Knee
Right knee
Latin	articulatio genus
Gray's	subject #93 839
Nerve	femoral, obturator, sciatic
MeSH	Knee
Dorlands/Elsevier	Knee

Real-time MRI- Knee (central)

The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the femur and tibia, and one between the femur and patella.^[1] It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated.^[2] The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus (a pivotal hinge joint),^[3] which permits flexion and extension as well as a slight medial and lateral rotation. Since in humans the knee supports nearly the whole weight of the body, it is vulnerable to both acute injury and the development of osteoarthritis.

It is often grouped into tibiofemoral and patellofemoral components.^[4][5] (The fibular collateral ligament is often considered with tibiofemoral components.)^[6]

Human anatomy[link]

Articular surfaces of femur.

Articular surfaces of tibia.

The knee is a hinge type synovial joint, which is composed of three functional compartments: the femoropatellar articulation consists of the patella, or "kneecap", and the patellar groove on the front of the femur through which it slides; and the medial and lateral femorotibial articulations linking the femur, or thigh bone, with the tibia, the main bone of the lower leg.^[7] The joint is bathed in synovial fluid which is contained inside the synovial membrane called the joint capsule. The posterolateral corner of the knee is an area that has recently been the subject of renewed scrutiny and research.

The knee is one of the most important joints of our body. It plays an essential role in movement related to carrying the body weight in horizontal (running and walking) and vertical (jumps) directions.

Upon birth, a baby will not have a conventional knee cap, but a growth formed of cartilage. In females this turns to a normal bone knee cap by the age of 3, in males the age of 5.

Articular bodies[link]

The articular bodies of the femur are its lateral and medial condyles. These diverge slightly distally and posteriorly, with the lateral condyle being wider in front than at the back while the medial condyle is of more constant width.^[8] The radius of the condyles' curvature in the sagittal plane becomes smaller toward the back. This diminishing radius produces a series of involute midpoints (i.e. located on a spiral). The resulting series of transverse axes permit the sliding and rolling motion in the flexing knee while ensuring the collateral ligaments are sufficiently lax to permit the rotation associated with the curvature of the medial condyle about a vertical axis.^[9]

The pair of tibial condyles are separated by the intercondylar eminence^[8] composed of a lateral and a medial tubercle.^[10]

The patella is inserted into the thin anterior wall of the joint capsule.^[8] On its posterior surface is a lateral and a medial articular surface,^[9] both of which communicate with the patellar surface which unites the two femoral condyles on the anterior side of the bone's distal end.^[11]

Articular capsule[link]

Lateral and posterior aspects of right knee

The articular capsule has a synovial and a fibrous membrane separated by fatty deposits. Anteriorly, the synovial membrane is attached on the margin of the cartilage both on the femur and the tibia, but on the femur, the suprapatellar bursa or recess extends the joint space proximally.^[12] The suprapatellar bursa is prevented from being pinched during extension by the articularis genu muscle.^[13] Behind, the synovial membrane is attached to the margins of the two femoral condyles which produces two extensions similar to the anterior recess. Between these two extensions, the synovial membrane passes in front of the two cruciate ligaments at the center of the joint, thus forming a pocket direct inward.^[12]

Bursae[link]

Numerous bursae surround the knee joint. The largest communicative bursa is the suprapatellar bursa described above. Four considerably smaller bursae are located on the back of the knee. Two non-communicative bursae are located in front of the patella and below the patellar tendon, and others are sometimes present. ^[12]

Cartilage[link]

Cartilage is a thin, elastic tissue that protects the bone and makes certain that the joint surfaces can slide easily over each other. Cartilage ensures supple knee movement. There are two types of joint cartilage in the knees: fibrous cartilage (the meniscus) and hyaline cartilage. Fibrous cartilage has tensile strength and can resist pressure. Hyaline cartilage covers the surface along which the joints move. Cartilage will wear over the years. Cartilage has a very limited capacity for self-restoration. The newly formed tissue will generally consist for a large part of fibrous cartilage of lesser quality than the original hyaline cartilage. As a result, new cracks and tears will form in the cartilage over time.

Menisci[link]

The articular disks of the knee-joint are called menisci because they only partly divide the joint space.^[14] These two disks, the medial meniscus and the lateral meniscus, consist of connective tissue with extensive collagen fibers containing cartilage-like cells. Strong fibers run along the menisci from one attachment to the other, while weaker radial fibers are interlaced with the former. The menisci are flattened at the center of the knee joint, fused with the synovial membrane laterally, and can move over the tibial surface. ^[15]

The menisci serve to protect the ends of the bones from rubbing on each other and to effectively deepen the tibial sockets into which the femur attaches. They also play a role in shock absorption, and may be cracked, or torn, when the knee is forcefully rotated and/or bent.

Ligaments[link]

Anterolateral aspect of right knee.

Anteromedial aspect of knee

The ligaments surrounding the knee joint offer stability by limiting movements and, together with several menisci and bursae, protect the articular capsule.

Intracapsular[link]

The knee is stabilized by a pair of cruciate ligaments. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) stretches from the lateral condyle of femur to the anterior intercondylar area. The ACL is critically important because it prevents the tibia from being pushed too far anterior relative to the femur. It is often torn during twisting or bending of the knee. The posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) stretches from medial condyle of femur to the posterior intercondylar area. Injury to this ligament is uncommon but can occur as a direct result of forced trauma to the ligament. This ligament prevents posterior displacement of the tibia relative to the femur.

The transverse ligament stretches from the lateral meniscus to the medial meniscus. It passes in front of the menisci. Is divided into several strips in 10% of cases.^[15] The two menisci are attached to each others anteriorly by the ligament.^[16] The posterior and anterior meniscofemoral ligaments stretch from posterior horn of lateral meniscus to the medial femoral condyle. They pass posteriorly behind the posterior cruciate ligament. The posterior meniscofemoral ligament is more commonly present (30%); both ligaments are present less often.^[15] The meniscotibial ligaments (or "coronary") stretches from inferior edges of the mensici to the periphery of the tibial plateaus.

Extracapsular[link]

The patellar ligament connects the patella to the tuberosity of the tibia. It is also occasionally called the patellar tendon because there is no definite separation between the quadriceps tendon (which surrounds the patella) and the area connecting the patella to the tibia.^[17] This very strong ligament helps give the patella its mechanical leverage^[18] and also functions as a cap for the condyles of the femur. Laterally and medially to the patellar ligament the lateral and medial patellar retinacula connect fibers from the vasti lateralis and medialis muscles to the tibia. Some fibers from the iliotibial tract radiate into the lateral retinaculum and the medial retinaculum receives some transverse fibers arising on the medial femoral epicondyle. ^[8]

The medial collateral ligament (MCL a.k.a. "tibial") stretches from the medial epicondyle of the femur to the medial tibial condyle. It is composed of three groups of fibers, one stretching between the two bones, and two fused with the medial meniscus. The MCL is partly covered by the pes anserinus and the tendon of the semimembranosus passes under it.^[8] It protects the medial side of the knee from being bent open by a stress applied to the lateral side of the knee (a valgus force). The lateral collateral ligament (LCL a.k.a. "fibular") stretches from the lateral epicondyle of the femur to the head of fibula. It is separate from both the joint capsule and the lateral meniscus.^[8] It protects the lateral side from an inside bending force (a varus force).

Lastly, there are two ligaments on the dorsal side of the knee. The oblique popliteal ligament is a radiation of the tendon of the semimembranosus on the medial side, from where it is direct laterally and proximally. The arcuate popliteal ligament originates on the apex of the head of the fibula to stretch proximally, crosses the tendon of the popliteus muscle, and passes into the capsule.^[8]

Movements[link]

The knee permits flexion and extension about a virtual transverse axis, as well as a slight medial and lateral rotation about the axis of the lower leg in the flexed position. The knee joint is called "mobile" because the femur and lateral meniscus move^[21] over the tibia during rotation, while the femur rolls and glides over both menisci during extension-flexion.^[22]

The center of the transverse axis of the extension/flexion movements is located where both collateral ligaments and both cruciate ligaments intersect. This center moves upward and backward during flexion, while the distance between the center and the articular surfaces of the femur changes dynamically with the decreasing curvature of the femoral condyles. The total range of motion is dependent on several parameters such as soft-tissue restraints, active insufficiency, and hamstring tightness.^[19]

Extended position[link]

With the knee extended both the lateral and medial collateral ligaments, as well as the anterior part of the anterior cruciate ligament, are taut. During extension, the femoral condyles glide into a position which causes the complete unfolding of the tibial collateral ligament. During the last 10° of extension, an obligatory terminal rotation is triggered in which the knee is rotated medially 5°. The final rotation is produced by a lateral rotation of the tibia in the non-weight-bearing leg, and by a medial rotation of the femur in the weight-bearing leg. This terminal rotation is made possible by the shape of the medial femoral condyle, assisted by contraction of the popliteus muscle and the iliotibial tract and is caused by the stretching of the anterior cruciate ligament. Both cruciate ligaments are slightly unwinded and both lateral ligaments become taut.^[22]

Flexed position[link]

In the flexed position, the collateral ligaments are relaxed while the cruciate ligaments are taut. Rotation is controlled by the twisted cruciate ligaments; the two ligaments get twisted around each other during medial rotation of the tibia — which reduces the amount of rotation possible — while they become unwound during lateral rotation of the tibia. Because of the oblique position of the cruciate ligaments at least a part of one of them is always tense and these ligaments control the joint as the collateral ligaments are relaxed. Furthermore, the dorsal fibers of the tibial collateral ligament become tensed during extreme medial rotation and the ligament also reduces the lateral rotation to 45-60°.^[22]

Blood supply[link]

Arteries of the knee

The femoral artery and the popliteal artery help form the arterial network surrounding the knee joint (articular rete). There are 6 main branches:

• 1. Superior medial genicular artery
• 2. Superior lateral genicular artery
• 3. Inferior medial genicular artery
• 4. Inferior lateral genicular artery
• 5. Descending genicular artery
• 6. Recurrent branch of anterior tibial artery

The medial genicular arteries penetrate the knee joint.

Disorders and injury[link]

Knee pain is caused by trauma, misalignment, and degeneration as well as by conditions like arthritis.^[23] The most common knee disorder is generally known as patellofemoral syndrome.The majority of minor cases of knee pain can be treated at home with rest and ice but more serious injuries do require surgical care.

One form of patellofemoral syndrome involves a tissue-related problem that creates pressure and irritation in the knee between the patella and the trochlea (patellar compression syndrome), which causes pain. The second major class of knee disorder involves a tear, slippage, or dislocation that impairs the structural ability of the knee to balance the leg (patellofemoral instability syndrome). Patellofemoral instability syndrome may cause either pain, a sense of poor balance, or both.^[24]

Age also contributes to disorders of the knee. Particularly in older people, knee pain frequently arises due to osteoarthritis. In addition, weakening of tissues around the knee may contribute to the problem.^[25] Patellofemoral instability may relate to hip abnormalities or to tightness of surrounding ligaments.^[24]

Cartilage lesions can be caused by:

• Accidents (fractures)
• Injuries
• The removal of a meniscus
• Anterior cruciate ligament injury
• Posterior cruciate ligament injury
• Posterolateral corner injury
• Considerable strain on the knee.

Any kind of work during which the knees undergo heavy stress may also be detrimental to cartilage. This is especially the case in professions in which people frequently have to walk, lift, or squat. Other causes of pain may be excessive on, and wear of, the knees, in combination with such things as muscle weakness and overweight.

Common complaints:

• A painful, blocked, locked or swollen knee.
• Sufferers sometimes feel as if their knees are about to give way, or may feel uncertain about their movement.

Overall fitness and knee injury[link]

Physical fitness is related integrally to the development of knee problems. The same activity such as climbing stairs may cause pain from patellofemoral compression for someone who is physically unfit, but not for someone else (or even for that person at a different time). Obesity is another major contributor to knee pain. For instance, a 30-year-old woman who weighed 120 lb at age 18 years, before her three pregnancies, and now weighs 285 lb, had added 660 lb of force across her patellofemoral joint with each step.^[26]

Common injuries due to physical activity[link]

Model demonstrating parts of an artificial knee

In sports that place great pressure on the knees, especially with twisting forces, it is common to tear one or more ligaments or cartilages.

Anterior cruciate ligament injury[link]

ACL is the most commonly injured ligament of the knee. The injury is common during sports. Twisting of the knee is a common cause of over-stretching or tearing the ACL. When the ACL is injured one may hear a popping sound and the leg may suddenly give out. Besides swelling and pain, walking may be painful and the knee will feel unstable. Minor tears of the anterior cruciate ligament may heal over time, but a torn ACL requires surgery. After surgery, recovery is prolonged and low impact exercises are recommended to strengthen the joint.^[27]

Torn meniscus injury[link]

The menisci act as shock absorbers and separate the two ends of bone in the knee joint. There are two menisci in the knee, the medial (inner) and the lateral (outer). When there is torn cartilage, it means that the meniscus has been injured. Meniscus tears occur during sports often when the knee is twisted. Menisci injury may be innocuous and one may be able to walk after a tear, but soon swelling and pain set in. Sometimes the knee will lock while bending. Pain often occurs when one squats. Small meniscus tears are treated conservatively but most large tears require surgery.^[28]

Fractures[link]

Knee fractures are rare but do occur, especially as a result of motor vehicle accidents. There is usually immediate pain; swelling and one may not be able to stand on the leg. The muscles go into spasm and even the slightest movements are painful. X-rays can easily confirm the injury and surgery depends on the degree of displacement and type of fracture.

Ruptured tendon[link]

Tendons usually attach muscle to bone. In the knee the quadriceps and patellar tendon can sometimes tear. The injuries to these tendons occur when there is forceful contraction of the knee. If the tendon is completely torn, bending or extending the leg is impossible. A completely torn tendon requires surgery but a partially torn tendon can be treated with leg immobilization followed by physical therapy.

Overuse[link]

Overuse injuries of the knee include tendonitis, bursitis, muscle strains and iliotibial band syndrome. These injuries often develop slowly over weeks or months. Activities that induce pain usually delay healing. Rest, ice and compression do help in most cases. Once the swelling has diminished, heat packs can increase blood supply and promote healing. Most overuse injuries subside with time but can flare up if the activities are quickly resumed.^[29] To prevent overuse injuries, warm up prior to exercise, limit high impact activities and keep your weight under control.

Surgical interventions[link]

Before the advent of arthroscopy and arthroscopic surgery, patients having surgery for a torn ACL required at least nine months of rehabilitation, having initially spent several weeks in a full-length plaster cast. With current techniques, such patients may be walking without crutches in two weeks, and playing some sports in a few months.

In addition to developing new surgical procedures, ongoing research is looking into underlying problems which may increase the likelihood of an athlete suffering a severe knee injury. These findings may lead to effective preventive measures, especially in female athletes, who have been shown to be especially vulnerable to ACL tears from relatively minor trauma.

Articular cartilage repair treatment :

• Arthroscopic debriment of the knee (arthroscopic lavage).
• Mosaïc-plasty.
• Microfracture (Ice-picking).
• Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation.
• Osteochondral Autograft and Allografts.
• PLC Reconstruction

Animal anatomy[link]

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009)

In humans the knee refers to the joints between the femur, tibia and patella. In quadrupeds, particularly horses and ungulates the laymans term "knee" is commonly used to refer to the carpus. The joints between the femur, tibia and patella are known as the stifle in quadrupeds. In insects and other animals the term knee is used widely to refer to any ginglymus joint.

See also[link]

Look up knee in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Knees

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Knee joint

• Arthrofibrosis
• Articular cartilage repair
• Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation
• Cartilage
• Chondromalacia patellae
• Geniculum
• Genuflection
• Knee arthritis
• Knee Cartilage Replacement Therapy
• Knee examination
• Knee osteoarthritis
• Knee pain
• Knee-capping
• Posterolateral Knee Injuries
• Kneebar
• Kneeling
• Knesetja
• Partial knee replacement
• Reflex hammer

Additional images[link]

Knee MR   Knee MR   Knee X-ray   Knee X-ray (Front)   Cruciate ligaments   Left knee-joint from behind, showing interior ligaments.   Capsule of right knee-joint (distended). Lateral aspect.   Anterior and lateral view of knee.

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Burgener, Francis A.; Meyers, Steven P.; Tan, Raymond K. (2002). Differential Diagnosis in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Thieme. ISBN 1-58890-085-1. http://books.google.com/?id=brsH_IqPzzoC&pg=PA390. 
• Diab, Mohammad (1999). Lexicon of Orthopaedic Etymology. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 90-5702-597-3. http://books.google.com/?id=fstFQVnw8-wC&pg=PA200. 
• Kulowski, Jacob (1932). Flexion Contracture of the Knee: The Mechanics of the Muscular Contracture and the Turnbuckle Cast Method of Treatment. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. http://www.ejbjs.org/cgi/reprint/14/3/618.pdf. 
• Moore, Keith L.; Dalley, Arthur F.: Agur, A. M. R. (2006). Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-3639-0. http://books.google.com/?id=SxuA3T7JbQkC&pg=PA594. 
• Platzer, Werner (2004). Color Atlas of Human Anatomy, Vol. 1: Locomotor System (5th ed.). Thieme. pp. 206–213. ISBN 3-13-533305-1. 
• "Definition of patellar tendon". MedicineNet.com. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=34200. Retrieved 2008-12-11. 
• Thieme Atlas of Anatomy: General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System. Thieme. 2006. ISBN 1-58890-419-9. 

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Frank Shamrock
Born	Frank Alisio Juarez, III (1972-12-08) December 8, 1972 (age 39) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Other names	The Legend
Residence	San Jose, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 13 st)
Division	Middleweight (2006–2009) Light Heavyweight
Reach	72.0 in (183 cm)
Style	Catch wrestling, Kickboxing, Submission Fighting
Stance	Orthodox
Team	Lion's Den (1994–1998) The Alliance (1998–2010)[1]
Teacher(s)	Ken Shamrock, Maurice Smith, Javier Mendez
Rank	Retired
Years active	1994–2010
Kickboxing record
Total	1
Wins	1
By knockout	1
Losses	0
Mixed martial arts record
Total	35
Wins	23
By knockout	6
By submission	10
By decision	5
By disqualification	2
Losses	10
By knockout	4
By submission	2
By decision	3
By disqualification	1
Draws	2
Other information
Notable relatives	Ken Shamrock, adopted brother
Website	http://www.frankshamrock.com/
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
last updated on: March 13, 2011 (2011-03-13)

Frank Shamrock (born Frank Alisio Juarez, III; December 8, 1972) is a retired mixed martial arts fighter. Shamrock was the first to hold the UFC Middleweight Championship (later renamed the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship) and retired as the four-time defending undefeated champion. Shamrock was the #1 ranked pound for pound fighter in the world during his reign as the UFC Middleweight Champion.^[2] Shamrock has won numerous titles in other martial arts organizations, including the interim King of Pancrase title, the WEC Light Heavyweight Championship and the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship.

He was named "Fighter of the Decade" for the 1990s by the Wrestling Observer, "Best Full Contact Fighter" by Black Belt magazine (1998), and three time "Fighter of the Year" by Full Contact Fighter Magazine. He is a 7th degree black belt in submission fighting, awarded by O-Sensei Philip S. Porter of the United States Martial Arts Association.^[3] He is the adopted brother of former UFC champion Ken Shamrock. He holds notable wins over Bas Rutten, Tito Ortiz, Jeremy Horn, Tsuyoshi Kohsaka, Kevin Jackson and Phil Baroni. He is also the only man to defeat Cesar Gracie. He holds the Guinness World Records for Fastest UFC Title Fight Victory by Submission in 16 seconds over Kevin Jackson at UFC Japan in Yokohama Japan. An author, entrepreneur, philanthropist and social activist, he is a color commentator for Showtime Networks and a brand spokesman for Strikeforce.

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

From the age of 12, Frank Juarez was placed in various foster homes, group homes, and crisis centers. He also had a few run-ins with law enforcement. Eventually he went to live with Bob Shamrock, who had taken in hundreds of troubled boys (including Frank's older foster-brother Ken). Juarez went to live with Shamrock at his home in Susanville, California, and was officially adopted by Shamrock at the age of 21.

Pancrase[link]

In 1994, Ken began to train Frank in submission fighting. Frank accompanied his brother to bouts in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and grew to love the sport. He became a member of Ken's training school, the Lion's Den, and made his mixed martial arts debut in the Pancrase organization in Japan.

Shamrock debuted as a fighter in Pancrase on December 16, 1994 in one of the biggest events in mixed martial arts history to date, the King of Pancrase Tournament. He was a large underdog against top Pancrase fighter Bas Rutten but went on to defeat Rutten in a close decision victory. Shamrock faced off against expert grappler and eventual tournament finalist Manabu Yamada later that night, but was defeated via submission at 8:38 of round 1.

In 1995, Shamrock fought 9 times, all within the Pancrase organization. He went 6–2–1 over that span, splitting fights with MMA legend and master catch wrestler Masakatsu Funaki, fighting to a draw with BJJ black belt Allan Goes (yet snapping Goes leg with a leglock in the process) and losing a close split decision in a rematch with Bas Rutten.

After an injury prevented King of Pancrase Bas Rutten from defending his title, an interim championship was created. Shamrock faced Olympic alternate wrestler and master submission grappler Minoru Suzuki on January 28, 1996 for the vacant belt in a match that drew widespread anticipation. In an epic bout, Shamrock submitted Suzuki with a kneebar at the 22:53 mark of the fight to win the King of Pancrase interim title in front of a sellout crowd in Yokohama.

Shamrock scored decision wins over Ryushu Yanagisawa and Osami Shibuya before facing off against Bas Rutten for the third time for the undisputed King of Pancrase title. Rutten won the bout via TKO due to a cut stoppage.

Shamrock then avenged his loss to Manabu Yamada in his next bout, scoring an impressive submission win over the talented grappler. Shamrock found success in Pancrase, but after his adopted brother Ken left the organization following a dispute with management, Shamrock was fired in retaliation.

Mixed martial arts[link]

On January 17, 1997, he lost to John Lober in Hawaii's Superbrawl by split decision, having dominated the fight until his lack of cardio became a factor. After his loss to Lober, Shamrock shifted the focus of his career exclusively to mixed martial arts. Shamrock then fought top ranked Japanese fighter Tsuyoshi Kohsaka in RINGS and defeated Kohsaka by decision.

Within the Lion's Den, Shamrock trained up-and-coming stars such as Jerry Bohlander, Pete Williams, and Guy Mezger. He also developed a close relationship with Maurice Smith, who trained him in kickboxing with Javier Mendez.

Shamrock then fought Enson Inoue in a bout in Vale Tudo Japan '97 that would determine who would fight Kevin Jackson for the newly created UFC Middleweight Championship. After an exciting back and forth battle, Shamrock knocked Inoue out with a knee, although the match was officially ruled as a disqualification win due to Enson's brother, Egan, running into the ring after Shamrock had knocked out Inoue. Shamrock later stated that this was the toughest fight in his career.^[4]

UFC Middleweight Champion[link]

After the win over Inoue, Shamrock joined the UFC and fought Kevin Jackson for the newly created UFC Middleweight Championship (later renamed the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship). Jackson had won the belt in a tournament at UFC 14 and was undefeated in MMA at the time, and was also the Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling for the 1992 Summer Olympics. Despite being a heavy underdog, Shamrock armbarred Jackson in just 16 seconds to win the championship.

Shamrock then made his first title defense against undefeated Extreme Fighting champion Igor Zinoviev at UFC 16. Zinoviev was a feared Russian kickboxer and sambo specialist who held wins over Mario Sperry and Enson Inoue. Shamrock shot a double leg takedown and slammed Zinoviev down so hard that it knocked him unconscious. Zinoviev suffered a broken collarbone and a fractured C-5 vertebra from the slam and had to be carried out on a stretcher.^[5] Zinoviev's fight with Shamrock forced him to retire permanently from mixed martial arts. Shamrock then defended his belt against Jeremy Horn at UFC 17, submitting him with a kneebar. In October 1998, Shamrock avenged his earlier loss to John Lober by beating him decisively in 7 minutes at UFC Brazil.

In September 1999, Shamrock defended the UFC Middleweight Championship against future UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz at UFC 22. Ortiz had exploded as a star after his confrontation with Shamrock's brother Ken and his Lion's Den camp at UFC 19. The bout was hyped as a grudge, as Shamrock was a former Lion's Den member who, according to the marketing, was out for revenge against Ortiz. However, this was not necessarily the case because Shamrock had left the Lion's Den on bad terms a year and a half earlier. Despite dominating his opponents in his previous title defenses, Shamrock was considered to be an underdog in this fight; Ortiz had come off convincing wins over Shamrock's former teammates Jerry Bohlander and Guy Mezger and popular opinion was that Ortiz was too big and strong for him to deal with (Ortiz cut weight to fight and by the time he stepped into the cage he would have 25 lb (11 kg; 1.8 st) on Shamrock).^[6]

However, in what is widely considered to be one of the greatest fights in UFC history, Shamrock won after brutal elbows, punches, and hammer blows forced Ortiz to tap out at the end of round 4. Shamrock has stated that Ortiz was his toughest opponent physically due to his weight advantage and style of fighting.^[4] With this win, Shamrock solidified himself as perhaps the greatest UFC champion in history to that date, going 5–0 in title fights and finishing each fight decisively. After the win, UFC owner Bob Meyrowitz and announcer Jeff Blatnick both praised Shamrock as the greatest competitor in the history of the UFC.^[6]

Shamrock then relinquished his title and retired from the UFC. After retiring, he briefly acted as a consultant and commentator for the company. In an interview, UFC president Dana White said:^[7]

"I've talked to Frank Shamrock many times. Frank Shamrock will lead you to believe that we've never talked and we completely have hated each other forever and everything else. He's a weird guy. He's a very, very weird guy. I can't explain it. Frank is a weird guy."

Return[link]

After a brief retirement, Shamrock returned to mixed martial arts as a career. He signed a deal to fight Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu standout Elvis Sinosic at K-1, the premiere kickboxing event in the world. Shamrock beat Sinosic via unanimous decision after five three-minute rounds. Later, when Sinosic faced Tito Ortiz for the UFC light-heavyweight title (formerly the middleweight title) at UFC 32, Shamrock served as guest commentator. On August 11, 2001, he took on his former student, Shannon Ritch in a kickboxing match for K-1. Just 56 seconds into the first round, Shamrock broke Ritch's arm with a roundhouse kick and thereby won the match.

Shamrock helped to train UFC veteran B.J. Penn for his early bouts with the UFC at the American Kickboxing Academy and produced his own events Bushido and ShootBox. His first MMA match since 1999 was winning the WEC light-heavyweight championship in under two minutes from Bryan Pardoe by submission in March 2003.

On March 10, 2006, at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie, the first MMA event sanctioned by the state of California, he knocked out Cesar Gracie in 21 seconds. Gracie had never fought an MMA match and was 40 years old, so the fight was considered a serious mismatch. However, Gracie is an elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor with years of training under his belt as well being the mentor of students such as the Diaz brothers, Nate and Nick.

On September 14, 2006, it was announced that Shamrock had signed a multi-million dollar contract with startup MMA organization "The World Fighter" and was scheduled to fight in January 2007. However, Shamrock told Sherdog that the World Fighter contract no longer applied because it was entirely contingent on the organization getting a television contract with Showtime; the cable network instead agreed to air fights for the EliteXC promotion.

On February 10, 2007, Shamrock lost his fight by disqualification to Renzo Gracie during the EliteXC event which was televised on Showtime. Shamrock delivered two knees to Gracie's head while both men were on the ground. After a five minute injury time out, Gracie was unable to continue. Referee Herb Dean disqualified Shamrock due to a foul (illegal strikes to the back of the head, and knees to the head of a grounded opponent). Dean had already warned Shamrock once earlier in the fight about striking to the back of the head—an illegal move under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.

In December 2005, Shamrock opened his first school, Shamrock Martial Arts Academy in San Jose, California. Shamrock trains his students in kickboxing and submission wrestling. He also manages Team Shamrock, his own fight team. In June 2006, Shamrock was chosen as a coach for the San Jose Razorclaws of the International Fight League. Debuting against Carlos Newton's Toronto Dragons on September 23, 2006 at the Mark in Moline, Illinois, The Dragons won 3–2. The Razorclaws subsequently lost 2–3 against the Ken Shamrock coached Nevada Lions on January 19, 2007.

Strikeforce[link]

Shamrock and Phil Baroni had engaged in a war of words with YouTube videos following Shamrock's fight with Renzo Gracie. The two faced off at Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni, a co-promotion between EliteXC and Strikeforce on June 22, 2007, on pay-per-view.^[8]

Shamrock went on to out-strike Baroni in the first part of this fight in the stand-up. Shamrock was deducted a point for using strikes to the back of the head while he had Baroni's back. In the second round, Shamrock took some strikes from Baroni, but he was able to regain control and drop Baroni, transition to his back and end the fight with a rear naked choke. Baroni refused to tap out and was choked unconscious. As soon as he regained his senses, he walked over to Shamrock, congratulated him and left the cage. By winning the match, Shamrock became the Strikeforce Middleweight Champion, thereby making him the first person to win a title in all three major North American fight promotions: the UFC, WEC and Strikeforce.

Shamrock and Cung Le after their bout

On January 11, 2008, it was announced that Shamrock would face Cung Le in a match on March 29, 2008 for the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship during the joint Strike force-Elite XC event at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. Le arguably controlled the fight, at times out-striking the more MMA-experienced Shamrock. At one point in the later stages of round 3 Shamrock appeared to have Le hurt but was unable to finish him with a barrage of punches against the cage. Le recovered and responded in the closing seconds of the round with more kicks and a spinning back fist. Shamrock was unable to answer the bell to begin round 4 due to a broken arm caused by one of Le's kicks and the fight was ruled a TKO as a result of corner stoppage. Shamrock indicated post-fight that these kicks had broken his right arm.

Shamrock publicly stated that he would like to face Ken Shamrock in the first quarter of 2009, until stating in an interview "there's no point in fighting Ken, he's finished, why beat on an old man?" causing the likelihood of this fight to now be very slim.^[9] Afterwards, he said that he would like to fight Tito Ortiz and then Cung Le and then "do some boxing stuff."^[10]

On April 11, 2009, Shamrock was defeated by Nick Diaz by technical knock out.

Retirement[link]

Shamrock announced his retirement from fighting on June 26, 2010 at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum.^[11]

Personal life[link]

Shamrock and his wife, Amy, reside in San Jose. The couple had a daughter named Nicolette on April 24, 2008.^[12] Shamrock also has a son, Frankie from a previous marriage.^[13] Shamrock runs a franchise of schools, a merchandising company, Frank Shamrock, Inc. (a personal asset management company), MMA Entertainment, and Mixed Martial Arts For Law Enforcement (a law enforcement training business).^[14]

Shamrock also wrote the Wiley book "Mixed Martial Arts for Dummies". In 1998, Shamrock had a falling out with his brother Ken and his father Bob; they would not communicate again until Bob became terminally ill years later. In separate interviews aired Jan. 18, 2007 by Sherdog.com's Beatdown radio show, both Frank and Ken said they remain estranged—Frank claimed Ken has spurned all attempts at reconciliation; Ken accused Frank of treating their adoptive father badly.^[15]

In an interview with Sam Caplan of sportsline.com, Shamrock revealed he felt concerned with Ken's training methods, and when he confronted Ken, he was told "You don't have what it takes, you're not going to be a world champion and I want you to run my gyms for the rest of your life." This spurred him on to leave which led to the estrangement of both Ken and Bob (who took Ken's side in the disagreement). He also stated that he would be happy to fight against Ken, should the opportunity arise.^[16] Ken feels the same way, stating on Sherdog radio network that Shamrock vs. Shamrock is a distinct possibility, stating that he taught Frank everything he knows and that it is wrong to proclaim yourself "The Legend", a moniker Frank has been using since his return at WEC 6.

On January 14, 2010, Frank and Ken Shamrock's adoptive father Bob Shamrock, died due to health complications from diabetes.^[17] Shamrock is a commentator and fighter on the EA Sports MMA video game which was released in 2010.^[18] On November 18, 2010, Shamrock appeared as a guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.^[19]

Shamrock is featured in the feature-length documentary on the sport of mixed martial arts titled Fight Life, released in 2011. The film is directed by independent filmmaker James Z. Feng and produced by RiLL Films.^[20] After his retirement, Shamrock landed a guest role on Walker, Texas Ranger and the main role in a Burger King commercial. He was also featured as Damien in the 2005 movie No Rules.^[21] Also was uncredited in an episode of Oz.

In October 2012, Shamrock will be releasing his autobiography "Uncaged: My Life as a Champion MMA Fighter."

Championships and accomplishments[link]

[edit] Mixed martial arts

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time, First, Then named Middleweight Championship)
  • Four successful title defenses
• Pancrase Hybrid Wrestling
  • Interim King of Pancrase (One time)
• World Extreme Cagefighting
  • WEC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time, First)
• Contenders
  • Contenders Light Heavyweight Championship (One time)
• Strikeforce
  • Strikeforce Middleweight Championship (One time, First)
• Black Belt Magazine
  • 1998 Full-Contact Fighter of the Year ^[22]
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • 1998 Most Outstanding Fighter
  • 1999 Most Outstanding Fighter
  • 1999 Fight of the Year - vs. Tito Ortiz on September 24, 1999
• Other
  • Former WKC Submission Champion

Mixed martial arts record[link]

Kickboxing record[link]

Frank Shamrock kickboxing record
1 wins (1 (T)KO's) Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time Record 2001-08-11 Win Shannon Ritch K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada, United States TKO (Injury) 1 0:53 1-0 Legend:       Win       Loss       Draw/No contest       Notes

Footnotes[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Frank Shamrock Martial Arts Academy
• Professional MMA record for Frank Shamrock from Sherdog
• Frank Shamrock on Twitter
• Frank Shamrock on Facebook
• Frank Shamrock at the Internet Movie Database
• Five Ounces of Pain: Interview with Frank Shamrock
• Frank's Interview with John Kline of Elevation Radio