Why Ken Shamrock Needs To Retire

Recently Ken Shamrock stated,“The problem that I’m running into is the fact that I can’t get enough fights.” Over the last 10 years Shamrock has fought 10 times, losing all but two of those fights. 

Shamrock continued, "So I have to get more fights and I’ve got to be busier. That way I can be able to use the things that I have and be able to get that timing in the ring that I need to be successful.” 

The above quotes sound as if they are coming from someone who is denying the fact that their skills have eroded.  

At 46 years old, and well past anything resembling his prime, it is time for Shamrock to retire.

10 Fights In 10 Years, a 2-8 Record and ... Steroids

Ross Clifton

Shamrock's record over the last 10 years is 2-8.

His losses: Don Frye, Rich Franklin, Tito Ortiz (three times), Kazushi Sakuraba, Robert Berry, Pedro Rizzo.

His wins: Kimo Leopoldo and Ross Clifton.

The win against the 380-pound Clifton was his most recent victory, coming in early 2009. The victory was tainted by the fact that Shamrock tested positive for "multiple steroids" after the fight and was suspended for one year due to the positive test.

Found in Shamrock's system: Norandrosterone, Noretiocholanolone and Stanozolol.

In effect, Shamrock has one victory in the last ten years.

His Last Real Win Was Against Dan Severn...in 1995

Yes, he has more than one win from 1995 to the present, but if you review his record, you'll see that the last real "name" fighter that he has a victory over is Severn.  

To put that in perspective, Jon Jones, the highly touted UFC fighter, had just turned eight years old a few days before Shamrock fought his last "stud" MMA fight.

Legacy?

How does this affect his legacy? Well, he is a UFC Hall of Fame member, and for him to continue on like this should be embarrassing to him. Sadly, that seems to be far from the case. 

Shamrock acknowledged that most of the fights he is offered as of late are in the pay range of $1,200 to $5,000, and while that's decent enough money for a young fighter, it is nowhere near what a "legend" should command.

In short, Shamrock has turned a legitimate Hall of Fame career into a bad joke that drags on and on and never seems to end.

Ken Shamrock Is Not Randy Couture

Yes, Randy Couture is older than Shamrock at 47. Yes, he is still fighting in the UFC. Yes, he is still winning. No, Ken Shamrock is not Randy Couture ...

Oh, and Couture seems to be thinking about retiring, something Shamrock should do as well.

The Fans

Shamrock claims that he still has fans out there who want to see him fight. While I cannot argue that point, I can question why these fans are coming out to see Ken "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Shamrock. Are they coming out to see the man that was once a legend, or are they coming out to relive the days of their youth when Shamrock was truly dangerous? 

Has Shamrock turned into a nostalgia act like so many bad hair metal bands of the 80s that just refuse to let it go and trudge along playing in some bar on a Wednesday night? 

His Next Opponent Is Johnathan Ivey

Shamrock will fight Jonathan Ivey this Saturday at the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana. That's his competition in the photo above. His MMA record is 29-42.

Shamrock will be fighting this man under the USA-MMA promotion.  

Mull it over—is this the quality of opponent an MMA legend should have to fight?

Shamrock needs to retire now ... before this upcoming fight.