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The Beast in the Middle East – Bob Sapp

22.02.2011
The Beast in the Middle East – Bob Sapp

Bob “The Beast” Sapp will be fighting against one of the toughest fighters from the UK, Stav “Crazy Bear” Economou, who is an English mixed martial artist of Cypriot descent, fights at heavyweight. He is known for his rotund figure, and strange hairstyles. He an impressive MMA record of 10 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw. This fight will be featured in the 3rd Round of ADFC which is taking place in the 11th of March, 2011 at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi - UAE.

Biography:
Robert Malcolm "Bob" Sapp (born September 22, 1974) is an American kickboxer, mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, actor and former professional American football player. Sapp currently has an MMA record of 11–6–1, mostly fighting in Japan. He is well-known in Japan, where he has appeared in countless commercials, television programs, and various other media, and has released a music CD, It's Sapp Time. He also appeared in an episode of the HBO program Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. He is currently working sporadically for various MMA promotions in the U.S., Japan, Europe, and the UAE.

As an Actor:
He acted in a number of movies, such as:

  • Conan the Barbarian (2011) as Ukafa
  • Blood and Bone (2009) as Hammerman
  • Frankenhood (2009) as Frankie
  • Big Stan (2009)
  • The Longest Yard (2005) as Switowski
  • Elektra (2005) as Stone
  • Devilman (2005) as World Newscaster
  • Izo (2004)
  • Taiho Shichauzo (2003) as Bob

As a kickboxer & a mixed martial artist:

  • Pride Fighting Championships

    Sapp was subsequently recruited by the Japanese MMA organization Pride, where he quickly became a fan favorite due to his size and aggression. After a number of successes in Pride, Sapp was then invited by Kazuyoshi Ishii to K-1. Ishii, inventor of the fighting sport K-1, saw in Sapp the combination of great potential and great marketability.

    After arriving in Japan, Sapp fought a number of low level Japanese fighters, winning all his bouts through sheer strength and size. During this time fans were first introduced to Sapp's "bullrush" technique, whereby he would rush an opponent with punches, quickly overwhelming them. Pride and K-1 collaborated to create a show billed "Dynamite" in Japan and "Shockwave" in the United States. He faced then-champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Sapp was defeated and shortly afterward moved to K-1.

  • K-1

    Despite losing his first fight by disqualification, Sapp was initially successful in K-1. He twice defeated four-time K-1 champion Ernesto Hoost by technical knockout. He became an overnight sensation in Japan afterwards, appearing on numerous television shows, advertisements, and movie cameos such as in the big screen adaptation of Devilman. K-1 heads, trying to strike while the iron was hot and hoping to duplicate the success of Sapp, made a new fighting division called "Beast" (Sapp's nickname), which featured larger fighters such as Hong Man Choi. However, the division was stopped after two events due to disappointing reviews and gate takes.

    At the height of his success, there was talk and promotion of a fight between him and the former boxing Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson. The two had a face to face confrontation immediately after Sapp's victory in Las Vegas over Kimo. K-1 signed Tyson to a contract and the fight looked to be on. However, Tyson's status as a convicted felon made him unable to get a visa to fight in Japan where the fight would have been most profitable. Other locations for the proposed fight were made, but negotiations ended up dissipating to nothing and the fight never came off.

    In June 2005, Sapp won the K-1 Japan Grand Prix in Hiroshima to become one of 16 fighters qualified for the 2005 K-1 World GP. In the Japan GP, Sapp showcased greatly improved stamina, as well as better technique, than in his previous fights after intensive training under Sam Greco. In the K-1 2005 World GP Eliminations he lost by decision to "The Techno Goliath" Choi Hong-man.

    Sapp's initial success with his intimidating, blind chase-and-punch method (which he dubbed as "NFL Style") slowly petered out into disqualifications for bullrushing and punching after referee breaks. Additionally, experienced opponents discovered Sapp's weak points—his vulnerable mid-section and legs as well as his limited stamina. He also engaged in an ineffective but entertaining defensive stance consisting of cowering away from attacks and spinning around in a circle.

    He did participate in 2007's K-1 event in the Amsterdam Arena, fighting as a replacement for Remy Bonjasky, against Peter Aerts. Sapp, however, lost the fight at KO within 20 seconds in the first round by a knee to the liver. While Sapp was being led from the ring, Aerts apologized to the fans in Dutch for the short bout as well as berated his fallen opponent.

    After his falling out with K-1, Sapp began to get offers from WWE as well as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) to work with them, but his K-1 contract prohibited him from going through with any return to the ring.

    Sapp made a surprise return to the K-1 ring in Japan after a two-year absence against comedian and part time K-1 competitor Bobby Ologun. Ologun was unable to mount any effective offense as he was quickly run down and overpowered by Sapp in the 1st round.

  • Cage Rage:

    On February 10, 2007 it was announced by the United Kingdom's Cage Rage promotion that Sapp would appear on its Cage Rage 21 event on April 21, facing Gary Turner. The move is partly a retaliatory one, as the UFC had chosen to run its first British show in years that same night at the Manchester Evening News Arena, headlined by Mirko "Cro Cop", Andrei Arlovski and British star Michael Bisping. Though Cage Rage promoter Andy Geer said that the UFC show would not affect ticket sales for CR21, the signing of Sapp was a clear sign that the company knew it would need a superstar draw in order to successfully compete with the American promotion. A few days before the event Bob Sapp pulled out of the scheduled fight. On short notice, Tank Abbott stepped in for Sapp and lost to Gary Turner.

  • Strikeforce, Dream and FEG:

    Sapp faced the South African fighter Jan "The Giant" Nortje at the Strikeforce: At the Dome event in Tacoma, Washington, at the Tacoma Dome on February 23, 2008. Sapp was defeated at the 55 second mark of the first round by TKO after receiving an unanswered torrent of punches. Sapp then returned to Japan on New Year's Eve 2008 and defeated Akihito Tanaka via first round TKO.

    Sapp lost to Japanese Ikuhisa Minowa at Dream 9 on May 26, 2009,[10] due to Achilles lock. He fought and lost to Bobby Lashley at Ultimate Chaos in Biloxi, Mississippi, on June 27, 2009, due to first round tapout from strikes. On October 6, Sapp stood in for an injured Gegard Mousasi to face Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in the semifinals at Dream 11.[11] He lost via TKO (punches) in the first round.

    On November 27, Sapp fought against Swedish K-1 veteran Jörgen Kruth. The fight got a lot of publicity in Swedish and international press, but ended with an anticlimax when Sapp's corner threw in the towel after only 45 seconds, after Kruth hit Sapp with a knee to the liver.

    Sapp was next going to face Stav Economou at BAMMA 5, but BAMMA 5 has been canceled due to extreme weather conditions.

    Sapp was scheduled to fight at K1 Dynamite!! 2010. He was set to battle Shinichi Suzukawa on New Years Eve in a Pancrase-style matchup, but pulled out at the last minute due to contract disputes. When questioned about Sapp’s refusal to fight on the day of the event, FEG President Sadaharu Tanikawa asked, “Does anyone actually care? I don’t know the reasons why, but we did our best to make him fight. He just said he didn’t want to. This is typical [of Sapp].”But Sapp claims that the promoters were contracted to pay him $30,000 for the fight, but that Tanikawa offered him $15,000 shortly after he arrived in Japan for the event. Sapp refused to fight for half of the original purse.

    Tanikawa has also stated that Sapp "should not be considered as a normal person," and is "the worst, most lamentable dust man."

Championships and accomplishments:

  • K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 in Hiroshima Tournament Winner
  • 2002 Best Box Office Draw- K-1, PRIDE Fighting Championships
  • 2003 Best Box Office Draw- K-1, PRIDE Fighting Championships
  • 2002 Rookie of the Year- K-1, PRIDE Fighting Championships
  • Black Belt Magazine- 2003 NHB Fighter of the Year
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter- Most Charismatic (2003)
  • New Japan Pro Wrestling- IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • World Wrestling Association (South Korea)- WWA (South Korea) World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Bob Sapp – MMA Record

  • Name: Bob Sapp
  • Nick Name: The Beast
  • Record: 11 - 6 - 0 (Win - Loss - Draw)
  • Wins: 7 (T) KOs (63.64 %)
  • 3 Submissions: (27.27 %)
  • 1 Other: (9.09 %)
  • Losses: 2 (T) KOs (33.33 %)
  • 4 Submissions: (66.67 %)
  • Height: 6'5" (196cm)
  • Weight: 350lbs (159kg)
  • Birth Date: 22-09-1972
  • City: Seattle, Washington
  • Country: U.S.