Tyson Looks Fit for Wrestling or MMA

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New ring for circus?

TYSON LOOKS FIT FOR WRESTLING

By Victor Chi

Mercury News

Mike Tyson might have put the kibosh on his boxing career Saturday, but he gave quite an audition for a future in wrestling or the mixed martial arts.

His head-butt on Kevin McBride showed he might be able to follow in the fine tradition of Bobo Brazil, Harley Race and S.D. ``Special Delivery’’ Jones.

His attempt to break McBride’s arm showed he has the instincts to compete in mixed martial arts, where competitors often go for submission holds. In December, Brazilian jujitsu master Royce Gracie made former sumo champ Akebono submit to a wrist-breaker lock.

Tyson has already had exposure in wrestling and with the K1 mixed martial arts circuit.

In 1997, Tyson was booked to work an angle with World Championship Wrestling. But two days before his scheduled appearance, Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear and WCW officials pulled the plug on him.

But the WWF, now WWE, took a chance on Tyson in 1998, paying him $3.5 million to serve as a special enforcer referee at Wrestlemania XIV. (That was the same event that featured Kane knocking out Pete Rose with the tombstone pile driver).

In 2003, K1 brought Tyson to Las Vegas to confront its champion, Bob Sapp, a former Minnesota Vikings lineman. After Sapp won his match, Tyson was waiting and a spirited verbal exchange ensued.

Tyson signed a contract last year with K1 but hasn’t competed in any events. Yet. Still owing millions to creditors and the IRS, Tyson will need to find some paydays.

He has little viability left in boxing, so Tyson should exploit the curiosity factor he can generate by entering a new arena.

Tyson said Saturday that he might pursue missionary work, which is a noble calling but not one that produces millions in pay-per-view revenue.

Then again, he might have the perfect proselytizing pitch: ``If you don’t convert, I’ll eat your children!‘’

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/columnists/morning_buzz/11882281.htm?source=rss&channel=mercurynews_morning_buzz

While I’d like to see him fight, Tyson can only cheapen MMA.

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I would love to see Tyson get in the cage. I can’t see the guy being patient enough to have a good ground game.

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13-year-old Bjj white belt by ankle lock at 0:35 of the first round.

'nuff said.

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how old is mike tyson?

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When Tyson gets rnc’d and assraped by some 130lb japanese guy, then it will be the end of Mike Tyson.

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So they’ll make wear a Godzilla suit while he fights Sapp dressed up as King Kong in a mini-Tokyo stadium during the K-1 New Years show.

…well at least I’d pay to see it…

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Tyson entering MMA would be bad for the sport.

Let me explain. MMA is already looked on by many as too brutal. Others see boxers as not only superior athletes but superior fighters when compared to MMA. The overwhelming majority of people look at Tyson as a freak just waiting to do something (else) stupid.

All of these things would not bring the kind of credibility the sport needs right now. Yes, I know it would bring in many more fans and attract attention. But at a certain point you need to balance the draw with some dignity. Does MMA really need to look like a freak show? Do we really want to see Tyson bite someone’s ear off in MMA? Will people think of MMA as a showcase for novelty boxers who can’t hack it in a real fighting sport anymore?

Seriously. Keep him away from cage fights. We all know he is a loose cannon. We all know he is just waiting to flip out and break the rules. We all know he sucks as a fighter. And from his last performance we all know he has no heart.

Why the hell do we need to see any more from this clown? The untold truth is we want to see him get mauled. Yes. I know, everyone wants to see him get choked unconscious or tap to an ankle lock. But do we really want to see him go up against some unknown Japanese can and KO him, thus legitimizing people’s preconceived notions that even a washed up boxer can beat a MMA fighter?

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that would truely be a dream come true.