In recent weeks, the Internet has been abuzz with rumors concerning Ken Shamrock’s return to the world of no holds barred fighting, and more specifically, the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In an attempt to get the factual story, I contacted the World’s Most Dangerous Man on Wednesday afternoon concerning his future in both the WWF and the UFC.
"I’ve always wanted to go back to the UFC and I was just waiting for the right time to return," Shamrock said. "I was actually forced out of the UFC earlier than I wanted to because of the financial problems they were having at the time. I didn’t retire from the UFC, I basically just took some time off to see whether or not they were going to get back up on their feet, but I knew all along that the WWF was something I always wanted to do. I’m definitely not leaving the WWF. I want to go back into the no holds barred world, take back what’s mine and then come back to the WWF."
As far as Shamrock’s timetable for his return to the UFC, he hopes to be ready to fight by December or January, assuming his training regiment is complete. However, he first has to be permitted the time off by the WWF.
"I sat down with Vince, and I’ve been talking to Jim Ross a little about it," Shamrock said. "I was a little concerned at first whether it would be a problem, but I obviously wouldn’t be doing it if there was. I have a contract with the WWF and I have goals in my mind that I want to accomplish here. I want the WWF to be behind me and help promote me, because I think my success in the UFC will help me make a greater impact in the WWF when I come back."
If all goes according to plan, Shamrock hopes to devote his time to the UFC in 2000 with a return to the WWF in 2001. Currently, he is running three miles a day and working on his boxing and kickboxing skills to stay in shape. The real training for a return to the Octagon begins once he’s granted time off from the WWF. In addition, he is also working with several of his Lion’s Den students and has opened a new dojo in the San Diego area where he teaches his no holds barred skills. When asked how many fights he is hoping to take part in back in the Octagon, Shamrock explained his gameplan.
"I think I have to win a couple of fights," he said. "I think one fight will establish me back in the no holds barred realm. And once I win that fight, I think people will see I still have that edge. And then I think one or two more fights after that will be enough for me to accomplish my goals."
Since leaving the UFC, the landscape of the no holds barred world has changed dramatically. According to Shamrock, he believes it’s become more of a "ground and pound" strategy whereas submission skills that were so dominating in his tenure have decreased considerably. He believes his return to the UFC won’t be a cakewalk, but he is more than confident he will dominate, whomever his opponents will be.
"People still fear me in the UFC, even though they may not say it," he said. "There’s a few people there I’d like to face. I want to fight (King of Pancrase) Bas Rutten, but he dropped weight. That’s been a known fact since I started talking about coming back that me and Bas were supposed to fight, but he dropped weight and went down a class. I’ve fought him twice before and beat him both times, but he wants to face me again because he’s said he was too young then and his skills weren’t sharpened. So, let’s find out if it’s true! I’d like to fight him, but I don’t know if that will happen. If Kevin Randleman (a current top contender in the UFC who is facing Shamrock’s protégé Pete Williams) beats Pete, then I’ll fight Randleman."
Above all, Shamrock is out to prove he is still the World’s Most Dangerous Man—a label he earned in the UFC and plans to reinforce once again.
"I don’t care who I fight as long as I go back there and fight the best," Shamrock said. "I’m not going to have someone say that I didn’t face the best when I came back. I still consider myself the best."
WWF.com wishes Shamrock luck in his imminent return to the UFC, and will provide fans with exclusive updates on the superstar in the coming weeks.
(A note of interest: Frank Shamrock, the brother of Ken Shamrock and longtime UFC competitor, will compete in the main event of the next UFC Pay-Per-View on September 24.)
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