KEN SHAMROCK - THE WORLD'S MOST DANGEROUS MAN

By Sam Williams
Sports Editor

Susanville could rise to mythic and fabled stature in the mixed martial arts universe, thanks to the return of native son Ken Shamrock.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Fame member is moving his entire operation from San Diego to Susanville this summer.

“We’re bringing the Lion’s Den to Susanville,” Shamrock said. “I bought five acres out on Hill Creek Road. We’re bringing in six fighters from all over the world, who will live in a house in town and train at the Iron Horse Gym. A reality television show is a possibility.”

Rudy Valentine, owner of Iron Horse Gym and one of Shamrock’s long-time friends in Susanville, said he was looking forward to working with the UFC legend.

“I’m really excited,” Valentine, Lassen High School’s former head wrestling coach said. “It’s great when you have a celebrity like Ken coming to town to work with you. He’s a good guy, and I like the way he thinks. He’s been through a lot. He’s grown up, and he’s got a more spiritual background now. I think both of us working together will be a positive thing. We’ve been working on putting this together.”

“We’re looking for college and high school fighters to come in and practice submission arts with us,” Shamrock said. “I think Rudy and I could do some good things together. I’ve known him for quite some time. We both strive for perfection, so I think this could be a good marriage.”

Several fighters from Valentine’s gym have competed well in caged-combat and mixed martial arts exhibitions.

Young fighters who are interested in working with Shamrock should contact him at his Website at www.kenshamrock.com.

Shamrock said he’s ready to come back to Susanville and share his success with the town he grew up in.

“I’ve been in the sport a long time, and I’ve done well,” Shamrock said. “It’s time for me to give back to the community that helped me. The experiences I had in Susanville helped be become who I am. I owe a lot to Susanville, to the high school teachers and the people in town who pointed me in the right direction, and to my dad, who accepted me in his group home. I’m coming back to the place I call home. I’ve been in San Diego for quite some time, but I’m moving back to Susanville because that’s where I feel comfortable. The people and the mountains are a big part of my success.”

Tonya, Shamrock’s wife, also has roots in Susanville.

“Tonya and I have known each other for 28 years,” Shamrock said. “She was 10 when we met and I was 13. I was kind of like a big brother to her. I was older and our families were close, so I didn’t date her. But we’ve always stayed in close contact and we’ve always stayed friends. We didn’t see it coming, but here it is. We’ve come a long way in two years. We’ve known each other for so long, there’s no skeletons in the closet. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Shamrock admits he’s getting older, but he’s not ready to leave the sport.

“I’ve done a lot in mixed martial arts,” Shamrock said. “I’ve helped the UFC get to where it’s at today. I don’t want to leave the sport. When I’m through fighting, I can work as a trainer and as a promoter. “

Upcoming fight

Shamrock (26-8-2), dubbed the World’s Most Dangerous Man, will face up-and-coming challenger Rich Franklin in an April 9 light-heavyweight fight televised on Spike TV.

The eight-card event marks the first time the sport has moved from pay-per-view to cable, opening a huge potential audience to the sport.

And who could be better than Shamrock to bring the sport to this wider audience? He’s the only fighter left from the original UFC line up.

“I’m the only one left from the original UFC,” Shamrock said. “I was one of the first 11 1/2 years ago, and now nobody’s left but me.”

The fight pits Franklin, a promising young fighter against Shamrock, an experienced veteran.

While some insiders make him the underdog, Shamrock says he’s ready.

“As I see it, this is an opportunity,” Shamrock said. “I have to challenge myself against a younger competitor on Spike TV.”

While Franklin could quickly make a name for himself by beating Shamrock, the veteran said he isn’t worried.

“I’ve got nothing to lose,” Shamrock said. “Even if I do lose, even if something goes wrong, I’ve still got everything I’ve ever accomplished. Nothing can be taken away from me. This sport isn’t my life, it’s only a part of my life. It’s what I love to do. It’s my job, it’s not my life. Besides, I’m going to win.”

Shamrock himself acknowledges the fight pits young blood against the wisdom of experience.

“Sure, this is an opportunity for him to come up,” Shamrock said. “The kid’s tough, and he’s not a slouch But once the bell rings and the fight starts, he’s going to find out he’s not as smart as an old fighter like me. Once the fight starts, it will start to dawn on him exactly what I do. I’m an experienced fighter, and I know what to do in the ring.”

Shamrock said he’s “done all the right things to get in shape for this fight.”

Franklin is recognized as one of the UFC’s most well-rounded fighters. In his last UFC fight, the unassuming high school math teacher from Cincinnati, Ohio, defeated highly-rated Jorge Rivera by tap out from a powerful arm bar in October in Atlantic City, N.J.

Shamrock is coming off a first-round knock out of Kimo last June 19 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.


Here’s the cutlines

Photo submitted
Former Susanville resident Ken Shamrock may be the best fighter in the history of professional mixed martial arts competition. Not only was he dubbed “The World’s Most Dangerous Man,” he was selected as one of the two charter members of the Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Fame, along with Royce Gracie. Shamrock (26-8-2) faces up-and-coming challenger Rich Franklin (18-1-0) April 9 in a light heavyweight bout broadcast on Spike TV as the highlight of an eight-fight card from Cox Pavilion on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus. This summer, the Shamrock family will once again call Susanville home.

Photo by Sam Williams
Ken Shamrock takes time out to sign autographs for happy fans during an appearance at a Susanville Rotary Club fund raiser in July 2003. After the event, Shamrock said he always has time for young people.

Photo submitted
Ken Shamrock (28-6-2), a UFC legend and Hall of Fame member, takes on fast-rising star Rich Franklin (18-1-0) in an April 9 bout — part of an eight-fight card televised on Spike TV.