Under the Microscope: Analyzing Light Heavyweight Greats

Eric StintonAug 13, 2015

Frank Shamrock’s contributions to MMA often fly under the radar. | Photo: D. Mandel/Sherdog.com

Frank Shamrock

* Light Heavyweight Record: 13-4-1
* Opponent Winning Percentage: .658
* Longest Winning Streak: 7
* Record in Major Light Heavyweight Title Fights: 6-0
* Finish Percentage: 92
* Finished Percentage: 75
* Notable Victories: Bas Rutten, Kevin Jackson, Jeremy Horn, Tito Ortiz
* Career Accomplishments: UFC light heavyweight champion, with four successful title defenses; WEC light heavyweight champion; 100 percent finish rate in title fights; undefeated in the UFC; record-holder for fastest submission (16 seconds) in light heavyweight history

CASE FOR: One of the true pioneers of the sport, the lesser-known of the Shamrocks first carved out his reputation in the Pancrase of the 1990s. After amassing 22 fights in three years, Shamrock made his debut in the UFC, winning the organization’s inaugural light heavyweight championship -- a title he would go on to defend four times before vacating it. Boasting one of the first truly diverse skill sets in the sport, Shamrock went on to win the World Extreme Cagefighting light heavyweight title in 2003. With a truly Jordan-esque title fight record, an unparalleled finish rate and a quatrain of title defenses that still stands among the very best in the UFC, Shamrock has the numbers to throw his name in the G.O.A.T. mix. Had he stayed put in the UFC, it is likely that Shamrock would have easily added another slew of title defenses, especially since he handily defeated his championship successor, Tito Ortiz. Even without the hypothetical career Shamrock should have had, his accomplishments stand on their own merits as some of the finest, most trailblazing feats in the history of the sport.

CASE AGAINST: Here we go again with another old-timer who tore through a sorely thin field in its infancy. Look, nobody denies the importance of Shamrock: His blending of styles was innovative for his day, and he continued to make a significant impact on the game through his coaching. However, as a fighter, there are too many glaring flaws to ignore. First, you have to take his competition into account. Not only is his strength of opposition statistically bottom-tier compared to his fellow G.O.A.T. candidates, but his best wins are bluntly underwhelming in both their scarcity and quality. When you couple those shortcomings with the fact that he was finished in all but one of his losses, the idea of Shamrock being the greatest 205-pounder of all-time just seems a little ridiculous. He may have been an integral part of launching the next generation of MMA fighters, but unfortunately for “The Legend,” the shadows of that generation completely engulfed his achievements.

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