Frank Shamrock vs Chael Sonnen

[Mack McMarkles]

Frank was very good. Much better at stand up. He has a solid leg lock game.

IMO. None of that would have helped him much from guard with a heavy controlling wrestler on top. Chael would have mauled him.

as already pointed out Tito was a more successful version of Chael in terms of heavy top control wrestler but with serious GnP. The guys who beat Tito typically forced him to stand.

Chael was very afraid of strong ground submission artists. It entirely would change how he fought. His main weapon of td and top control, became a nightmare for him as he just had to survive 5 rounds in that trap. Frank is not Maia, but he was a much feared submission specialist so I doubt very much Chael would have wanted to be there. That hesitation (he did not have with Anderson) would cost him and see him pieced up more on the feet, imo. Chael's striking was really nothing without the TD threat and Frank would not have feared the TD at all so he would enjoy a massive striking edge.

Could Chael ride out a decision, sure. But 8 of 10 times I see Frank getting the finish.

 

[jx820]

At that time, Tito was actually a heavy, control wrestler. Frank beat him near the end of the fight with cardio, which people totally forget about when they mention Frank's strengths; he called cardio his "best submission." Chael was totally susceptible to getting tooled at the end of the fight when he was tired (obviously).

Chael had a 5 round gas tank. He never turtled up and died to cardio like Frank vs Tito. It's also worth noting that Frank couldn't submit Tito from guard.

as already pointed out Tito was a more successful version of Chael in terms of heavy top control wrestler but with serious GnP. The guys who beat Tito typically forced him to stand.

Chael was very afraid of strong ground submission artists. It entirely would change how he fought. His main weapon of td and top control, became a nightmare for him as he just had to survive 5 rounds in that trap. Frank is not Maia, but he was a much feared submission specialist so I doubt very much Chael would have wanted to be there. That hesitation (he did not have with Anderson) would cost him and see him pieced up more on the feet, imo. Chael's striking was really nothing without the TD threat and Frank would not have feared the TD at all so he would enjoy a massive striking edge.

Could Chael ride out a decision, sure. But 8 of 10 times I see Frank getting the finish.

I thing the submission threat that Frank posed is being wildly overstated. He had good leg locks. It's not like he beat Tito by knee bar.

 

[JustBleed69]

Chael was on testosterone in his prime, Frank was on fucking jet fuel in his prime. I might lean toward a roided to the gills 200lb Frank. If he whooped prime Tito, he probably would have whooped prime Chael.

Chael was definitely on more than testosterone lol he's openly admitted to that as well.

 

[Hatorade]

Chael was definitely on more than testosterone lol he's openly admitted to that as well.

Did not know that. I thought he was on trt.
Obviously that's an advantage, but the shit Frank was on was probably pro wrestling level. Dude was a monster compared to what he was at the end of his career

 

[modulus]

Definite, albeit a typical outcome -
Chael would tap after being submitted, then lie and saying he didn't tap, only to be suspended for pissing hotter than a Russian racehorse on derby day.

 

[Ibm]

Im a huge frank fan but Chael wins by anything he wants. Chaels standup was not bad at all. He just liked to wrestle. Chael is just more complete and big.

 

[Magrabie1988]

Chael by ud 30-27