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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
"I've been asked that quite a bit [why I'm fighting again]. I've heard people say he's doing it for the money - of course I am. I mean, that's what we do. When you're a professional, you fight for money, just as I have my whole life. But that's not the only reason I'm doing it. I'm 51 years old - or young, however you want to look at it - and I'm enjoying life. I'm not fighting a 27-year-old No. 1-ranked opponent in the world. I'm taking fights that are interesting to me, ones that I think the fans would enjoy, and ones that I would definitely enjoy. And ones that I believe are marketable business-wise. So, if these things all line up, I'm in.
Over the years I've been training and keeping myself in shape and staying fit. I think I've earned the right to be able to fight for fun. I think a lot of people have a hard time understanding that I don't want to go fishing. I don't want to go hunting. I like being in the room with a bunch of dudes getting ready for a fight - training, building camaraderie, patting each other on the shoulder, preparing for a fight, walking into a ring, competing, winning, walking out and enjoying a good time together. To me that's the best thing in life. I love that."
-Ken Shamrock explained why he's coming back at age 51 in June to fight Kimbo Slice in Bellator during a media event prior to Bellator 134 last week (via MMAFighting.com).
Penick's Analysis: I can completely understand the motivation behind Shamrock and Slice wanting to fight one another, and I can understand Shamrock's reasoning behind just wanting to fight for fun if he feels he can do that. I also understand why Bellator is willing to host it, because they know it's a circus fight that is going to bring eyeballs, with the idea being that the undercard will get more exposure. Still, with all of that being said, it's a joke of a fight in 2015 that doesn't scream "second biggest MMA organization" for Bellator.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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