Dinosaurs in MMA?

by theworldsoldestsport on Apr 29, 2009 1:08 PM EDT

I read over at mmaweekly.com that Vernon "Tiger" White is headlining some relatively unknown (nationally) MMA show.

Now, like most you, my initial thought was, "Jesus, this guy is still at it?" I thought the same when I read of Don Frye, Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock et cetera in the past few weeks.

But then, it occurred to me. No different than in the boxing days of old, fighters do what fighter do: they fight. There are guys like Travis Fulton with over 200 PROFESSIONAL fights, who has fought 2-4 times a month in the past. Jeremy Horn also comes to mind, with over 100 recorded PROFESSIONAL fights.

I am not for someone like Shamrock fighting A level competition on the national stage. He is well past the point where he can expect superstardom levels of fame. He, however, is a man and is a fighter. He has chosen to continue. Shamrock is, for one, a fighter that has done so poorly I have difficulty defending the fact that athletic commissions license him. For someone like White, even Frye, or Dan Severn, I don't know that it's my place to tell them when to quit. Often, especially for those who fought in the beginning of our sport, the money wasn't good. I don't want to see any fighter all "punched out" or babbling with pugilistica dementia, but for some of these guys, they're just tough old dudes who still love the limelight. I agree that some of them should no doubt not be licensed, but I don't think that they should be summarily written off and told not to fight just b/c they no longer have what it takes to compete on the centerstage of somewhere like Dream, the UFC, K-1, et cetera.

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Dan Severn also has close to 100 fights under his belt.

But yeah I agree; as long as they’re in good health, there’s no vast disparity in skill (see Tito vs. Shamrock trilogy), there’s an interest and there’s a venue then yeah they should be allowed to fight.

Bloody hell.

by 3PA on Apr 29, 2009 4:18 PM EDT reply actions

no gary goodrich? :-)
i agree. as long as they can get medically cleared(no slurred spech or talking to imaginary friends) and legally sanctioned (not going to alabama b/c there is no sanctioning) and they are fighting other fighters of their own ilk, then hey let’em fight. tank vs ken seemed like a good match-up until ken tested positive. boxers like george foreman, roberto duran and larry holmes fought well into their 40s and still are fine, but fighters like tommy hearns and riddick bowe are not. each indidvidual varies and should be treated as such. speaking of dan severn, wasn’t he forrest griffins 1rst pro mma fight? i dont care how old severn was then (about 42), it takes alot of balls for severn to be your 1rst pro fight.

by bdw on Apr 29, 2009 5:57 PM EDT reply actions