’s from my home town I have a letter Severn sent her asking if she would be his manager she also managed pat miltech I had contracts between them

[@tombstone4986]

Much respect for this man. He is a true gladiator. He is a pioneer of the mma in the USA. He is a true inspiration and example of intestinal fortitude.

[@Times397]

Shamrock is MMA and Pro wrestling royalty. This goes to show you never really know what someone is actually going through.

[@mbfenner]

Met him on a flight from Vegas to Philadelphia. Very nice man.

[@mizeryluvkompany]

He still looks in great shape. Dude always had a great physic. Wanted him to beat Tito so bad.

[@bobbob-xd9pe]

You can always watch Frank Shamrock smash Tito at least.

[@bubsterjohnson7438]

@@bobbob-xd9pe Chael and Tito are gonna fight again sometime next year apparently lol

[@soitsanightmare]

Say hi to your brother Tito.

[@One_Nation_Conversation]

Legend. Nothing like the old school UFC fighters.

[@perfectsplit5515]

Those old school fights were fights where you could objectively judge and compare the merits of an individual styles, because most fighters back then were one dimensional. Not like now.

[@mblyster649]

nothing is more viscous in the ring than a Harold Howard Kick 😂

[@nicecutie]

harold got merked by marc hall. blood pouring out from howards nose. LOL

[@FernandoGomez-sj2rx]

Him and his brother Frank were the shit back in the day! Legends!

[@perfectsplit5515]

At one point Frank Shamrock was rated the greatest MMA fighter of all time.

[@JaxTheGat]

Foster brother is not a brother!! Don’t even think there on speaking terms!! But your right!!! I love em both to.

[@perfectsplit5515]

@@JaxTheGat Correct, they were not genetically related. But they sure looked like it, since they both looked like bodybuilder/fitness models.

[@JaxTheGat]

@@perfectsplit5515 na bro.. Frank looks Latino.. Ken doesn’t. Everybody that fought during that era (when drug testing was slack looked like Greek gods chiseled from Granite. I think everything they had in common was everything there foster dad ingrained in them.

[@gregorygillespie5785]

That’s the best interview you ever did vlad keeping your mouth closed…see you can do it

[@dariog36th]

Royce would rather throw in the towel than lose badly. That’s how Kazushi Sakuraba beat him. Sakuraba was whooping him so bad that he he had to throw in the towel before Sakuraba was going to knock him out.

[@theDavidChannel1]

That Sakuraba fight was the funniest MMA fight I've ever seen. Sakuraba ragdolled him like he was an old man LMAO. The rematch was terrible tho, and shoul've been a draw.

[@idx1941]

You really have no idea what you're talking about.

[@JustLouIt]

One of the real true OGs of cage fighting

[@onward-fp2fz]

What a guest.. World's most dangerous man. Good job

[@scottculli7851]

This was a great interview, it was good to hear from this legend, I hope he and his brother have put their differences behind them, that would be nice if

[@manyfacethegod308]

I used to think Ken deadass had super powers bro😂…I still do!

[@kangtheconqueror9545]

Shamrock and Vader used to throw some potatoes when they fought. Vader was known to be stiff, but Shamrock could take it.

[@livefree1030]

Living legend in MMA. He and Royce Gracie are the main Legends.

[@flyguy7825]

All the fights he's talking about I've seen and all of them are epic even that third fight with Royce Gracie was good in my opinion it was just two guys who wasn't going to give the other guy any type of leverage even though they were just grappling each other I'm just holding each other for 30 minutes trying to get some leverage it just shows you just how good both of them really were.

[@kangtheconqueror9545]

Exactly. Straight up stamina.

[@WHATDATTOOLDO]

Neither of them even worked in that match at all it really wasn't a good fight

[@josephdover198]

@@WHATDATTOOLDO It wasn't good at all. Shamrock just wasn't going to posture up for solid ground and pound because it would give Royce distance for submissions. It was also the second time they fought. The third time they fought they were 50 years old and in Bellator.

[@rayrawket]

His introductions and ring antics always reminds me of a few friends I had growing up after getting into a fight after one too many

[@ActionJacksonForever]

Dada 5000 vs Kimbo Slice was the worst UFC fight ever

[@kangkoopa]

Ken is the original, "I'll lay down for the money" fighter 💪

[@robbierude247]

Indeed 💰

[@moseshanon7060]

👨🏾‍🏫FunFact: That’s actually Bob Sapp

[@jazzoj5]

@@moseshanon7060 fr Bob Sapp is the poster child for that shit

[@donjohn2695]

Bob sapp takes that honour EASILY

[@kangkoopa]

@@moseshanon7060 Funner fact: Ken did it first.

[@kxmrock]

Ken was Class act, when he lost ankle submission. He said "Thats the way it goes" Lil Frank was a terror, i remember that

[@PhilAndersonOutside]

Love how candid he is. Great respect to him. Severn later said he was told by someone in Don Frye's camp that if Dan wore the same fingerless gloves Don wore, that he could argue that he didn't break any laws. But Ken is right, Dan fought a terrible fight too. Worst fight in UFC history, but both guys were still true champions.

[@OkamiSatsujin]

As an athlete, I love how well explains how conditioning works. From martial arts, to boxing, to wrestling, the conditioning is different and makes for an incredible challenge!

[@newgunguy4176]

He never understood that even if he beat Royce, he'd be beating a lighter, weaker opponent. Royce beating him meant something. But, him beating Royce wasn't going to be impressive. Every other Gracie opponent understood what was happening and integrated jiu-jitsu into their game. Shamrock ignorantly thought only about winning and missed the whole point.

[@darnelldarden9429]

Ken Shamrock and Steve Blackman were both legit shoot fighters who were great in WWF

[@YouCanChangeYourWorldToday]

Both were low- mid card at best in the wwf. Vince McMahon wanted entertainment and not real fights in the wwf. The Rock,Stone Cold, Mankind,Undertaker, and all the rest of the WWF great champions were great ENTERTAINMENT and had mic skills. Shamrock & Blackman were real fighters but not great entertainment that’s why they weren’t really great in the wwf business

[@racebannon2332]

Blackman was never an mma fighter

[@cobracraig666]

Did Blackman ever fight? He has a reputation as a hard man and almost all wrestlers say this but I don’t think Iv ever heard any stories about him actually fighting.

[@brandydanielle6212]

@@racebannon2332 he sold that gimmick well though lol

[@rc121crx]

I always called Ken the pissed off Al Bundy 🤣

[@thetvbaby83]

Ken was and still is a F'n stud!

[@rubenbustamante1828]

Royce Gracie ,Ken Shamrock ,Frank Shamrock both Legends .

[@La__Rat]

UFC did all the pioneer legend dirty.

[@anoopmair]

always loved shamrock in WWE and hated the way they did him dirty, absolute legend!!!!

[@Hollywood6IX]

Please Vlad I'm begging you, keep more MMA stars on the show

[@harveyprobz94]

Loving this interview. Peace and love to the living legend Ken Shamrock

[@bleh3328]

He looks stoked as vlad keeps bringing up his accomplishments

[@theDavidChannel1]

Still has the passion

[@josemorales-is6uv]

As he should....he put the work in so he deserves his flowers.

[@jamesjohnson1522]

Gotta love this guy... you're a pioneer...nothing changes that. My guy✊🏿....love this guy.

[@BIaZeDaSHeLL]

i just got done watching the old ufcs 1-10 and everything he said really gives alot context and seem'd to add up to what he was saying speically about the gracie screwing him over

[@sircharles820]

The fight I wanted to see was Ken shamrock vs tank Abbott.

[@GeeOhJayyy]

Give this man his flowers while he's still here 💐💐💐💐

[@greghoffmann3003]

Ken Shamrock was the reason why I watch MMA

[@KaplanCycles]

A true American Bad Ass Hero! 👍 huge fan since the beginning

[@ericroman2403]

He looks like a bad ass version of the American Pie Dad

[@travisstoneking4049]

One of many legends of the octagon and the squared circle. Ken made wrestling shoes cool lol. 🤘🏼❤️

[@Obiwankanoli]

Ya they call me the Russian bear too 😂😂

[@albertc2390]

"I was at a disadvantage." Yet, he was juiced up.

[@itsascaryworld9788]

As a kid I never understood why everyone was big on shamrock in the WWF until my friend showed me the fights his dad recorded from PPV and I couldn’t believe it was real. It remind me of this movie called ‘Best of the Best’ underground fighting til the death

[@prsee5969]

The first UFC I ever watched, I was maybe 7? My amazing neighbour’s VCR broke down and asked to come watch it over here. I watched that with my dad and him, and it was THIS ufc lol ken shamrock was in the corner getting knees in the face constantly for a half hour, decide to stop, amd then go back at it again, and same thing happens lol I was like what the hell is this sport… I’m used to watching WWF and thinking papa shango actually put a spell on ultimate warrior lol and then watching these two guys fight so differently…. And the blood man lol

[@icecreambeats101]

Ken looks like Sylvester Stallone and Robert DeNiro in the same body

[@bonesdaily1354]

THE LION'S 🦁 DEN

[@mia2005able]

This my all time ufc fighter, no matter what 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@Awesum]

Royce was afraid of the ankle lock, he understood that if for whatever reason he got caught he would probably have to amputate the foot after Shamrock was done with it.

[@slipnorris5882]

Shamrock did go for it, but royce rolled on top

[@CoolPandaTheMovieNerd]

Rose Namajumas and Carla Esparza just took first place from this man 😂.

[@JKDVIPER]

9:18 You rolled for 30 minutes with ROYCE GRACIE. You’re already a legend. But after that.... you’re super legend. 🤛💥😉☮️

[@perfectsplit5515]

That fight was early evidence of Bruce Lee’s theory - that the best fighter is the one who can adapt to the styles of all the other fighters. Shamrock had learned to adapt to Royce’s style, but Royce had not adapted to Shamrock’s boxing skills in the stand up part of the fight later on. Royce got injured; Shamrock was not.

[@WaltPowellEnt]

I remember watching the early UFCs and really liking Ken Shamrock. He is a legend, but I feel like, as he gets older, he sorta makes excuses for why he was never able to beat Royce. I don't think Royce dropped out of that tournament for the reasons Shamrock says he did. Also, most people disagree with me on the Dan Severin fights. I felt like Ken won both fights. In the second fight, not much went on for the first 2 rounds, but Shamrock had to win them, because he did out struck Severin, even if it was just a few punches. In the last round Shamrock had Daniel mounted halfway through the round. That was a dominant position for Shamrock, but when Daniel over turned Ken, Shamrock was in the guard, not mounted, which is a very strategic defensive position. Daniel landed some ground and pound, and Shamrock started bleeding. In my opinion it wasn't enough to grant Daniel the win. I believe it was a split decision. I think 2 judges scored it on the blood that they saw on Shamrock and completely forgot about the first 2 rounds. Even if you gave Daniel a 10-8 in the last round, you still have to score the first 2 rounds for Shamrock, even if they were slow and boring. The least it could be is a draw. Shamrock won both fights.

[@GringoPicante]

wow I just recently watched that fight in the UFC fight library and was wondering why both of them were just dancing around. Now it makes sense.

[@992ras]

Henderson Vs Rua 2 was probably the greatest ufc fight ever

[@teezo2917]

This is Shamrock from wrestling right?

[@Lord_Bibulous]

The same.

[@YouTubefreak92p]

Frank deserves ufc h.o.f Fan of both

[@walttalks5979]

Bro i remember as a kid playing” wwf no mercy” ken was almost unbeatable when u were fighting for the title lol

[@indionopalez3716]

My favorite game..😤

[@kagemaru259]

I used him in WWF Warzone and Attitude a lot.

[@jessecastillo3841]

I remember watching the very 1st ufc event real time. And watching ken it was so awesomel. He was built and a good fighter...And with time became a better fighter. And his brother was awesome as well. Ufc at the beginning was crazy to watch.

[@perfectsplit5515]

Remember the controversy - people calling it a Roman gladiator’s bloodbath, and calling for its cancellation? It was extremely shocking at the time. Senator John McCain was leading the crusade against it. Fighters from Extreme Fighting 2 (I think) got arrested.

[@peaceprayer595]

Nice to hear these true stories. Thanks Ken!

[@travino]

That fight was better than Kimbo vs Houston.

[@ScottyLo]

Great interview

[@bmillersince92]

The worst fight ever had to be Houston Alexander vs limbo slice

[@bigjoe6796]

I rember watching UFC when it started now seeing the age on him made me just feel old great times then early UFC days no holds barred

[@keepontruckinoutlawlife1248]

Ken is a legend HANDS down!!!

[@User-54631]

In my early 20s use to see shamrock around the party scene sometimes. He was typically the only person in the room without a smile on his face.

[@dblocknyc]

he SHOULD be a UFC & WWE Hall of Famer

[@CGPatsFan305]

He is in the UFC hall of fame.. but hopefully he will be in the WWE hall of fame soon

[@mofro7652]

I couldn't stand him in wrestling as a kid but grew up and ufc I was like oh wow he's a real fighter now i like him

[@geraldspud36]

Damn ken shamrock done got old. I remember him wrestling too.

[@dem676speaks5]

The Gracie’s have always been cherry pickers, Always wanted extra rules during their fights

[@15subarusti59]

Badass guy. Badass. Badass. Badass.

[@losnamerales3403]

Gracie threw in towel because he knew Shamrock was coming for revenge in that tournament, Gracie was being wise and understanding that Shamrocks has probably trained to completely counter his style, that's some real sensei behaviour as he'd realised Shamrock learnt his lesson and was fully ready to pass the test with flying colours

[@perfectsplit5515]

He threw in the towel because he was temporarily blind from hypoglycemia.

[@thetvbaby83]

These are the vids that absolutely need highlights of the fights and press. But that would cost a ton amiright?

[@ducklife420]

i bet UFC would do it because Vlad is giving them good mainstream press but i doubt he thinks to ask

[@thetvbaby83]

@@ducklife420 that would be amazing, he should get permission.

[@Scorch1028]

I don't understand why Ken Shamrock wasn't Royce Gracie's "first opponent" in UFC 3. At any rate, Ken Shamrock would have gotten to fight Royce Gracie again, whether Shamrock continued in the tournament or not. All that Shamrock did in UFC 3 was "rob himself" of the tournament victory by refusing to continue. Shamrock then skipped UFC 4 to compete in the King of Pancrase tournament in Japan, which he won.

[@pdiddybox4484]

Aint nobody calling u da Russian bear Vlad🤣

[@rickrocha255]

Legend! I'm brazilian and I was always rooting for Shamrock.

[@CUNDUNDO]

Pinoquio !

[@tylergreene8310]

One of the ufc LEGENDD

[@projectbullieskennel8883]

Shamrock looking like al bundy lol

[@Seldomseen77]

In Severn's defense Shamrock was on the JUICE and failed the testing!!

[@AliasOnlyTV]

Best journalism vlads done in years.

[@brucecombs3108]

I COULD MOP THE FLOOR WITH KEN SHAMROCK.....if we were janitors at the same company.

[@scottbauer5674]

Ken is responsible for Ninjutsu being the only discipline apart from BJJ winning a UFC tourney up to that point.

[@boomersD9CAT]

Ken Shamrock looks great ! 💪👍👏👏

[@scott1243]

I'm surprised Logan Paul isn't calling him out. Lol My money would still be on Ken.

[@ammagnolia]

8:37 Im thinking to myself.... How the hell is he gonna beat me and my many doses of testosterone baby?

[@glenngamboa9224]

Still in shape for his age 👍👍

[@therealestMSG]

When ken shamrock would punch his head and scream, errbody in the house who saw that got shook