Excluded from UFC Hall of Fame, Frank Shamrock speaks out against Dana White
After the recent announcement that Tito Ortiz will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame prior to UFC 148, former champion Frank Shamrock recently spoke to Spike TV’s “MMA Uncensored” regarding his apparent snub from the hall. It has been no secret that Shamrock and UFC President Dana White have some bad blood between them. Shamrock spoke the following words on his Hall of Fame snub:
“I don’t care. I think it’s awesome that Tito’s in. He deserves to be in there. I believe I should be in the Hall of Fame, but it ain’t my Hall of Fame. If they wanna put me in, that’s great. It’s not gonna keep me up at night.”
While this statement suggests that Shamrock is taking his exclusion in stride, he went on to become more heated as the interview progressed. Shamrock came out and admitted that he has a grudge against Dana White, and that may have contributed to him not being in the Hall of Fame:
“It’s definitely personal between Dana and I. To further that, I’ve done everything I can possibly do for this sport. I hope that would include UFC. You know, Dana and I don’t get along. I think he’s a total douchebag and a bully. I just, I got no breath for him.”
Some very strong words from an MMA pioneer whose contributions to the sport are many, regardless of how people feel about him. Now retired, Shamrock believes that he has done much to bring MMA to the masses via speaking engagements, commentary, teaching, and other aspects. He was graceful in respecting Tito Ortiz‘s induction into the Hall of Fame, an admirable act considering Frank Shamrock once finished Ortiz via TKO in an epic brawl at UFC 22. Shamrock is a legend, and showed his respect for the sport that garnered him fame:
“Here’s my thing. I did everything I could for the sport, from speaking to the commissions to presenting in front of cable companies — anything and everything, I was hired to go do it. I was a great spokesman, and I believe in this sport. If they wanna put me in or not, it’s totally up to them. I think it’s just a big knuckle-fest. God bless Tito, and I’m real proud that he’s made it.”
While Shamrock stated that he did not care about being left out of the UFC Hall of Fame this summer, his heated words would seem to suggest otherwise. He closed with a strong statement concerning Dana White, were they ever to meet in a dark alley:
“As Dana’s first martial arts instructor, I understand his skill set and his limitations, and I would love to have that moment.”
A very candid and emotional interview from a man who left the UFC on top, retiring after four successful title defenses. Does Frank Shamrock deserve a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame?
Further Reading: Tito Ortiz to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July
