Bob_Sapp

Bob Sapp

Robert Malcolm Sapp aka Bob "The Beast" Sapp (born September 22 1974) 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 9-3-1 as of February 2008, mostly fighting in 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). He is currently wrestling for HUSTLE and has tentatively returned to fighting for K-1.

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 with the 69th overall. Although Sapp was under pro contract for the next four seasons (Chicago Bears '97, Minnesota Vikings '98, Baltimore Ravens '99, and Oakland Raiders '00 , 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 the FX channel in 2000. When Sapp got cut he took it hard and looked in to pro wrestling

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.

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

Mixed Martial Arts Career

PRIDE Fighting Championships

Sapp was subsequently recruited by the Japanese MMA organization PRIDE, where he quickly became a fan favorite due to his preternatural 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.

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.

However, he did participate in this year'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.

Cage Rage

On February 10, 2007 it was announced by the United Kingdom's Cage Rage promotion - the biggest MMA group in Europe - 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 Gary Turner.

Strikeforce

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. His left eye was cut open.

Mike Tyson

Sapp challenged Mike Tyson to a fight immediately after one of his K-1 fights in 2003.

Championships and accomplishments

Kickboxing

2005 K-1 Japan GP Champion

Professional wrestling

'New Japan Pro Wrestling

IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

MMA Record

9 Wins - 3 Losses - 1 Draw
Date	Result	Record	Opponent	Event	Method	Round
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-Seoul Heros's	TKO (Strikes)	Round 1, 0:08
7/6/2005	Win	7-2-1	Alan Karaev	K-1-Heores 2	KO (Punch)	Round 1, 3:44
3/26/2005	Win	6-2-1	Min Soo Kim	K-1-Heroes 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 (Groin 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

Kickboxing Record

left; margin: 1em auto 1em auto"

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	1R, 2:58
10/11/2003	Loss	4-3	Remy Bonjasky	K-1 World Grand Prix 2003 - Opening Round	DQ	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	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