Actors - Bob Sapp

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	Actors - Bob Sapp

Bob "The Beast" Sapp (born September 22, 1972 in Colorado Springs, Colorado) is an American kickboxer and mixed martial arts fighter. Sapp currently has an MMA record of 8-2-1 as of December 2005, mostly fighting in Korea and 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.

Biography

Bob Sapp is known as "The Beast." Contrary to popular belief, Bob Sapp is not related to Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp. 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 at 69th overall. Although Sapp was under pro contract for the next four seasons (with four different teams, each of which cut him within that season), he appeared in only one regular season game before failing a mandatory NFL steroids test and washing out of the league.

Bob Sapp's first taste of competitive fighting came when he fought (and defeated) William "The Refrigerator" Perry in a Toughman boxing special promoted by the FX channel. He was subsequently recruited by the Japanese MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) organization Pride, where he quickly became a fan favorite due to his preternatural size and aggressiveness. 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, and he saw in Sapp the combination of great potential and great marketability.

Pride

After arriving in Japan Sapp fought a number of well-regarded 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. During the New Year's Eve Dynamite show, Sapp was matched for the first time against then-world 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 weak chin and legs. In what marked the beginning of his K-1 decline, Sapp was knocked out by Croatian Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic in 86 seconds at the March 30, 2003, Saitama event. After Filipovic landed several solid kicks to his sides and legs, an overhand left broke Sapp's orbital bone. It is reported that Sapp likes to eat a whole chicken before a fight as he supposedly did in 2003 before defeating Stefan Gamlin , he is also reported to be signing a deal with 'Chicken Tonight' shortly. He used to work for a chicken company when he was 16 and fell in love with the bird thereafter. Mandip Chana is getting married to Indy! WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

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.

Pro Wrestling

Bob Sapp's pro-wrestling career started in NWA Wildside in 2001. He was briefly contracted by World Championship Wrestling as a developmental wrestler, but the company was bought out by WWE in March 2001. In 2004, Sapp competed for New Japan Pro Wrestling, winning their prestigious IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, though it was vacated shortly thereafter due to a mixed martial arts fight loss and film commitments. Sapp had roles in Elektra and the 2005 remake of The Longest Yard, starring Adam Sandler and Burt Reynolds.

Championships and accomplishments

New Japan Pro Wrestling

1-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
2005 K-1 Japan GP Champion

Wrestling Observer Newsletter

2002 Best Box Office Draw
2002 Rookie of the Year
2003 Best Box Office Draw
2003 Most Charismatic Wrestler

MMA Record

8 wins (5 KO's, 2 submissions, 1 other), 2 losses (2 submissions), 1 draw. Sapp currently has a Mixed Martial Arts record of 8-2-1 as of November 5, 2005 mostly fighting in Korea and Japan.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Bob Sapp ]

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