Cung Le defeated Frank Shamrock tonight in San Jose to win the Strikeforce mixed martial arts middleweight title, putting together an impressive kickboxing display and pummeling Shamrock in the third round to prevent the champion from answering the bell for the fourth.
It was clear that Le was the better kickboxer and that Shamrock would have the advantage if they went to the ground, so Le wouldn't go to the ground. When Le knocked Shamrock to the canvas in the second round and again in the third, he didn't even try to capitalize. Instead he simply stood there and allowed Shamrock to get back to his feet, where Le was at the advantage.
Shamrock and Le engaged in some smack talk during the fight; Shamrock's mouth piece fell out twice when he opened his mouth to talk. But Shamrock stopped talking late in the third, when Le brutalized him with a roundhouse that left him staggered at the end of the round. When Shamrock went to his corner after the third, he had an apparent broken arm that prevented him from continuing the fight.
"Cung Le broke my right arm with a kick. I felt the bones clicking," Shamrock said in the cage after the fight. "He was the better champion."
Le, who had a long career as a professional kickboxer before switching to mixed martial arts, improves to 6-0 in MMA. Shamrock, who has bounced around various MMA and quasi-MMA organizations, falls to 24-9-1.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. What a fight! Cung Le is the man! I appreciate what the Shamrock's have done for the sport, but it's time to move over for the upcomers! That was a San Shou exhibition!
Posted at 11:18PM on Mar 29th 2008 by Doug
2. Is Cung Le ready for Anderson Silva or not?
Posted at 11:26PM on Mar 29th 2008 by mbhey101
3. After defeating "TALKING" Frank Shamrock, the all humble and soft-spoken Cung Le deserves everyone's attention and support for recognition and respect in order climb up the ladder in the world of MMA, especially in the octagon of UFC. The only way we, the fans, can see the ultimate match-up between Cung Le and Anderson Silva is to make his name known wherever or however we can.Thanks.
Posted at 2:20AM on Mar 30th 2008 by saigonkick
4. if le and silva fight they should make it a mandatory STAND UP FIGHT. iF IT GOES TO THE GROUND SILVA WILL KILL HIM
damn caps lock
Posted at 2:38AM on Mar 30th 2008 by joe
5. Cung has never lost a fight since he became a pro. Anderson Silva would stand up with Cung for a round, maybe, until he realizes what everyone else does when they fight Cung, brutal power with any kick from any angle. Cung is alot faster and more acurate than SIlva. Silva has the reach, but Cung is the better all around stand up guy. Long story short, Silva better take Cung down or he will meet the same ending as Frank.
Posted at 10:44AM on Mar 31st 2008 by Chris
6. Le is the better all-around stand up guy? Look, he looked good against Frank Shamrock, but Shamrock is not nearly as skillfull at striking as Silva. Even though Frank doesn't have Silva's speed, reach, or repertoire, he still landed some nice clean shots that stunned Le. If Anderson lands one, five more are coming behind it (ask Leben). Wins with kicks, punches, knees, elbows...Even if I agreed that Le was a better all-around striker (and I don't), Silva is certainly the better all-around fighter.
Posted at 1:44PM on Mar 31st 2008 by ron e
7. It's swell to see the big-mouthed bully get his arse handed to him. Frank's technique of mocking a fighter after he lands a shot is nothing short of disgusting. What a wimp. He was thoroughly "owned" by Cung Le. LOVE IT. Then, there's Ken Shamrock (the biggest JOKE to ever hit MMA). I have to laugh.
Posted at 5:41PM on Mar 31st 2008 by Silva's Dad
8. Wow where to start, lets see Dan Henderson would dominate Cung Le and the spider dominated Dan so yeah no contest. Thats pretty funny though guys...
Posted at 4:02AM on Apr 1st 2008 by Whosetalkingnow
9. joe losing by submission (CAPS LOCK). you should write standing up, buddy. lol
kidding aside, le vs. silva could be a great fight. i don't think anderson silva would let his ego stand in his way like shamrock seemed to do, so we might find out how versatile le actually is.
Posted at 9:58AM on Apr 1st 2008 by luis
10. anderson silva vs cung le. Hell, promoters should sell tickets ranging from $100 to $10,000 per ticket!!!! i will pay $1000 to see that fight! it will be the greatest fight in at least 10 years! for now, cung le has to again prove to the mma world that he is truly someone special by fighting Misaki or some contender in that order. next is henderson, then baroni. you know it. if cung wins all of these 3 guys, anderson silva has no choice but to give cung le a chance to face him in the cage (ufc will have no choice either). only then will we know how well cung avoid the take down because you and i both know that anderson will not shy in the ground game.
Posted at 2:13AM on Apr 2nd 2008 by Henry
11. Anderson Silva is one of the greatest stand-up fighters ever, and as same as Cung. Don't you guys know that Cung Le is a champ in wrestling and also practice Jujitsu. And also, Anderson Silva lost most of hight fights to Asian fighters only. The reason Asian fighters beat him because they're smart fighters. I wonder what bone will Cung Le break off Anderson. Maybe Cheek bone, rib bone, or chin bone perhap
Posted at 11:32AM on Apr 2nd 2008 by tommy
12. Until Cung gets beat, you can talk all you want about who would dominate him, fact is no one has! Yeah, Frank landed some shots, mainly because Cung though frank was going to shoot in on him and did'nt move his head. Most would have been knocked out by that shot, but Cung has a really good chin. Frank also tried to take Cung down a couple of times but people don't realize that Cung is a very good wrestler and has good takedown defense. Stop hatin people, I know you can't stand to see a guy like Cung Le become a force in MMA because everyone thinks he can't fight on the ground, but you have to get him to the ground first, and with that nasty sidekick he will make you think twice about shooting on him.
Posted at 12:09PM on Apr 2nd 2008 by Chris
13. Cung Le is a cheater, just look at the size of his head and you can tell hes on HGH.
http://www.isteroids.com/blog/elitexcstrikeforce-frank-shamrock-vs-cung-le-and-steroids/
Posted at 12:49AM on Apr 3rd 2008 by joe
14. How can someone say Cung Le is on HGH because his head's too big without saying a thing about Frank Shamrock. Cung Le looks completely normal, especially compared to the Rocky 6 face on Frank Shamrock. Stop making excuses for your favorite fighter and realize he was beat, fair and square. If Shamrock had taken it to the mat, he may have won, but a fighter should fight to win, not to placate his ego. This said, all Shamrock fans, stop making excuses. Cung Le was the better fighter in this matchup.
Posted at 4:19AM on Apr 3rd 2008 by chad soland
15. This was a good fight to watch but I wouldn't say either fighter dominated. It was also evident that something was wrong with Shamrock's right arm when, as MD Smith put it: "Shamrock stopped talking late in the third, when Le brutalized him with a roundhouse that left him staggered at the end of the round". Shamrock had Le on the ropes and it appeared Le was finished. Then, Shamrock backed off. Something was obviously wrong with Shamrock and the round came to an end with Le striking Shamrock with a roundhouse kick to the head. Le won the fight and he did so with style. I have never cared much for Shamrock, but he earned my respect in this fight for being a true fighter. This fight was a whole lot closer than some make it appear.
Posted at 9:32PM on Apr 3rd 2008 by astranine