Frank Shamrock vs Phil Baroni?

Just would like anyones opinion on who is going to win Friday's fight between Shamrock and Baroni? I got tickets and will be there. Frank Shamrock seems all talk now and days. I have a feeling Phil Baroni is going to knock him out. Frank was getting owned by Renzo Gracie and decided to cheat to get out of the fight. Also frank has not really fought anyyone for around 8 years.

Frank Shamrock vs Phil Baroni?
I like both of these fighters and I think it will be an exciting match.





My expectations are that Baroni will come out swinging. Frank has very solid stand-up game from training with Maurice Smith, one of the best kick-boxers of this generation. This match might look a lot like Tito Ortiz vs. Frank Shamrock, though no one can say who will win this one.





Baroni is physically stronger. I expect him to throw a few strikes then eventually go for a take-down. Frank has a very good guard especially after working with TK. Baroni is going to use ground and pound, and Frank is counting on this taking a lot of energy out of his stronger opponent.





Either Baroni will win by knockout or TKO or he will gas out and get knocked out himself, or submitted. Frank Shamrock is capable of both, while I don't think Baroni has the skills to submit Frank.





Unless we see a first round knockout I am betting this match will go to the judges, and Frank will win a split decision.
Reply:It should be a good and I still can't decide. In my opinion if Phil doesn't KO Frank in the first, Frank will win. If I had to bet though I'd put my money on Frank.
Reply:Here is an article I wrote for a new MMA magazine, let me know what you think:





With June 22nd just a few weeks away, it seems that fans will finally get to see Phil Baroni and Frank Shamrock tee off. Many wonder if the fight will live up to the hype? The New York Badass went as far as posting challenges on internet forums, while Frank has chosen Youtube as his trash-talk outlet.


If one were to look at the records of both fighters they would see that they are mostly evenly matched with Shamrock getting the edge with more experience. Both fighters gained their popularity while combating in the UFC. While Frank entered the octagon with a 13-7-1 record, it was in the octagon that Baroni began to show why he is called the New York badass. But it was only after Shamrock vacated the title after going undefeated inside the octagon that Baroni stepped in.


Looking back one has to give Shamrock respect for his accomplishments, but seeing as how that was all of 8 years ago there is a lot more to this story. In 1999 Frank Shamrock retired from MMA claiming he was the best and feeling confident that he had proved as much. He made comebacks in both K-1 and the WEC, but it was Strikeforce that got the hype rolling again as he defeated Cesar Gracie in just 21 seconds. Now as he returns to Strikeforce he faces a much more serious challenger, Phil Baroni, on a fight card that seems to overshadow the upcoming UFC event that takes place just one week earlier.


While Shamrock has accumulated only 3 wins against mediocre competition from 2000 to the present, it was during this period that Phil Baroni made a name for himself. Racking up wins over Amar Suloev, Ikuhisa Minowa, Ryo Chonan, and Yuki Kondo, but it was his impressive 18 second knock-out of former Middleweight Champion Dave Menne that set the tone for his career, showcasing his style of powerful punches delivered with lightning quick speed.


When a fighter like Baroni touches gloves you know it could be very easily be lights out for his opponent, while Shamrock is always dangerous on the ground. So is this a classic striker vs. grappler match-up? Some would deem so, while others will point out that both fighters have stepped up their game and are well rounded competitors.


Shamrock is widely regarded for his conditioning, having shaped Tito Ortiz into the cardio-machine he is today, this could be a key factor that could give the advantage to Frank. Baroni is a power puncher and has on more than one occasion punched himself out, if the fight goes into round 3 I see Shamrock taking over.


But while confidence is almost always an advantage for a fighter, it seems that Frank has begun to buy into his own hype, thinking himself the Muhammad Ali of MMA. He has had his success, but the sport has come a long way since 2000, and few would argue that the talent pool has become far deeper.


Many fighters over the years have dominated their divisions only to have the competition catch-up to them and become written off as has-beens, and very few have retired and come back to regain their former glory. This is really Frank’s opportunity to show the world that he belongs in the MMA hall of fame alongside Randy Couture, or if he is destined to follow in the footsteps of Mark Kerr. While Baroni has his pride on the line and it seems is more excited at the opportunity to punch the “legendary” Frank Shamrock in the face than the payday that will follow.


So what will it be, a knock-out for Baroni, submission for Shamrock, or are we all in for a surprise? If one were to judge by the betting lines it would appear that Shamrock will enter the ring for the first time in a long while as the underdog. Regardless, one thing is for sure, June 22nd both men will enter the ring and only one will leave the victor, and I can only assume the post fight comments will be just as heated as the pre-fight trash talk.
Reply:.
Reply:Frank shamrock via submisssion
Reply:Baroni better end it quick otherwise Frank is going to tool him however he wants to. Frank hasn't fought anyone in around 8 years??? Who has Baroni ever fought that wasn't a total can?? I say Shamrock by heel hook 2nd round.


THE BEST HEEL HOOK EVA!!!!! ( little Baroni flavor to it)
Reply:The only thing I think Phil Baroni has is a punchers chance, He is very strong and has the power to knock him out with one punch. Thats the only way I can see Phil having a chance....If Frank takes him to the ground its over, Baroni has no real skill on the ground, Frank is one of the best submission grappler's in mma...


Therefore I think Frank is going to win by submission....





Looks like a good fight though.
Reply:I give the NYBA a little more than a punchers chance. I do hate Phils cardio, thats his biggest weakness. Ive seen him gas in the second round in many fights, and his punches become wild and have no steam on them, and he gets flat footed. I think if Frank can avoid getting hit with the big punch early, he can wear down Phil and eventually take him down and submit him. So I give more than a slight edge to Frank, but wouldnt be surprised at all by a Baroni KO.
Reply:Frank kicked his *** standing and on the ground with a bum knee. I can't believe anyone would be stupid enough to say Frank got owned by Gracie. Frank did get taken down but while on the ground he just held Renzo there while he punished him with knee strikes to the body. You could here Renzo grunt all over the arena. Frank just played with him. Why do you think Renzo gave up so easy? Renzo has always been tough as nails and took way more than that knee and kept fighting. Frank had come close to knocking him out on their feet twice and when Renzo took him down he was unable to work cause Frank just held him on top of him while he destroyed his ribs with knees. I hope Renzo has the guts to get in the ring with him again and soon.