Frank Shamrock comments on randy leaving the UFC on his myspace

The_Iceman · 10-16-2007, 11:30 PM

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Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Frank Shamrock on Randy Couture Leaving the UFC
Category: Sports

FRANK SHAMROCK ON RANDY COUTURE

Q&A with a Legend about a Legend

By Mary Van Note

MV: It's huge news all over the internet and I'd love to hear you weigh-in on the subject. Was this a smart move for Couture?
FS: This was the smartest move that Randy Couture could have made at this point in his career. At his age, and with the level of athletes growing in the sport, he was smart to get out. Also with the UFC only focusing on their brand and not the talent, his growth was always limited in that show.

MV: What other opportunities does he have to fight in MMA while not with Zuffa's Pride or UFC?
FS: Randy Couture is a movie star and a household name. He is a martial artist of the highest caliber. He has diversified into everything from books, movies, shavers, clothing lines, and other endorsements. I don't think he will ever fight again nor does he need to.

MV: What do you know about his allegations that he was most likely not paid as well or as much as other top fighters like Silva and Lidell?
FS: I am sure that they are true. The UFC is only concerned about their brand, not the sport of MMA. It took them years to realize that Randy was an American hero. It took MMA about 5 minutes.

MV: How does this affect MMA in general? And specifically the brand of UFC?
FS: It hurts the UFC big-time; more than when I left the sport as they have no stars in their shows now. The last is Liddell and his life span is short.
MMA will be fine as the new fans don't know about the sport or its history anyways.

MV: Any chance you would fight Couture?
FS: Would love to have him kick my butt. I have trained with him many times and he is the real deal.

MV: I see similarities with your career with Couture's. He left the UFC at the peak of his career for "hollywood." Any thoughts?
FS: He is smart and the jig is up with the UFC. The threats from Dana and his retarded business practices are catching up with the company. The truth always comes out and there it is. This sport is about the martial way not his way.

MV: What is the future of MMA?
FS: Frank Shamrock.

MV: What is the UFC doing wrong... to lose their top talent?
FS: "U Fight Cheap" is their moniker. MMA is about the incredible people who do it, not the company that shows it. Stars drive the sport, not Dana. He is an idiot who should go back to managing a gym where he came from and quit messing up our beautiful art form.

Finally for all the new fans, do some research on MMA and the sport. Don't believe what they sell you on TV and PPV. This sport is amazing with some real history that should be appreciated. The UFC makes their own history up for money. Don't be a follower be a fanatic!

FrankShamrock.com
ShamrockMartialArts.com
MMAStars.com

Myspace.com Blogs:frankshamrock MySpace Blog

I have to say that I agree with some of what he says about the UFC making sure the product if better off then the fighter....

cmj · 10-16-2007, 11:42 PM

Wow, Frank. Egotistic much?

Pitbull · 10-16-2007, 11:49 PM

Good find, Iceman.

I always feel like I have to weed through the crap in a Frank Shamrock interview to find something thats actually worth reading.

I don't agree with Frank on Randy's leaving hurting the UFC.

Sure Randy was a great guy and a great fighter, but the UFC wasn't hurting the first time he retired. We'll all miss him, but Randy's leaving isn't gonna bankrupt the company.

I also don't agree with Frank on his being the future of MMA.

I do agree with his last statement though...

Quote:

Finally for all the new fans, do some research on MMA and the sport. Don't believe what they sell you on TV and PPV. This sport is amazing with some real history that should be appreciated. The UFC makes their own history up for money. Don't be a follower be a fanatic!

earvinarp · 10-17-2007, 12:26 AM

I agree with Frank in almost everything. The guy is right about the UFC only caring about the brand and not the sport. He is on the money with that.

IrishRage · 10-17-2007, 12:53 AM

A fighter that Is not allowed In the UFC to cash In on all the money Is bad mouthing Dana white what a surprise LOL although Dana can be a bit of a retard and most of what frank had to say was 100% correct , nice find ICE MAN

PINOYPRIDE · 10-17-2007, 01:13 AM

I also are agree with Frank especially with his quote "U fight Cheap"

opsy · 10-17-2007, 01:29 AM

Frank wouldn't have a job right now if it wasn't for Zuffa & Co. With the rise of the UFC came the rise of MMA. Every single one of these companies cares about their brand, it's capitalism. It is ignorant to assume otherwise. The company that promotes him was just on Wall Street, was that a move to advance MMA?

Crazy · 10-17-2007, 01:30 AM

Nice find. I agree a lot in Frank aswell.

jxl301 · 10-17-2007, 01:57 AM

HAHA, so true! Nick Diaz said it himself as well. It's all about marketing with these people.

scho · 10-17-2007, 02:52 AM

Well said, and I have nothing against Dana. I know I would fight in a heartbeat in an undercard fight for $3K. I would have no problem taking out half of the garbage fighters like Danny Abbadi or some others that keep popping up as "hole fillers."

Cuts O Meat · 10-17-2007, 09:30 AM

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Originally Posted by Pitbull

I don't agree with Frank on Randy's leaving hurting the UFC.

Sure Randy was a great guy and a great fighter, but the UFC wasn't hurting the first time he retired. We'll all miss him, but Randy's leaving isn't gonna bankrupt the company.

He didn't say it would bankrupt the company, nor end the company. He said it would hurt the company, and by the way Dana spoke about Randy's retirement, It seems clear (to me anyway) that the company took a hit with that loss.

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Originally Posted by Pitbull

I also don't agree with Frank on his being the future of MMA.

It was a joke.

Cuts O Meat · 10-17-2007, 09:33 AM

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Originally Posted by opsy

Frank wouldn't have a job right now if it wasn't for Zuffa & Co. With the rise of the UFC came the rise of MMA. Every single one of these companies cares about their brand, it's capitalism. It is ignorant to assume otherwise. The company that promotes him was just on Wall Street, was that a move to advance MMA?

Of course a company is going to take care of themself. How could a promotion not take care of the fighters if it was going out of business? Pride took care of the fighters, but not so much the business and it went down.

StratTone · 10-17-2007, 10:19 AM

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Originally Posted by The_Iceman

Myspace.com Blogs:frankshamrock MySpace Blog

I have to say that I agree with some of what he says about the UFC making sure the product if better off then the fighter....

I agree some but not all.

FightFan76 · 10-17-2007, 10:39 AM

I really like the UFC for the most part and still will w/o Randy (still sucks though), but some of what FS says has truth to it. I have no problem w/ orgs like the UFC looking out for themselves b/c it is after all a buisness. I do believe alot of the fighters are way under-paid though and I dont buy what Dana says about it "I want people who want to fight, not get paid" or something to that effect, somebody correct me if I am wrong. Anyway, I think that is just a cop-out to justify not paying the guys that much. These guys should atleats make enough money to make a living w/o having to have another job. They should be able to focus all of their time on training when they are not fighting IMO, I am not saying get the big 6 figure contracts like the big named guys who draw in the crowds or the pay-per view audience.....

Pitbull · 10-17-2007, 11:15 AM

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Originally Posted by Cuts O Meat

He didn't say it would bankrupt the company, nor end the company. He said it would hurt the company, and by the way Dana spoke about Randy's retirement, It seems clear (to me anyway) that the company took a hit with that loss.

I didn't say Frank Shamrock said he would bankrupt the company. I said it.

I know he said it would hurt the company. The UFC made money after the first Randy Couture retirement, and will continue to make money after the second.

It seems clear (to me anyway) that the company remain profitable.

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It was a joke.

How do you know?

Did he say it was a joke?

You seem to be pretty keen on what Frank really means. Maybe you can dumb it down, and explain it in a way I can comprehend it.

Cuts O Meat · 10-17-2007, 11:23 AM

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Originally Posted by Pitbull

I didn't say Frank Shamrock said he would bankrupt the company. I said it.

I know he said it would hurt the company. The UFC made money after the first Randy Couture retirement, and will continue to make money after the second.

It seems clear (to me anyway) that the company remain profitable.

Of course it'll remain profitable. As profitable? I doubt it.

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Originally Posted by Pitbull

How do you know?

Did he say it was a joke?

You seem to be pretty keen on what Frank really means. Maybe you can dumb it down, and explain it in a way I can comprehend it.

If anyone knows anything about Frank Shamrock, then they know he has a good sense of humor.

Pitbull · 10-17-2007, 11:30 AM

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Originally Posted by Cuts O Meat

Of course it'll remain profitable. As profitable? I doubt it.

Good. You agree with me then.

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If anyone knows anything about Frank Shamrock, then they know he has a good sense of humor.

I guess I don't know Frank, because I've never found him to be funny.

Crashsti · 10-17-2007, 12:30 PM

The UFC is responsible for bringing MMA to the masses, not the fighters. without a venue to showcase their skills MMA fighters are just a bunch of tough guys in gyms. Sure the UFC will feel the loss of Randy but he already retired once and life went on.

subgenius · 10-17-2007, 01:35 PM

Frank Shamrock has an axe to grind. He won't have good things to say about the UFC, not ever. And, every time he opens his mouth and says dumb stuff like in that interview, he puts a nail in the coffin of any chance to ever return to the UFC. I disagreed with almost everything that he said because it seemed to not be well-informed about the sport.

And, anybody that complains about the UFC marketing the brand really has no clue about the true nature of MMA and sports in general. The UFC is and always has been a business. They make money. That will always be the bottom line. And, don't be fooled, even Frank Shamrock is a mercenary when it comes to fighting in MMA. He's only out to make money. All fighters fight to make money. Look at Randy Couture. He proved that when he quite the UFC.

Crashsti · 10-17-2007, 01:42 PM

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Originally Posted by subgenius

Frank Shamrock has an axe to grind. He won't have good things to say about the UFC, not ever. And, every time he opens his mouth and says dumb stuff like in that interview, he puts a nail in the coffin of any chance to ever return to the UFC. I disagreed with almost everything that he said because it seemed to not be well-informed about the sport.

And, anybody that complains about the UFC marketing the brand really has no clue about the true nature of MMA and sports in general. The UFC is and always has been a business. They make money. That will always be the bottom line. And, don't be fooled, even Frank Shamrock is a mercenary when it comes to fighting in MMA. He's only out to make money. All fighters fight to make money. Look at Randy Couture. He proved that when he quite the UFC.

its sad but its true, money drives MMA. its foolish for us to think that MMA fighters are some how more noble then other athletes. when it comes to taking the big payoff and looking out for themselves MMA fighters are not really any differant then other professional athletes. take Randy for example, he could have gone on to have at least 2 more great fights, possibly against Big Nog and maybe even a rematch with Tim Sylvia. however it won't happen since Randy could'nt get what he wanted. i am not disrespecting Randy, at 44 he has'nt got time to beat around the bush. Fedor is the same, we miss out on a great fight since his demands could not be met. in the end its not the UFC getting screwed its the fans.