MustObeyTheRules that’s just stupid. He didn’t lose on purpose he was older and past his prime. Kimbo was at his peak physically. It’s that simple. Tank in his prime would have smashed Kimbo. Tank being basically retired which is why Kimbo and his crew set up the match. Tanks physical prime was in 1998 at 33 not 43 a few years from liver and kidney failure and inactivity. Kimbo was roided up and in the best shape of his life. What you expect to happen?
Fingerless gloves, no throwing opponent over top of cage, no fish hooks - All because of Tank. Glaring omission from the 'Hall of Fame'. Had as much influence on the sport as anyone.
The first “bad guy”. Loved watching him and Don Frye go balls on eachother. Still so crazy how the one night tournament was set up back then with no weight classes. There’s no way they could do that these days. Besides the simple fact that it wouldn’t get sanctioned on size differences alone, but the guys all know the main components of MMA no matter how big or small they are in todays MMA. As good as Royce was, he was only able to compete with those massive dudes over a 4 fight in one night championship. Because no one besides the Brazilians had even heard of BJJ except for a select few like the shamrocks, but even Ken had no real clue what BJJ was all about. Imagine someone like Royce trying to pull that BS with Francis or Jones these days lol. It would be a massacre. The Gracie Dominance was probably over when a bigger Matt Hughes KO’d him. But it really is a testament to how ahead of the game the Gracie’s were, and how it took all these bigger guys having to learn BJJ to finally understand what he was doing to them. But man, guys like Tank, Dan the beast, don Frye, Ken shamrock, Gary goodridge, Oleg Taktarov, and Marco Ruas were my first introduction to combat sport. True warriors.
Tank is my inspiration for stepping into a ring. "How did you train for this fight?" "I went to different bars instead of my usual" something like that post fight, damn epic.....
Tank Abbott was MMA's first bad boy/villain. He was destroying dudes with no martial arts training. He is also the only fighter to make it to two UFC tournament finals (got screwed in both, one against Frye and another against Taktarov) and one UFC tournament semifinal. He was a huge fan favorite and should've been in the UFC Hall of Fame a long time ago.
tank had several years of boxing and wrestling training under his belt when he started competing. - that's a pretty good background for the early days of the ufc..
@@chancebrown98 it was a one night tournament. Each man had to beat 3 men to become champion. Tank beat the first two guys with clean finishes. Frye however got to fight his training partner in the second fight, Mark Hall. A guy he had already fought and beat twice before. They also both had the same manager. So Hall took a dive so Frye could advance to the final fight unscathed, beat him in seconds. Big John was referee for that fight and even he said how obvious it was. A similar thing happened when Tank fought Taktarov. Taktarov fought HIS training partner in the second fight as well, Anthony Macias. The fight lasted 9 seconds.
Chael is great at giving guys "the rub". Before this video, I had zero idea that Tank had written three books. I had no idea Tank had those kind of stories to tell and I had no idea of his health scare. Chael is a marketing king :D
I met Tank one day by chance. I was filling up at a station just off the interstate in Georgia and looked over at the next pump and there he was. Super nice guy. Soft spoken, but direct. He took a few minutes to chat that he didn't have to with me. I have met other "famous" people and never felt the same simple personable character that he gave off. I like him.
My Tank story, 1988 I think, at Chester Drawers bar on 17th street in Costa Mesa, CA. A friend of mine is there with Tank, we meet, we drink, we get fucked up. My nickname then was Moose, I challenge Tank to a game of chest, he goes first. He hit my left pec so hard I passed out cold. I have never ever been hit that hard. That was the only time I was knocked out, and he never touched my head, he hit my pec, fucking unreal. I never saw him again, OC is a big place...
I met Tank back in '05 and he was very smart and hilarious. I asked for a picture and he made me set it up like he was stealing my fries and I was going to beat him up, all 5'7" and 160lbs. of me. He's just a stand up guy.
Been a fan of Tank since I found the sport in 1996. Always been my favorite fighter. People don’t understand how scary he was. Literally every fighter interview they are being asked who is the scariest, who is the strongest, who hit you the hardest, who do you least want to fight. The answer was always Tank. People put a lot of stock in his record and ignore the fact there was no reason to care about record back then. There was no money in it and it wasn’t considered a sport and the sport had new future. He was making the most money back then and he would take fights on short notice and out of shape. Even in loses he was putting bearings on the biggest names. Not to mention he had multiple altercations with fighters outside the cage. He was as advertised and the most popular fighter until Tito Ortiz basically tried to pretend he was Tank and even stole many of his trade marks.
Boy you brought back some memories with this one. Met Tank at UFC 10 he was a character. Actually had drinks with a couple of his people who were pretty cool. Was working the corner of a buddy who was fighting. Makes me think of some of the guys who were there. The Polar Bear (RIP) who came out of the elevator and I was like wtf (cool guy though) Don Frye, Kimo, Mark Coleman, Gary Goodrich. Had no idea the sport would evolve to the level it has. These guys were some of the pioneers.
Bro, I would have pissed myself. Polar Bear was so scary huge, must have taken up the whole elevator. I remeber taking a Sambo seminar from Oleg Taktarov , he tossed me around so easily as an "example" of techniques. Great memory.
Tank is also a big part of the reason you can't grab the cage any more. Tank used it offensively, trapping his opponents in the corner and smooshing them into a pulp with knees. That was like a Tank specialty move.
Ya and he was smiling while doing it. He fought valares who was 6’8 monster and tank crushed his wind pipe with his knee against the cage with a smile. Tanks a savage
I'm 51 now and I can't tell you how many things Chael says that ring so true to me. We didn't have all the immediate information in front of us. We saw things like this UFC, and got curious about what it was all about. Watching fighters from all styles come together had been nothing in which the likes we've ever seen. People or mainly kids today don't see the past as we have because they weren't there, and they didn't grow up to have the same experiences of the MMA world that we had. I'm not going to fault them for this, but it really is a reality of fact. If you want to learn about how the UFC came to be, and how the MMA grew (btw thx to UFC), then learn from the people who were there to see it grow.
Tank is a legend...I remember loving this dude when he came on the scene. They had him commentating a match once, and he was asked how he felt after his loss to severen...he said he felt like he had been rapped by freddy mercury...man...i spit out my nachos on that one...classic tank.
Or after grabbing the cage to drive his knee in his opponent’s head he told the interviewer something like “I don’t know about strategy or technique, but what I can tell you is I’m starting to get sexually aroused so you might want to turn that camera off” 😆
Tank is my uncle, greatest guy ever. As a kid I never would have imagined he was this awesome fighter. I just knew him as the uncle that loved me with all of his heart and I couldn’t wait everytime I knew I was going to see him.
Hi Chael, first time responding. I wrestled with Dave Abbott at Cypress College in California. This guy was our heavy weight and as we were all sucking weight and eating out before a tournament or an away match, he would be ordering all kinds of food and beer right in front of us. He was an animal. I was a 161 and 180 pounder and we didn't have many heavy weights or 190 and 210's, so I was one of his whipping boys unfortunately. I feel like I have so much to talk about with you and though I would take a crack at the road to the UFC, but ended up taking another avenue in life. Love your show and would love to text or chat with you. Was a late bloomer in Wrestling, but it still change my life for the better. Have a personal story about Mark and Dave Shultz at the Vegas nationals around 1986, if you would like to hear it. Skip
This is the best video yet. Was so curious to hear your story. I was training at one of the other 6 Gracie academies in Thornwood NY with Jon Burke and Rob Kahn. Appreciate the color added to the sports history.
The genuineness in Chaels stories, the humility despite being as good as he was, is rare. Giving credit to so many others shows how gangster he really is, because most only talk themselves up… I’m still laughing about the commissioner with the supplements story though. “I’ve never taken anything in my life that wasn’t performance enhancing, what did you think I was trying to get worse?! (tap, tap, tap) Is this thing on??” Pure GOLD from the greatest arm and the biggest charm!!
My father had a few words that he always misprounced, Callyfornia=California Sal-a-moan=salmon Always made me grin. He's been gone over ten yrs now, and remembering him this A.M while watching this clip was real cool. Thanks.
I thought you talked just to hear your own voice but you have become a must watch on my day. This is the same way I became a fan watching a ultimate fighting championship VHS. I can still remember the sudden silence in the crowd at that first fight when old mate kicked that sumo wrestler in the face and then the crowd went wild.
Good call Yawn, I thought the skinny mate would get destroyed. WRONG! I remember seeing the tooth fly out of the sumo wrestler's mouth in slow motion. That was the first UFC show if I remember correctly. Lol
@@larryl1427 yep first fight on the ultimate fighting championship, no rules, no referee, But the next fight there was a referee. 97 or 98 I was 17, fucken blow me away 🤣
Best description of the 90s I’ve heard. I remember seeking out those gyms to learn the secrets. And fighting in bars and parking lots because “that’s what Tank did”. Man, there was nothing bigger on campus than Tank and WCW Monday Nitro. You nailed it.
Freddie Mercury laid on Tank and smacked him in the back of his head the whole fight smh..remember Severn vs Shamrock? Probably one of the worst fights ever imo
In December 2018, Abbott revealed that due to his lifestyle his liver had to be replaced. Despite suffering several strokes during the surgery, Abbott survived and the transplant operation was successful. Damn, uncle chael pushing to help a fellow gentleman. Common guys help him out!!!
I wanted to be a professional MMA so badly, back in the 90s! I would surely have been maimed . I'm a 5'9", 150lbs former wrestler. I pursued a medical career, instead. I was inspired by the Gracies who were closer to my size. Even though there weren't weight classes back then, not many people knew submissions. However, Tank was SO powerful and violent, as well as being, surprisingly fast and fit, that he didn't need that knowledge in order to dominate most men. He's doing well, btw. He has a TH-cam channel. I'm glad you pursued your MMA goals, Chael. I love your passion for the sport. To me, MMA is the ultimate "put up, or shut up." Take care!👍
Good story. Interesting. I'm glad and kind of surprised to know the aspect of Tank that he was smart and smart with his money. Those days was a different UFC. I wonder if the young kids even know what those days were like. A guy that could win a UFC in those days was a brave individual. You gotta respect guys willing to fight in a tournament almost no rules you fight multiple fights in a night to a winner bare knuckle where you can kick someone in the groin and many, many other things that are illegal today.
Never knew that about Tank. When I watched him in the mid 90's I thought he was a street/ bar fighter. Great college story. 600lbs! I remember the world record for bench press in the early 90's was around 730 lbs,(Men's Fitness Mag). If Tank could do 3 reps of 600lbs he was very close to that record. Sounds like a great read.
Its awesome to see Chael give the nod to Tank. If you weren't around back then you'd have no idea how savage he was. They billed him like he just left the bar to come fight real quick. Dude could wrestle and had serious serious hands
Tank doesn't get the credit he deserves for helping develop the sport we have today. Until he came around there were many 30 minute matches of guys just rolling around on the ground as they did not stand up fighters back then or have rounds. He made it exciting again. Knocking guys out for fun and was marketed as a "pit fighter" you couldn't not watch him. It's a crime he's not in the HOF and I'm glad that uncle Chael sees all this.
Yes, he absolutely saved the sport. Everybody I knew, including me, were about to stop watching it. Even in my own personal matches with friends, our striking was useless compared to our grappling. Fighting was starting to look like no fun. And we grew up in a safe area with no violence. So if we didn't need to fight for survival, and true fighting was boring and kinda gay, what motivation did we have? Tank answered all kinds of prayers.
Great content, Chael. Had no idea you were at BYU the same time I was. But as I look back I think I do remember seeing your photo in the display case for the academic honor roll. I also remember seeing Tank Abbott in the weight room around that time throwing weight around like it was nothing. Friends gathered around to gossip and inform each other about who he was and that he was here training with Coach Schultz. Couldn’t help but gawk and admire the man Tank. He was easily bicep curling 100 lb dumbbells. We were all just stunned. That was my first introduction into the UFC. Tank was a larger than life personality. Didn’t know he wrote a book so I’ll be buying that soon.
Please see this till the end, this chat was one of your best, I'm a casual and I love hearing about stuff like this, maybe do a reading session where you read your favourite parts from tanks book. 😀
wow, i got kinda teary when chael said his dad just got interested and not mad, i can see why he loves his father so much and why it meant so much for him to be champ (which he became)
I'm certain you've told this story in the past. Maybe a different iteration but I know I've heard it before. Not that I mind at all. Love it, as I have a similar story. Only i never actually followed through on becomung a fighter, unfortunately, and obviously lol. Chael is only a couple years younger than me, so I can relate to a lot of his life experiences. One of the reasons I'm a fan. That and I'll never forget watching him for the first time as he lay a tremendous beat down on Anderson Silva! The promo leading up to the fight was such an awesome introduction.
It just dawned on me that until I looked at the book next to Uncle Chael that I've never knew nor wondered what Tank Abbott's real first name was. Huh, crazy.
Chael, thanks for the story… just wanted to let you know, your opening comment, on your family’s customer/ values of knowing where u are at all times is so true for many of us lucky ones. (Honestly I broke that rule more times than I should have… hehehe). BUT I want to actually say thank you. I will use this clip with one of my children as a gentle and articulated reminder on one of our family values… again great…! GK
A autobiography would be amazing about Tank Abbott. Old school heart of battle. But who the fuck could play him?!?!?! I'm 62 years old and watched tank back in the day. He was the reason any of my friends and I watched it. He was a fucking HOG!!! Pure heart soul and character!!! He was real all around. Big mad respect to that man. And his battle with major health issues and over
One of your best videos yet, Chael! All true. I am 45 years old, saw the first UFC, soon went off to college, and looked all over for a school, and Renzo was the only one in NYC back in the Mid-Late 90s! I will read Tank's book, he is a legend of the sport!
Uncle, I don’t even think you know how important this video was to upload. Possibly your most impactful video period. Thanks Uncle, you are the real day 1!
I'm not a UFC fan and found this video just surfing TH-cam. I do like listening to Chael Sonnen and his stories. Most of all, I like that he dosen't seem to be a guy to throw everyone under the bus just to enhance his own ego. Seems like a good dude that knows his community and isn't afraid to tell it the way it is. I remember Tank Abbott and will buy the book.
I met Tank Abbott about 5 years ago in Huntington Beach. I told him he was one of my heroes and ended up drinking whisky and smoking pot with him. It was a most memorable evening and he was such a nice guy.
Cool story. I always wondered if he smoked weed. My guess was he didn't since he seemed to like the alcohol. I did recently see a video Hannibal did at Tanks house. Tank was in the living room watching old WWF matches while his wife was in the other room smoking a bong. It didn't show him smoking it, tho.
I remember being 12 years old in 1994 and my dad allowing myself and my older brother to rent UFC on VHS. My brother and I were street kids (Fought alot), we must have rented it over a dozen times.
I recently went back and watched the old UFCs. The ones where they had him guess commentating was so cringeworthy. But looking at it from mid 90s eyes it was amazing.
6:22 jus paused, I don’t know what he’s bout to say BUT the way he jus said “everything’s goin great, Tank Abbott walks in the room” so flat and matter of fact😂 that got me
Dave was an absolute crazy alcoholic, looking for trouble everywhere he went. Went to HS with him, and has been to the house for parties. He was so nuts that he just made everyone nervous. Always looking to mess with anyone that looked at him, for absolutely any reason. Anyone else from Marina say something different.....crickets.
Yeah, I am from HB and when The UFC started, Tank was my favorite fighter in about 93, I saw him at Coco’s one Sunday and yelled “ Tank!”. He came over and shook my hand, nobody else new who he was. I appreciated he was a History major at College, I thought he was all an act being a “villain”. THEN…I started hearing that Tank was a bully and beat up a young Asian guy down at a club on Beach Bl. He was supposed to fight for the Championship, but he was “on the lamb” or some such nonsense and somebody else fought. I would be next to him in Del Taco or Ralph’s …and didn’t say a word because now I didn’t respect him.
I bought the books thanks to Chael. They are actually good - I could not put them down. Here is my "Tank Book Character Translation" Please feel free to add on - I could not figure them all out. Would love to get a few blanks filled in - Big Bart Shady (NHB Agent/Promoter) = ??? Little Winchell Duncan (Ref) - Big John McCarthy Freddie Mercury (NHB Fighter) - Dan Severn Nacho Man (Pro Wrestler) - Randy Macho Man Savage Walter Foxx/Krazy - Tank Abbott Vinnie Diamond (NHB Fighter) - Ken Shamrock Polar Bear (NHB Fighter)- Paul Varelans Poppa Chulo (Tanks Friend) - ??? Rat Wessell (NHB Fighter)- Patrick Smith Tony Misses NHB Fighter)- - Anthony Macias Igor Cheetski/Polish Sausage (NHB Fighter)- Oleg Taktarov Donny Brooks (Pro Wrestler) - ???? Tongan Skull Crusher (NHB Fighter)- John Matua Second Ref - Taimak ? Mike Dough - Michael Buffer Jeff Blockneck - Jeff Blatnick Tim Black (Announcer) - Jim Brown Stewart Fish (NHB Owner) - ???? Baton Sportswear (Company Sponsor) - ???? Adolf - Adolf (the one and only dog) Dead Grunion Bar - I think this is an old bar called the "Red Onion" Happening Beach - Huntington Beach Rolando (Tanks Friend) - ???? Coby Swapper (Tanks Friend) - ???? Wong Beach State - Long Beach State Big Cal (Tanks Friend) - Joyce Garcia - Royce Gracie Mexican BJJ - Brazilian Jui Jitsu John Witless (His substitute attorney) - Daniel Burger (famous actor from “Harborside TV Show) - ??? Guy who got his hand cut off - John Wayne Bobbitt The Real Deal (Pro Wrestler) - ???? “Bank Vault” Williams (Pro Wrestler and part of Donny Brooks crew) - ????? Erol - the boss of pro wrestling (not sure) - ?????
How is chael a fucking master at everything he does? Dude that advertisement for this book was actually insane how you created it. The whole crack the code thing makes me want to go and read this fucking book lol
I actually saw Tank in the Minnesota Airport and went over to say hi. It was probably 6 AM , I was flying from San Diego to Florida on leave. He was eating a 6 pack of cinnabon's and had the biggest soda cup i had ever seen to wash it down. He was nice and talked about making great money in wrestling and how he got knocked out by Pedro Rizzo. He said he was told Rizzo wasnt much to be worried about and said he was drinking Vodka on a bar stool the night before the match and the next thing he knew was asking what happened. A funny and humble dude. Good guy , to this day I have never seen anyone else eating a 6 pack of cinnabon's solo.
Anyone that has known UFC since its infancy knows Tank was beyond legend, he came into the ring and all of a sudden consequences where much more severe.
Watched UFC 4 with my dad back in the day and was heartbroken that Severn lost to Royce being from Flint Michigan it was so cool seeing a local boy doing so well. I was hooked after that first time.
I met Tank in a bar and my buddy knew him so he got Tank to take a photo with me. I had my eyes closed during the photo and he already looked irritated taking the first pic so I just kept it with me looking like a big ol' goober standing beside the legend 😂
Mark Schultz is such a Badass Wrestler, so was his brother Dave. Tank Abbott was a Brawling Madman he was truly one of those rare guys that would fight anyone anywhere, especially if you ran your mouth talking shit at him he'd hit you on the spot. He didn't give af if you were a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Master or a Boxer, Wrestler etc.. if you said anything that he didn't like or threatening Bam! 💥🤛
I met Tank Abbott in person twice. The first time was at The Hard Rock Cafe in Newport Beach, CA. He was just sitting there at the bar by himself, and I happened to be eating at a table right next to where he was sitting. The second time I met him was at a WCW pro wrestling event, which I think was at the Los Angeles Forum, which I think got torn down years later. This WCW event was not long after Tank beat Hugo Duarte at UFC Ultimate Brazil. This was before Tank had signed with WCW, or at least made his WCW debut. He was just walking around the arena when I encountered him. He is an intimidating looking fellow, but he was surprisingly friendly and cordial both times I met him.
I’ll never forget UFC 1! I was an 11 year old kid in Kyokushin and Shotokan, and both my instructors had magazines on their desk ever since it was announced. My dad & I fell in love with the sport…then we moved, and there were no martial arts schools in the tiny town we lived in, so I still practiced, but focused on basketball in the bulk of my free time. Who knows? I could have been undefeated like Chael too (I mean I am 0-0 professionally)
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So good to hear someone in the sport giving Tank his due respect.
Uncle Chael wants us to go buy Tank's books. I've already ordered mine.
I’ll never forgive tank for losing to kimbo on purpose
@@MustObeyTheRules he didn’t really lose on purpose …he was hit in the balls and givin 0 time to recover
MustObeyTheRules that’s just stupid. He didn’t lose on purpose he was older and past his prime. Kimbo was at his peak physically. It’s that simple. Tank in his prime would have smashed Kimbo. Tank being basically retired which is why Kimbo and his crew set up the match. Tanks physical prime was in 1998 at 33 not 43 a few years from liver and kidney failure and inactivity. Kimbo was roided up and in the best shape of his life. What you expect to happen?
@CornishRicky Yeah because if there's one thing you don't want a fighter to be its definitely violent lol!What a wanker.
Fingerless gloves, no throwing opponent over top of cage, no fish hooks - All because of Tank. Glaring omission from the 'Hall of Fame'. Had as much influence on the sport as anyone.
Yep. Totally agree. He was my favorite mma fighter growing up.
He’s the reason I continued watching UFC
Mostly for all the wrong reasons but I get what you’re saying.
The first “bad guy”. Loved watching him and Don Frye go balls on eachother. Still so crazy how the one night tournament was set up back then with no weight classes. There’s no way they could do that these days. Besides the simple fact that it wouldn’t get sanctioned on size differences alone, but the guys all know the main components of MMA no matter how big or small they are in todays MMA. As good as Royce was, he was only able to compete with those massive dudes over a 4 fight in one night championship. Because no one besides the Brazilians had even heard of BJJ except for a select few like the shamrocks, but even Ken had no real clue what BJJ was all about. Imagine someone like Royce trying to pull that BS with Francis or Jones these days lol. It would be a massacre. The Gracie Dominance was probably over when a bigger Matt Hughes KO’d him. But it really is a testament to how ahead of the game the Gracie’s were, and how it took all these bigger guys having to learn BJJ to finally understand what he was doing to them. But man, guys like Tank, Dan the beast, don Frye, Ken shamrock, Gary goodridge, Oleg Taktarov, and Marco Ruas were my first introduction to combat sport. True warriors.
@@boomboom7017 yep i loved watch his brawl fights
No wonder chael and his father were so close. Guy sounds like a supportive awesome person
Wonderboy also has an awesome father i like that his father is always in the gym in a gi or smthn lol
his retirement speech hurt to hear.
@@NatiHighLife one of the saddest moments in MMA I love chael & that hurt lol
chael cant let anyone but his father get close
@@NatiHighLife it came from the heart. It only hurts if we relate. And we all relate to some sort. Most of us just want to make our dads proud
A free plug for a UFC legend. Chael really is a man of his community.
Chael really has a lot of experiences.
Facts!! Respect.
Tank is my inspiration for stepping into a ring. "How did you train for this fight?" "I went to different bars instead of my usual" something like that post fight, damn epic.....
Yep, he said he liked to pound vodka and brawl
@nicholas decato member that one time Rizzo put a permanent dent in Randy's quad..... What the actual get out.....
Tank was like the Stone Cold Steve Austin of MMA .
They don't make them like tank anymore lmao
@@michaelgonzales5599No sir they dont.. Or Predators or Fedors or even Rampages.. bunch of softies now.. except Justin Gaethje.
Tank Abbott was MMA's first bad boy/villain. He was destroying dudes with no martial arts training. He is also the only fighter to make it to two UFC tournament finals (got screwed in both, one against Frye and another against Taktarov) and one UFC tournament semifinal. He was a huge fan favorite and should've been in the UFC Hall of Fame a long time ago.
Well that’s tanks angle.but he was a terrific highschool wrestler and had trained boxing for years. Between repping 600 lbs
He trained wrestling as well as boxing (2 martial arts).
How was he screwed in the frye fight? Frye won fair and square
tank had several years of boxing and wrestling training under his belt when he started competing. - that's a pretty good background for the early days of the ufc..
@@chancebrown98 it was a one night tournament. Each man had to beat 3 men to become champion. Tank beat the first two guys with clean finishes. Frye however got to fight his training partner in the second fight, Mark Hall. A guy he had already fought and beat twice before. They also both had the same manager. So Hall took a dive so Frye could advance to the final fight unscathed, beat him in seconds. Big John was referee for that fight and even he said how obvious it was. A similar thing happened when Tank fought Taktarov. Taktarov fought HIS training partner in the second fight as well, Anthony Macias. The fight lasted 9 seconds.
Chael is great at giving guys "the rub". Before this video, I had zero idea that Tank had written three books. I had no idea Tank had those kind of stories to tell and I had no idea of his health scare. Chael is a marketing king :D
Lol, flawless performance from the Bad Guy, as per usual. Master at work
Same! I was going to write the same thing but you said it!
TOTALLY
I had no idea Tank could read or write.
@Jamie The Hannibal is the guy.
The fact that Chael’s dad used to say “wrasslin” makes me very happy lol.
I met Tank one day by chance. I was filling up at a station just off the interstate in Georgia and looked over at the next pump and there he was. Super nice guy. Soft spoken, but direct. He took a few minutes to chat that he didn't have to with me. I have met other "famous" people and never felt the same simple personable character that he gave off. I like him.
This is a great story and I love that Chael told just how important Tank is to this sport
My Tank story, 1988 I think, at Chester Drawers bar on 17th street in Costa Mesa, CA. A friend of mine is there with Tank, we meet, we drink, we get fucked up. My nickname then was Moose, I challenge Tank to a game of chest, he goes first. He hit my left pec so hard I passed out cold. I have never ever been hit that hard. That was the only time I was knocked out, and he never touched my head, he hit my pec, fucking unreal. I never saw him again, OC is a big place...
I met Tank back in '05 and he was very smart and hilarious. I asked for a picture and he made me set it up like he was stealing my fries and I was going to beat him up, all 5'7" and 160lbs. of me. He's just a stand up guy.
Been a fan of Tank since I found the sport in 1996. Always been my favorite fighter. People don’t understand how scary he was. Literally every fighter interview they are being asked who is the scariest, who is the strongest, who hit you the hardest, who do you least want to fight. The answer was always Tank. People put a lot of stock in his record and ignore the fact there was no reason to care about record back then. There was no money in it and it wasn’t considered a sport and the sport had new future. He was making the most money back then and he would take fights on short notice and out of shape. Even in loses he was putting bearings on the biggest names. Not to mention he had multiple altercations with fighters outside the cage. He was as advertised and the most popular fighter until Tito Ortiz basically tried to pretend he was Tank and even stole many of his trade marks.
Tito even took his nickname.
Fun fact, Tito was part of Tank’s entourage corner and they did train together.
@@mjabmac Yeah we know.
Your entire story is true.
But it's about Mirko lol
Don’t make fun of Professor Tito Ortiz 🥺
Boy you brought back some memories with this one. Met Tank at UFC 10 he was a character. Actually had drinks with a couple of his people who were pretty cool. Was working the corner of a buddy who was fighting. Makes me think of some of the guys who were there. The Polar Bear (RIP) who came out of the elevator and I was like wtf (cool guy though) Don Frye, Kimo, Mark Coleman, Gary Goodrich.
Had no idea the sport would evolve to the level it has. These guys were some of the pioneers.
I had no idea that the Polar bear passed.
May he rest easy.🙏
I remember the Polar Bear when I was a kid watching the UFC vhs tapes. There were some good characters back then.
yup met Dony Frye and Wes sims and Jerome Lebanner at an IFL tryouts great dudes.
Bro, I would have pissed myself. Polar Bear was so scary huge, must have taken up the whole elevator. I remeber taking a Sambo seminar from Oleg Taktarov , he tossed me around so easily as an "example" of techniques. Great memory.
@@mateosmind751 He came out of the elevator and had to bend down. I told my friend I hope you don't have to fight him lol
chael has a good soul. pure and honest. the future needs more of that
Tank is also a big part of the reason you can't grab the cage any more. Tank used it offensively, trapping his opponents in the corner and smooshing them into a pulp with knees. That was like a Tank specialty move.
Well some guys were effective with teg hitting to head while youre down, so it was banned also . Its just the way rules evolved.
And pumping the crowd up swing while he did it!! Savage. I remember that fight and the immediate change in rules, lol.
Tank was resourceful and a natural fighter. Royce and the gracies liked to stack the deck in their favor.. but for Tank .. He was going to bring it.
Ya and he was smiling while doing it. He fought valares who was 6’8 monster and tank crushed his wind pipe with his knee against the cage with a smile. Tanks a savage
I'm 51 now and I can't tell you how many things Chael says that ring so true to me. We didn't have all the immediate information in front of us. We saw things like this UFC, and got curious about what it was all about. Watching fighters from all styles come together had been nothing in which the likes we've ever seen. People or mainly kids today don't see the past as we have because they weren't there, and they didn't grow up to have the same experiences of the MMA world that we had. I'm not going to fault them for this, but it really is a reality of fact. If you want to learn about how the UFC came to be, and how the MMA grew (btw thx to UFC), then learn from the people who were there to see it grow.
I was a starry-eyed 14 year old kid when the ufc began. Me, my dad and my brothers absolutely fell in love with mma
Tank is a legend...I remember loving this dude when he came on the scene. They had him commentating a match once, and he was asked how he felt after his loss to severen...he said he felt like he had been rapped by freddy mercury...man...i spit out my nachos on that one...classic tank.
Loved it! Another was calling Don Frye's fight, "Superman in Superman's underwear."
Or after grabbing the cage to drive his knee in his opponent’s head he told the interviewer something like “I don’t know about strategy or technique, but what I can tell you is I’m starting to get sexually aroused so you might want to turn that camera off” 😆
I still use this quote...
"The best submission is a punch in the face"
Tank Abbot.
Epic!!! 💯💯💯
Especially when you can bench press 600 lbs!
600x3 bench press is really rare strength
Tank actually did the 600lbs bench on a UFC. The UFC showed the footage of him benching it
That's nothing. I can bench 3lbs 600 times.
Most people can get 600x2 times but for me that 3rd rep is tough
Tank is my uncle, greatest guy ever. As a kid I never would have imagined he was this awesome fighter. I just knew him as the uncle that loved me with all of his heart and I couldn’t wait everytime I knew I was going to see him.
I call BS.
@@Jeffro5564 careful, your jealously is showing. 😂
Every one should have an uncle like Tank❤
I agree@@Jeffro5564
.
Chael won’t buy a shirt for more than 20 dollars, but sells the one he’s wearing for 29.
ye and the pants are a sponsor of his
his shoes cost like 600 dollars lol
Can't lose money... Uncle Chael is a tight wad lol
It's why he's the goat 🐐🐐🐐
Yeah there’s this thing called profit margins and if your not hitting them your not making anything for very long.
Hi Chael, first time responding. I wrestled with Dave Abbott at Cypress College in California. This guy was our heavy weight and as we were all sucking weight and eating out before a tournament or an away match, he would be ordering all kinds of food and beer right in front of us. He was an animal. I was a 161 and 180 pounder and we didn't have many heavy weights or 190 and 210's, so I was one of his whipping boys unfortunately. I feel like I have so much to talk about with you and though I would take a crack at the road to the UFC, but ended up taking another avenue in life. Love your show and would love to text or chat with you. Was a late bloomer in Wrestling, but it still change my life for the better. Have a personal story about Mark and Dave Shultz at the Vegas nationals around 1986, if you would like to hear it. Skip
This is the best video yet. Was so curious to hear your story. I was training at one of the other 6 Gracie academies in Thornwood NY with Jon Burke and Rob Kahn. Appreciate the color added to the sports history.
The genuineness in Chaels stories, the humility despite being as good as he was, is rare.
Giving credit to so many others shows how gangster he really is, because most only talk themselves up…
I’m still laughing about the commissioner with the supplements story though. “I’ve never taken anything in my life that wasn’t performance enhancing, what did you think I was trying to get worse?! (tap, tap, tap) Is this thing on??” Pure GOLD from the greatest arm and the biggest charm!!
My father had a few words that he always misprounced, Callyfornia=California
Sal-a-moan=salmon
Always made me grin.
He's been gone over ten yrs now, and remembering him this A.M while watching this clip was real cool.
Thanks.
I've always taken phonetic mispronounciations as a sign of intelligence. It generally means the person reads and doesn't just repeat what they hear.
I thought you talked just to hear your own voice but you have become a must watch on my day. This is the same way I became a fan watching a ultimate fighting championship VHS. I can still remember the sudden silence in the crowd at that first fight when old mate kicked that sumo wrestler in the face and then the crowd went wild.
Good call Yawn, I thought the skinny mate would get destroyed. WRONG! I remember seeing the tooth fly out of the sumo wrestler's mouth in slow motion.
That was the first UFC show if I remember correctly. Lol
@@larryl1427 yep first fight on the ultimate fighting championship, no rules, no referee, But the next fight there was a referee. 97 or 98 I was 17, fucken blow me away 🤣
@@yawn1887 There was always a ref. Big John was there.
@@RonniePTexan second fight, not the first one bro, check it out.
@@RonniePTexan sorry my bad, there was a ref there.
This is the best video you’ve made in months. More of these please
Best description of the 90s I’ve heard. I remember seeking out those gyms to learn the secrets. And fighting in bars and parking lots because “that’s what Tank did”. Man, there was nothing bigger on campus than Tank and WCW Monday Nitro. You nailed it.
Haha…remember when Rick Steiner punched him in the face and they got into it for real until they got separated??? Good goddamn times, I miss the 90s
19 year old Chael beats every human being alive with ease!
Chael can makes ghosts tap
Uncle Chael is the kind of guy to dig holes with a pitchfork, for the cardio.
Uncle Chael could defeat anyone while only using a Ridge Wallet as a weapon.
Chael can submit every fighter via Staring at them
Does 19 year old Chael beat 33 year old Chael?
This the story I never knew I wanted but now can’t live without hearing.
The man the myth the Legend, talking about the Legend Tank Abbot
Abbott*
Dan "The Beast" Severn was always my favorite when we rented the UFC's on VHS from the local movie store.
"The Beast" was the perfect handle for Dan Severn.
Freddie Mercury laid on Tank and smacked him in the back of his head the whole fight smh..remember Severn vs Shamrock? Probably one of the worst fights ever imo
I preferred Mark Kerr he finished people Severn was boring as hell
Vitor was my shit at first, I was Hoyce allday but then Vitor really made me a fan, it was the Wanderlei Silva joint.
That dude was a shaved bear
Tank Abbott for The Hall of Fame
Why? He has a 10-15 career record in MMA.
@@romowasbetterthanaikman3932he’s a legend and a pioneer, he helped propel the UFC into what it is today. A ridiculous question
In December 2018, Abbott revealed that due to his lifestyle his liver had to be replaced. Despite suffering several strokes during the surgery, Abbott survived and the transplant operation was successful.
Damn, uncle chael pushing to help a fellow gentleman. Common guys help him out!!!
This is one of those stories I have to save to my favorites list!
What a truly special moment in history, I loved every second of it!
I wanted to be a professional MMA so badly, back in the 90s! I would surely have been maimed . I'm a 5'9", 150lbs former wrestler. I pursued a medical career, instead. I was inspired by the Gracies who were closer to my size. Even though there weren't weight classes back then, not many people knew submissions. However, Tank was SO powerful and violent, as well as being, surprisingly fast and fit, that he didn't need that knowledge in order to dominate most men. He's doing well, btw. He has a TH-cam channel. I'm glad you pursued your MMA goals, Chael. I love your passion for the sport. To me, MMA is the ultimate "put up, or shut up." Take care!👍
Hey man, medical professionals are heroes. You made a great and honorable career choice. Thank you and best of luck brother.
What's his channel? I'm afraid if I search it I'll just find a content-farming fake.
@@Gh0st_0723 Thanks Murad.👋🏾👨🏾⚕️
Good story. Interesting. I'm glad and kind of surprised to know the aspect of Tank that he was smart and smart with his money. Those days was a different UFC. I wonder if the young kids even know what those days were like. A guy that could win a UFC in those days was a brave individual. You gotta respect guys willing to fight in a tournament almost no rules you fight multiple fights in a night to a winner bare knuckle where you can kick someone in the groin and many, many other things that are illegal today.
@Rob Rochon True
Never knew that about Tank. When I watched him in the mid 90's I thought he was a street/ bar fighter. Great college story. 600lbs! I remember the world record for bench press in the early 90's was around 730 lbs,(Men's Fitness Mag). If Tank could do 3 reps of 600lbs he was very close to that record. Sounds like a great read.
more stories from the old days please. thanks bad dude!
Sharing old stories is one of the best things of getting old
Its awesome to see Chael give the nod to Tank. If you weren't around back then you'd have no idea how savage he was. They billed him like he just left the bar to come fight real quick. Dude could wrestle and had serious serious hands
Tank doesn't get the credit he deserves for helping develop the sport we have today. Until he came around there were many 30 minute matches of guys just rolling around on the ground as they did not stand up fighters back then or have rounds. He made it exciting again. Knocking guys out for fun and was marketed as a "pit fighter" you couldn't not watch him. It's a crime he's not in the HOF and I'm glad that uncle Chael sees all this.
Yes, he absolutely saved the sport. Everybody I knew, including me, were about to stop watching it. Even in my own personal matches with friends, our striking was useless compared to our grappling. Fighting was starting to look like no fun. And we grew up in a safe area with no violence. So if we didn't need to fight for survival, and true fighting was boring and kinda gay, what motivation did we have?
Tank answered all kinds of prayers.
Great content, Chael. Had no idea you were at BYU the same time I was. But as I look back I think I do remember seeing your photo in the display case for the academic honor roll. I also remember seeing Tank Abbott in the weight room around that time throwing weight around like it was nothing. Friends gathered around to gossip and inform each other about who he was and that he was here training with Coach Schultz. Couldn’t help but gawk and admire the man Tank. He was easily bicep curling 100 lb dumbbells. We were all just stunned. That was my first introduction into the UFC. Tank was a larger than life personality. Didn’t know he wrote a book so I’ll be buying that soon.
Tank was a G. I've been doing deep dives into mma legends and watching all their fights. Hendo, wanderlei and shogun were all great to watch so far.
Those are The best of the best. Tank, Hendo, Wandy and Shogun.. Also Frye was a real American badass..
Hell yeah Tank STILL a muPhukkin G
👊👊
Love these old school stories Chael. I hope to hear more of them.
Please see this till the end, this chat was one of your best, I'm a casual and I love hearing about stuff like this, maybe do a reading session where you read your favourite parts from tanks book. 😀
wow, i got kinda teary when chael said his dad just got interested and not mad, i can see why he loves his father so much and why it meant so much for him to be champ (which he became)
Chael's never missed a day of school (other than that one day), just like he never lost a round.
Chael once missed two days of school which then were made saturdays and sundays
I'm certain you've told this story in the past. Maybe a different iteration but I know I've heard it before. Not that I mind at all. Love it, as I have a similar story. Only i never actually followed through on becomung a fighter, unfortunately, and obviously lol. Chael is only a couple years younger than me, so I can relate to a lot of his life experiences. One of the reasons I'm a fan. That and I'll never forget watching him for the first time as he lay a tremendous beat down on Anderson Silva! The promo leading up to the fight was such an awesome introduction.
It just dawned on me that until I looked at the book next to Uncle Chael that I've never knew nor wondered what Tank Abbott's real first name was. Huh, crazy.
Back in the late 80w when he was clobbering HUGE dudes in a Hunnington Bch club called "Night Moves" he was just called "Dave"
I met Tank in a home depot in 2000, one of the best days of my life! Absolute legend
I can't help but laugh and giggle! I swear I know everything Chael is saying! Lol. I sure wish I had pursued all of this!
Chael, thanks for the story… just wanted to let you know, your opening comment, on your family’s customer/ values of knowing where u are at all times is so true for many of us lucky ones. (Honestly I broke that rule more times than I should have… hehehe). BUT I want to actually say thank you. I will use this clip with one of my children as a gentle and articulated reminder on one of our family values… again great…! GK
Tank used to say i he might have lost the match but he went to the bar after and the other guy went to the e.r.
I would definitely watch a Tank Abbot documentary. Cmon Chael you can produce it.
A autobiography would be amazing about Tank Abbott. Old school heart of battle. But who the fuck could play him?!?!?! I'm 62 years old and watched tank back in the day. He was the reason any of my friends and I watched it. He was a fucking HOG!!! Pure heart soul and character!!! He was real all around. Big mad respect to that man. And his battle with major health issues and over
600 pound bench press for a triple: ☑️
One of your best videos yet, Chael! All true. I am 45 years old, saw the first UFC, soon went off to college, and looked all over for a school, and Renzo was the only one in NYC back in the Mid-Late 90s! I will read Tank's book, he is a legend of the sport!
I trained at renzos school back then also. Those were the days
9:38 “Not just his physicality but his mantality.” - Uncle Chael.
Uncle, I don’t even think you know how important this video was to upload. Possibly your most impactful video period. Thanks Uncle, you are the real day 1!
"My MMA-career started, the same way it is now and the way I will leave this earth; as a fan" Chael Sonnen, 2021.
Some heartfelt stuff here.
Great clip
Wooooow, tank put 600 up for 3... that’s raw strength.
I'm not a UFC fan and found this video just surfing TH-cam. I do like listening to Chael Sonnen and his stories. Most of all, I like that he dosen't seem to be a guy to throw everyone under the bus just to enhance his own ego. Seems like a good dude that knows his community and isn't afraid to tell it the way it is. I remember Tank Abbott and will buy the book.
Pedro Sauers room must have been iron on iron, the gracies rolled there and my local gym is run my a former spec ops guy who trained there
Genuine affection and appreciation displayed there. good stuff.
I honestly love all of Chaels stories from back in the day
I met Tank Abbott about 5 years ago in Huntington Beach. I told him he was one of my heroes and ended up drinking whisky and smoking pot with him. It was a most memorable evening and he was such a nice guy.
Cool story. I always wondered if he smoked weed. My guess was he didn't since he seemed to like the alcohol. I did recently see a video Hannibal did at Tanks house. Tank was in the living room watching old WWF matches while his wife was in the other room smoking a bong. It didn't show him smoking it, tho.
Tank Abbott was my first favorite fighter!
I even grew up to have the same body type.
I remember Tank use to wear the “86’d For Life” shirts . I got introduced to UFC with Tank vs Vitor .
I will forever be a HUGE Tank Abbott fan 👊💥🔥🔥
Just how big are you?
Tank from 90's was beast
@@bobbarker14 YUUUUUUGE
I remember being 12 years old in 1994 and my dad allowing myself and my older brother to rent UFC on VHS. My brother and I were street kids (Fought alot), we must have rented it over a dozen times.
I recently went back and watched the old UFCs. The ones where they had him guess commentating was so cringeworthy. But looking at it from mid 90s eyes it was amazing.
I love Tank so much I wasn’t even bummed when I realized this whole video was an ad.
The moral of the story: GO BUY TANK'S BOOKS!
6:22 jus paused, I don’t know what he’s bout to say BUT the way he jus said “everything’s goin great, Tank Abbott walks in the room” so flat and matter of fact😂 that got me
Dave was an absolute crazy alcoholic, looking for trouble everywhere he went. Went to HS with him, and has been to the house for parties. He was so nuts that he just made everyone nervous. Always looking to mess with anyone that looked at him, for absolutely any reason. Anyone else from Marina say something different.....crickets.
Yeah, I am from HB and when The UFC started, Tank was my favorite fighter in about 93, I saw him at Coco’s one Sunday and yelled “ Tank!”. He came over and shook my hand, nobody else new who he was. I appreciated he was a History major at College, I thought he was all an act being a “villain”. THEN…I started hearing that Tank was a bully and beat up a young Asian guy down at a club on Beach Bl. He was supposed to fight for the Championship, but he was “on the lamb” or some such nonsense and somebody else fought. I would be next to him in Del Taco or Ralph’s …and didn’t say a word because now I didn’t respect him.
Before Tank and MMA, there was Polo (in HB)
This is such a throwback, I loved watching tank abbott fight. First ufc I saw was ufc 6 and rooted for him.
Fucking Love all the veterans of the sport, but Tank always stood out to me as one of the baddest dudes not to mess with! Absolute Legend. 👏👏👏
I bought the books thanks to Chael. They are actually good - I could not put them down.
Here is my "Tank Book Character Translation" Please feel free to add on - I could not figure them all out. Would love to get a few blanks filled in -
Big Bart Shady (NHB Agent/Promoter) = ???
Little Winchell Duncan (Ref) - Big John McCarthy
Freddie Mercury (NHB Fighter) - Dan Severn
Nacho Man (Pro Wrestler) - Randy Macho Man Savage
Walter Foxx/Krazy - Tank Abbott
Vinnie Diamond (NHB Fighter) - Ken Shamrock
Polar Bear (NHB Fighter)- Paul Varelans
Poppa Chulo (Tanks Friend) - ???
Rat Wessell (NHB Fighter)- Patrick Smith
Tony Misses NHB Fighter)- - Anthony Macias
Igor Cheetski/Polish Sausage (NHB Fighter)- Oleg Taktarov
Donny Brooks (Pro Wrestler) - ????
Tongan Skull Crusher (NHB Fighter)- John Matua
Second Ref - Taimak ?
Mike Dough - Michael Buffer
Jeff Blockneck - Jeff Blatnick
Tim Black (Announcer) - Jim Brown
Stewart Fish (NHB Owner) - ????
Baton Sportswear (Company Sponsor) - ????
Adolf - Adolf (the one and only dog)
Dead Grunion Bar - I think this is an old bar called the "Red Onion"
Happening Beach - Huntington Beach
Rolando (Tanks Friend) - ????
Coby Swapper (Tanks Friend) - ????
Wong Beach State - Long Beach State
Big Cal (Tanks Friend) -
Joyce Garcia - Royce Gracie
Mexican BJJ - Brazilian Jui Jitsu
John Witless (His substitute attorney) -
Daniel Burger (famous actor from “Harborside TV Show) - ???
Guy who got his hand cut off - John Wayne Bobbitt
The Real Deal (Pro Wrestler) - ????
“Bank Vault” Williams (Pro Wrestler and part of Donny Brooks crew) - ?????
Erol - the boss of pro wrestling (not sure) - ?????
How is chael a fucking master at everything he does? Dude that advertisement for this book was actually insane how you created it. The whole crack the code thing makes me want to go and read this fucking book lol
Awesome story I love hearing what was happening behind the scenes it's and I'm so surprised you were as close to it as you were
This is chael's superhero origin story
I actually saw Tank in the Minnesota Airport and went over to say hi. It was probably 6 AM , I was flying from San Diego to Florida on leave. He was eating a 6 pack of cinnabon's and had the biggest soda cup i had ever seen to wash it down. He was nice and talked about making great money in wrestling and how he got knocked out by Pedro Rizzo. He said he was told Rizzo wasnt much to be worried about and said he was drinking Vodka on a bar stool the night before the match and the next thing he knew was asking what happened. A funny and humble dude. Good guy , to this day I have never seen anyone else eating a 6 pack of cinnabon's solo.
This whole video was just so chael could ask us to join him on a scooby doo mission
I grew up watching Tank, always loved that guy. I remember watching the first 10 UFC’s over and over on vhs tape as a kid and they never got old.
Chael was, and still is, an absolute badass.
Little known fact, chael had a DVD 4 years before they came out. This is why chael isn't just unbeaten, hes unbeatable.
Chael about this father: he’s one of those guy that pronounce differently….
Me: oh that’s where the uncle Chael got it from. lol
Anyone that has known UFC since its infancy knows Tank was beyond legend, he came into the ring and all of a sudden consequences where much more severe.
Chael Doesn't realise he's exactly like his Dad, or maybe he does.
Watched UFC 4 with my dad back in the day and was heartbroken that Severn lost to Royce being from Flint Michigan it was so cool seeing a local boy doing so well. I was hooked after that first time.
Chael is the best wrassler.
I met Tank in a bar and my buddy knew him so he got Tank to take a photo with me. I had my eyes closed during the photo and he already looked irritated taking the first pic so I just kept it with me looking like a big ol' goober standing beside the legend 😂
Good for you man, glad to hear someone out there and their parents wanna make a fighter out of a fighter
Mark Schultz is such a Badass Wrestler, so was his brother Dave. Tank Abbott was a Brawling Madman he was truly one of those rare guys that would fight anyone anywhere, especially if you ran your mouth talking shit at him he'd hit you on the spot. He didn't give af if you were a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Master or a Boxer, Wrestler etc.. if you said anything that he didn't like or threatening Bam! 💥🤛
I remember when Tank was the Man!!! Chuck Liddell who? Tito who? It was Abbott and Shamrock ☘️
I met Tank Abbott in person twice. The first time was at The Hard Rock Cafe in Newport Beach, CA. He was just sitting there at the bar by himself, and I happened to be eating at a table right next to where he was sitting. The second time I met him was at a WCW pro wrestling event, which I think was at the Los Angeles Forum, which I think got torn down years later. This WCW event was not long after Tank beat Hugo Duarte at UFC Ultimate Brazil. This was before Tank had signed with WCW, or at least made his WCW debut. He was just walking around the arena when I encountered him. He is an intimidating looking fellow, but he was surprisingly friendly and cordial both times I met him.
Tank is still doing some interviews relatively recently and he is still very funny
I’ll never forget UFC 1! I was an 11 year old kid in Kyokushin and Shotokan, and both my instructors had magazines on their desk ever since it was announced. My dad & I fell in love with the sport…then we moved, and there were no martial arts schools in the tiny town we lived in, so I still practiced, but focused on basketball in the bulk of my free time. Who knows? I could have been undefeated like Chael too (I mean I am 0-0 professionally)