When I left lion’s den I started my own dojo with a full size octagon which Ken bought from me after awhile. Same training. At that time we were king shit. Fighters came to us from around the world so there was no other dojo to train at except the Pancrase dojo in Yokohama every month.
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Do you still have a mustache ?
From when I was 21 til the day I die I will have a mustache and stinger. I am Norse my ancestors were Vikings and if you didn’t have facial hair they mocked you relentlessly so I’m keeping mine and will be buried with my weapons
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Ok, what do you think of guys like Shannon Ritch and Travis Fulton, who spent the majority of their careers doing works or throwing fights ?
Who do you think was underrated from your era and doesn’t get enough love and who do you think was overrated and gets too much?
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I don’t comment on other men’s lives or how they conduct themselves. You are asking a Lion, a APEX PREDATOR what he thinks about how the Jackels and hyenas are doing right now. Lion’s answer is who the fuck cares as long as they stay outta my territory i I could careless. If they venture to close and start actin up though I’m going to rip into pieces every last mother fucker,mostly just because I can.
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Dam, that’s a good answer.
Thanks for taking the time to answer, btw
How are you health wise ? MMA can be hard on the body,
Also, some fighters have trouble transitioning out of fighting . How was your transition ? Do you still coach ?
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Underrated? Mark Hall. Overrated? Frank Shamrock by everyone, critics, fans,other fighters. He just had great cardio and learned to win through attrition. No strength, no submissions,his stand up was pathetic and he was and still is quite delusional in his belief that he was the better athlete at the Den. I think all the smoking weed and acid has tricked his mind into believing he wasn’t just a punching bag and rag doll at the Den. BUT hey whatever delusions of grandioseity help you get by more power to him
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I 1000% believe this.
Years ago there were these fantasy tournament threads that a few solid UGers made and I played a small part in creating some of them.
Ken vs Gokor was the first bracket in one of them – and I was baffled by the relatively small group of people picking Gokor.
There are people out there who legitimately think Ken sucked and didn’t know grappling.
These people, In my opinion, have a view of Ken’s abilities that are more based on the latter part of his career.
Also…I think some people just dont understand how strength and physicality can take relatively basic skills to very formidable levels.
I never thought Gokor would have had anything for Ken – even in straight grappling – and I really appreciate the confirmation!
As a fellow man with Viking heritage, a can appreciate this!
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Were you there for Ken rolling with Oleg?
How did that go?
I have read about an incident where Ken beat Oleg so bad, that Oleg locked himself in the bathroom afterwards.
Do you remember that, and can you elaborate on it a little?
Also… was there ever anyone who came in and gave Ken legit trouble on the mats?
Also…
What is your overall impression of The Lion’s Den’s influence on the evolution of MMA.
Do you feel like you were part of something special, and carry that with pride?
Basically…what is your hindsight view of things as it applies to you personally??
Thanks for asking brother. I have traumatic brain damage. I have no front lobe,no doc knows why I’m alive,both shoulders are destroyed and need total replacement,right knee needs to be replaced, left ankle needs stabilizing with screws and parts and whatever, arthritis in hands and feet, 3 kinds of skin cancer. And the cherry on the top is because of the brain damage I’m a 8.5 outta 10 schizophrenic and have delusions of psychosis. Shit happens. 
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I’m sorry to hear that. I hope that you have something that you find comfort in
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This thread is monumental.
Keep up the insightful questions please.
Thanks S. Bessac.
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then u should fit right in, here on the UG
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I do,my son my tomcat,lil sister all give me something to protect and that’s what makes me feel that I am still the protector and helper
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If you could pick one “behind the scenes” story about the Lions Den that would be most surprising/shocking to old school fans-- involving yourself, Ken, or whoever – what would it be??
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I could ask questions for days.
I’m from Sacramento, and if I had known at the time you guys were right down the road, I would have shown up to get my ass kicked.
I appreciate you taking the time to answer questions, and I’ll stop asking for now and see how the thread progresses before I ask any more.
These are the kind of threads that make the UG great.
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with your brain condition, do u still laugh at funny stuff?