Ken Shamrock Responds to Criticism of Bout with James Toney

Ever since the fight between Ken Shamrock and James Toney was announced, there have been those criticizing the bout.

Many people view the fight as a "freak show" fight between two men who are way past their primes. Some have gone as far as to say it's a disgrace to the sport.

Shamrock has caught wind of these comments, and needless to say, he's not happy about them.

"I think it's funny how people call some that we call entertainment, disgraceful," Shamrock said. "I mean, you're talking about writers who are sitting on the outside, looking in, who have never stepped in the ring and never competed. Their writing things like this, calling it disgraceful, saying, 'They should not do this.'" 

"You're talking about competitors, guys that challenge themselves every single day in the gym. They get up every morning, they live and breath this stuff and you got writers, sitting on the sidelines, criticizing warriors."

Shamrock was a relevant member of mixed martial arts for many years. Now that he is in the twilight of his career, he is fighting, not for relevancy, but because it's what he loves to do.

"First of all, we've done it for years entertaining people and we did what we were supposed to do through those years," Ken said. "Now, we an an opportunity to enjoy ourselves, compete in it the way we want to compete in it and have no boundaries on us."

"We do this for the entertainment now. I enjoy it. I love the competition. That's what they have a hard time understanding when their sitting on the outside of the ring pushing a pen."

"You don't know what it's like to have to stop doing something you love doing; it's like telling me to stop breathing. It's not going to happen. Not as long as I've got two legs and two arms and I can still swing."

Shamrock is well aware that he'll never again be a top contender, or a world champion, but he doesn't see that as a reason to retire.

He still has a passion for the sport and, as long as he's still got fans showing up to see him fight, he doesn't intend on stopping anytime soon.