The Maniac
03-11-2004, 16:19
SHAMROCK WANTS TITO
There has been a lot of speculation recently about Ken Shamrock and who his next opponent will be. The speculation has gone from Tito Ortiz to Tank Abbott to Royce Gracie. Last night, Shamrock spoke with MMAradio Ken Pishna and made it clear what his thoughts are on his next opponent.
First things first, Shamrock wants to fight Tito Ortiz. “The fight that we want is Tito. That’s the fight that we want to happen next,� said Shamrock. “I don’t know if Dana White will make that fight happen or not.�
He went on to explain that it’s not really all up to him who he gets to fight, “I can’t really tell them who I want to fight, unlike what many people think… I just have to wait and see and put in who I’d like to fight. I really would like to fight Tito Ortiz. That’s the fight I want. That’s the fight that I think makes sense.�
And what about the rumors that have surfaced in regards to Tank Abbott as an opponent at UFC 51 instead of Tito? “For whatever reasons, I think they’re leaning towards Vitor Belfort [for Tito Ortiz]. Tank Abbott is a fight that I guess they [the UFC] were interested in having happen,� speculated Shamrock. “If that’s the only one they’re going to offer me, then I guess that’s the one I have to take. Not that I mind laying glove on Tank. It’s just the fact that I’d rather take a fight that I’ve been wanting. “
Shamrock also talked about the perpetual speculation about another rematch between him and Royce Gracie. “We tried to get that to happen when the UFC was going to put on that show in Japan and then they cancelled that show. I wanted Don Frye. I wanted Royce Gracie. Those fights never surfaced. Don Frye couldn’t do it because he had other obligations. Royce Gracie we never heard back from,� said Shamrock.
The UFC is tentatively planning to attempt the Japanese show again next year in June. Pishna asked Shamrock if they will again be attempting to get Royce for that show, “Well, we can try, but personally I don’t think Royce will take the fight. This isn’t the first time we’ve tried to get this to happen. I just don’t believe he’s going to make that fight happen. I think that he’s perfectly happy fighting in Japan and fighting people that he chooses to fight.�
With one fight left on his UFC contract, Shamrock made his thoughts clear one more time, “We want to get that fight with Tito. That’s the one I want. I think it makes sense for the fans and I think it makes sense for the UFC. And it definitely makes sense for me and him.�
There has been a lot of speculation recently about Ken Shamrock and who his next opponent will be. The speculation has gone from Tito Ortiz to Tank Abbott to Royce Gracie. Last night, Shamrock spoke with MMAradio Ken Pishna and made it clear what his thoughts are on his next opponent.
First things first, Shamrock wants to fight Tito Ortiz. “The fight that we want is Tito. That’s the fight that we want to happen next,� said Shamrock. “I don’t know if Dana White will make that fight happen or not.�
He went on to explain that it’s not really all up to him who he gets to fight, “I can’t really tell them who I want to fight, unlike what many people think… I just have to wait and see and put in who I’d like to fight. I really would like to fight Tito Ortiz. That’s the fight I want. That’s the fight that I think makes sense.�
And what about the rumors that have surfaced in regards to Tank Abbott as an opponent at UFC 51 instead of Tito? “For whatever reasons, I think they’re leaning towards Vitor Belfort [for Tito Ortiz]. Tank Abbott is a fight that I guess they [the UFC] were interested in having happen,� speculated Shamrock. “If that’s the only one they’re going to offer me, then I guess that’s the one I have to take. Not that I mind laying glove on Tank. It’s just the fact that I’d rather take a fight that I’ve been wanting. “
Shamrock also talked about the perpetual speculation about another rematch between him and Royce Gracie. “We tried to get that to happen when the UFC was going to put on that show in Japan and then they cancelled that show. I wanted Don Frye. I wanted Royce Gracie. Those fights never surfaced. Don Frye couldn’t do it because he had other obligations. Royce Gracie we never heard back from,� said Shamrock.
The UFC is tentatively planning to attempt the Japanese show again next year in June. Pishna asked Shamrock if they will again be attempting to get Royce for that show, “Well, we can try, but personally I don’t think Royce will take the fight. This isn’t the first time we’ve tried to get this to happen. I just don’t believe he’s going to make that fight happen. I think that he’s perfectly happy fighting in Japan and fighting people that he chooses to fight.�
With one fight left on his UFC contract, Shamrock made his thoughts clear one more time, “We want to get that fight with Tito. That’s the one I want. I think it makes sense for the fans and I think it makes sense for the UFC. And it definitely makes sense for me and him.�