Tank Abbott and 19-year-old Chael Sonnen...

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ธ.ค. 2021
  • Mean Street Coffee now available at BadGuyInc.com
    Chael Sonnen talks shares a Tank Abbott story on this episode of Beyond the Fight.
    Bad Guy Inc merch now available at BadGuyInc.com
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    All things UFC and MMA with the undefeated Bad Guy, Chael Sonnen. UFC Champions, Jon Jones, Conor McGregor, Colby Covington, Khamzat Chimaev, Dana White the MMA hour and commentary on the latest UFC news, UFC Champions in 2022, UFC knockouts and finishes and up coming fights.
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ความคิดเห็น • 1.1K

  • @user-oi4in1cx1f
    @user-oi4in1cx1f 15 วันที่ผ่านมา +14

    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.

    • @Jeffro5564
      @Jeffro5564 6 วันที่ผ่านมา

      I call BS.

    • @user-oi4in1cx1f
      @user-oi4in1cx1f 6 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      @@Jeffro5564 careful, your jealously is showing. 😂

  • @FacelessFlesh666
    @FacelessFlesh666 2 ปีที่แล้ว +602

    So good to hear someone in the sport giving Tank his due respect.

    • @RonniePTexan
      @RonniePTexan 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      Uncle Chael wants us to go buy Tank's books. I've already ordered mine.

    • @MustObeyTheRules
      @MustObeyTheRules 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I’ll never forgive tank for losing to kimbo on purpose

    • @harrygreb3457
      @harrygreb3457 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@MustObeyTheRules he didn’t really lose on purpose …he was hit in the balls and givin 0 time to recover

    • @dperry203
      @dperry203 2 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      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?

    • @FacelessFlesh666
      @FacelessFlesh666 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @CornishRicky Yeah because if there's one thing you don't want a fighter to be its definitely violent lol!What a wanker.

  • @workjeff1951
    @workjeff1951 2 ปีที่แล้ว +790

    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.

    • @yeabuddy6070
      @yeabuddy6070 2 ปีที่แล้ว +45

      Yep. Totally agree. He was my favorite mma fighter growing up.

    • @boomboom7017
      @boomboom7017 2 ปีที่แล้ว +33

      He’s the reason I continued watching UFC

    • @Jay-hp6pu
      @Jay-hp6pu 2 ปีที่แล้ว +26

      Mostly for all the wrong reasons but I get what you’re saying.

    • @FVCK-
      @FVCK- 2 ปีที่แล้ว +45

      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.

    • @nicolbolas8758
      @nicolbolas8758 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@boomboom7017 yep i loved watch his brawl fights

  • @kennytaco4474
    @kennytaco4474 2 ปีที่แล้ว +357

    No wonder chael and his father were so close. Guy sounds like a supportive awesome person

    • @backbone93
      @backbone93 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      Wonderboy also has an awesome father i like that his father is always in the gym in a gi or smthn lol

    • @NatiHighLife
      @NatiHighLife 2 ปีที่แล้ว +43

      his retirement speech hurt to hear.

    • @doujjawc9949
      @doujjawc9949 2 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      @@NatiHighLife one of the saddest moments in MMA I love chael & that hurt lol

    • @AV9000x
      @AV9000x 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      chael cant let anyone but his father get close

    • @kennytaco4474
      @kennytaco4474 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@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

  • @nukefluke
    @nukefluke 2 ปีที่แล้ว +311

    A free plug for a UFC legend. Chael really is a man of his community.

    • @larryl1427
      @larryl1427 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Chael really has a lot of experiences.

    • @jsvalina3503
      @jsvalina3503 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Facts!! Respect.

  • @charliesinnott9840
    @charliesinnott9840 2 ปีที่แล้ว +163

    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.....

    • @dgillian183
      @dgillian183 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Yep, he said he liked to pound vodka and brawl

    • @charliesinnott9840
      @charliesinnott9840 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @nicholas decato member that one time Rizzo put a permanent dent in Randy's quad..... What the actual get out.....

    • @michaelmercury1297
      @michaelmercury1297 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Tank was like the Stone Cold Steve Austin of MMA .

    • @michaelgonzales5599
      @michaelgonzales5599 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      They don't make them like tank anymore lmao

    • @BillyBob-wq9fl
      @BillyBob-wq9fl 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      @@michaelgonzales5599No sir they dont.. Or Predators or Fedors or even Rampages.. bunch of softies now.. except Justin Gaethje.

  • @Ms.Fowlbwahhh
    @Ms.Fowlbwahhh 2 ปีที่แล้ว +58

    The fact that Chael’s dad used to say “wrasslin” makes me very happy lol.

  • @David-dy3bb
    @David-dy3bb 2 ปีที่แล้ว +136

    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.

    • @jeffalbillar7625
      @jeffalbillar7625 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      I had no idea that the Polar bear passed.
      May he rest easy.🙏

    • @TreyParker318
      @TreyParker318 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      I remember the Polar Bear when I was a kid watching the UFC vhs tapes. There were some good characters back then.

    • @MotoMiles
      @MotoMiles 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      yup met Dony Frye and Wes sims and Jerome Lebanner at an IFL tryouts great dudes.

    • @mateosmind751
      @mateosmind751 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      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.

    • @David-dy3bb
      @David-dy3bb 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@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

  • @abdulsadiq
    @abdulsadiq 2 ปีที่แล้ว +118

    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

    • @darkflower1729
      @darkflower1729 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Lol, flawless performance from the Bad Guy, as per usual. Master at work

    • @spartallica9128
      @spartallica9128 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Same! I was going to write the same thing but you said it!

    • @brixtonmystery
      @brixtonmystery 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      TOTALLY

    • @treasurethetime2463
      @treasurethetime2463 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I had no idea Tank could read or write.

    • @jimh.412
      @jimh.412 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @Jamie The Hannibal is the guy.

  • @theDavidChannel1
    @theDavidChannel1 2 ปีที่แล้ว +135

    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.

    • @ransakreject5221
      @ransakreject5221 2 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      Well that’s tanks angle.but he was a terrific highschool wrestler and had trained boxing for years. Between repping 600 lbs

    • @brandondavis1039
      @brandondavis1039 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      He trained wrestling as well as boxing (2 martial arts).

    • @chancebrown98
      @chancebrown98 2 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      How was he screwed in the frye fight? Frye won fair and square

    • @mortenovergaard7397
      @mortenovergaard7397 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      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..

    • @theDavidChannel1
      @theDavidChannel1 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@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.

  • @goadken
    @goadken 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    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.

  • @Caligula138
    @Caligula138 2 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    I still use this quote...
    "The best submission is a punch in the face"
    Tank Abbot.

  • @dogwater290
    @dogwater290 2 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    600x3 bench press is really rare strength

    • @geneporreca3848
      @geneporreca3848 12 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

      Tank actually did the 600lbs bench on a UFC. The UFC showed the footage of him benching it

  • @joeym2156
    @joeym2156 2 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    This is a great story and I love that Chael told just how important Tank is to this sport

  • @dperry203
    @dperry203 2 ปีที่แล้ว +75

    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.

    • @folksurvival
      @folksurvival 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      Tito even took his nickname.

    • @mjabmac7386
      @mjabmac7386 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Fun fact, Tito was part of Tank’s entourage corner and they did train together.

    • @folksurvival
      @folksurvival 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@mjabmac7386 Yeah we know.

    • @thenarrator1984
      @thenarrator1984 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Your entire story is true.
      But it's about Mirko lol

    • @GrannySoupLadle
      @GrannySoupLadle 9 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Don’t make fun of Professor Tito Ortiz 🥺

  • @MYKOSS1
    @MYKOSS1 2 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    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.

    • @aleksandarnedeljkovic8104
      @aleksandarnedeljkovic8104 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Well some guys were effective with teg hitting to head while youre down, so it was banned also . Its just the way rules evolved.

    • @76mitch76
      @76mitch76 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      And pumping the crowd up swing while he did it!! Savage. I remember that fight and the immediate change in rules, lol.

    • @BillyBob-wq9fl
      @BillyBob-wq9fl 22 วันที่ผ่านมา +2

      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.

    • @The509sfinest.
      @The509sfinest. 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

      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

  • @paulpnut
    @paulpnut 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Tank Abbott for The Hall of Fame

  • @geraldhoffpauir5048
    @geraldhoffpauir5048 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    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.

    • @HunterDan001
      @HunterDan001 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Loved it! Another was calling Don Frye's fight, "Superman in Superman's underwear."

    • @thedopesickshow
      @thedopesickshow 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      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” 😆

  • @williamfugga4520
    @williamfugga4520 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    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.

  • @slicksilver9441
    @slicksilver9441 2 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    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

  • @towo_137
    @towo_137 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    chael has a good soul. pure and honest. the future needs more of that

  • @ExMachina70
    @ExMachina70 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    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.

  • @lastactionhero7541
    @lastactionhero7541 2 ปีที่แล้ว +145

    Chael won’t buy a shirt for more than 20 dollars, but sells the one he’s wearing for 29.

    • @dogwater290
      @dogwater290 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      ye and the pants are a sponsor of his

    • @DungTran-li2wn
      @DungTran-li2wn 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      his shoes cost like 600 dollars lol

    • @RonniePTexan
      @RonniePTexan 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Can't lose money... Uncle Chael is a tight wad lol

    • @christophermhudson09
      @christophermhudson09 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      It's why he's the goat 🐐🐐🐐

    • @kevinconners6937
      @kevinconners6937 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Yeah there’s this thing called profit margins and if your not hitting them your not making anything for very long.

  • @aztecfitness7782
    @aztecfitness7782 2 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    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!!

  • @justingreen4450
    @justingreen4450 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    Dan "The Beast" Severn was always my favorite when we rented the UFC's on VHS from the local movie store.

    • @larryl1427
      @larryl1427 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      "The Beast" was the perfect handle for Dan Severn.

    • @JyeSun818
      @JyeSun818 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      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

    • @sanderson9338
      @sanderson9338 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I preferred Mark Kerr he finished people Severn was boring as hell

    • @mmsm6370
      @mmsm6370 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Vitor was my shit at first, I was Hoyce allday but then Vitor really made me a fan, it was the Wanderlei Silva joint.

    • @mmsm6370
      @mmsm6370 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      That dude was a shaved bear

  • @michaelmusaphillips7740
    @michaelmusaphillips7740 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    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.

  • @sycadelic666
    @sycadelic666 2 ปีที่แล้ว +95

    This the story I never knew I wanted but now can’t live without hearing.

  • @yawn1887
    @yawn1887 2 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    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.

    • @larryl1427
      @larryl1427 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      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

    • @yawn1887
      @yawn1887 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@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 🤣

    • @RonniePTexan
      @RonniePTexan 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@yawn1887 There was always a ref. Big John was there.

    • @yawn1887
      @yawn1887 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@RonniePTexan second fight, not the first one bro, check it out.

    • @yawn1887
      @yawn1887 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@RonniePTexan sorry my bad, there was a ref there.

  • @gucciserg8093
    @gucciserg8093 2 ปีที่แล้ว +93

    19 year old Chael beats every human being alive with ease!

    • @ASLackey22
      @ASLackey22 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Chael can makes ghosts tap

    • @RonniePTexan
      @RonniePTexan 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Uncle Chael is the kind of guy to dig holes with a pitchfork, for the cardio.

    • @larryl1427
      @larryl1427 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Uncle Chael could defeat anyone while only using a Ridge Wallet as a weapon.

    • @chaosdromanah8620
      @chaosdromanah8620 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Chael can submit every fighter via Staring at them

    • @kerrodmckenna7943
      @kerrodmckenna7943 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Does 19 year old Chael beat 33 year old Chael?

  • @jontrudell7529
    @jontrudell7529 2 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    The man the myth the Legend, talking about the Legend Tank Abbot

  • @ricflair2779
    @ricflair2779 2 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    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.

    • @harrygreb3457
      @harrygreb3457 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      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

  • @TalkinSmackTV
    @TalkinSmackTV 2 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    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.

  • @TBTHEONE
    @TBTHEONE 2 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    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!!!

  • @lokigr
    @lokigr 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    This is the best video you’ve made in months. More of these please

  • @mattmorrison9379
    @mattmorrison9379 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I would definitely watch a Tank Abbot documentary. Cmon Chael you can produce it.

  • @rctrue
    @rctrue 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    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

  • @mylordandsaviour
    @mylordandsaviour 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    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

  • @johndenver7035
    @johndenver7035 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    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.

    • @BillyBob-wq9fl
      @BillyBob-wq9fl 22 วันที่ผ่านมา

      Those are The best of the best. Tank, Hendo, Wandy and Shogun.. Also Frye was a real American badass..

  • @alphonsemele2989
    @alphonsemele2989 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I met Tank in a home depot in 2000, one of the best days of my life! Absolute legend

  • @OmarAbdulMalikDHEdMPASPACPAPro
    @OmarAbdulMalikDHEdMPASPACPAPro 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    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!👍

    • @Gh0st_0723
      @Gh0st_0723 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Hey man, medical professionals are heroes. You made a great and honorable career choice. Thank you and best of luck brother.

    • @kedabro1957
      @kedabro1957 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      What's his channel? I'm afraid if I search it I'll just find a content-farming fake.

    • @OmarAbdulMalikDHEdMPASPACPAPro
      @OmarAbdulMalikDHEdMPASPACPAPro 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@Gh0st_0723 Thanks Murad.👋🏾👨🏾‍⚕️

  • @dqreps
    @dqreps 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    600 pound bench press for a triple: ☑️

  • @darrellowings2343
    @darrellowings2343 2 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    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.

  • @FlippyHambone
    @FlippyHambone 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Tank Abbott was my first favorite fighter!
    I even grew up to have the same body type.

  • @Daniel_Ilyich
    @Daniel_Ilyich 2 ปีที่แล้ว +41

    Chael's never missed a day of school (other than that one day), just like he never lost a round.

    • @backbone93
      @backbone93 2 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Chael once missed two days of school which then were made saturdays and sundays

  • @bikibaws
    @bikibaws 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    more stories from the old days please. thanks bad dude!

    • @backbone93
      @backbone93 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Sharing old stories is one of the best things of getting old

  • @raymondjames57
    @raymondjames57 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    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!

  • @easygame7955
    @easygame7955 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    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...

  • @todd2461
    @todd2461 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    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.

  • @mikelary88
    @mikelary88 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    9:38 “Not just his physicality but his mantality.” - Uncle Chael.

  • @bachnakjohn3180
    @bachnakjohn3180 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    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!

  • @Real_Iceout
    @Real_Iceout 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Wooooow, tank put 600 up for 3... that’s raw strength.

  • @kylethornberry7074
    @kylethornberry7074 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    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.

  • @ZGGuesswho
    @ZGGuesswho 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    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)

  • @freedragon3050
    @freedragon3050 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    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.

  • @mattjackson2795
    @mattjackson2795 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    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.

    • @kedabro1957
      @kedabro1957 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      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.

  • @stonedViking304
    @stonedViking304 15 วันที่ผ่านมา

    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

  • @timephire
    @timephire 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    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.

    • @skarhead7597
      @skarhead7597 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Back in the late 80w when he was clobbering HUGE dudes in a Hunnington Bch club called "Night Moves" he was just called "Dave"

  • @maxhammer4067
    @maxhammer4067 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    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. 😀

  • @DGZGSGEGIGKG
    @DGZGSGEGIGKG 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    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.

  • @ejfurgison1416
    @ejfurgison1416 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Love these old school stories Chael. I hope to hear more of them.

  • @bruceleroy1683
    @bruceleroy1683 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Chael is the best wrassler.

  • @NatiHighLife
    @NatiHighLife 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    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

  • @hurrican6969
    @hurrican6969 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    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

  • @saralechak5834
    @saralechak5834 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    A real Tank Abott story by a West Lynn legend .. instant thumbs up especially with Tank In his pose on the thumbnail

  • @DOOR.DASH.TYRONE
    @DOOR.DASH.TYRONE 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    9:12 Tank was an incredible athlete, not only was he able to become an MMA legend, with the appropriate coaching I'm confident he could have become a legend in the sport of powerlifting as well.

  • @RonniePTexan
    @RonniePTexan 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    The moral of the story: GO BUY TANK'S BOOKS!

  • @livefree1030
    @livefree1030 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    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.

  • @Humpdurious
    @Humpdurious 7 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    After listening to Tank on Rampage's podcast I've been way more into his legacy. The guy sounds like someone you'd want to invite over for a bbq and know he would always be entertaining.

  • @skarhead7597
    @skarhead7597 2 ปีที่แล้ว +18

    I will forever be a HUGE Tank Abbott fan 👊💥🔥🔥

  • @themomofmemes467
    @themomofmemes467 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I honestly love all of Chaels stories from back in the day

  • @samuelgardner5939
    @samuelgardner5939 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Genuine affection and appreciation displayed there. good stuff.

  • @SimbaAliMN
    @SimbaAliMN 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    I remember Tank use to wear the “86’d For Life” shirts . I got introduced to UFC with Tank vs Vitor .

  • @juxxkermode7080
    @juxxkermode7080 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    "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.

  • @lumpeegrendel1636
    @lumpeegrendel1636 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    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.

    • @greghilbers4697
      @greghilbers4697 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      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.

    • @ronmcgee7286
      @ronmcgee7286 ปีที่แล้ว

      Before Tank and MMA, there was Polo (in HB)

  • @Will-ge7ri
    @Will-ge7ri 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I love Tank so much I wasn’t even bummed when I realized this whole video was an ad.

  • @dangmad6808
    @dangmad6808 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    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.

  • @tylertoner2333
    @tylertoner2333 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    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

  • @MrZaku-rh4qt
    @MrZaku-rh4qt 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This is chael's superhero origin story

  • @brianm1185
    @brianm1185 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Tank Should be in the pioneer wing of the UFC Hall of Fame

  • @angry4015
    @angry4015 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    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.

  • @NinetysixRs
    @NinetysixRs 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    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.

  • @shazam61
    @shazam61 2 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    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. 👏👏👏

  • @claritymortgage8183
    @claritymortgage8183 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    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) - ?????

  • @carlosdelgado6394
    @carlosdelgado6394 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    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

  • @mikescully6546
    @mikescully6546 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This whole video was just so chael could ask us to join him on a scooby doo mission

  • @austinclapp5650
    @austinclapp5650 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Chael was, and still is, an absolute badass.

  • @THExNIGHTMANxCOMETH
    @THExNIGHTMANxCOMETH 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I grew up in Utah went to BYU briefly in 2001. They had cut the wrestling program two years before so I had NO IDEA that Chael went there!! And that tank prepared there!! While I was there, that’s when I got into UFC. Because I had a Hollywood video card and we could swap out ANY two VHS tapes at any time. So we did. Watched them all, over and over and over. I had NO CLUE that my heroes of MMA had been in the same gyms I was going to. So freaking cool!

  • @rossdixonellis
    @rossdixonellis 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    This is such a throwback, I loved watching tank abbott fight. First ufc I saw was ufc 6 and rooted for him.

  • @deaconworcestershire93
    @deaconworcestershire93 2 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Chael Doesn't realise he's exactly like his Dad, or maybe he does.

  • @kitnoman
    @kitnoman 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    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

  • @pezzist
    @pezzist 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    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!

  • @josphellihsilak4588
    @josphellihsilak4588 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Little known fact, chael had a DVD 4 years before they came out. This is why chael isn't just unbeaten, hes unbeatable.

  • @rykerandfriends
    @rykerandfriends 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I remember when Tank was the Man!!! Chuck Liddell who? Tito who? It was Abbott and Shamrock ☘️

  • @MemoirsOfLasVegasBlvd
    @MemoirsOfLasVegasBlvd 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Tank Abbott is a legend I remember him in the WCW !!

  • @lpark8
    @lpark8 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    What an awesome tribute. Chael in top storytelling mode. Love this stuff 🙏😎

  • @ra-yd7qq
    @ra-yd7qq 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    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.

    • @chadm9653
      @chadm9653 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      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.

  • @Joe-cp5ud
    @Joe-cp5ud 2 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Tank is still doing some interviews relatively recently and he is still very funny

  • @joeows6537
    @joeows6537 2 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Call me an old school purest but some of the best flights in UFC contained and Don Fry, Dan Severn as well as Tank Abbot. My most favorite champion ever has to be Dan Hendo Henderson...

  • @benhusmann6521
    @benhusmann6521 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Chael, I wish we could have gotten to know you like this, when you were competing. Cheers man.

  • @mangravy2000
    @mangravy2000 8 วันที่ผ่านมา

    I’m glad you’re giving Tank some love. Did Tank start the bad guy persona, create hype to drive sales? That’s been around since the beginning of the fight game. Jack Johnson, Ali, Conor and Rampage. These guys are their own people, born to entertain that just so happen to be fighters. Rampage is one of my favorites, I wished he would have tried the commentator seat in retirement.