Frank Shamrock vs Phil Baroni?

Who wins this fight, and how?

Frank Shamrock vs Phil Baroni?
Here is an article I wrote for a new MMA magazine let me know what you think:



With June 22nd just a few weeks away, it seems that fans will finally get to see Phil Baroni and Frank Shamrock tee off. Many wonder if the fight will live up to the hype? The New York Badass went as far as posting challenges on internet forums, while Frank has chosen Youtube as his trash-talk outlet.

If one were to look at the records of both fighters they would see that they are mostly evenly matched with Shamrock getting the edge with more experience. Both fighters gained their popularity while combating in the UFC. While Frank entered the octagon with a 13-7-1 record, it was in the octagon that Baroni began to show why he is called the New York badass. But it was only after Shamrock vacated the title after going undefeated inside the octagon that Baroni stepped in.

Looking back one has to give Shamrock respect for his accomplishments, but seeing as how that was all of 8 years ago there is a lot more to this story. In 1999 Frank Shamrock retired from MMA claiming he was the best and feeling confident that he had proved as much. He made comebacks in both K-1 and the WEC, but it was Strikeforce that got the hype rolling again as he defeated Cesar Gracie in just 21 seconds. Now as he returns to Strikeforce he faces a much more serious challenger, Phil Baroni, on a fight card that seems to overshadow the upcoming UFC event that takes place just one week earlier.

While Shamrock has accumulated only 3 wins against mediocre competition from 2000 to the present, it was during this period that Phil Baroni made a name for himself. Racking up wins over Amar Suloev, Ikuhisa Minowa, Ryo Chonan, and Yuki Kondo, but it was his impressive 18 second knock-out of former Middleweight Champion Dave Menne that set the tone for his career, showcasing his style of powerful punches delivered with lightning quick speed.

When a fighter like Baroni touches gloves you know it could be very easily be lights out for his opponent, while Shamrock is always dangerous on the ground. So is this a classic striker vs. grappler match-up? Some would deem so, while others will point out that both fighters have stepped up their game and are well rounded competitors.

Shamrock is widely regarded for his conditioning, having shaped Tito Ortiz into the cardio-machine he is today, this could be a key factor that could give the advantage to Frank. Baroni is a power puncher and has on more than one occasion punched himself out, if the fight goes into round 3 I see Shamrock taking over.

But while confidence is almost always an advantage for a fighter, it seems that Frank has begun to buy into his own hype, thinking himself the Muhammad Ali of MMA. He has had his success, but the sport has come a long way since 2000, and few would argue that the talent pool has become far deeper.

Many fighters over the years have dominated their divisions only to have the competition catch-up to them and become written off as has-beens, and very few have retired and come back to regain their former glory. This is really Frank’s opportunity to show the world that he belongs in the MMA hall of fame alongside Randy Couture, or if he is destined to follow in the footsteps of Mark Kerr. While Baroni has his pride on the line and it seems is more excited at the opportunity to punch the “legendary” Frank Shamrock in the face than the payday that will follow.

So what will it be, a knock-out for Baroni, submission for Shamrock, or are we all in for a surprise? If one were to judge by the betting lines it would appear that Shamrock will enter the ring for the first time in a long while as the underdog. Regardless, one thing is for sure, June 22nd both men will enter the ring and only one will leave the victor, and I can only assume the post fight comments will be just as heated as the pre-fight trash talk.
Reply:Baroni is going to KO him inside of 1 rd, probably early in rd 1. In his hay day (UFC 22 and before) Shamrock was the prototype for what a fighter should be, the trouble is he has been out of the game for way too long and all of the top fighters have surpassed where he was at his best. Baroni is a better striker than shamrock, Baroni is a better wrestler than shamrock, and Baroni isn't far behind shamrock with regard to submissions. Shamrock won't be able to strike with Baroni and I don't think he'll be able to take him down. With that said, if he hurts Baroni on the feet Baroni will be able to take him down with ease. The only way, and I mean only way, Shamrock will win this fight is if Baroni gasses out and Shamrock stops him. If Baroni doesn't finish him in rd 1 he will certainly win rd 1. Same goes for rd 2. If somehow Shamrock is still in the fight in rd 3, there is a good chance Baroni will be tired and Shamrock will need to finish him, which I'm not sure he's good enough to do.
Reply:Baroni. 1st round TKO.
Reply:I'm taking Baroni in this fight. Weird because if you asked me this 5 years ago i would have laughed at the fact of these two being matched up.



Although Baroni isn't anywhere near a top 10 fighter and Shamrock is a legend, NYBA still holds some major advantages over Frank in this fight. Baroni is alot stronger and if Renzo Gracie was able to control Shamrock then Baroni is going to toss him around like a rag doll. Baroni's bread and butter is his striking. Although Frank has good hands as well i give the slight edge there to Baroni again. Wrestling is another area Baroni is better.



Shamrock's advantages over Baroni are his submission skills, cardio, and in ring smartness. However, his submission game will be cancelled out by Baroni's strength and wrestling. Shamrock is good on the ground but he's going to have to get him there to do the damage. He's going to need to use his other two great tools (smarts and cardio) to beat the NYBA. If he lets his ego get the best of him and doesn't pick his shots right and set up good combinations with great angles hes going to eat alot of hard punches, his cardio won't matter if he gets tagged on the chin.



My personal prediction is it ends early in the 2nd. I think Frank is going to take this fight light because he thinks he is the second coming of christ when it comes to fighting. I think Baroni is going to cause alot of damage fast. I think in the 2nd is when Shamrock is going to go night-night. And personally i'd love to see a B-level fighter do it to him as well. It might break that ego up a little.
Reply:Baroni tko 2nd round! Baroni has the better hands one haymaker and Shamrock goes down
Reply:ill take shamrock by submission in the second.