“I came to a realization in 1999 of how important striking was going to become in this sport because it's the most efficient way to finish a fight.”

American former professional mixed martial artist

Frank Shamrock is an American former professional mixed martial artist. He was the first UFC Middleweight Champion, and during that period he was widely regarded as the promotion’s top pound-for-pound fighter. Shamrock also won titles in other organizations, including the interim King of Pancrase title, the WEC Light Heavyweight Championship, and the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship. He is remembered as one of the early all-around mixed martial artists, known for developing a more versatile style from a ground-based approach, and he holds a seventh-degree black belt in submission fighting.