This Week’s MMA Birthdays: Ken Shamrock Turns 50

Ken Shamrock turns 50 this week. | Chris Dela Cruz/Sherdog.com

Known as “The World’s Most Dangerous Man,” Ultimate Fighting Championship hall of famer Ken Shamrock will celebrate his 50th birthday on Feb. 11.

Shamrock touched off his trailblazing mixed martial arts career in September 1993 and competed at UFC 1 two months later. He went on to become the UFC’s first superfight champion -- an open weight designation that was used prior to the introduction of formal weight classes. Shamrock, who also held the open weight King of Pancrase crown, founded the famed Lion’s Den training camp, engaged Tito Ortiz in one of MMA’s most lucrative rivalries and served as a coach on Season 3 of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series. Shamrock compiled a 7-6-2 record in the UFC, losing four of his final five matches inside the Octagon. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame alongside Royce Gracie at UFC 45 in 2003.

A Macon, Ga., native, Shamrock secured 23 of his 28 career wins by submission. He last competed under the King of the Cage banner in November 2010, when he suffered a leg injury and succumbed to first-round punches from journeyman Mike Bourke. Shamrock also dabbled in the professional wrestling industry, appearing in both World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

Those in MMA celebrating a birthday during the week covering Feb. 8-Feb. 15:

FEB. 9

Mark Munoz (36)
Charlie Brenneman (33)
Jake Rosholt (32)
Jake Hecht (30)
Felipe Arantes (26)

FEB. 10

Matt Horwich (36)
Nick Ring (35)
Mariusz Radziszewski (30)

FEB. 11

Ken Shamrock (50)
Stephen Thompson (31)

FEB. 12

Jon Madsen (34)

FEB. 13

Elvis Sinosic (43)
Anthony Lapsley (34)

FEB. 14

Micah Miller (27)
Chris Mierzwiak (26)
Jayson Jones (25)

FEB. 15

Brian Rogers (30)
Steven Siler (27)
Ciro Rodrigues (25)

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