Uncaged: My Life as a Champion MMA Fighter

by Frank Shamrock, Charles Fleming, Mickey Rourke (Foreword)

Before Frank Shamrock became known professionally as “The Legend”—winning almost every mixed martial arts title in existence—he endured a childhood marred with abuse, neglect, and molestation that led to an equally troubled young adulthood. This riveting book tells his whole his neglect as a child by his hippie mother and absentee father, his salvation under the foster father who took him in when no one else would, his desperate act of armed robbery and subsequent incarceration in state prison, and his eventual rebirth as a cage fighter who would go on to dominate the entire sport for the next two decades. Detailing his fights inside and outside of the ring, it discusses the people and events that enabled him to become a champion as well as his problems with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the reasons behind his retirement. With eye-opening depictions of the world of mixed martial arts fighters and refreshing candor, this thrilling story of sex, violence, crime, and redemption reveals the numerous pitfalls a famous fighter encountered in his life and how he successfully overcame them to become a champion in every sense of the word.

Genres: Martial Arts

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible and honest story of a man who overcame all odds and endured any and all imaginable abuse to not only make it to the top of his sport but pave the way for other as well. He truly earns the nickname "Legend".

Frank starts talking about his early family life growing up with his mom, and her many husbands, problems with his siblings, lack of positive role models in his life. Because of the people around young Frank thought this is the way that people normally lived stealing, getting high and drinking excessively. Leading Frank into trouble being in and out of juvenile detention centres from the age of 4 to 16. Group homes till he finally landed in Bob Shamrock's group home facility. Even here Frank managed to find the wrong crowd and earning a reputation as a troublemaker. The abuse Frank when through is beyond horrible (I don't think there is a word in any language that could convey how bad it is). I mean if you put that in a movie it would be thrown out for being unrealistic.

Despite all that and using his street smarts Frank managed to carve out a life for himself. Then at the age of 16 he got his girlfriend pregnant, and could not support her and his family so he turned to crime. This really went into over drive when she left him he went on a "one man crime spree" ending up in prison. Strangely this could have been the best they that could have happened to him. This is where Frank finished his education physically and mentally. He earned the respect of the prisoners and the prison guards.

Coming out of prison Frank started to work for Ken Shamrock as the trainer in the Lion's Den. This was a great opportunity but it brought its own set of family problems. I 100% believe Franks account of the Lion's Den, anyone who saw the UFC Ultimate Fighting Championship - Ultimate Fighter Season 3 [DVD] knows about Ken's coaching skills and personality. From here Frank started training and fighting in Japan, this is where he started to make his mark in Martial Arts. Remember at the time there was no MMA.

Frank talks about his great victories and the jealously is brought out in others as well as people trying to ride him to make a name for themselves. To his dispute and leaving the UFC. To Strikeforce and retirement, where he had to face one of his toughest battles.

I do not agree with all of Frank's opinions but I appreciate his point of view. It interesting to hear from Frank how the sport of MMA has changed and so have the athletes. I would have liked to hear more about the training in the book, apart from his induction to the Lion's Den he does not really talk specifics about training or any tips. However that is not what this story is about it is about one man's journey to the top and his wars along the way.

[DropOfOcean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good MMA biographies are rare and while this was far from great it was still quite decent read.

[Jeff Whittum · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was planning on writing a lengthy, and scathing review of this book when I finished (actually, the plans to do such a review began AS I was reading it), but the more time that passes since I've finished it, the less energy I have about doing so.

Still, a one-star rating deserves some sort of explanation so here it goes:

Big Picture - This MMA fighter, who has been one of my favorites for years for his technical skill and well-rounded game, actually managed to make him like him LESS after having given me a glimpse into his personal life. I think this is probably the first time this has ever happened, even though I expect very little from professional athlete's biographies.

Just a few of the things that come to mind off the top of my head (I had a list, but it's not with me at the moment): HYPOCRISY. The guy calls out other fighters for being druggies or pot-heads and then goes on to describe his habitual use of marijuana later on. He faults his birth father and even his adoptive father for falling short (no doubt they did), but then goes on to neglect his first-born son for the large majority of his most formative years. WALKING CONTRADICTION. In close relation to his demonstration of hypocrisy, he seemed at times to be so unaware of himself that he would say something on one page and then contradict it on the next. This line, repeated more than once, was one such instance: "I was shocked, but not surprised." Perhaps the use of a dictionary and thesaurus would have saved him from that grammatical gaffe, but there were other examples (not coming to me now) that were less forgivable and more substantive. NARRATIVE/CHRONOLOGICAL CONFUSION. The book was really all over the place and even the chronology was at times difficult to follow. It seemed like he was just thinking out loud trying to remember all the details and rather than taking notes and then organizing them for his readers, they were left where they lay - disjointed swatches of a narrative tapestry with no indication to the reader how they should go together.

Really, my previous remark says it all: this guy's book (HIS OWN WORDS!!) made me like him less. He'll go down as one of MMA's greats and one of the more integral pieces of the evolution of the sport. That tidbit excepted, I found little use for him as an example of an athlete or a human being from what I read in his autobiography. Sorry Frank Shamrock fans (I am/was one) but it's the bitter truth.

[Jaxson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Shamrock was a true champion mixed martial artist who was one of the pioneers during the time when MMA was struggling to prove itself as not only a legitimate sport, but one worthy of attention and admiration. I always enjoy reading the stories of champion athletes, especially fighters, and Shamrock's account of his life was interesting, thought-provoking, and very informational. I read the book wanting to better understand the "Legend," and as I read about his difficult upbringing I really tried to avoid judging, because I have never experienced trials comparable to his by any means. I was a little disappointed by the way he glossed over his dysfunctional relationship with his ex-wife, because it felt like he was justifying a little too much. However that might be an unfair and incorrect opinion, it's just how the book made me feel. I am amazed at how he overcame all the countless trials that the mma industry through at him as he tried to become the best. It is difficult to comprehend how much the sport has evolved and how much more knowlege has become available to coaches in recent years about scientific training. It is always impressive to see someone like Frank who became an amazing fighter with nothing but athleticism and extreme dedication. Frank Shamrock really is a legend and had a crazy career. I really liked his account of his journey through life and MMA and would recommend it to any fans of the greatest sport in the world.

[Stuart Pope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Changed my view of his brother ken good read

[Douglas Lord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dudes, Shamrocks’s mixed martial arts (MMA) autobiography will totally heal you from sitting through that Diane Keaton movie your wife made you watch. Stylistically dry (were you looking for lyricism and panache from the MMA?), Shamrock shares his chaotic, cruel childhood; his adolescence of substance abuse, trouble-makin’, and juvie; and experiences as a ward of the state of California. Though careful to point out his high IQ, the author willingly—and winningly— pokes fun at himself with unflagging humility; “I might have been gifted and talented,” he writes, but “…[w]hat kind of idiot steals cheese samplers?” Perhaps it was grace that landed him at the Shamrock Boys Ranch under the direction of Bob Shamrock (who later adopted Frank and provided his surname). Though he initially flourished under the structure and discipline of the ranch system, drug problems and the pressures of teenage fatherhood overwhelmed Shamrock. After a 3-stretch in prison, he became involved in hybrid wrestling and spent time in Japan learning submission fighting and its spiritual aspects. This led to a career in MMA, and most of the book chronicles his training and fights. Shamrock picks apart matches, acknowledges mistakes, and respects worthy opponents. This compelling material reads like you and he are drinking beer and armchair quarterbacking DVR’d bouts. And they completely make up for subsequent chapters filled with boring, repetitive details about murky, late-career business dealings and forwarding his brand. Though his retirement from fighting brought more substance abuse, it also brought Shamrock the opportunity to contextualize fighting as his raison d’être. Though he doesn’t openly state it, Shamrock’s life can be characterized as a series of fights against demons both corporeal and psychological. And to his immense credit, he never gives up. ” Failures become opportunities to improve, successes must be seen relative to their merit. I will probably stand solo in the book review community in considering this chronicle as anything more than a warts-and-all autobiography: It is a quintessential, rags to riches, local-boy-done-good success story of a new America.
Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.

[Chris Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a long term MMA fan it was the MMA history that I was most interested in before reading this book. I was brought up seeing more of Franks brother Kens fights than Franks and if truth be told have not seen many of Franks fights but I was aware of his status in the MMA world prior to reading the book. The book tells us a lot about the hard upbringing he had and the various struggles along the way with family/prison/drink and drugs etc. Whilst his life is very chequered it was the mma chapters that I found most interesting especially Franks account of how he his adopted father Bob and brother Ken became distant with each other. The book occasionally seemed to jump from different time periods which made it difficult to follow. All in it is worth a read if you are a MMA fan but there are better MMA autobiographies out there. It has made me want to check back on you tube and see a few of the fights he mentioned, especially the a baroni fight.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skip this one. This book is pretty formulaic of most MMA biographies. Unless you are a hardcore fan, or have geographical ties to Frank Shamrock, I didn't get a lot out of this book. I still have been unable to find a better MMA story than Jens Pulver's book. I will say much of this does sound like it is coming from Frank directly which is nice, and I do enjoy him as a commentator, and think his exploits in the cage speak for themselves. It is hard be believe how far the sport has come in the last 20 years and hearing the cowboy like stories from the early days is fun, but for the casual fan there are a half dozen better books in front of this one in my opinion.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Shamrock's had a very very interesting life and in this well-executed autobiography he and his co-author Charles Fleming make an interesting tale of it. Shamrock is very honest about his flaws and mistakes and pulls no punches whether he's recounting an incident from his very troubled childhood or his career as a martial arts champion.
It's a must for MMA fans and recommended for anyone who needs a good redemption tale from an honest adventurer.

[Brian D'Souza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got a review copy of this book from Chicago Review Press. Was such a compelling book that I read it in one sitting.

Frank is an amazing fighter, and an incredible individual to have surmounted early challenges.

I enjoyed the story, and found it to be really inspirational. Only you know your own story, your own truth. Frank knows people better than they reveal themselves in the public sphere.

[Oliver Bateman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Nice character stuff here and some interesting details about his fighting days, but overall a bit like your stand autobio "PR fluff" along with Shamrock occasionally boasting about how smart he is despite attending only the "school of hard knocks." If you're an MMA fan, it's a 60-90 min read, not a bad investment of time.

[Charlton Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting back story to Shamrock's career and the evolution of mixed martial arts.

[Christopher Zacher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not to sound like I m an angry reviewer, but I almost forgot why I don't like Shamrock and this book reminds me why. I have always felt his "legend" status has been somewhat overrated.