UFC Legend Tank Abbott Talks MMA, Tito Ortiz, Frank Shamrock, Oleg, Don Frye and More

Aaron Tru from mmaprime.tv chats with NHB Legend Tank Abbott at King of the Cage. Tank was the commentated for the night, helping out with the KOTC broadcast. Tru asks Abbott about the difference between NHB and MMA. Tank talks about MMA being more of a sport, as NHB is what he is into; "you go in there..two guys enter and only one guy leaves."
When asked about the current UFC Champions, Abbott said, "I hardly know who any of them are and that speaks volumes itself."
When asked about his fight with Scott Ferrizo in the backyard last year, Abbott comments that, "Well that's happened 100's of times and usually their isn't a camera there....there is no weight classes to hide behind, no rules to hide behind and no judges to hide behind...You better do good or you might being going home in a morgue wagon in a van."
When asked about Tito Ortiz losses 7 of his last 8 fights to end his career, Tank comments, "Everyone got taken by a con man...and I think it's funny that even for 10 seconds anyone thought he was tough.."
Tru mentions Frank Shamrock's book during the interview, and Tank "doubts he wrote it himself." Going on to say, "I'm sure it probably comes with pictures of crayon drawings..and maybe his first finger painting in there."
When asked if he would ever train for a sanctioned fight again, Tank says, "I love to fight and that's who makes me who I am...I am probably the closest thing you have ever seen to a true warrior." "If someone has the right fight for me, I'm whiling to do it."
The interview ends with Tru asking about UFC 6 and Ultimate Ultimate 98. The back story is that Tank made it to the finals of both UFC tournaments. However, there is a little bit on controversy, in regards to the semi final bouts in both tournaments. He faced Oleg Tarktarov in the finals of UFC 6 and Don Frye in the finals of Ultimate Ultimate 98; both men supposedly faced team mates/friends in the semi finals and were extremely fresh in the night's final bout; while Abbott had extremely difficult bouts and was spent by the final match of the evening. Tank responds that, "Both of them fought their training partners, who winked and had very easy fights. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that they fought their friends and that their friends laid down..not something that a true warrior would do. Like I said before, these guys aren't true warriors...it's not about winning or losing, it's about the battle."

[@cogen651]

Is he serious with that hair piece.

[@mjccmc82]

I met Tank in downtown huntington beach at Aloha Grill and he was very nice and we probably chatted for an hour. very nice guy, very honest and he is on camera exactly how he is off camera.

[@dr.lemonade242]

Tank loses his dentures around 2:41

[@Drinapropriatetouch]

Going for the garden gnome look

[@romanticwarrior97]

I'd like to see him fight that wig.

[@nusaniwe]

I like the bieber haircut, goes really well with the beard and swordfish shirt.

[@dperry203]

Some would but most wouldnt. There is reasons behind most of his losses. Of course there was some bad match ups for him like the Belfort fight and maybe the Rizzo fight. But of course some of the later fights he was way past his prime. But a Prime Tank Abbott was one of the best fighters in the sport. Most will never realize that because he didnt protect his record. He loved to fight and stepped up even if he was hurt or hadnt had a chance to train.

[@kingteb]

his early fights in the ufc were the best

[@deeder2000]

Tank was one of the originals and always exciting to watch. Tank's fighting style was different to what happens now in MMA; so you cannot compare the two. As he says it is more of a sport with elite athleticism required; in Tank's days this wasn't always the case, although, if you had stamina and skill you probably did very well. Give Respect to the man!

[@TheJooti]

Tank Abbott is the LEGEND, doesn´t matter for me what he said in the video but he is LEGEND!

[@Bigbriansc]

His false teeth about fell out...lol

[@k9m42]

He was tough on his day but modern fighters would have no problem with him.

[@MaleVsFemaleForum]

Well, that speaks volumes within itself.

[@terryc73]

tank would knock tito out ive always said it... wen liddell attacked tito was done... its all tank does is attack win or lose

[@JatoUnitSoldier]

He did. Vitor KTFO'd him when he was only 19 and Abbott went around shit-talking him for years and ducked a rematch

[@kevinmccormick9960]

Hahahahahahahahahaha what's that on his head

[@ck552]

Not a toupee, he just needs a haircut.

[@AaronTru]

thanks buddy

[@321ywis]

nice hair Tank, LOL

[@wooster0015]

That hair....lol

[@cheerznbeerz]

Tito Ortiz isnt a real fighter but Tank abbot is, idk about that..

[@marktheshark711]

Is it real? Police Academy 2 when the guy gets his head shaved off and has to wear a wig comes to mind

[@lennylenn4009]

Septic tank maybe lol 😂😂😂

[@_RYEN_]

Man is a legend!

[@TheSportsYahoo]

Alfred E. Neuman wants his hair back.

[@dmenter2011]

What the fuck. The hair looks so natural tank.....natural.

[@MrPROMMANOW]

OMG he looks amazing. love his hair and beard. Great job TRU daddy!! One of the greats... man i used to love this guy.

[@markyelton6248]

Can anyone here imagine Tank fighting someone like Cain or J.D.S. , fighting has evolved and he hasn't . He probably wouldn't even make it to the UFC if he was starting today . The talent pool is much deeper and you don't make it to the big leagues anymore just by being tough . It's kind of sad he just seems like a bitter old man . jealous of the fame and money today's fighters enjoy .

[@rockydrago1690]

rumor is tank took a dump in the toilet in shamrocks lockeroom and left it for ken thats why ken is so mad at tank

[@ryanp4338]

no tanks problem was cardio all the time his cardio was the problem not anything else. he always said he would fix it but never did it was his cardio...

[@pendejo6466]

"All time great?" I doubt it. Yes, he was entertaining and I know he can fuck up the average person on the street, but as a professional fighter he was a sideshow at best, even for the early era of MMA.

[@johnfrederick9179]

Tank Abbot went on raw talent. He never had the opportunity to be groomed by a machine. He is a natural warrior and if he were young and starting today, with the opportunity, he might be a longest raining champ. On streets, he might still be.

[@jekkler]

lmao, look at that fucking hair!

[@cadavermanhim]

2 guys enter an the toughest guy leaves. that would be tanks opponent i would assume

[@MsMarc1234]

"I'm here with one of the ALL TIME GREATS! Santa Claus!"

[@Stigmableedingblack]

Tank rocks

[@alesage1983]

I thought he was wearing a costume...a bear or something ...

[@tooakki]

Tank is kinda acting like a hater.

[@nickycoley1]

he was already old & inactive when he lost to slice imagine some one calling you up to do a high risk job you hadn't done in years with little to no preperation

[@bo2780]

his teeth fell our at 2:42

[@jblitz55]

Who noticed his dentures pop out of place @ 2:41...LOL We need more people like tank in mma. Great stuff

[@funkykush519]

wtf is with his weird emo/beiber hair?

[@punishr36]

Ya who know's who GSP is!

[@jin37uk]

LOL wtf is that on his head Why has he combed his hair like he's on jersey shore

[@moonscorch]

Tank Bieber Clause

[@GreenmanTypeOneg]

Come on kids... Tank don't give a f*** what anyone thinks about his hair... hair piece... wig... whatever. He doesn't give a f***, & I would love to be around when some young guys run their mouth about his hair to his face. He more than likely where's it to get punks to fight him. Not in an Octagon, in a parking lot near wherever he is when someone runs their mouth. Think Kimbo Slice's classic big money private street fights, but less about money, & more about blood_He's a character for sure

[@dperry203]

He should Tank got him in the UFC. Also Tank claims Tito was a theif and stole from him. Which is very true. Then when Tito started having success he tossed everyone to the side and acted like he was better than them. Tito has a right to take whatever path he likes but Tank has every right not to like him. Forgot to mention Tito also stole Tanks nickname Huntington Beach Badboy was Tanks first. Even when Tito does his "lasso" routine that was stolen from Tank also.

[@SistorCarrera]

Sir David the Lord Tank abbott hes the best so he is

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

Yep, that'sTank!

[@nerdbrick1]

Tank had his purpose in MMA, mostly to show that budlight is a poor substitute for hard work and dedication.

[@BuzZYoda]

Tanks teeth nearly fall out at 2:41

[@Alldayyyyyy]

A.T., lol, I saw Tank at Bar on Main Street to and I was scared as hell. I left early and went to another bar. My buddy w me had a big mouth and liked to fight, I told him dont even make eye contact. Lol...

[@hicksta227]

Why is tank wearing a helmet?

[@muratshokhzodayev]

To be honest i dont think tank is a legend he isnt a good fighter for real for real

[@bswarm187]

Kenny Rogers?

[@1776iscoming]

What a horrible haircut, I hope somebody said something to him

[@1norville]

That is exactly what I was thinking.

[@CLOVERCITYY15]

2:42 LMFFAAAOOO imagine if he didnt catch them lol hahahahahaahahahaha

[@HeadExplodeSports]

Roy Nelson made the homeless lunatic look cool.

[@yrrahyrrah]

He drops his teeth at 2:40. :D

[@1norville]

I was wondering if that was a wig. Either way it looks awful! He looked much better with the buz cut.

[@Chubzdoomer]

He'd might as well.. Who's gonna tell him not to!?

[@iamDoFy]

2:40 drop his teeth ahahhaa

[@BurnTheLeaves]

LOOKS LIKE SANTA

[@gekiryudojo]

I am just waiting for Tank to hit him. He looks like he wants to hit him......

[@MrBumboclart]

don't laugh at his hair, don't laugh at his hair, don't laugh at his hair, don't laugh at his hair, don't laugh at his hair, don't laugh at his hair, don't laugh at his hair, don't laugh at his hair, don't laugh at his hair, don't laugh at his hair, don't laugh at his hair, don't laugh at his hair,

[@MatthewCaligari]

I just seen a vid of Tank from his time in WCW, when he was actually a mean ass. Haven't seen him since, first thought .... Wtf is with that wig?

[@shonuffLA]

tanks on that justin bieber

[@terriblefart]

Hairpiece.

[@usmc8408]

Why is he wearing a wig ?

[@ivandrago8299]

Because he's bald.

[@dperry203]

So is that how he become a Junior College All American in wrestling? Is that how he was able to bench press 600 lbs? Maybe you should learn a little about Tank before commenting. He has trained with some of the best all his career. He could have been more dedicate maybe. It was like todays toughman contest. Who dedicates their life to that when there is no money or future in it? Tank was 30 in his first fight. 40 when there was money in it. He trained for his fights like everyone else.

[@ivandrago8299]

He's got the same barber as Uriah Faber. He grew that beard cause he has the same arsehole on his chin too.

[@Str8Bangerz]

He just said he doesn't know of gsp or Anderson Silva? ??lmaoo best of luck to then lmfao

[@Mikeraske]

WTF, his hair looks nothing like the guys on jersey shore.

[@tattooedwrassler]

Come on stop working Tank... This is all bs if u guys believe what he is saying is for real

[@wheelmanstan]

a 9 second and 20 second fight against training partners, sorry tank, that's fucked up..just look at olegs face after macias lets him choke him out damn

[@FlakJacket86]

Hes a huge cry baby. never heard a man make so many excuses for himself and others in my life.

[@littlehendrix3]

Is....Is Tank wearing a Toupee?

[@plisskennn]

Anderson Silva could easily broke his leg on his shin, and he would be champion now.

[@RJBEK28]

Did Tank skinned the animals that Matt Hughes killed in Africa to do that toupee?

[@dperry203]

Tank has been trashing Tito for over a decade. Now Tank is old and Tito might be able to do something. But Tank is still very powerful and dangerous. Plus Tito has grew up seeing a lot of Tanks handy work in the street. Plus Tank says he used to make Tito cry when they sparred. I dont think Tito ever wanted a piece of Tank. Tito wouldnt even say anything bad about Tank back then even with Tank slaming him. I think he knew better. I was a Tito fan back then also.

[@dperry203]

Tank created Tito and trained with Tito. I think he is more qualified to judge Titos toughness than you are fan boy. Tito was protected a lot in his career. He also hid behind the 205 weight class. Which of course was created specifically for him by his former manager Dana White.

[@dperry203]

Just his front teeth. He lost them in a car accident. Same ones he took out on that episode of "Friends". lol

[@broli28]

...@ 2:41....his top teeth almost jumped out of his mouth. Tank is still a pioneer though.

[@RhysCampbell01]

Did Tank ever fight for the heavyweight title in UFC?

[@terrytate3521]

yeah your pretty dillusional all right. in NHB Tank would KILL Mir.

[@SuperManiacBrainiac]

Is this the TruPlaya channel and you just changed the name?

[@michaeltran9913]

tank abbott do you remember me ? the Taxi dirver!

[@MixMasterNutGaming]

Watch at 2:42 to see Tank's teeth almost fall out. I bet Tank is wearing the bad toupee in hopes someone will talk shit about it, and then he can kick their ass for talking shit.

[@MrBumboclart]

yeah but seriously wtf is with his hair

[@2ossy]

Justin Bieber hair cut...

[@LenSengoku]

lol oh shit, chris kringle!

[@mrniceshoes2118]

Wow

[@AaronTru]

no, the send you a jacket when you order the magazine lol

[@willman808]

Looks like justin bieber

[@jezusmatkojebca]

Santa Abbot :)

[@antibulletdodger101]

Santa "Tank" Claus

[@kfrantz28]

I can't get over his hair..

[@AaronTru]

yes it is

[@gv39109yt]

what song is playing in the background around 4:45