Dana White and Ken Shamrock Squash Beef, End Long-Standing Feud

Mixed martial arts is a sport built upon rivalries and Dana White certainly knows a thing or two about the topic.

In the 13 years the UFC President has been at the helm of the organization, he has publicly clashed and verbally sparred with a lengthy list of opponents that range from fighters (current and former) to executives in a variety other MMA promotions. Of those who have been the target of White's scorn, MMA legend Ken Shamrock has been on the receiving end of the UFC front man's vitriol on several occasions. 

The feud between the two men has been raging for nearly a decade, but it appears the battle has finally come to an end. On Monday TMZ.com reported the beef between White and Shamrock had been squashed as the result of a 45-minute phone call between the two parties. The site received confirmation from both the UFC head honcho and the UFC Hall of Fame fighter that their long-standing grudge had been settled.

"Ken Shamrock and I spoke and we have squashed our beef," White told the news outlet.

The MMA legend and pioneer echoed White's sentiment in his response and stated the end of their discourse was a good thing for the sport itself. 

"It's bigger than us," Shamrock said. "It's good for the UFC. It's good for the fans."

JANE KALINOWSKY/Associated Press

The war of words between White and Shamrock brings to an end a disagreement that has played out in public view with varying degrees of severity for the better part of the past decade. That said, the situation returned to the forefront of MMA media with force last September when White and Shamrock exchanged barbs over the former Lion's Den fighter's failed lawsuit against Zuffa in 2006.

Tension between the two men seemed to have quieted a bit in recent months, and with Monday's call for truce between White and Shamrock, one of MMA's longest and most heated rivalries has come to a close. 

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.