Why do people doubt Angle...

[The OP]

...when he talks about doing MMA fights? He obviously has a solid background for it and continues to train. We all know of his past injuries, but given the nature of those and of MMA style fights, I don't really anticipate that being a huge factor in the outcome of his fights, if they ever end up taking place.

I'm not saying Angle's gonna go in there and kick all those guys asses, but I'm not saying he won't either, and I don't understand why people are so skeptical about his abilities. He's Kurt Angle for god's sake. What gives?

[Ishmeal Loves BBL Bayley]

WHO ARE YOU TO DOUBT ANGLE?

sorry, it had to be done.

[Mr. Backlund]

Because of the preparation and training that needs to go into actually getting ready for such an event. It's basically be an MMA fighter and go through months of intense training leading up to a fight, or be a wrestler with TNA and do what he's doing now. Olympics medals from over a decade ago and knowledge of how to grapple don't do you any good when you're fighting most of the guys in MMA.

When you're a legit fighter and actually going blow for blow, it's not like you can just waltz into a ring and expect to compete. If Angle's dumb enough to actually go forward with it and go against someone that's not just fed to him, he's going to be very embarssed.

[The OP]

I undertand what you're saying mrbacklund, but I think what people forget is that Angle has already stated that he's been working hard with MMA trainers for some time.

It's not like he's going to just show up one day out of the blue for a fight and expect to win with no training.

[Jason Todd Grisham]

taxcollector said:

I undertand what you're saying mrbacklund, but I think what people forget is that Angle has already stated that he's been working hard with MMA trainers for some time.

It's not like he's going to just show up one day out of the blue for a fight and expect to win with no training.

But he's crazy Angle! Of course that's what he's going to do because he's so craaazy!

[AriadosMan]

He has more to lose than gain, honestly. If he does lose in a shoot fight, people all over the Internet will go "OMFG TNA is so fake and it suxxors they can't win a real fight".
The fact that Kurt claimed he got "26 movie offers" in the same post didn't help either.

[The OP]

Why is it unlikely that Angle got 26 movie offers? He said movies, not big budget Hollywood pictures, which might sound unlikely.

Besides, what does any of that have to do with his potential as an MMA fighter?

[Mr. Backlund]

I know Angle knows about training and what it takes, as he obviously has some hardware to prove it, but he seems extremely one dimensional in his abilities. It just strikes me that if he's still wrestling with TNA and doing an interview nearly constantly, he can't be focusing to the level he needs to be a legit MMA fighter. I've boxed at an amateur level and the ammount of time you need to devote to be a legit fight, not a coreographed wrestling match, is huge in comparison. Plus, you can train to be an MMA fighter or boxer, but its a whole different ball game when you know your competitor and have to start preparing and training to specifically account for that individual and his fighting style. Basically, Kurt has to go off air and radio for a while and prepare for a match if he's serious about this for at least a few months.

My personal take on it is that it's likely going to be a publicity stunt and he'll get some nameless fighter to beat up and then proclaim TNA's greatness inbetween hour long rants about the WWE and Vince McMahon. I've grown tired of the games he's been playing.

[AriadosMan]

I don't know what his potential as a MMA fighter is, but it may not be the wisest of career choices for either himself or the company he now represents (TNA).
As for the 26 movie offers...difficult for me to buy. Even Hogan didn't get that many. The fact that he didn't list any names of the movies makes me suspicious.

[Richard]

taxcollector said:

I undertand what you're saying mrbacklund, but I think what people forget is that Angle has already stated that he's been working hard with MMA trainers for some time.

It's not like he's going to just show up one day out of the blue for a fight and expect to win with no training.

Between wrestling and promotion for TNA there is no way he could be putting in the amount of time it takes to be a successful fighter.

Plus, Ken Shamrock, Tank Abbott and Dan Severn all tried a return to MMA (at which they were successful before wrestling) and failed miserably. Why would Angle with no MMA expericence do any better.

[The OP]

Fair enough, but let me ask the following question:

If Kurt Angle was to compete in an MMA fight and defeat, not a nameless fighter, but a bigger name in MMA, would you really be THAT shocked? I wouldn't.

The reason is simple. If there's anything we know about Kurt Angle, it's that he is obsessed with being the best and making it to the top. I'd have a hard time believing that Angle would go through with an MMA fight unless he truly was in good enough fighting shape to, if not defeat, at least pose a legitimate threat to any MMA fighter.

[mysterydriver]

Three words:

"Broken friggen neck."

[Mr. Backlund]

taxcollector said:

Fair enough, but let me ask the following question:

If Kurt Angle was to compete in an MMA fight and defeat, not a nameless fighter, but a bigger name in MMA, would you really be THAT shocked? I wouldn't.

The reason is simple. If there's anything we know about Kurt Angle, it's that he is obsessed with being the best and making it to the top. I'd have a hard time believing that Angle would go through with an MMA fight unless he truly was in good enough fighting shape to, if not defeat, at least pose a legitimate threat to any MMA fighter.

As far as him going in and defeating a legit fighter, I will say that if the current Kurt Angle went in, he'd be beaten soundly. If he goes with a top-teir guy, he'd be destroyed. I really don't think Kurt can go against guys who are not only good grapplers, but excellent strikers as well. It would seem that his background as a wrestler and his career as a pro wrestler would do nothing to benefit him in a MMA setting as a well rounded talent. Couple his age and injury history and I don't think he lasts in the ring with the big names.

That's not to say that he wouldn't put in the necessary effort, but like I said earlier, he has to go away from TNA and radio interviews for quite a while. He's driven, but he also has a massive ego that apparently needs constant stroking.

[odanobunaga]

taxcollector said:

...when he talks about doing MMA fights? He obviously has a solid background for it and continues to train. We all know of his past injuries, but given the nature of those and of MMA style fights, I don't really anticipate that being a huge factor in the outcome of his fights, if they ever end up taking place.

I'm not saying Angle's gonna go in there and kick all those guys asses, but I'm not saying he won't either, and I don't understand why people are so skeptical about his abilities. He's Kurt Angle for god's sake. What gives?

Does he know BJJ? If the anwser is "no" I foresee this as his destiny...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dVqMIt8jSY&mode=related&search=

I tried to search the time where one of the best Brazilian wrestlers picked up a fight against Rickson, when BJJ was just starting and there was a big war beteween the martial styles here in Brazil but I didn´t found it. I have in tape tought.

[The OP]

This is all very interesting mrbacklund. Let me ask you yet another question.

If Angle was to prove you wrong, what would your reaction be?

[Mr. Backlund]

taxcollector said:

This is all very interesting mrbacklund. Let me ask you yet another question.

If Angle was to prove you wrong, what would your reaction be?

The one thing with legit fighting is that what should happen hardly ever actually happens. Yeah, it's often the case that the heavy favorite wins, but its hardly ever exactly how anyone predicted it. Look at Lennox Lewis vs. Hasim Rahman. Nobody thought Rahman could do anything against Lewis, but he put him on the mat and won the belt (albeit Lewis won it right back).

So, my answer to you would be that I'd be surprised, but from watching boxing, MMA, and other fights over the years, I wouldn't be shocked. I make no qualms about it, my prediction about Kurt is made in a vaccuum and on what I've seen of him.

[Matt Rogers]

I'd see Angle doing a Takayama. Taking an absolutely brutal level of punishment before finally being put away. Of course, if he could actually get someone down and outgrapple them, it might be a different story.

[Harmonica]

mattrogers said:

I'd see Angle doing a Takayama. Taking an absolutely brutal level of punishment before finally being put away. Of course, if he could actually get someone down and outgrapple them, it might be a different story.

I don't know if Angle could have a match like Takayama Vs. Don Frye

[Maskanodel]

I don't think he has it in him. I've no doubt that he would be prepared 110%, but physically I don't think he could do it.
His broken neck, I think, is a big factor. How much pressure can it take. Could it take a guillotine choke with full extension? Would the prestige of competing in MMA be risking another serious neck injury? I don't know if his body could handle it.
And as an aside, I don't recall anyone mentioning his drug use. It's hard to say whether or not he'd pass the drug tests. God knows what's still floating around in his system after all the shit he's put into his body.
And while I respect his Gold Medal 11 years ago, and I'm sure he's been training with some great coaches, he's doesn't have any experience in NHB fighting. That might get him a decision victory over a can of a fighter, with a lot of lay and pray. But he's saying he wants to fight Couture and Ortiz? Come off it. Both are considerable wrestlers, with loads more experience then Angle. It'd be a disaster for him.

Oh, and for the record, I laughed my ass off when he said he fights like Fedor Emelianenko. No one fights like Fedor.

[verymatureguy]

Source: PossiblyRealWrestlingNews.com
Taken From Full-Length Report: Recap of Kurt Angle on Bryan's Radio Show.


Moving to MMA, Angle said he wants to fight in the UFC twice by the end of 2007, one of those being against Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell at the same time. He has also contacted Jack Hannah about working out a deal that would see him fight a wild tiger.




www.possiblyrealwrestlingnews.com/angleradio.html

I just think his expectations of himself are a little high.