Regardless of what you may think about Ken Shamrock's decision to return to action against Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson, the 44-year-old UFC legend wants you to know one thing: Ken Shamrock is a fighter.
Critics of Shamrock (26-13-2) have been vocal since the announcement of his participation in the main event of EliteXC's next CBS broadcast. But Shamrock recently told MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com) he intends to win the Oct. 4 fight -- and disprove his critics in the process.
"I'm a fighter," Shamrock. "I've done a lot in the MMA world, and I'm very happy with the things that I've done. There are things that I want to go back and change. And I can do it with this fight."
Shamrock nearly had the opportunity to face Slice on May's CBS-debut broadcast. A loss to Robert "Buzz" Berry at a Cage Rage event in England forced EliteXC to seek out another opponent. The organization terminated Shamrock's contract in the process.
Shamrock accepted full responsibility for the loss and said he didn't harbor any ill feelings toward EliteXC when they contacted him about the chance to appear in October.
"I didn't do what I was supposed to do the first time I was [with EliteXC]," Shamrock admitted. "I don't hold anybody at fault for that. I look at that and it was my bad. To get another opportunity, I'm excited to get it. And I won't let it pass this time."
The opportunity to appear on CBS was enticing for the 15-year veteran. But it was the match-up with Slice that made the opportunity most appealing.
"I took the fight because I believe my skills against 'Kimbo,' it's just no comparison," Shamrock said. "'Kimbo' is definitely a big, strong human being. But he's always fought guys that were going to stand up with him or didn't have the ability to do anything against him. When this fight was first presented to me, I was like 'absolutely.'"
Shamrock also believes the opportunity to defeat Slice, an opponent with immense popularity, was too good to pass up.
"This fight here is the one that when it was presented to me I was like 'wow,'" Shamrock said. "Talk about a gift-wrapped opportunity to get myself redemption. This was it. So I was glad that the opportunity came with this type of a fight.
"It's definitely not a top-10 fighter. But at the same time, he has the recognition and popularity of a top-10 fighter."
Shamrock is fully aware of his detractors. With just one win in the last six years, the UFC Hall of Famer has learned to deal with criticism from the masses.
"I'll accept all the criticism and I'll accept all the things that come with it," Shamrock said. "But again, I'm a fighter. I've been a fighter since I was a little kid. And you can't tell me to stop being that person.
"I'm just a fighter. If a fight comes my way and it's offered to me and I take it, I take those chances. I take those chances every time I get in the ring.
"I've learned this my whole career -- that no matter what you do, whether you're winning or losing, people are going to have their criticisms about you. You've got to learn to deal with them."
One of the most vocal critics of the match-up has been fellow EliteXC heavyweight Brett Rogers, whose recent comments disparaged the quality of both Shamrock and Slice.
"Who?" Shamrock quipped. "I can understand someone getting upset because they got passed over. But don't get upset at a person for taking an opportunity that's given to them. I wouldn't get upset at somebody that had an opportunity passed to them.
"So don't be throwing stones at someone that's just trying to further themselves and get an opportunity. Because that's what life is all about: opportunity -- and seizing those opportunities. You don't step on people because they want to take them."
Shamrock established himself as a living legend very early in the history of MMA. He has fought the best in the world in Pancrase, PRIDE and the UFC -- including a bout with fellow legend Royce Gracie at the UFC's very first event.
And while a loss to Slice would Shamrock's sixth-consecutive defeat, the Lion's Den head is not concerned about any effect on his place in history.
"I can't control what happens," Shamrock admitted. "I can only control what I can control and that's the moment. If for some reason he lands a lucky shot or catches me or whatever, that's life.
"If someone would say, 'I'm going to take everything that you've done and it's all going to work against you in one fight. All of the years that you've put in, this one fight is going to take all of that away,' then so be it. Take it away. You'll never take it away in my heart."
With another chance for the "World's Most Dangerous Man" to make an impression on the American public, Shamrock is unconcerned with the numerous questions surrounding the bout. The date with Slice is all that matters for now.
"I'll take the applause, and now I'll take the criticism, too," Shamrock said. "It's criticism time right now, and I'm taking it. But my opportunity to shut the criticism up is just right around the corner.
"Kimbo's going to come out, he's going to try and keep his space. He's going to try and land his punches. Bas (Rutten) is going to coach him well. But the end result is going to be the end result. I'm going to win this fight.
"Whether it goes three rounds, which I doubt, or it goes one round. I'm going to win the fight."
