Ken Shamrock: Shadow Of A (World's Most Dangerous) Man

It's official. 

Ken Shamrock is the World's Least Dangerous Man.

Long, long ago, in a fight promotion far far away—think UFC Version One, or Pancrase—Ken Shamrock was a feared fighter. 

That was back in 1996. 

Twelve years later, all that remains of that fighter is the myth of Ken Shamrock. 

In anticipation of his fight with Kimbo Slice, I predicted a victory for Kimbo, as Shamrock has shown a diminished capacity to win eight of his last 10 fights.  He's had a suspect chin in his recent fights and has also shown almost no ability to take fighters down—with more ability to trip on his own feet. 

Maybe it was something in the wine that I was drinking, or maybe it was the effect of too many punches to the head myself, but a few days ago, I found myself pondering a Ken Shamrock victory. 

I re-watched some of Ken's victories over the likes of Kimo Leopoldo, Dan Severn, and Bas Rutten, and remembered the fighter that he was back then.  

Then I got to thinking about Randy Couture, a man of a similar age, who still manages to find a way to win.  With Randy Couture, the saying goes: "Never count Randy Couture out in a fight". 

Well then, should I really count out Ken Shamrock until he actually fights Kimbo?

Now, you don't even have to fight Ken Shamrock to beat him. 

I have a new saying to remember for Shamrock: "Never count Ken Shamrock in, in a fight." 

He will always find a way to lose. 

He has become a gross parody of his former self, and that's just sad.

Now look what he has done.  He has embarrassed himself. 

He has embarrassed Kimbo Slice, who wasn't prepared to take on a much different opponent in Seth Petruzelli.  He has also embarrassed Elite XC and CBS, who were put in the position of having to put their main attraction up against someone whom they cannot market, but who could have a serious chance of beating Kimbo—and he did. 

This fight cost Kimbo Slice a lot of money and it cost Elite XC a lot more money.  I don't even know where Kimbo and Elite XC go from here.

Some guys where I train were saying things recently like: "You gotta respect the guy for stepping in there."

But really...do I?  Really? 

Ken Shamrock risks permanent brain damage whenever he steps into the ring, and after what happened on Oct 4th, Ken must also be seen as a risk of not fighting at all. 

Now people are saying that Ken and Kimbo should try again to fight each other in the future.  Kimbo perhaps needs this to happen because after losing to Petruzelli, I don't know who else he can beat.  

At the same time though, I don't think this should happen.  Ken Shamrock shouldn't have been fighting this fight in the first place, nothing has changed. 

It's time to hang up those gloves, Ken.