Tank Abbott: Future UFC Hall of Famer?

I could see the reasoning for letting tank in given his popularity during the early days of the UFC but I really don’t think he should be in there. I don’t really think he’d taken someone else spot exactly, he’s just not a good fighter and never was. I think you’d need far more fighting talent than he has to qualify for Hall of Fame.

agreed.  What did Tank give to the sport?  Gracie introduced the world to BJJ, changing the fight game forever; shamrock was the first real “Mixed” martial artist, combining dangerous, accurate striking with a well versed submission game; Coleman introduced G-n’-P which forced a change in the BJJ guard game.  What has Tank accomplished except continue to perpetuate the tough-man-fall-off-a-barstool-and swing stereotype?  In my book, Tank is the epitome of what MMA had to run from in order to be the sport it is now.

Tough question>

In the early days Tank got me super-excited to watch fights, however his recent showings, attitude, sloth, have somewhat disgraced him

The hall of fame should be for fighters with a hall of fame resume in the ring.  This is not Tank.  To me, what’s worse than taking a spot is that Tank’s inclusion would take away from those in the hall of fame and those that will be future inductees.  This is a complete joke.

I disagree with all of you. I totally agree with Tank being inducted. He made it to the finals of 2 tournaments in which there was no wieght classes and no where near as many rules as we have today. Tank always has been and always will be my favorite fighter.

The UFC hall of fame is little more than a sales tool for the marketing behemoth that is the UFC. it’s a shame so many fans fall into the trap.

Unfortunately, I will have to agree with you if Tank is inducted into the hall of fame. This move would severely cheapen the prestige of making it into the hall of fame, in my opinion.
I agree that Tank Abbott is definitely an important character in the history of MMA, but he’s important in a different way than being a hall of famer.

Tank not getting into the Hall would be a travesty. When the UFC was in it’s infancy, Tank’s popularity was greater than Gracie’s, Shamrock’s, Frye’s, Coleman’s or any of the old champs you can think of. He brought a Tyson like persona and menace to the Octagon. Whenever he stepped in the ring, someone probably would be knocked out. He is one of the UFC legends. His popularity even got him a stint on pro wrestling. He provided excitement to the sport, at a time where most competitors wanted to lay on the ground, he would bring it to your chest, check your chin, or slam you through the mat. His record cannot show these qualities or what he brought to the game. A true legend.

It is the “Hall of Fame?” Fame=Popularity?
just a thought…

“The UFC hall of fame is little more than a sales tool for the marketing behemoth that is the UFC. it’s a shame so many fans fall into the trap.”

Yeah, damn those marketers! Ha! While you’re linking to your website… Search Engine Marketing is no different, bud.

Tank deserves to be in the UFC because he was one of the first house hold names in this sport and helped MAKE IT popular. He showed the world the good and the bad of the sport, which it needed.

In the end, Tank was the most disrespectful, non-training mother f’er, baddest street fighter to walk into the octagon.

Sure, he lost a lot - but he made the sport interesting when some of us were stuck watching 2 grapplers “duke it out” on the ground for 30 minutes… ughh.

Look, Gracie and Shamrock were legends. But, if it weren’t for Tank - there would be very few strikers in this sport because everyone would be trying to learn BJJ or wrestling. He took it to the guy who stepped in to do battle with him, regardless of who it was.

And, up until he threw his last fight (Kimbo), he would show no fear… he LOVED to fight. Unfortunately, he obviously needed the extra money when EliteXC asked him to do the old WWF antics he pulled against Kimbo.

But, what do you expect? Dana White and the UFC have never paid fighters crap. They keep claiming that the PPV buys are not much - yet they keep BREAKING RECORDS and STILL making excuses…

It reminds me of Big Oil corporations having their best quarters over, each and every quarter - while we’re stuck buying their lies and overpriced products to make them rich.

/rant

Oh yeah, don’t forget that he was also the first to make major Television appearances, based on his popularity in America, the place that made UFC.

Is he a legend? Maybe not to all of the newbie MMA fans who only look at records and know all of the latest BJJ moves, but to the guys who have been following UFC since it’s birth, yes, he’s a legend.

Thanks Clint. Don’t know if he threw the fight or suffered from the barrage that was thrown at him(I watched it and they were both throwing heavy leather,if Tank connected one of thos JackHammers, Kimbo would’ve gone night,night…he just landed 1st.), but I do see you realize how important a figure Abbott is and was. Only guys who haven’t been around from the beginning could bring themselves to believe Tank isn’t a Hall of Famer.

Hey Fightfan,

I agree, it is the newbies who just jumped into MMA since The Ultimate Fighter appeared on Spike and now the even more annoying Youtube Kimbo fans. They look at records and “what have you done now”.

Well, they seem to be a little backwards in thinking… if life were like that - there would be no Jim Thorpes, Michael Jordan’s, Babe Ruth’s, etc.

As for the Kimbo and Tank fight—check out the pre-fight interview where Tank looks nervous. He NEVER looks nervous. Then - notice the stare down before the fight… this guy LOVES stare downs and all the sudden he won’t even look into his eyes?

Tank’s old - but he’s not dumb. EliteXC’s owner is shady as it is… check out Kimbo’s fight vs. Bo Cantrell too.   (fixed)

i disagree with most of you,records are a load of BS.The hall of fame is as it says,A HALL OF FAME!!
tank is one of the best known and most exciting fighters to fight in the UFC.the hall of fame is to houner fighters that helped the sport grow,and tank HAS done that.

yeah tank would be great in hall of the fame…

hey kids drink boooooze and DON’T TRAIN and you too can be in the UFC HALL OF SHAME!!!

TANK IS A LOSER, so what if he was a star when the ufc first started… NOBODY KNEW HOW TO FIGHT BACK THEN.

Craig o:

If we listened to idiots like you - Babe Ruth would have been kicked out of the Hall of Fame. He was a drunken womanizer who rarely practiced…

Idiots like you believe he couldn’t hang with “todays” players.

BS…

Shamrock (both), Gracie, Severn, Taktarov, Rutten, Ruas, Coleman, etc—these guys could handle the best in today’s game - so stop with the BS.

You obviously hate the guy, much like the rest of the world - but in your situation, you hate the guy so much that you’re in denial.

Go put a bag over your head and breathe deep for the rest of the world’s sake, will ya? People like you aren’t needed.

wow George, you must have no teeth and sun bleached mullet to call me an IDIOT AND COMPARE BABE RUTH TO TANK FUCKING ABBOTT YOUR A FUCKING TOOL!!

Agree with most posts. Who made sure they werent in the kitchen talking to the girls cooking when it was time for Tank to fight? I’ll always remember and still marvel at how he killed Hugo Duarte…I’d seen Duarte in Brazilian matches prior and thought he would be the next “big thing”.Those of us following in those days really saw some treat fights!
No-brainer..Hall of fame!

I member ten yrs ago almost, that i use to rent the ufc tapes from blockbuster and i was only 13 yrs old… And i was kid thinking he was the badest mother fucker to ever live!! MMA wasnt around back when tank was around. There was absolute no skill back in those days. Tank came along and fucked up alot of people and like the guy said above he had 2 title fights and he was a fat ass not a body builder.. Which he ended up losing but still.. he made me watch UFC back in the day and him only. besides joyce of course. So i beleive he does deserve it although he is a fat ass.

you must have no teeth and sun bleached mullet to call me an IDIOT AND COMPARE BABE RUTH TO TANK FUCKING ABBOTT YOUR A FUCKING TOOL!!

Thanks Clint. Don’t know if he threw the fight or suffered from the barrage that was thrown at him(I watched it and they were both throwing heavy leather,if Tank connected one of thos JackHammers, Kimbo would’ve gone night,night…he just landed 1st.), but I do see you realize how important a figure Abbott is and was. Only guys who haven’t been around from the beginning could bring themselves to believe Tank isn’t a Hall of Famer.

How about a better argument besides that “noobs wouldn’t know” bullshit? And what makes you think everyone that disagrees hasn’t been around? Did your crystal ball tell you that?
Tank Abbott is/was popular. Tank Abbott has never been a technical fighter, and has never represented what MMA is all about. He represents “the streets” no differently than Kimbo Slice. He was fun to watch because he came in and swung for the fences. It’s no wonder Slice beat him. Anyone with skill could beat him. That’s not Hall of Fame material. By that right, Kimbo Slice should also go in (obviously not in UFC’s) because he is/was a massive draw to the masses just looking for a mindless, no-skill brawl.
Face it, they’re the same fucking thing. If you dislike Kimbo, you HAVE to dislike Abbott. There should be a higher standard to the Hall of Fame other than being popular for mindless stand-up.

Don’t bother arguing my points if all you can come up with is that “TUF NEWBIE!” bullshit either, cause I’d seen all the fucking DVD’s before that show was even thought of. This crap dumbasses like you have to spout because they’re so damn immature about being an MMA fan pisses me off. Angry because newbies are playing with the same toys as you now?

Looks like Anon is a TUF Newbie who’s angry that his uneducated ass can’t come up with any good reasoning other than using a big word in his vocabulary: “technical”.

Go study your joojitsue DVD’s and keep practicing in the mirror, n00b!

Thanks for proving my point Not for my sake obviously, as I already knew I was right, but for others. By the way, you should look up something on Wikipedia called “style over substance”. You failed to deliver a significant argument. But keep embarrassing yourself by all means.

Here’s a question, badass:
What’s the difference between Kimbo Slice and Tank Abbott? Except the fact that Slice is apparently better. But I suppose that’s just his age, right? If he was in his “prime” he would have won? Back when he actual knew how to do something besides bullrush?

Oh wait…

Looks like dipshit is a wannabe MMA fan who can’t read or dispute the fact Tank Abbott has not skill and only got by in the early days by throwing wild haymakers, so he instead attempts to look smart by completely ignoring the argument and attacking the user instead. Way to go, dumbass.
Anyone else want to try to call me names cause they’re unable to refute the facts about Abbott I pointed out?

Yah, Anon is definitely a Tuf’fer…Dude, stop trying to front like you have a clue about the roots.

In the early days Tank got me super-excited to watch fights, however his recent showings, attitude, sloth, have somewhat disgraced him.

Tank needs to be in.  Nuf said.

@Anon….keyword…..hall of FAME, not hall of Technical Skill sets. Tank was instrumental in building up MMA’s popularity. BAseball inducted a pitcher this year that had one good season, he became a hall of FAME inductee because he became a pop culture icon for his wild antics like talking to the baseball. He made the cover of Roling Stone magazine. He was not a great all time player. It’s not always about how good some one is to get into the hall of fame. Sometimes it’s about being FAMOUS.

tank was a finalist in many ufc tournements,and gave greats like oleg taktarov and dan severn hell.he did all this with little skill.he also owns at least 2 of the ufc most devestating knockouts i believe matua and a couple others.early in the ufc tanks charisma and fight anyone attitude make him an all time great and legend in mma no matter what hes done later in his career.TANK HAS MY VOTE FOR THE UFC AND AS YET UN INVENTED MMA HALL OF FAME

I think that fighters who were not necessarily great, but did contribute to the advancement of the sport in some way, as Tank DEFINITELY did, should be honored in another way.  Maybe such people should be honored as “Pioneers.” 

Tito Ortiz, should Dana choose to deny him entry into the HoF, could also be honored as a Pioneer for carrying the sport through it’s dark adolescence. I think I would place Coleman here, too.