It’s been rumored for some time now that The Ultimate Fighter 3 light heavyweight winner Michael “The Count” Bisping would take on TUF 3’s Matt Hammil at UFC 75 in London. The two have even had an amusing war of words with each other, in hopes of facing each other this year. However, The Fight Network reports today that Bisping will instead face TUF 3 coach and UFC Hall of Famer “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock.
This is a risky fight for the up-and-coming Bisping, with pretty much no upside for him. If Bisping wins, big deal. Ken’s been TKO’d in the first in his last four fights; he ain’t exactly “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” anymore. However, if Bisping loses, it’s a setback. He’ll also have to live with the fact that he got beat by an aging, out-of-touch bafoon who hasn’t had a win since 2004.
Bisping vs. Hammil is a very promising fight. The two have a history, and don’t like each other, and that always makes for good hype. Bisping vs. Shamrock just feels forced and unnecessary. I really don’t see the point of bringing Shamrock back, and I really don’t see the point of throwing one of your most promising light heavyweights in there with him.
And this is why I call bullshit.
Ken Shamrock is still a coach in the IFL. Dana White has said publicly that they do not want active IFL coaches fighting in UFC. I don’t see Dana breaking that rule, and I also don’t see Ken giving up that gig for a chance to get KTFO again on live television.
However, the IFL regular season ended this past weekend (Shamrock’s Nevada Lions beat Don Frye’s Tucson Scorpions 4-1), and Shamrock’s team will not be in the semifinals. I could see Dana White sneaking around his own rule to fit Shamrock on the UFC 75 card, but I don’t see the point of it.
When all is said and done, I would hope that Bisping vs. Hammil will still be on for London, and that Ken Shamrock will live out his days as the butt of Don Frye’s jokes.
