Bob Sapp
From OTMWiki
| Bob Sapp | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Nickname | The Beast |
| Height | 6'7" (200 cm) |
| Weight | 340 lb (145 kg) |
| Born | September 22, 1972 |
| Fighting out of | Washington, USA |
| Town of birth | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Fighting style | |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Wins | 8 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By submission | 2 |
| Losses | 2 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | |
Bob "The Beast" Sapp (born September 22, 1972 in Colorado Springs, Colorado) is an American kickboxer, mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and former world champion professional wrestler. Sapp currently has an MMA record of 8-2-1 as of December 2005, mostly fighting in Korea and Japan. He is well-known in Japan, where he has appeared in commercials, television programs, and has released a music CD entitled "It's Sapp Time". Sapp also appeared in an episode of the HBO program Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. In Japan he has appeared in 23 commercials, 200 times on TV, in 1000 interviews, on 200 products with his name or image, as an author or subject of 4 books (according to his self-introduction in the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 11 August 2003).
Contents |
Biography
Bob Sapp is known as "The Beast". Contrary to popular belief, Bob Sapp is not related to Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp. Sapp began his athletic career in college football as a standout offensive lineman for the University of Washington, where he won the Morris Award. Expected by some to get high notice from pro scouts in the 1997 NFL draft, he slipped to the third round before being chosen by the Chicago Bears at 69th overall. Although Sapp was under pro contract for the next four seasons (with four different teams, each of which cut him within that season), he appeared in only one regular season game before failing a mandatory NFL steroids test and washing out of the league.
Bob Sapp's first taste of competitive fighting came when he fought (and defeated) William "The Refrigerator" Perry in a Toughman boxing special promoted by the FX channel. He was subsequently recruited by the Japanese MMA organization PRIDE, where he quickly became a fan favorite due to his preternatural size and aggressiveness. 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.
Pro Wrestling
Bob Sapp's pro-wrestling career started in NWA Wildside in 2001. He was briefly contracted by World Championship Wrestling as a developmental wrestler, but he washed out of the program. In 2004, Sapp competed for New Japan Pro Wrestling, winning their prestigious IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, though it was vacated shortly thereafter due to a mixed martial arts fight loss and film commitments. Sapp had roles in Elektra and the 2005 remake of The Longest Yard, starring Adam Sandler and Burt Reynolds.
PRIDE
After arriving in Japan, Sapp fought a number of well-regarded 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 "Dynomite" 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. Sapp's initial success with his intimidating, blind chase-and-punch method slowly petered out into disqualifications for bullrushing and punching after referee breaks. Additionally, experienced opponents discovered Sapp's weak points—his weak chin and legs. In what marked the beginning of his K-1 decline, Sapp was knocked out by Croatian Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic in 86 seconds at the March 30, 2003, Saitama event. After Filipovic landed several solid kicks to his sides and legs, an overhand left broke Sapp's orbital bone.
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.
On May 13 2006, Sapp was to headline the K-1 show in Holland. His opponent was Ernesto Hoost. Hoost stated in previous interviews and the interview on that show that this was to be his last match in Holland before his retirement. Sapp attended all the pre-fight press conferences and even attended the opening ceremonies for the show. It is unclear at the moment as to why, but Sapp pulled out of the event midway through the show.
K-1 issued a statement claiming Sapp pulled out due to new demands he brought to promoters during the show. K-1 would not agree to those demands since they felt their written contract was final and Sapp left. The full K-1 press release can be viewed on the organization's website.
Sapp has not issued a statement, but a different point of view on the events that occurred can be read at http://www.mmaringreport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=857&Itemid=53.
Championships and accomplishments
New Japan Pro Wrestling
- 1-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
- 2005 K-1 Japan GP Champion
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- 2002 Best Box Office Draw
- 2002 Rookie of the Year
- 2003 Best Box Office Draw
- 2003 Most Charismatic Wrestler
MMA Record
8 wins (5 KO's, 2 submissions, 1 other), 2 losses (2 submissions), 1 draw. Sapp currently has a Mixed Martial Arts record of 8-2-1 as of November 5, 2005, mostly fighting in Korea and Japan.
| 11/5/2005 | Win | Kim Jong Wang | K-1-Seoul Hero's | KO | Round 1, 0:08 |
| 7/6/2005 | Win | Alan Karaev | K-1-Hero's 2 | KO (Punch) | Round 1, 3:44 |
| 3/26/2005 | Win | Min Soo Kim | K-1-Hero's 1 | KO (Punch) | Round 1, 1:12 |
| 12/31/2004 | Draw | Jerome LeBanner | K-1-Premium 2004 Dynamite | Draw | Round 4, 3:00 |
| 5/22/2004 | Loss | Kazuyuki Fujita | K-1 MMA-ROMANEX | Submission (Strikes) | Round 1, 2:15 |
| 3/14/2004 | Win | Sumiyabazar Dolgorsuren | K-1-Beast 2004 | Towel (Groin Injury) | Round 1, 5:00 |
| 9/21/2003 | Win | Stefan Gamlin | K-1-Japan Grand Prix 2003 | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | Round 1, 0:52 |
| 12/31/2002 | Win | Yoshihiro Takayama | Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2002-K-1 vs Inoki | Submission (Armbar) | Round 1, 2:16 |
| 8/28/2002 | Loss | Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira | PRIDE Shockwave | Submission (Armbar) | Round 2, 4:03 |
| 6/23/2002 | Win | Kiyoshi Tamura | PRIDE 21 | TKO (Punches) | Round 1, 0:11 |
| 4/28/2002 | Win | Yoshihisa Yamamoto | PRIDE 20 | TKO (Strikes) | Round 1, 2:44 |
Filmography
- The Longest Yard (2005) as Switowski
- Elektra (2005) as Stone
- Devilman (2005) as World Newscaster
- Izo (2004)
- Taiho Shichauzo (2003) as Bob Hage
- Bob Sapp: Sapp Time The Movie! (2003) documentary
Endorsements and Products
- Various minor consumables and promotion materials (mouse pads, trading cards, coffee mugs, tote bags, T shirts, apple crunch cakes...et cetera)
- Sapp Time!—Rap CD EP; # 28 JPN
Occupations
- U.S., the National Football League Japanese spokesman
- Northwest Airlines' Seattle to Tokyo route ambassador
Cultural notability
Bob Sapp has been referenced in the Tekken series of fighting games designed by Namco. The character Craig Marduk is based on Bob Sapp both in appearance and fighting style (even down to trademark moves). The influence has never been officially confirmed by Namco.
