Imagining an MMA Hall of Fame: Borderline Candidates, Part 2

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Bob Sapp
“The Beast” Pride Fighting Championships (2002); Inoki Genome Federation (2002); K-1 (2003-07, 2008); Strikeforce (2008); Dream (2009, 2009); Fight Force International (2009); Obracun Ringu (2010); Abu Dhabi Fighting Championship (2011); Premium Fight Night (2011); Noc Gladiatora (2011); One Fighting Championship (2012); Super Fight League (2012); KSW (2012); Cage Fighting Championship (2012); Bushido Lithuania (2012); Road Fighting Championship (2012); Ultimate Fight Serbia (2012); Legend (2013); OX MMA (2013)
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CASE FOR: Sapp was not just a massive MMA and kickboxing star in Japan; he was a cultural phenomenon. He drew some of the biggest ratings in the history of the country. For a hall of fame, it ought to at least be relevant that he was probably the most famous MMA fighter of all-time. At his prime, Sapp was a scary individual and nearly beat Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira when “Minotauro” was at his best. CASE AGAINST: His negatives are just as powerful as his positives. Sapp has no key wins against someone close to his size in MMA, and he tended to fall apart when met with any resistance. His current dropping fights for money tour has not won him supporters, and there is also the issue of how he got to be the size of a cartoon character. VERDICT: Should he go in? No.

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