Title: 
Bob Sapp

Word Count:
394

Summary:
Bob Sapp, an athlete born September 22, 1972 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is an accomplished kick boxer and martial arts fighter. He is known as "The Beast" and is most famous in Japan and Korea where he has appeared in television commercials and has even released a music CD called "Its Sapp Time".

People almost always ask Bob Sapp if he is related to the Oakland Raiders defensive tackle, Warren Sapp, but he is not related in any way. He did, however, begin his athletic ...


Keywords:
bob sapp,k1,mma,martial arts,mixed martial arts,budo,fighting


Article Body:
Bob Sapp, an athlete born September 22, 1972 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is an accomplished kick boxer and martial arts fighter. He is known as "The Beast" and is most famous in Japan and Korea where he has appeared in television commercials and has even released a music CD called "Its Sapp Time".

People almost always ask Bob Sapp if he is related to the Oakland Raiders defensive tackle, Warren Sapp, but he is not related in any way. He did, however, begin his athletic career in football, just like Warren Sapp, but as a college offensive lineman for the University of Washington. He won the coveted Morris Award during that time and was scouted by the NFL draft in 1997. He slipped to the third round draft pick but was picked up by the Chicago Bears as number 69 and was under contract for four years -- but with four different teams. Each team cut him within only one season. Unfortunately, he appeared in only one regular season game and, because he failed a mandatory steroid test, he was washed out of pro football.

Bob Sapp met William 'Refrigerator' Perry while participating in a Toughman boxing comptetition. He was recruited by the Japanese Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization known as Pride and he fast became well know and a fan favorite because of his size and aggressiveness.

In Japan, Bob Sapp fought lots of well-skills Japanese fighers and won all his bouts, largely because of his overpowering strength and huge size. His fans located his 'bullrush' technique where you'd rush his opponent, quickly defeating him. He was defeated by Antoniono Rodrigo Nogueira, then the world champion, during a New Year's Eve show.

Bob Sapp became involved in K-1 fighting. He defeated the four-time champ, Ernesto Hoost by TKO. His stellar roll in K-1 ended when he was knocked out by Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic in only 86 seconds during the Saitama event held March 30, 2003. During the fight, Filipovic broke Sapp's orbital bone.

Bob Sapp has been seen on American television and may be in the process of signing a deal with a food company that produces chicken dinner products because of his reputation for eating a whole chicken before any fight. He has performed as a professional wrestler and his ever-evolving career is expected to continue change. Who knows what we will see from Bob Sapp in the future.