The recent MMA match between Frank Shamrock and Cung Le was a match that could have been great. Two great competitors with awesome skills finally will decide who has the bragging rights to be the best of the best. Yet, it was a great disappointment. It is my suspicious that ego played a role in aborting what potentially could have been the match of the year. Contrast and contradictions makes great drama in movies; it is no exception in sports competition. They say in boxing, “style makes the fights.”

I was looking forward to the match between Shamrock and Le, because Shamrock was a great grappler with awesome ground skills; Cung Le was a great stand up fighter, with powerful kicks and punches. The contrasting fighting skills had the potential for an exciting match. It was disappointing because Shamrock was determined to “beat Cung Le at his own game.”

As results of that choice, it led to Shamrock’s defeat. I truly believe that if Shamrock had chosen to do what he did best (the ground game) the out come would have been different and the fans would have been privileged to an exciting match. Bruce Lee said years ago, “You jab a hooker, hook a jabber, kick a puncher, punch a kicker, grapple a puncher and punch a grappler.”

Original Press Release

San Jose, Calif. - HP Pavilion doors will open at 4:30 pm, an hour and a half earlier than originally scheduled, for the "Shamrock vs. Cung Le" mixed martial arts mega-card on Saturday March 29th, and the first bout will begin at 5 p.m. The main card, consisting of six fights, will commence at 6 p.m. All tickets issued as of March 2nd reflect the new start time.

In the main event, mixed martial arts legend Frank Shamrock (23-8-1), will put his Strikeforce world middleweight (185 lb. limit) title on the line against Bay Area arch-rival and undefeated world kickboxing champion turned mixed martial arts contender, Cung Le (21-0). The live SHOWTIME telecast of "Shamrock vs. Cung Le" will begin at 9:00pm ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

For More Information About Karate click here