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Kurt Angle claims he'll be an MMA fighter by next year

thesun.co.uk — KURT ANGLE has performed a sensational U-turn by insisting he WILL compete in mixed martial arts next year. Speaking exclusively to SunSport, the ex-WWE champion confirmed he is in talks with leading MMA promotions, including the UFC.

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  • username7410, on 09/24/2008, -63/+11So what. MMA sucks.
    • bicyclethief, on 09/24/2008, -4/+19I don't know anyone who's given it a chance that isn't now a fan.
    • UnholyAvenger, on 09/24/2008, -6/+19I love MMA. I assume you don't like it because it makes you aroused then you feel ashamed.
    • bicyclethief, on 09/24/2008, -4/+7The biggest hurdle is to learn and understand grappling (eg. Brazilian jiu jitsu).

      Once you're able to recognize moves and appreciate them, you'll love MMA.

      What's not to love about a sport with knockouts, slams, chokes, and joints being hyperextended to the point of breaking?

      • Ferago, on 09/24/2008, -10/+3The homoerotic nature of it all? Also the fights lasting 10 seconds?
      • bicyclethief, on 09/24/2008, -1/+7Are you so unsure of your sexuality that you can't watch two men fight?

        Christ. Grow a pair already.
    • NachoBusiness, on 09/24/2008, -0/+4I don't like MMA, but I still think "MMA sucks" comments in MMA threads are as idiotic as "baseball sucks" comments in baseball threads. If you don't like the sport, just move on... btw you can view Digg by individual sport if MMA really annoys you that much.
    • Indierocka, on 09/24/2008, -4/+1I don't watch MMA because every time i see ufc on spike its just a bunch of angry guys being douchebags and whenever i see MMA fans, they're just a bunch of angry guys being douchebags.
      • bicyclethief, on 09/24/2008, -0/+3You were probably watching The Ultimate Fighter on Spike.

        Those guys are trying to break into the (big-time) fight business so many don't yet have that professionalism. And let's face it, it's a reality tv show.

        Watch the Japanese MMA events. Most of the fighters and fans are incredibly respectful.

  • slvrbullet87, on 09/24/2008, -7/+57He is an olympic gold medalist in wrestling, he should do fine
    • machosos, on 09/24/2008, -1/+20MMA has many great wrestlers and they still are nothing without good stand up!
    • bicyclethief, on 09/24/2008, -1/+18He should do fine, but he won't be a champion anytime soon.

      There was a time when a champion from a single discipline could come in and dominate right away, but that has passed.

      MMA has evolved far and fast.

      Even dominant wrestlers who are fairly well rounded like Matt Hughes isn't even top 3 anymore.
    • mantis108, on 09/24/2008, -0/+13It's a little more complicated than that. Wrestling is a great base for MMA but the level of the sport is so high now that you've got to have everything to have a prayer of competing with even lower-ranked fighters acting as divisional gatekeepers. Having wrestling skills does not teach you how to punch, kick, submit, or defend same -- and those all require years of practice to develop at a professional level. He's got his work cut out for him, will be interesting to see what happens.
    • isiz, on 09/24/2008, -14/+1You know, I could probably be a good MMA fighter too if I trained 8 hours a day... just a thought.
      • greenlight2001, on 09/24/2008, -0/+3Maybe... if you lost that extra 240 pounds, moved out of your parent's basement, stopped chronically masturbating to 15 second clips of porn and stopped talking with a lisp.
    • ausfahrt, on 09/24/2008, -0/+12He will be 40 by the time he has his first fight i think that is a little late to start. I'd be worried about his old steroided out body getting hurt, although he is in great shape otherwise.
    • over9k, on 09/24/2008, -0/+7A lot of olympic calibre wrestlers/judokas have been completely outclassed because they are not used to getting hit in the face.
      • wrxpert, on 09/24/2008, -0/+3He gets hit in the face all the time. I see it on TV.

        Jokeing aside. I hope he dose get into mma and has a great time doing it.
    • banthis, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2he should, but when you get old, your bones get weaker.
    • jinjin, on 09/24/2008, -1/+3Ask Kevin Jackson how far that got him :)
      • ZzFDKzZ, on 09/24/2008, -0/+1Kevin Jackson did great. Loss to 2 tough guys. Had to quit MMA since the wrestling commission wanted to fire him off his wrestling coaching job.
      • jinjin, on 09/26/2008, -0/+1I wouldn't call going 4-2 in "great". No shame in losing to Frank Shamrock but he didn't even last a minute. And Bohlander's nothing special. Both Jerry and Kevin lost anytime they fought some competition.
    • Opiate, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2Like most of the replies noted, wrestling isn't everything but it is a pretty good base to have. Yes he will have to train some martial art(s) on top of it but at least he's giving himself over a year to train, which to say won't guarantee much. My step brother and his friend are into the mma stuff, they have been doing martial arts for a long time and run their own dojo and mma project on the side. They are also both well versed in wrestling also being high school provincial(state) champions. They are both extremely tough and I wouldn't mess with them, wrestling is pretty crazy. But they aren't close to the current level of pro MMA, altought they have competed in smaller events and do well.
      • machobullshit, on 09/25/2008, -0/+0Yeah, he'll do great... other than the whole getting your neck broken 4 times and being litterally one bad slam from death part.
  • darthsand, on 09/24/2008, -16/+8MMA RULES!
  • TheAthlon, on 09/24/2008, -2/+27Kurt has claimed he will fight an MMA match since he left the WWE, this is not 'a sensational U-turn', it's just more of the same from Angle.
    • wrxpert, on 09/24/2008, -2/+5I have a feeling all of the "Profetional Wrestlers" watch and admire MMA stars.
  • InJectaH, on 09/24/2008, -5/+41I wish him luck, MMA is no joke
    • flogistan, on 09/24/2008, -33/+1Why is it a joke? It's one of the most demanding sports I've ever seen. I wouldn't want to do it, but saying it's a joke is absurd. It might make you squeamish, and nervous, but saying it's a joke as a sport is ridiculous.
      • puma, on 09/24/2008, -2/+4your a dick
      • isiz, on 09/24/2008, -1/+25He said no joke fool.
      • flogistan, on 09/24/2008, -22/+4It's You're, not your. As in you're a retard.
      • Zedian, on 09/24/2008, -3/+3I think InJectah said it is no joke.

        Anyways best of luck to the former Gold Medalist who was complaining that TNA has too many gimmick matches.
      • ausfahrt, on 09/24/2008, -0/+12What we have here is a failure to communicate. Wipe the mud from your face.
      • flogistan, on 09/24/2008, -21/+2He did in fact say that and I misread it. Sorry there Injecta. And ***** the rest of ya!
      • EvilCan, on 09/24/2008, -2/+6Why? Because you ***** up?
      • flogistan, on 09/24/2008, -12/+2No, because I ***** up, and people jumped my ***** instead of pointing out that I had misread it nicely. ***** sucker.
      • madhouseradio, on 09/24/2008, -1/+3There should be no comma between "up" and "and people". And ***** might be one word instead of two but the jury is still out.
        B-
      • flogistan, on 09/24/2008, -9/+1If I call you a cumm drinker, is that hyphenated?
      • EvilCan, on 09/24/2008, -1/+5Now you're just slipping into the stereotype of a typical MMA fan.
      • flogistan, on 09/24/2008, -6/+1I accept that description.
      • prizim, on 09/24/2008, -0/+4you read it wrong.
      • ZzFDKzZ, on 09/24/2008, -0/+3LMAO moron!
  • tpmidd, on 09/24/2008, -18/+6It'll be interesting to see how effective "the Angle Lock" will be if he can actually twist and break the other guy's foot. As opposed to in TNA (or WWE if you remember him from there) when he doesn't apply full pressure. Angle is one of the best wrestlers in the history of the business - I can't wait.
    • over9k, on 09/24/2008, -0/+6you mean the ankle lock with is a standard leg submission in any grappling style.
    • Orsigno, on 09/24/2008, -3/+0TNA(WWE) fans are hilarious
  • pstroll, on 09/24/2008, -6/+41It will take a year for the roids to leave his system
  • Quenlin, on 09/24/2008, -15/+9A dramatized wrestler taking up some real fighting.

    I'll give him... seven or eight minutes?
    • OMGWTFROFLMAOx2, on 09/24/2008, -12/+1Lesnar is in MMA and undefeated (though he has only had 2 matches against somewhat washed up fighters). Angle and Lesnar have had amateur grecco roman wrestling success, lesnar being undefeated before going to WWE and Angle having won gold medals in the Olympics. They should have some success in MMA considering that less accomplished wrestlers have been able to hold their own in the cage.
      • tamman2000, on 09/24/2008, -1/+18Lesner is not undefeated... he lost to Frank Mir in his second MMA fight. First round kneebar.
      • IveGotTheRuns, on 09/24/2008, -1/+10Lesnar lost to Frank Mir. To his credit, he did dominate that fight but got caught with a submission.
      • kgunning, on 09/24/2008, -4/+7Lesnar lost to Mir. He's not undefeated.
      • TremorX, on 09/24/2008, -2/+9Lesnar lost when the Mir space station fell on him
      • polalion, on 09/24/2008, -1/+9So this Mir guy...
      • rotten777, on 09/24/2008, -0/+3Lesnar lost Mir in space.
      • xneversaydie, on 09/24/2008, -0/+3Lesnar and Angel and freestyle wrestlers, not greco roman stylist.
      • ZzFDKzZ, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2Not greco-roman and Brock lost to Frank Mir.
    • retrospects, on 09/24/2008, -1/+21you do realize that he REALLY did win a gold medal in wrestling in the 1996 Olympics.. then after that he went to "wrestling"... i see it at natural progression
    • suburbanWMD, on 09/24/2008, -0/+7Heath Herring's mauled face says you're an idiot.
      • cashless, on 09/24/2008, -1/+2Let's not forget that was just Heath Harring though.
  • ZildjianPro, on 09/24/2008, -10/+22i would actually pay to see Kurt Angle get ***** up in MMA. He was annoying when he started with the WWF/WWE and got even more annoying after he shaved his head.
  • cyrusuncc, on 09/24/2008, -18/+364 diggs and it's on the front page?
    • machosos, on 09/24/2008, -2/+3why do people worry about this so much...i mean if u clicked on the link chances are the title had something to do with it
  • teleporter, on 09/24/2008, -4/+15It's going to be hard to no-sell a real punch in the face.
  • YuriSakazaki, on 09/24/2008, -7/+3Considering Angle's background, I don't see him having trouble at all. Brock Lesnar made the change and really shines at it, I can't wait to see how Angle does.
    • octowussy, on 09/24/2008, -5/+12And how does Brock Lesnar shine? By getting subbed in the first round by Mir, or by lying on top of a can like Heath Herring to squeeze out a decision?
      • JigoroKano, on 09/24/2008, -2/+5Heath Herring is not a can. Dude almost knocked out Big Nog, the second greatest Heavy Weight of all time who has never been so close to being stopped.

        Not being top 10 does not make you a can.
      • ProfessorLX, on 09/24/2008, -2/+2octo you said it dude, and when randy ***** lesnar up in november maybe just maybe he will get a clue and either a) drop out, or b) start doing some serious training
      • ZzFDKzZ, on 09/25/2008, -0/+3Heath Herring is far from being a can.
    • SuperVepr308, on 09/24/2008, -2/+4Lesnar has a LONG way to go before he shines against anyone of real skill. Mir ***** him up and there are many more that would do the same. Hell, my man Griffin would beat his ass to death with knees.
  • mikebb79, on 09/24/2008, -2/+15I'm not sure this will happen. His neck and back are so jacked up, I can't see it. Despite him saying how awesome he feels, he's had some serious surgeries. Good luck to him though.
    • JigoroKano, on 09/24/2008, -1/+2"scares the ***** out of me." -- Dana White on the subject of Kurt Angle's jacked up neck in MMA.
    • over9k, on 09/24/2008, -1/+0I wonder if his neck would survive a guillotine or even a standard neck crank.
  • Scottypants, on 09/24/2008, -11/+6I DON'T.....SUCK

    I DON'T......SUCK

    I DON'T.......SUCK

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyS9ewAolH0
    • TrevorBelmont, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2This should be his entrance music.
  • ToTiredToCare, on 09/24/2008, -3/+25Oh, it's true. It's true.
  • wheresmclean, on 09/24/2008, -10/+4LOL.

    I'll watch, because unless they put him up against a rook, he's going to get owned. Funny what happens when your opponents and the refs don't know your count to stay on script.
  • lordgibbon, on 09/24/2008, -2/+1I expect him to lose quite a bit in the beginning, provided his opponents keep their distance and use strikes.
  • wowsah156, on 09/24/2008, -5/+32Buried because:

    1 angle has so many injuries through abuse in the WWE. His spine wouldnt be able to cope with constant Ju Jitsu training.

    2: Angle's hand / eye co-ordination is *****. He justy isnt quick enough to cope with fighters like Liddell, and St Pierre.

    3: His fights would be worked to allow him to build up "wins", which in reality is just like he crap in boxing now. Angle is closer to the clown games of Kimbo slice than the technical stuff of St Pierre.

    In one word: Ludicrous.

    Buried.
    • SuperVepr308, on 09/24/2008, -0/+7St Pierre is truly a gifted fighter. Not my favorite but he is amazing to watch.
    • EvilCan, on 09/24/2008, -1/+5Liddell is old and should retire.
    • gnuyen, on 09/24/2008, -1/+1His neck is so screwed up I'd be afraid to see him in a MMA fight.

      I'm sure he'll be against a bunch of jobbers for his first 5 fights
    • PanicAK, on 09/25/2008, -0/+1Just because he's trying to get into MMA doesn't mean he's going out to fight the best of the best. There is plenty of fodder for him.
      • machobullshit, on 09/25/2008, -0/+0It's just another one of the many ***** things Kurt Angle has said.
        Remember when he said that TNA was beating Smackdown in the ratings and in a year they'd be bigger than WWE?

        Well, that guy now claims he'll be doing MMA in a year.
  • jplevel, on 09/24/2008, -6/+2LOL WUT
  • FreddieD, on 09/24/2008, -6/+45He's going to be really upset when he finds out that MMA isn't fake.
  • jehan60188, on 09/24/2008, -4/+56"I’m the only Olympic gold medallist that will enter the Octagon"

    I'm pretty sure I heard Phelps talking about doing MMA. It was either MMA, or a Frosted Flakes photo shoot, I don't remember the specifics...
    • MysticSavage, on 09/24/2008, -0/+10Michael Phelps? Unless they fill the Octagon with water, he'll be pretzelized.
      • logicalnoise, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2a guy like phelps would be awesome at BJJ or even just JJ look at shinya aoki. Though to be fair aoki's magic pants provide him with god like powers.
  • galv0, on 09/24/2008, -8/+2It's true.. it's true..
  • mantis108, on 09/24/2008, -2/+14I don't know who this guy is because I don't watch fake fighting TV shows, but I'm sure he's been watching the Brock Lesnar story unfolding in the UFC and wants his piece of the action. All of these WWF/E guys going into MMA is certaining entertaining, but in a way also steals opportunities and thunder from long-term MMA fighters climbing the ranks. Dana's most certainly doing it to bring over that audience and expand business -- hopefully he doesn't end up cheapening/degrading or tarnishing the image of MMA too much in the process.

    The good news is that skilled wrestlers tend to do very well in MMA, as long as they learn their BJJ defense and subs and get solid striking skills from boxing, MT, etc. Those who don't usually learn quickly what to focus on after getting subbed or KO'd in round 1 of a few fights, providing a great laugh for MMA fans in the process.
    • StabmasterArson, on 09/24/2008, -2/+4"I don't watch fake fighting shows..."

      I'm sure you stick to the fake lawyer shows, the fake cop shows and the fake doctor shows.

      Wrestling is entertainment; if it's not your cup of tea then that's fine. But don't disrespect the thousands of wrestlers who have provided millions of people with memories and entertainment because you're too dense to understand what it is, exactly, that they do.

      Also, Angle is an Olympic gold medalist. One would think someone as well versed in the combat arts, as you seem to be, would have known that.



  • removesstains, on 09/24/2008, -0/+7End of 2009, won't happen. Sounds like he gave himself to much time to back out of it.
  • PunkFenixJT, on 09/24/2008, -0/+15Hasn't Angle already been known to have painkiller problems along with neck problems?

    This can't be anywhere good for his health
  • octowussy, on 09/24/2008, -0/+7Angle's been saying this for years, and it'll never happen. He's too old and too fragile.
  • GVR90, on 09/24/2008, -3/+2I'd love to see this, so he can get his face caved in.
  • Kelden21, on 09/24/2008, -2/+5Dana White (The president of UFC) has made it very clear that Angle isn't even close to ready for the octagon. Angle may end up in EliteXC, but that sure isn't saying much, considering their two best fights are Kimbo and Ken Shamrock, who both suck. Angle is talking out of his ass
    • SuperVepr308, on 09/24/2008, -1/+4Shamrock is just too old. I hate to say that but he is making quite the fool of himself lately. He was tough as hell in his day but it is time to just go away.
    • trizzlelv, on 09/24/2008, -0/+3You speak some truth... but don't undermine some of the talent Elite XC has. Sure, they'll never be the UFC, but they put on an entertaining show.

      Nick Diaz, Robbie Lawler, Gina Carano... all better fighters than Kimbo and Shamrock.
    • BooneFaustus, on 09/24/2008, -0/+6Shamrock might not be one of the best anymore, but he was back in the early days of UFC. Back then it was much more hardcore with less rules and no time limits.
  • THESUPERDEVIL, on 09/24/2008, -3/+3this what happen when tna person goes to mma

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ovOibFqM6w


    or maybe this

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWQ1AyGUFsQ

    good luck kurt you are going to get your as* kick for real.
  • tybobreed, on 09/24/2008, -5/+3He'll be Light Heavyweight champion within 3 years if he sticks to it.
  • uppitydiggers, on 09/24/2008, -1/+12Don't they test for roids in MMA?
    • bieber, on 09/24/2008, -3/+1Actually, I don't think they do. Since it's all broken down by weight class, you'd only be screwing yourself by taking steroids. You want to ***** yourself up to get bigger, you're just gonna end up fighting people who are just as big as you, and you still have to live with the consequences.
    • dmac41, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2Sean Sherk had his title taken away for testing positive for steroids a little while back. All of the big MMA organizations test for illegal substances nowadays.
    • curiousgrge, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2Royce Gracie got busted for 'roids too and was banned for a year I believe.
  • roflmcwaffles, on 09/24/2008, -0/+5Being a gold medal olympian in MMA doesn't always translate to success, and often isn't a prerequisite for it. Dan Henderson never got a medal in the Olympics, and he was PRIDE's 185 and 205 champ.
  • krahzee, on 09/24/2008, -1/+11Bad idea.

    Lesnar has one thing Angle does not: No major lasting health issues.

    Everyone knows the guy has had MAJOR lasting health issues including a broken neck. Now he is going to join MMA and open himself up to further damage?

    One high knee, uppercut or whatever rocking his head back could cause even more damage.

    I really fear for his safety.
  • DomoDigital, on 09/24/2008, -8/+2Theres a follow up story where he says he's staying in WWE.....discussion over.

    http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/ufc/art ...
  • manstein01, on 09/24/2008, -1/+5Oh please, his neck is so shot that he can barely stand at times. Many in WWE were speculating that he could die soon because of the drugs he was taking.

    Kurt, stop now before you end up dead.
  • narupo, on 09/24/2008, -2/+3An article from sun on frontpage,this is low for digg standards.
  • JumboHumongous, on 09/24/2008, -1/+3Angle is a carny, you can't believe anything he says.
  • trizzlelv, on 09/24/2008, -5/+2THIS GUY IS FULL OF *****!!!! "I’m getting offers from the UFC, Pro Elite XC, Affliction and the IFL."

    THE IFL DOESN'T EVEN EXIST ANYMORE!!!!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Fight_L ...

    "The International Fight League was an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion billed as the world's first MMA league. It was founded on January 7, 2006 and closed on July 31, 2008."

    Either hes a complete moron, or the Sun is full of *****... I think it's the latter.
    • ZzFDKzZ, on 09/25/2008, -0/+2Maybe he got it before it shut down?
  • zadadka, on 09/24/2008, -3/+1Looking for Kurt's ankle at an acute angle.
  • TrevorBelmont, on 09/24/2008, -2/+2“The important thing is that whatever I do outside of TNA – I want to represent TNA and do well."
    Give up the play fighting and I'll consider taking you seriously.
    • aspec, on 09/24/2008, -3/+1Ever watch TNA? I mean, a lot of it is still fake (storylines, ridiculous moves and throws... a lot of the punching), but sometimes... you just can't believe that what just happened wasn't real.

      /Not that I'm admitting to watching TNA wrestling or anything.
  • Vicious172, on 09/24/2008, -7/+3What? What? Stone Cold 3:16 give me a hell yeah *Stunner*
  • knodi, on 09/24/2008, -3/+1He'll get his ass kicked next year.
  • sfgeek, on 09/24/2008, -2/+3Kurt went to my High School, and I used to go to the same gym as him a few years down the road after he claimed the gold. I have to say it was pretty cool having that guy spot you. It was proba

    He was a nice guy and didn't want to ever go into pro-wrestling. He tried his chops at sports broadcasting, but he just didn't have the knack for it, to say the least.

    I hope he does well at MMA, most of them end on the ground and he's the heavyweight gold medalist in the sport. I thought it sad to see him in pro-wrestling when he hated the idea.
    • Iggins, on 09/24/2008, -1/+1Woo! Blue Devils!
      I miss mt. lebanon :(
  • DryCat, on 09/24/2008, -1/+9WITH A BROKEN FREAKIN' NECK!
  • misterparry, on 09/24/2008, -1/+4He's an Olympic Freakin' Gold Medalist, I'm sure he can do it, and if not I'll still be entertained watching him get whooped.
  • mugupo, on 09/24/2008, -1/+3Good, we know Kurt can do well in real wrestleing, unlike mr. show off broken, he can wrestle and win.
  • lpferris, on 09/24/2008, -2/+8Kirk Angel.
    OK, maybe that's only funny if you watched WWF in 1999 and liked Chris Jericho.
    • MysticSavage, on 09/24/2008, -1/+4Or watch it now and like Santino Marella
  • Cassanova, on 09/24/2008, -2/+1Well he's supposed to be a total badass wrestler but the days of wrestlers dominating the UFC are over. But still his athleticism should take him a long way. He has been talking about doing UFC for a while now. Even called out Chuck Liddell. That actually wouldn't be a bad fight seeing as Chuck is in a bit of a slump now. That fight has potential to bring in huge bucks and give Chuck a chance to redeem himself. I don't know if Angle will be allowed to fight though because I'm pretty sure he has a broken neck or something. The doctors are pretty strict about what kinds of injuries you are allowed to fight with.
  • bratterscain, on 09/24/2008, -2/+1route =/= root
  • Kenzan, on 09/24/2008, -1/+1Maybe he can grow back his hair.
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