Bob Sapp

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Bob Sapp
Statistics
Nickname	The Beast
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight	322 lb (146 kg; 23.0 st)[1]
Nationality	American
Born	September 22, 1973 (1973-09-22) (age 35)
Fighting out of	Washington D.C.
Town of birth	Colorado Springs, Colorado
Mixed martial arts record
Wins	10
By knockout	7
By submission	2
Losses	5
Draws	1

Bob Sapp
Date of birth:	September 22, 1973 (1973-09-22) (age 35)
Place of birth:	Colorado Springs, Colorado
Career information
Position(s):	Offensive linemen
Jersey №:	78
College:	Washington
NFL Draft:	1997 / Round: 3
Organizations
As player:
1997 1998 1999 2000	Chicago Bears Minnesota Vikings Baltimore Ravens Oakland Raiders
Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Robert Malcolm Sapp^[2](born September 22, 1973) is an American kickboxer, mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter and former world champion professional wrestler and former professional American football player. Sapp currently has an MMA record of 10-5-1, mostly fighting in Japan but most recently against Bobby Lashley. He is well-known in Japan, where he has appeared in countless commercials, television programs, and various other media, and has released a music CD, It's Sapp Time. He also appeared in an episode of the HBO program Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. He is currently wrestling for HUSTLE and has tentatively returned to fighting for K-1.

Contents 1 American football career 2 Professional wrestling 3 Mixed martial arts career 3.1 Pride Fighting Championships 3.2 K-1 3.3 Cage Rage 3.4 Strikeforce, Dream and PFC 4 Championships and accomplishments 4.1 Kickboxing 4.2 Professional wrestling 5 MMA record 6 Kickboxing Record 7 Filmography 8 References 9 External links

[edit] American football career

Bob 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 69th overall. Although Sapp was under pro contract for the next four seasons (Chicago Bears 1997, Minnesota Vikings 1998, Baltimore Ravens 1999, and Oakland Raiders 2000,^[3] each of which cut him within that season), he appeared in only one regular season game before leaving football. Sapp went on to fight (and defeat) William "The Refrigerator" Perry in a Toughman boxing special promoted by FX in 2000.

[edit] Professional wrestling

Bob Sapp's pro-wrestling career started in NWA Wildside in 2001. He was quickly contracted by World Championship Wrestling as a developmental wrestler, before the company was bought out by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) (at that time WWF).

In 2004, Sapp competed for New Japan Pro Wrestling, winning their IWGP Heavyweight Championship, though it was vacated shortly thereafter due to a mixed martial arts fight loss and film commitments.

On October 16, 2007, Bob Sapp made a surprise appearance at HUSTLE's Korakuen Hall event. Attacking Razor Ramon HG and his partner. Sapp aligned himself with Generalissimo Takada's MONSTER Army. He also announced that he would wrestle at the HUSTLE Mania 11/25 Yokohama Arena event.^[4]

His opponent was confirmed to be Razor Ramon HG on November 4, 2007,^[5] and defeated him in the resultant match.

[edit] Mixed martial arts career

[edit] Pride Fighting Championships

Sapp was subsequently recruited by the Japanese MMA organization Pride, where he quickly became a fan favorite due to his size and aggression. 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.

After arriving in Japan, Sapp fought a number of low level 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 "Dynamite" 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.

[edit] 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 vulnerable mid-section and legs as well as his limited stamina. He also engaged in an ineffective but entertaining defensive stance consisting of cowering away from attacks and spinning around in a circle. In what marked the beginning of his K-1 decline, Sapp was knocked out by Croatian Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović in 86 seconds at the March 30, 2003, Saitama event. After Filipović landed several solid kicks to his sides and legs, an overhand left broke Sapp's orbital bone. In May 2004 he tapped out while on the ground due to kicks and strikes from Kazuyuki Fujita.

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.^[6]

However, he did participate in 2007's K-1 event in the Amsterdam Arena, fighting as a replacement for Remy Bonjasky, against Peter Aerts. Sapp, however, lost the fight at KO within 20 seconds in the first round by a knee.

He most recently has been getting offers from WWE again as well as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) to work with them, but his K-1 contract is prohibiting him from going through with any return to the ring.

Sapp made a surprise return to the K-1 ring after a 2 year absence against comedian and part time K-1 competitor Bobby Ologun. Ologun was unable to mount any effective offense as he was quickly run down and overpowered by Sapp in the 1st round.

Sapp was also known to beat Butterbean and Gary Goodridge in a Sumo rules K-1 tournament in 2001.

[edit] Cage Rage

On February 10, 2007 it was announced by the United Kingdom's Cage Rage promotion that Sapp would appear on its Cage Rage 21 event on April 21, facing Gary Turner. The move is partly a retaliatory one, as the UFC had chosen to run its first British show in years that same night at the Manchester Evening News Arena, headlined by Mirko "Cro Cop", Andrei Arlovski and British star Michael Bisping. Though Cage Rage promoter Andy Geer said that the UFC show would not affect ticket sales for CR21, the signing of Sapp was a clear sign that the company knew it would need a superstar draw in order to successfully compete with the American promotion. A few days before the event Bob Sapp pulled out of the scheduled fight. At short notice, Tank Abbott stepped in and lost to Turner.

[edit] Strikeforce, Dream and PFC

Bob Sapp faced the South African fighter Jan "The Giant" Nortje at the Strikeforce: At The Dome event in Tacoma, Washington at the Tacoma Dome on February 23, 2008. Sapp was defeated at the 55 second mark of the first round by TKO after receiving a cut over his left eye.

Sapp lost to Japanese Ikuhisa Minowa at Dream 9 on May 26, 2009,^[7] due to Achilles lock. He fought and lost to Bobby Lashley at Ultimate Chaos in Biloxi, Mississippi on June 27, 2009 due to first round tapout from strikes.

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

[edit] Kickboxing

• K-1 Japan GP Champion (2005)

[edit] Professional wrestling

• New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Best Box Office Draw (2002, 2003)
  • Most Charismatic (2003)
  • Rookie of the Year (2002)

[edit] MMA record

Professional record breakdown
16 matches	10 wins	5 losses
By knockout	7	1
By submission	2	4
By decision	0	0
Draws	1

10 Wins - 5 Losses - 1 Draw
Date	Result	Record	Opponent	Event	Method	Round
6/27/2009	Loss	10-5-1	Bobby Lashley	Ultimate Chaos: Lashley vs. Sapp	Submission (Strikes)	Round 1, 3:18
5/26/2009	Loss	10-4-1	Ikuhisa Minowa	DREAM.9 - Feather Weight Grand Prix 2009 Second Round	Submission (Modified Lateral Kneebar)	Round 1, 1:16
12/31/2008	Win	10-3-1	Akihito Tanaka	FieLDS Dynamite!!	TKO (Punches)	Round 1, 5:22
02/23/2008	Loss	9-3-1	Jan Nortje	Strikeforce: At The Dome	TKO (Punches)	Round 1, 0:55
12/31/2007	Win	9-2-1	Bobby Ologun	K-1 Premium 2007 Dynamite!!	TKO (Punches)	Round 1, 4:10
11/5/2005	Win	8-2-1	Kim Jong Wang	K-1 Hero's Seoul 2005	TKO (Strikes)	Round 1, 0:08
7/6/2005	Win	7-2-1	Alan Karaev	K-1 Hero's 2	KO (Punch)	Round 1, 3:44
3/26/2005	Win	6-2-1	Min-Soo Kim	K-1 Hero's 1	KO (Punch)	Round 1, 1:12
12/31/2004	Draw	5-2-1	Jérôme Le Banner	K-1 Premium 2004 Dynamite!!	Draw	Round 4, 3:00
5/22/2004	Loss	5-2	Kazuyuki Fujita	K-1 MMA ROMANEX	Submission (Strikes)	Round 1, 2:15
3/14/2004	Win	5-1	Sumiyabazar Dolgorsuren	K-1 Beast 2004	Towel (Foot Injury)	Round 1, 5:00
9/21/2003	Win	4-1	Stefan Gamlin	K-1 Japan Grand Prix 2003	Submission (Guillotine Choke)	Round 1, 0:52
12/31/2002	Win	3-1	Yoshihiro Takayama	Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2002 - K-1 vs Inoki	Submission (Armbar)	Round 1, 2:16
8/28/2002	Loss	2-1	Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira	Pride Shockwave	Submission (Armbar)	Round 2, 4:03
6/23/2002	Win	2-0	Kiyoshi Tamura	Pride 21	TKO (Punches)	Round 1, 0:11
4/28/2002	Win	1-0	Yoshihisa Yamamoto	Pride 20	TKO (Strikes)	Round 1, 2:44

[edit] Kickboxing Record

10 Wins - 7 Losses - 0 Draws
Date	Result	Record	Opponent	Event	Method	Round
06/23/2007	Loss	10-7	Peter Aerts	K-1 World GP 2007 in Amsterdam, Netherlands	KO (Left knee)	1R, 0:26
12/31/2005	Loss	10-6	Musashi	K-1 - Premium Dynamite 2005	Decision	3R
9/23/2005	Loss	10-5	Choi Hong Man	FieLDS K-1 WORLD GP 2005 - Osaka	Decision	3R
6/14/2005	Win	10-4	Tatsufumi Tomihira	K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 - Hiroshima	Decision	3R
6/14/2005	Win	9-4	Hiraku Hori	K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 - Hiroshima	KO	2R, 1:54
6/14/2005	Win	8-4	Yoshihiro Nakao	K-1 World Grand Prix 2005 - Hiroshima	Decision	3R
6/26/2004	Loss	7-4	Ray Sefo	K-1 - Beast 2004 Shizuoka	KO	2R, 0:29
4/30/2004	Win	7-3	Tommy Glanville	K-1 - Battle at the Bellagio 2	KO	1R, 0:33
3/27/2004	Win	6-3	Seth Petruzelli	K-1 - Saitama 2004	TKO (Elbow Injury)	1R, 0:57
12/31/2003	Win	5-3	Akebono	K-1 - Premium 2003 Dynamite!!	KO (Right Hook)	1R, 2:58
10/11/2003	Loss	4-3	Remy Bonjasky	K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 - Opening Round	DQ (Punch on the Ground)	2R
8/15/2003	Win	4-2	Kimo Leopoldo	K-1 - Battle at the Bellagio	TKO	2R, 1:11
3/30/2003	Loss	3-2	Mirko Filipovic	K-1 Saitama Grand Prix 2003	KO (punch)[8]	1R, 1:26
12/7/2002	Win	3-1	Ernesto Hoost	K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 - Finals	KO	2R, 2:53
10/5/2002	Win	2-1	Ernesto Hoost	K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 - Opening Round	TKO (Doctor Stoppage)	1R, 3:00
9/22/2002	Win	1-1	Cyril Abidi	K-1 - Andy Spirits	KO	1R, 1:17
6/2/2002	Loss	0-1	Tsuyoshi Nakasako	K-1 - Survival 2002	DQ	1R

[edit] Filmography

• Frankenhood (2009) as Frankie
• Big Stan (2009)
• 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

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Bob Sapp's Professional MMA record at Sherdog.com
• A Beast Is Made: The Bob Sapp Story
• Bob Sapp at the Internet Movie Database

Preceded by Jonathan Ogden

Morris Trophy (Offense) 1996

Succeeded by Olin Kreutz

v • d • e Chicago Bears 1997 NFL Draft selections John Allred • Bob Sapp • Darnell Autry • Marcus Robinson • Van Hiles • Shawn Swayda • Richard Hogans • Ricky Parker • Mike Miano • Marvin Thomas