Issue 065
August 2010
Plenty of people believe that MMA belongs in the Olympics; they make the case that MMA is a descendant of the fighting disciplines that were at the center of the ancient Greek festivals. The day we see cage action at the games may be a long way in the future, but some fighters have already enjoyed the Olympic experience.
DAN HENDERSON
SPORT
Greco-Roman wrestling.
OLYMPIC PERFORMANCE
Competed at the games twice: Barcelona 1992 (10th) and Atlanta 1996 (12th).
MMA DEBUT
Two first-round victories on the same night over Crezio de Souza and Eric Smith to win the Brazil Open tournament in June 1997.
CAREER
Developed an exciting brawling style. Won titles at two weights and produced some of Pride’s most memorable moments. Hit and miss in his time with UFC and Strikeforce.
HIGHLIGHT
His crushing KO of Wanderlei Silva at Pride 33 to claim the middleweight title.
HIDEHIKO YOSHIDA
SPORT
Judo
OLYMPIC PERFORMANCE
Won gold in the 78kg class at Barcelona, also competed at Atlanta ‘96. Went to Sydney 2000 as reigning world champion but broke elbow in a preliminary-round fight.
MMA DEBUT
Proudly wearing his judo gi, he went in at the deep end, taking on and beating the veteran tough guy Don Frye at Pride 23.
CAREER
An even record. He fought through the golden age of Pride and his losses were inflicted by names such as Wanderlei, Barnett and Cro Cop.
HIGHLIGHT
The old man dug in to grind out a points win in a bad-tempered contest against another gold medalist, debutant Satoshi Ishii, in front of 45,000 fans at K-1 Dynamite!! 2009
MATT LINDLAND
SPORT
Greco-Roman wrestling.
OLYMPIC PERFORMANCE
Took the silver medal in Sydney 2000.
MMA DEBUT
While he was a wrestling coach at the University of Nebraska, Lindland scored a stoppage win over Karo Davtyan on Valentine’s Day 1997.
CAREER
Forced out of the UFC due to a sponsorship dispute. Fought for the IFL, Bodog, Affliction and Strikeforce. Fought Fedor in 2007.
HIGHLIGHT
At UFC 36, he took Pat Miletich down and pounded the ‘Croatian Sensation’ until the ref called it off, a one-sided beatdown that earned ‘The Law’ a title shot.
KEVIN JACKSON
SPORT
Freestyle wrestling.
OLYMPIC PERFORMANCE
Won a gold medal in the middleweight division at Barcelona 1992.
MMA DEBUT
Submitted John Lober with an arm triangle in March 1997 on the final show promoted under the Extreme Fighting banner.
CAREER
After early success, Jackson was awarded a title bout. He lost in just 16 seconds courtesy of a Frank Shamrock armbar. He later became coach of the US Wrestling team.
HIGHLIGHT
Forced Tony Frykland to tap to a rear naked choke less than a minute into the final of the UFC 14 middleweight tournament.
KIM MIN-SOO
SPORT
Judo.
OLYMPIC PERFORMANCE
The Korean won a silver medal in the 95kg division at Atlanta 1996.
MMA DEBUT
He cut Bob Sapp in the first minute of their March 2005 K-1 HERO’s bout. After a chat to the doctor, ‘The Beast’ knocked Kim out with the next punch.
CAREER
Matched against big hitters such as Ray Sefo and Don Frye with disastrous results. Played punch bag role to perfection for Brock Lesnar’s MMA debut.
HIGHLIGHT
Using his 50lb weight advantage, Kim steamrollered Minowaman to send the Seoul fans wild at K-1 Hero’s 2007.
MARK COLEMAN
SPORT
Freestyle wrestling.
OLYMPIC PERFORMANCE
Placed seventh in the heavyweight division at Barcelona 1992.
MMA DEBUT
After two wins earlier that night, stopped Don Frye with strikes to win the UFC tournament in July 1996.
CAREER
First UFC heavyweight champion, inventor of ground ‘n pound, Pride GP winner, UFC Hall of Famer and still had the pull to headline a UFC card earlier this year.
HIGHLIGHT
The steam-hammer knees to the head of Igor Vovchanchyn that won him the Pride 2000 Open Weight GP Final.
RULON GARDNER
SPORT
Greco-Roman wrestling.
OLYMPIC PERFORMANCE
Beat three-time champion Alexander Karelin in the final to claim super heavyweight gold at Sydney 2000. Won a bronze four years later in Athens.
MMA DEBUT
In the battle of the gold medalists, he defeated Hidehiko Yoshida on points at Pride Shockwave 2004.
CAREER
It was a case of one fight and out. Gardner now runs a store and Rulon’s Burger Barn in Afton, Wyoming.
HIGHLIGHT
Rulon has a knack for cheating death. He’s survived a plane crash, being impaled by an arrow and 18 hours in the frozen wilderness after a snowmobile accident.
