(PRESS RELEASE) -- The latest in UFCFIGHTPASS.com’s well-received Fightography series is now live, and features the legendary UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock. In addition to listing every Shamrock fight currently in the UFC FIGHT PASS library – that’s 20 fights from the UFC, PRIDE and EliteXC spanning 15 years – the collection also features a brand-new, ahem, “no-holds barred” interview with the icon on his historic feud with Royce Gracie.
In the Fightography interview, Shamrock says the deck was stacked against him in the first fight, and after tapping out to a choke he became “obsessed” with getting revenge over the BJJ master.
Shamrock said: “I knew Royce was the guy the promoters were highlighting; I knew he was their guy, but I didn’t think he knew much of anything all that well. I was really cocky at the time. I really thought I was the man. I was unprepared (for Royce). I thought ‘What is THIS?’”
“But, at the same time, Royce’s camp knew I was the only threat to them and they figured out ways to make it more difficult for me.”
Shamrock believes the last-minute decision to not allow him to wear his wrestling shoes in the brand-new Octagon played a significant role in his loss; he also pointed out Royce was allowed to fight wearing a gi which was used “as a weapon” in the fight.
An emotional Shamrock, now 50, blasts Royce for pulling out mid-way through the UFC 3 tournament, rather than face him, and said original UFC match-maker Art Davie forced Royce to take the “Superfight” rematch at UFC 5.
Of that infamous 30-plus minute bout, which ended in a draw because back then there were no judges or points-decisions, Shamrock said: “If we had the fight the way it was supposed to be, the way the contract was signed, no time limit, no rules, things would have been different.”
Shamrock added: “When I speak here, talking about these old fights, my old emotions come back but, really, those emotions aren’t there anymore. I respect Royce. I respect what he did, and the legacy that Royce and I left behind with that rivalry.”
An embeddable preview is available from YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWiFmNLYpXE&list
The interview can be seen here:
http://www.ufc.tv/video/fightography-ken-shamrock
And the full collection here:
http://www.ufc.tv/category/fightography-ken-shamrock