However, it’s rare when the involved parties are former training partners, one now being a UFC competitor and the other a retired-fighter-turned-broadcaster, let alone to see personal issues from the past brought up.

Such a situation unfolded Monday on Twitter when UFC welterweight Mike Swick took Strikeforce commentator Frank Shamrock to task for his involvement in an anti-bullying campaign. Swick’s issue apparently stemmed from what he felt was hypocrisy on the part of Shamrock based on things he experienced while the two trained together at American Kickboxing Academy.

Started Swick, “ARE YOU KIDDING FRANK SHAMROCK!?!? I have seen it all now! I usually keep my mouth shut and stay far away from any controversy or disputes with other fighters but this is too much! Frank Shamrock started a foundation to fight bullies because he was cyber-bullied?”

Further elaborating on the topic, Swick wrote, “…that’s ironic considering he was the biggest bully at our gym until we had to split him from our team. I can’t even list the fighters on the team that were injured and hurt by him and that he passed out in chokes even after they tapped. This is like making the drug dealer a cop so he can help them get more drug dealers.”

In response to the allegations, Shamrock posted, “Mike Swick calling me a bully is lame. I used to whoop his butt for sure cuz he wanted to be a champ. Always respect and love for him. Guess (he) forgot how I used to write his fan mail back when he (was) in the military. Or how I bled for him and trained him personally.”

However, the walk down memory lane didn’t earn a reprieve from the 14-4 Texan, who replied, “Come on Shamrock, if you’re gonna be an advocate, be a man…admit you were a bully – apologize. Bet that video never surfaces! Don’t be fake!”

“You define bully. Hurting smaller teammates on purpose. Choking teammates unconscious that tap,” he continued.

Though the discussion ended after Shamrock offered Swick an opportunity to talk in person if he was in San Jose, to which Swick said the former UFC middleweight champion had seven years to speak with him about it, it seems clear neither man will be sending the other a Christmas card any time soon.

Shamrock’s issues with AKA-trained fighters is nothing new, as his rivalry with Phil Baroni is well-documented in addition to the heat between him and former Strikeforce 155-pound champ Josh “The Punk” Thomson (who Shamrock once made reference to as “the first openly gay fighter in MMA”).

Ariel Helwani Interviews Dana White in England After Oxford Address (MMAFighting.com)

Bobby Lashley Surprises Strikeforce Officials with Decision to Fight Outside Organization this December (MiddleEasy.com)

Frank Shamrock Cuts a Promo for EA Sports MMA on Why Retirement Sucks (Heavy.com)

Forrest Griffin vs. Rich Franklin Rumor Heats Up (Versus.com)

Bellator Middleweight Hector Lombard Wants to Fight Josh Barnett for Personal Reasons (CagePotato.com)

MMA Agent Gives Readers a Look Behind the Scenes (WatchKalibRun.com)

Strikeforce Scott Coker Waxes Poetic on “Diaz vs. Noons II” and More (FIGHT! Magazine)

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson Gets Animated! (MMAScraps.com)

Jon Jones is Tired of Wrestlers and Explains Why (MMAConvert.com)

Some of the names being thrown around as of late include Japanese grappling sensation Kazushi Sakuraba, Cung Le, Robbie Lawler, Scott Smith and Dan Henderson to name just a few. And while nothing has been set in concrete as of this writing in regard to who Shamrock will face next, one thing is for certain, and that is that it will undoubtedly be a fight to remember as the thirty-seven year old San Jose resident has a long history in the sport as one of it’s most consistently entertaining athletes.

If you’ve had the opportunity to view Frank’s legendary battles with the likes of Enson Inoue or Tito Ortiz in the late nineties, you’ve had the chance to witness two of the most brutal and entertaining bouts in MMA history. Shamrock hasn’t slowed a step in recent years as he steamrolled into the new century, putting on two of the most exciting bouts of the last decade against the likes of Cung Le and Phil Baroni under the Strikeforce banner.

History will have no choice but to look back on the pioneer of the sport many years from now as one of the undisputed best in the game during the years when he was needed the most. Shamrock was the first champion in a weight class for three of the biggest promotion’s in the industry. In 1997 he became the UFC’s first ever light heavyweight champion with a lighting quick armbar over Kevin Jackson and went on to defend the strap four times before becoming the first man to grab the WEC’s version of the light heavyweight crown back in 2003. Of course, all of this was before Shamrock became Strikeforce’s first middleweight title holder with a second round strangling of Phil Baroni on 2007.

FiveOuncesofPain.com recently had the chance to catch up with Shamrock to discuss a variety of topics including being in a position where he must rebound from back-to-back defeats, the beef between himself and Jake Shields, possible future opponents, and much more.

Cory Brady for FiveOuncesofPain.com: You have been pretty essential in the development of Strikeforce over the last several years, headlining the first major event against Cesar Gracie in 2006; Is this the vision you had for the future of the promotion, where Strikeforce is heading right now?

Frank Shamrock: Yeah, most definitely. It was a well laid out plan and a well executed plan, but this was the plan.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: So was part of the original plan back in 2006 to eventually secure a major network television deal?

Frank Shamrock: Well, I’d love to say I predicted the CBS thing (laugh), but I can’t really take credit for that. Although I think the Cung Le fight may have had some sway with the CBS executives. You know, we made the right moves and the company has been conservative but effective in taking some of the small risks. So yeah, this is where I hoped we would be.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: 2009 was obviously a huge year for Strikeforce, do you think 2010 will be the year when they really tear down the doors with a lot of viewers that may not have been previous fans of the sport through the recent alignment with CBS? Of course there was MMA on CBS before, but of course EliteXC kind of fell face first there. What are your thoughts on 2010 in general for the sport of mixed martial arts?

Frank Shamrock: Well I really think it’s all about building the brand; creating Strikeforce, creating the Showtime shows and the CBS opportunity for all of the MMA circuit. But honestly I think that very few people know about Strikeforce in the mainstream, and I think 2010 is our year of going into that mainstream and letting people know that Strikeforce is a brand of mixed martial arts. It’s a really unique brand of mixed martial arts. We’ve just been trying to sell that story and now we have enough people looking at it

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Now I’m sure you were paying close attention to the recent bout between Scott Smith and Cung Le as two very real possibilities as future opponents; What was your impression looking back on the performance by each fighter?

Frank Shamrock: I thought the whole fight was just magic. It was Ali vs. Foreman in “The Rumble in the Jungle” all over again. It was just fantastic. From my professional side of calling the match, it was absolutely amazing and enjoyable. As far as my other professional side in regards to possibly facing one of the two in the future, I thought it was all good. Cung looked fantastic… and he just got tired. You know, you have to finish the race though. Scott looked.. like a punching bag (laughs)… and he punched back (laughs), and finished the fight. In my opinion, there were no losers. I mean Cung got stopped, but the whole story and the whole fight in itself, I thought it was phenomenal.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Is it kind of a nerve wrecking experience being a commentator during a fight between two guys you have the potential to fighting sometime in the future? I mean being a fighter and a commentator is one thing, but watching one guy you’ve already fought, and another guy you may fight in the future; What was that like for you?

Frank Shamrock: Well it used to be really weird, and I’ve gotten myself to a point where I’m so connected to the moment of calling the fight, that I’m not thinking about anything else. Because I’m really trying to do my best at calling exactly what I see. That sort of overpowers me and I can kind of get rid of the other stuff. I feel like my most important job at that time, and it is my most important job in the moment, is to tell the story. I mean there’s always a feeling of like, ‘Oh, I gotta get Cung back’, but my most important job is to tell the story. Telling the story always comes first for me when it comes down to it.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Would you consider the recent lightweight title bout between Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson one of the best fights you’ve ever witnessed, or at least one of the best fights of the last year?

Frank Shamrock: It was absolutely one of the best fights of 2009, if not the best fight of 2009. I didn’t see a better fight over the last year. I didn’t watch a lot of fighting, but I didn’t see a better fight. I would also say that it was in my top ten fights of all time. That’s what mixed martial arts should be all about. You get knocked down, you get up, you drag it out, just up and down, and anybody can win.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: The word around the campfire is that it’s going to be an early March return for you; I have to ask; Are there any names currently floating around out there as a possible next opponent for you?

Frank Shamrock: I haven’t been offered any names . I think we were kind of waiting on the Evolution card to happen to see what was going to happen, but the possibilities for me in the middleweight division are endless. With Henderson, with Scott, with Le, Jacare, with everybody. The possibilities are just endless right now. I’m hoping that they’ll give me somebody old (laughs) like myself (laughs). I just think that 2010 we’ve done a really good job telling a lot of the different stories, and I think it’s really important that we kind of weave those stories together into something that’s continuous and highly entertaining. And in 2010 we’re going to hit our mark. This will be mainstream. Everybody’s going to be talking about this amazing brand new show called Strikeforce (laughs).

FiveOuncesofPain.com: I know you have recently expressed that you have no desire to face Jake Shields anytime in the future because you don’t want to give him the opportunity in what would be as really high profile fight against yourself. Would you say a lot of that has to do with the way he handled himself in trying to call you out? Do you feel he went a little bit overboard with the way he has gone about asking for the fight?

Frank Shamrock: No, actually I thought it was nice to see him finally doing something to promote and market himself. I was irritated because I was trying to do my job as a professional commentator and he was just unpleasant and… accostful (laughs), in a professional setting when we’re trying to do a commentary job. You know, in a professional setting, that’s not nice.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Right, I know it’s the fight game, but with any job you’re going to end up working with people you don’t like, but the reality is that you still have to work with them.

Frank Shamrock: Yeah. He’s a nice kid I think. He needs to grow up. But my point is, why should I? When there’s so many other guys that are respectful, and they’ve earned it, they care, and that have done a really good job. People that I personally enjoy doing business with.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Why do you think Shields wants to fight you so bad? Do you think it could have something to do with the fact that you knocked out Cesar Gracie in 2006?

Frank Shamrock: I’m sure of it. That and I’m very famous and very successful, and I have a really big paycheck. I’m sure that he wants some of that. My point is, earn it, and we’ll all meet up in the end.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: So are you saying it to earn it by being exciting?

Frank Shamrock: Be exciting, sell it, work it; it’s the whole package. You can’t just show up, fight, and then be unpleasant. I’m in the business for the next 50 years. Which means eventually be doing business together (laughs). He’ll be working for me, or something will happen.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: I’d like to throw out a few names and gather your thoughts on them as fighters, and how you feel like you would match-up with them if you were to meet sometime soon. First off, Kazushi Sakuraba?

Frank Shamrock: I would love to fight Sakuraba. I think he’s old like me, and I think we match up stylistically very well. I don’t think he has the chin for it, or the knees for the type of game we’d be playing. I think punching him in the head and making him work those old knees would be the strategy. I mean, his knees are worse than mine. It would be like a contest of terrible knees. I just think that I’d have the advantage physically. But I’d love to fight him.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Is he someone you’ve kind of been wanting to fight for a while now? It seems like both of your styles are so similar.

Frank Shamrock: Well we had the same teacher. We have the same lineage. My thing at my height of learning was that I really wanted to kind of find my style of fighting, and develop it. He was the only other guy that had the same lineage of teachers, and training, and experience that I did. I felt like we were destined to meet, we just never did.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: So that might be a fight you would be interested in if it could come together?

Frank Shamrock: I would definitely be interested in that fight.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: I have to ask: A rematch with Cung; is that something you want?

Frank Shamrock: Absolutely. I love Cung Le.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: I know you’re all about the high profile fights and he’s a guy with a history of putting butts in the seats.

Frank Shamrock: I like Cung. He’s exciting and he’s interesting. He’s a little short on the words, but he puts on a great show.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Dan Henderson?

Frank Shamrock: Yeah, Henderson; I love Henderson. He’s a star, and a stud, and he owes me one. He owes me one from when I heel hooked him in a wrestling match (laughs), so I have a feeling like Dan will be coming to get me soon (laughs).

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Plus, I think that’s a fight a lot of people might want to see.

Frank Shamrock: Actually it’s a really good stylistic match up. I mean, Dan’s a strong guy. Dan is the strongest guy that I’ve ever tied up in a clinch. He’s just a stud. I’ve trained with him and sparred with him, and you know, he’s one of those guys where you fight him and it takes weeks off of your life, but it’s an amazing experience. I don’t know if they could put us on the same card though (laughs). It would have to be a pretty big card.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Right. Well, with CBS in the mix, it makes sense.

Frank Shamrock: Yeah, it’s coming.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Alright I have a few more names I want to go through with you here. This guy has been one of my favorite fighters to watch for a while now; What are your thoughts on Melvin Manhoef?

Frank Shamrock: I love him. He is exciting, scary and very kind all at once. I think that makes him really appealing. His ground game kind of sucks…

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Right. Something he admits to though…

Frank Shamrock: Yeah, it’s like he embraces that he’s terrible on the ground. But he’s just so good and explosive elsewhere. It’s kind of like he has the Mike Tyson thing going on with him.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Get the guy a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and he’d be unstoppable.

Frank Shamrock: Oh my god, are you kidding me! But I think facing him would be a test because I’d probably do something stupid like try to stand up with him.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Yeah, kind of test yourself, right. It seems like you’ve always been the kind of fighter that likes to test yourself against the advantage of your opponent.

Frank Shamrock: Yeah. I get retarded like that. Strategically though, the game would be to get him down to the ground and trap him in a submission.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Robbie Lawler?

Frank Shamrock: Robbie Lawler.. I like Robbie. I’ve never thought about fighting him. It’s never been offered to me.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Alright, what about Scott Smith?

Frank Shamrock: I love Scott. I’d fight Scott. He’s a good guy.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: It seems like that would be a good fight for you in the sense that you could kind of kill two birds with one stone. If you beat Scott, you just beat the man, that beat the man, that beat you recently.

Frank Shamrock: See that’s not a bad idea, the old two-for. I didn’t even think about that. Now that’s being efficient right there.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Is recapturing the Strikeforce championship something you have your sights set on right now, or is it really all about the big fights at this point in your career one way or another?

Frank Shamrock: The honest answer is that apparently I’m on the comeback trail. I thought I was up there in championship contention, but I lost two fights. I feel like I have to earn my way back up to even being considered. I mean they could probably give me a championship shot because I’m Frank Shamrock, but technically, I haven’t earned it. When I fight, I’m going to go in there with the mindset that I have to get back to what I was doing.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: You’ll look at title hopes a couple of fights from now I’d imagine.

Frank Shamrock: Yeah, that’s not my goal right now. My goal is to win a fight. I need to win one, I mean it’s been two fights, and for me, that doesn’t usually happen.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Have you even began to think of the day when you may step away from the sport as a fighter, or is that the farthest thing from your mind right now?

Frank Shamrock: Yeah, I have thought about it. I’ve thought about it in a lot of different ways. For me, this is really what I love to do so it’s going to come down to: How much does it hurt me physically and financially, or otherwise.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: And obviously you’re still competing, but do you still have that deep down urge in the pit of your stomach to get out there and fight?

Frank Shamrock: There is nothing that feels better.

FiveOuncesofPain.com: Thanks for taking this time with us Frank.

Frank Shamrock: Thanks Cory.

“I don’t like Jake,” said Shamrock matter-of-factly. “I’ve got nothing for him. He’ll never fight me, he’ll never make that kind of money, and I’ll never give him a shot, because I don’t like him.

“I don’t want to fight Jake Shields because he has no personality, he’s a boring fighter, and when he got on to CBS, and it was his chance to be a star, he leg humped [Jason "Mayhem" Miller] all night long, and killed our ratings. That’s why I don’t want to fight Jake Shields”

The next stop on the San Jose fighting legend’s constant quest for competition will see him face off with the always dangerous UFC, Pride FC and EliteXC veteran, Nick Diaz, at this weekend’s Strikeforce event on April 11 at the HP Pavilion in Shamrock’s hometown of San Jose, California.

Although Shamrock has always fought in weight classes heavier than Diaz is accustomed to, the pair have agreed to square off at a catchweight of 179 pounds which will see Shamrock dropping six pounds from his normal fighting weight, while Diaz will bulk up nine pounds past his normal fighting weight.

Neither man has a track record of taking part in lackluster bouts and the fight between the two is sure to be electrifying from the sound of the opening bell. The fact that both have a never say die attitude in the cage, and both have an in ability to take a step backwards during battle have all of the makings of a water cooler discussion worthy battle that will be talked about for some time to come.

Nick Diaz has long been the kind of fighter that you either love or hate, although most seem to just love to hate him, but Shamrock has two entirely different opinions on the brash and talented brawler from Stockton, California. As a mixed martial artist, Diaz demands his respect.

“As a fighter Nick is a very skilled dude,” said Shamrock in an exclusive interview with FiveOuncesOfPain.com done in the days leading up to his highly anticipated bout with Diaz. “He’s well rounded with his stand up, and he’s well rounded on the ground. I certainly respect him as a fighter, I think he’s the real deal.”

Of course, Shamrock has a distinctively different opinion on the Cesar Gracie trained fighter’s antics away from the cage.

“As a personality, I think Nick has a long ways to go [laughs], to being a role model, or a leader, or a good representation for MMA, but you know, everyone has their own flavor,” explained Shamrock.

Diaz stayed true to his bad boy form at the press conference for the event when he greeted Shamrock with his trademark single finger salute during the pairs media staredown. Diaz has long been notorious for his out of the ring theatrics which are designed to get into his opponents head while Shamrock has been in the game long enough where there’s not going to be a whole lot his opponent can do to derail him from his game plan in the heat of the moment. If anything, the consummate professional with a talent for being able to sell his own fights looks at his controversial opponents pre-fight antics as a positive.

“To me, it’s just part of the game,” confessed Shamrock. “I actually like it from Nick because I need that antagonist, someone to help sell this fight besides just me. It’s nice to have someone that’s willing to extend themselves a little bit, and work for it. I certainly don’t agree with his methods, but they get the point across.”

Does the controversial nature and remarks of his outspoken foe do anything to motivate Shamrock in the gym? Not hardly. The former UFC champion has seen it all at one point or another in this crazy business throughout the course of his decorated career. Shamrock is incredibly motivated for his headlining bout on April 11th, but hs motivation has absolutely nothing to do with Diaz in one way or the other.

“Motivation for me is just the challenge, the fight, the thought of losing in my community,” explained Shamrock. “The talk, you know everyone talks, very few people can walk it. It’s good for marketing but it doesn’t affect me either way.”

“I was that guy at one point, without all of the F bombs and middle fingers, and I’ve also seen that guy come and go quite a few times over the past fifteen years.”

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and it’s this mindset that has led Shamrock to become one of the most highly regarded and well known fighters in the history of the sport. Outside of a couple minor tweaks in the routine, Shamrock is sticking with the exact same crew of guys that have helped him become the well rounded fighter he is today.

“I’ve just been training with my usual camp,” said the veteran of over thirty professional fights. “I have Eric Duce as my wrestling coach. Eric has been my coach for thirteen years now. Of course I have Tony DeMaria, who’s been my boxing coach for god knows how long. Then I’ve been training with my submission wrestling and submission fighting team which is headed up by Clint Coronel and Seth Pringle, my main grappling partner. I also added a little extra this time, I started going down to San Francisco to train at World Muay Thai USA with Kru Sam, who’s one of my good friends. So my training for this fight has been the same, just with a little different of a flavor.”

Having become accustomed to competing in the 185 pound weight class in recent years, Shamrock will have to come down six pounds from his normal fighting weight to meet Diaz at a catchweight of 179 pounds on Saturday night’s Strikeforce card. The athletic middleweight expects for the cut in weight to be a task he will have little difficulty in accomplishing.

“It won’t affect me one way or the other,” said Shamrock when asked about the possible benefits or negatives that will come from the minor drop in weight. “I walk around at 190 pounds, so for me it was just cutting out the beer and skipping out on a few meals. My natural body weight is about 183 pounds.”

While the cut won’t be as exhausting a process as many would think for Shamrock, the powerful natural middleweight is confident that the catchweight agreement should lean things slightly in his favor in the strength department.

“I think there will be advantage weight-wise from my stand point,” admitted Shamrock. “I know Nick has been packing on the pounds. The last time I saw him, he was about 180 or 185 pounds, so I think he’s going to try to get as big as he can and then cut down. I have a feeling that we will be about the same weight during the fight.”

“I think my weight is going to be more natural, and I’ll be more accustomed to moving it, which I think will be a detriment to him.”

The size and strength will surely be one department that the former King of Pancrase will hold an edge in, but that’s not to say that Diaz doesn’t come with a whole set of different problems for Shamrock. Problems that the veteran of close to fifteen years is fully aware of, and expects to be ready to solve.

“Nick is a game striker,” said Shamrock. “He throws a lot of combinations and that’s always a problem because they count. His combinations do damage and they mix up the rhythm. He’s very tall so he will have the reach advantage for knees and elbows, those kinds of things. Also, he’s a really good ground guy, and he’s a long ground guy. Me being a shorter fighter, I use a lot of short, explosive movements, but when you have length, a lot of that length is able to overpower those short movements. I see a challenge there.”

“All in all, I think we match up really well. We’re both forward moving fighters, and we’re both pressure fighters. Regardless of how it comes out, it’s going to be a super exciting fight.”

Shamrock has been around the fight game long enough to realize that any way you defeat you opponent is the best way. Whether by knockout, submission, or decision, it’s all good with Shamrock. However, he’d be lying if he didn’t say that he had a very strong theory as to how this bout with Diaz will end up.

“It doesn’t matter to me how the fight ends,” explained Shamrock. “The fight is going to go the way it’s going to go, but the odds are, I’m probably going to knock Nick out. Just because that’s where my main focus is going to be, but I’ll take whatever is given to me, I’m not picky.”

“I’m just trying to get in and out of there without breaking myself up too much.”

Even though Shamrock is completely focused on his upcoming showdown with Diaz, there are two men that he has in his cross hairs for the immediate future. Two men that Frank is no stranger to.

“I’ve got Cung on my list, and Tito on my list…..and that’s all I have on my list right now,” laughed Shamrock. “My list used to be a lot longer. I’ve fought just about everybody now, so the list is getting smaller.”

Fighter, businessman and family man, Shamrock seems to be one of the busiest men in the sport these days. While he will freely admit that it’s a major juggling act to find a balance between all of the different priorities that are constantly tugging at his strings, the proud husband and father couldn’t be happier doing it. If you spend you’re time doing what you love, it’s hard to call it work.

“My life is hectic,” said Shamrock. “It’s very hectic, but I enjoy being busy. Everything I do is connected to the martial arts. I’m doing what I love to do so it’s not really work. I don’t mind getting up early and going to bed late, because I’m doing what I love to do. Even with my commentating, a lot of people wouldn’t look at it as a form of martial arts, but I do, because I’m teaching, presenting and educating about the art. I love to do all of those things, so it’s not even like work.”

“Most people are doing something that they don’t want to do, and they’re struggling to get through it. I’m doing exactly what I love to do, and exactly what I always dreamed of doing. I just can’t believe they’re paying me for it. I really am living the dream.”

Below is video of Tan interviewing Frank Shamrock regarding his game plan for Nick Diaz, thoughts on his adoptive brother Ken Shamrock’s suspension for steroids, how his contract status was affected by Strikeforce’s acquisition of select ProElite assets, and more.

After the press conference, Tan was able to catch up for Nick Diaz for an exclusive interview. During the interview Diaz responded to statements made by Frank Shamrock claiming that Diaz is bad for the sport.

It also just happens that he is one of MMA’s best interviews. During a recent exclusive chat with FiveOuncesOfPain.com, Shamrock once again gave a candid interview in which he responded to a lot of direct questions with direct answers.

During the interview, Frank didn’t hide his angst and his belief in the fact that he believes estranged adoptive brother Ken Shamrock’s actions prior to his scheduled Oct. 4 main event bout vs. Kimbo Slice on CBS ruined a potential huge money making opportunity. For over a year now Frank Shamrock had been working on a deal that would have pitted the two estranged siblings in a PPV match against each other.

According to Frank, Ken burned some major bridges when he showed up to the BankAtlantic Center in South Florida the afternoon of the fight with stitches above his eye to repair a laceration. According to Ken, he sustained the injury during an early morning workout of the fight.

At the time, many were skeptical of the scenario in which Ken alleged he sustained the injury and during our exclusive interview, Frank stated on the record that he believes the injury was self-inflicted.

Below is a transcript of our conversation.

FiveOuncesOfPain: When trying to determine the identity of your opponent for April 11, I asked a source if it might be Robbie Lawler. The source replied, “No way. Frank Shamrock wants no part of Robbie Lawler.” I wanted to see if I could get you to respond to that.

Frank Shamrock: Well, whoever told you that was probably smoking crack with Ken Shamrock.

FiveOuncesOfPain: Speaking of Ken, it would appear you’re once again having a war of words with him. Howeber, after your father, Bob Shamrock, became ill and was hospitalized this past September, I was under the impression that you and Ken had made amends. But it appears the relationship between the two of you has become strained again. What happened?

Frank Shamrock: My father is ill and is in the hospital now. I went to see him because I didn’t want to live in the past. I never reconciled with Ken. I’m just disappointed that I spent a lot of time and money on this possible fight between us and he’s pretty much thrown the opportunity by the wayside. It’s just frustrating to me and then he has the nerve to go out and say that I wouldn’t sign a contract and “blah, blah, blah.” Whatever. I just think it’s a big joke.

FiveOuncesOfPain: So Ken is claiming you never signed a contract to fight him?

Frank Shamrock: Yeah. He’s a liar. Because it was my idea and my money. I brought the investors and I made the contract for him. Once again, he’s probably smoking crack because he’s really out there now.

FiveOuncesOfPain: What did you think of his recent decision to fight on a smaller show against Ross Clifton, a 360 pound fighter with a 6-8 record? What do you think of Ken resorting to that level of a fight?

Frank Shamrock: Well, it’s obvious that he’s at the end of his rope and grasping for straws at this point. He gets set up with a multi-million dollar deal to fight some chump. I don’t know what he’s doing with his brand or his business but he’s definitely self-destructing.

FiveOuncesOfPain: During the Strikeforce conference call several weeks back you discussed how the deal to fight Ken was never finalized and that he’s having some personal issues and problems. Is that something you can discuss publicly or does it have to remain private?

Frank Shamrock: It wouldn’t be fair for me to tell those things about Ken. Ken and I have some major issues but I think it’s his own private business. I think I’d be a bad person if I spoke about them. But what I can say is that he’s making business decisions that are going to affect his brand on a global basis and those business decisions have killed this fight. I wish it was something more intriguing like I was ducking him or whatever story he is spinning. The truth is no one trusts him, especially on a network television level. No one trusts him to be the other half of a major fight.

FiveOuncesOfPain: You just alluded to some of the trust that Ken has burned. When Ken showed up to the arena with that cut there was a lot of speculation as to how he truly sustained the laceration. Do you believe that Ken truly injured himself rolling that morning?

Frank Shamrock: No. I think Ken cut himself.

FiveOuncesOfPain: What would Ken’s potential motive be for allegedly cutting himself?

Frank Shamrock: It goes back to his giant ego and not being smart enough to understand the rest of the business. I think he got upset because Kimbo was making twice as much as he was and I don’t think his ego could take it. I know for a fact that he tried to hold the network up for more money the day before the show and unfortunately his parting words were, “Well, then you never know what will happen because anything can happen.” Then when he showed up with the cut we all thought he juiced himself. You know, he’s not to be trusted.

FiveOuncesOfPain: For Ken to go right to the emergency room and have it stitched up, is that normally how a fighter would handle the situation? Especially with a six-figure pay day at stake?

Frank Shamrock: No. No, a real fighter would have superglued it and put makeup on it and would have been out there fighting. Which (is something) I have done and many fighters have done many times.

FiveOuncesOfPain: You obviously know Ken better than most people. Just the theory that Ken might have cut himself — how is he in a position to walk away from a potential six-figure payoff? How could he have done that?

Frank Shamrock: I have no idea (laughs). It’s a mystery to me. I don’t know Ken very well. I was to assume he would have went out and fought but I have no idea what he’s doing. I just hope when he’s finished destroying himself that he has something left to live by.

FiveOuncesOfPain: I’ve talked to sources in the past who were close to the MMA wars in Japan and was told an unconfirmed story about how a major MMA promotion paid a fighter scheduled to compete on a rival show promoted by Antonio Inoki to not compete as scheduled. Do you think a scenario like that could ever happen in the U.S. where a fighter might be approached by someone on the eve of a major fight and told he could be compensated not to fight?

Frank Shamrock: Sadly, in a country of capitalism I think people will do anything for money. As a martial artist, I can’t say that I could ever imagine doing that. It’s beyond me but unfortunately in this country money comes first. So who knows?

FiveOuncesOfPain: Have you or anyone that you know ever been approached with an offer not to fight?

Frank Shamrock: I have not nor have any of my team members that I have managed or trained.

FiveOuncesOfPain: There was a lot of talk that you were willing to step in for Ken Shamrock on Oct. 4 and face Kimbo Slice. How close was that to being a reality?

Frank Shamrock: I raised my hand and I got myself ready. We were in a do or die situation and someone had to step up. I’m a fighter and I’m a martial artist and I’m a businessman, so I jumped at the opportunity. But I don’t know, it just didn’t happen. I felt for sure that I was going to be that guy but and it didn’t happen.

FiveOuncesOfPain: Can you talk about why it didn’t happen in the end?

Frank Shamrock: First of all, I think a lot of people felt it was crazy. I also think from a broadcast standpoint that it would have been odd that your color commentator comes out of the booth and does fighting. I think it might just have been too much of a stretch for people to even imagine. Though it’s a sport, it’s still a heavy concept for people. But for me, it was just another day at work so it wouldn’t have stressed me out. At the end of the day, I was down.

FiveOuncesOfPain: What about your arm? How would you have been able to get medically cleared so quickly?

Frank Shamrock: I called Armando Garcia and he said if I could get my doctor to clear my arm and that if all of my medicals were current and up-to-date, I could go and fight. So I made the call and made sure the doctor cleared my arm and I just waited for CBS, Showtime, and ProElite to give me the blessing. And they didn’t.

FiveOuncesOfPain: So let me back track a bit. You got the medicals in but CBS, Showtime, and ProElite didn’t want to make the fight?

Frank Shamrock: Yeah, nobody said I could do it. But I was on the list but I kept asking because it was very hard for me to switch gears from being a commentator to being a fighter, mentally. I needed some time for that so I kept pressing and I pressed them until about 30 minutes before we went on the air and we went on the air and I made one final plea that, “Look, I’m still ready.” And then I had to let it go and I had to do my job.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: You’ve said in past interviews that you essentially toyed with Cung Le in an effort to be an entertainer. On April 11, are you going to look to take the fight a few rounds or will you come out looking to knock Nick Diaz out right away?

Frank Shamrock: Naw, my days of sacrificing my body — from at least an entertainment standpoint — are pretty much done. I’m just going to go out and very seriously smash people. I think the sport is where it needs to be and my brand is certainly strong enough that I really don’t need to go outside of doing my job.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: How do you think your catch wrestling/submission wrestling style matches up against Diaz’s more traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu style? Can you hang with him if he gets you to the floor?

Frank Shamrock: Ah, I think so. I’ve never had any problems jiu-jitsu guys. Their style kind of flows methodical and it’s very effective but explosiveness, speed, and athleticism has always defeated their style and I think I’m still young enough to play that game.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: About a year to year and a half ago, Nick Diaz’s name surfaced as a potential opponent for you and you weren’t a fan of the matchup. Why do you feel Nick is a great opponent for you at this time?

Frank Shamrock: I think we’re moving into a new era of MMA. I call it MMA 2.0. The fans that were running the companies are gone. The real professional business people are in charge. The networks are supporting us. Besides Nick having a great game, he’s also that personality that I think represents MMA wrong. I don’t want my daughter to grow up and like Nick Diaz. That’s not my goal and that’s not why I am in this sport. So I look at this fight as the blue opportunity. It’s my chance to put on a good show vs. a well matched opponent. It’s also my chance to clean up the sport a little more in my opinion.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: If you rematch Cung Le and decide to take the fight to the floor, will your knee allow you to go for leg attacks?

Frank Shamrock: Oh yeah. My knee is fine. Everything is fine. I look forward to fighting Cung again. Everyone has their opportunity and Cung had his. Yeah, I’m in pain because I am older but my body is still healthy and I’m strong.

FiveOuncesOfPain: When was the last time the UFC attempted to bring you in?

Frank Shamrock: It’s been a few years now.

FiveOuncesOfPain: So the last time you had formal contact with them was after the Cesar Gracie fight and you haven’t been contacted since?

Frank Shamrock: No. I went and met with them and (it was) the same story. Same B.S. I haven’t talked to them since then.

FiveOuncesOfPain: ProElite was in limbo for so long and you had a contract with them and Strikeforce acquired a lot of their assets and now they are involved with Showtime and CBS. What do you think this means to have two strong companies in CBS and Showtime working with such a strong promoter in Scott Coker?

Frank Shamrock: I think it’s a new birth for MMA. Scott Coker is a martial artist, for one. And for two, he’s a good promoter. He’s been promoting martial arts for a long, long time. He’s a reliable businessman and a good partner. I just think this is a huge opportunity for mixed martial arts. I hope the fans and the fighters embrace it as much as I have. I hope it’s hugely successful because the fact is there’s one giant monopoly out there and then there’s a bunch of other guys just trying to work these industry. And now there’s a number two and they’re powerful.

Here’s the thing you have to understand about Frank Shamrock: he’s had two different careers. His first career was from 1994-1999 and even though he fought for Pancrase, that era of his career was about sport. However, when he came back full-time in 2006 for the second chapter of his career, it was about entertainment.

So from ’94-’99, you have Frank Shamrock the athlete and from 06-current you have Frank Shamrock the entertainer. Shamrock the entertainer isn’t about chasing titles or worrying about whether he’s ranked as a top ten middleweight. He’s already been there and done that. Now it’s about putting asses in the seats, giving people memorable fights, and feeding his family.

Admittedly, when Shamrock came back I really didn’t understand the logic. But it makes perfect sense considering that Shamrock was the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world at a time where there was little money to be made in fighting. As far as I am concerned, Shamrock has paid his dues and has every right to chase big pay days.

When you look at things from that perspective, that’s when Shamrock vs. Diaz begins to make perfect sense. Diaz is going to talk smack and get people charged up and Shamrock is going to indulge him. Shamrock is going to sell 5,500-8,5000 tickets in the San Jose market and 2,000-3,000 people will buy tickets and come up from Stockton to support Diaz. It’s going to be a energy-charged main event that will sell well at the box office and come off great on TV. Shamrock vs. Diaz will help start the Showtime-Strikeforce business relationship with a bang.

The bottom line is that Shamrock isn’t going to fight a top contender like Robbie Lawler or Gegard Mousasi at this stage of his career (unless it’s on PPV and he can get a huge payday out of it) and Cung Le isn’t available. Even if you wanted to think outside of the box and promote a rematch with Renzo Gracie, that’s not an option because Renzo apparently isn’t looking to fight right now. So what other options do you have? Jorge Santiago? Joey Villasenor? On paper, those are interesting matchups but will they sell and get people talking?

All things considered, I think Diaz vs. Shamrock is what the promotion needs right now and it’s what Shamrock needs. Coming off last March’s loss to Le, Shamrock needs a win and the fight vs. Diaz represents a matchup he will win easily if it doesn’t hit the ground.

If Diaz can get the fight to the floor, he could shred Shamrock. Shamrock has submissions but he doesn’t have strong traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Frank’s standup is new school but his ground game is old school. Diaz would be too slick for him on the ground and I believe he would submit him.

However, the fight will start on the feet and Diaz is going to want to engage in the standup. He might want to take it to the floor after he starts eating some shots but his pure jiu-jitsu takedowns aren’t going to be enough of a factor to dictate where the fight is fought. Diaz doesn’t have a good single leg, double leg, or upperbody takedowns. And if the fight stays standing, Diaz will be in trouble.

For reasons that are unbeknownst to me, Diaz doesn’t have the punching power he displayed when he knocked out Lawler ar UFC 47 or when he took Takanori Gomi out to the wood shed at PRIDE 33. If he comes in with those pitter-patter punches he’s displayed in more recent times, Shamrock is going to use head movement to avoid them and then use his feet to get inside and then counter with power shots that will rock Diaz.

I see Shamrock vs. Diaz being a classic slugfest and if that’s the case, it’s advantage Shamrock.

The matchup had been rumored for the past several days but FiveOuncesOfPain.com was able to confirm early Tuesday morning that the fight has been finalized. An official announcement could be made Tuesday during a joint conference call to be hosted by Strikeforce and television partner Showtime.

Shamrock, 23-9-2, fights at 185 pounds while Diaz, 18-7, primarily has competed at 160 and 170 pounds. As such, it was not immediately clear what weight the fight between the two California-based fighters will be contested at. However, Diaz has gone on the record before in interviews and stated that he would have no issue going up in weight if the right opportunity presented itself.

For Shamrock, the fight vs. Diaz will mark his first bout since sustaining a broken arm that forced an end to his Strikeforce middleweight title fight against Cung Le last March following the end of the third round. Despite having received medical clearance to return last fall, Shamrock has not fought since losing the title to Le.

Shamrock is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters to ever compete in MMA and was the first-ever UFC middleweight champion (later renamed the UFC light heavyweight title). The 15-year veteran holds notable wins in his career over Phil Baroni, Tito Ortiz, Enson Inoue, Jeremy Horn, Kevin Jackson, and Igor Zinoviev.

The 36-year old Shamrock will be giving up 11 years in age when he climbs into the cage to face Diaz. The 25-year old Diaz last competed in July during EliteXC’s “Unfinished Business” event, which was televised as a part of CBS’ Saturday Night Fights franchise.

Facing King of the Cage veteran Thomas Denny in Diaz’s hometown of Stockton, Calif., he was able to TKO Denny at 0:30 of round 2. The win served as Diaz’s third consecutive victory following a disappointing first round TKO loss due to cuts against K.J. Noons during EliteXC’s “Renegade” event that determined the promotion’s first-ever lightweight champion.

Noons was stripped of the title last year after refusing to fight Diaz and Diaz was subsequently signed to challenge for the vacant title against Eddie Alvarez in a bout that had been planned for a Nov. 8 event in Reno, Nevada. However, the event was canceled by EliteXC officials after the company suspended fight operations due to financial problems.

Strikeforce’s April 11 event will air on Showtime as a part of a new 16 event agreement between the two companies. Thus far, the only other reported bout for the show is a middleweight matchup between Scott Smith and Benji Radach. However, sources also inform Five Ounces of Pain that Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson and former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez are slated for the card against opponents that have yet to be determined.

Mauro Ranallo was the first to break the story earlier this week on his Fight Network Radio program heard Monday through Friday on Sirius Satellite Radio.

According to sources, the outdoor event was postponed when the venue was unable to be secured. It is believed that EliteXC officials are looking to re-schedule the event.

The show was supposed to feature striking specialist Cyrille Diabate and Judoka Hector Lombard making their EliteXC debuts in separate bouts. King of the Cage middleweight champion Keith Berry had also been scheduled to defend his title against Reggie Orr.

The news was first reported by our friends at MMAjunkie.com.

The tentative card for the outdoor show also promises to offer the debuts of two recent EliteXC signings, middleweights Cyrille Diabate and Hector Lombard.

Diabate, one of the best pure strikers in MMA, is slated to take on Jaime Fletcher in a featured bout on the card. Meanwhile, Lombard, a standout Judoka from Cuba, does not yet have an opponent.

Also, in a first for ShoXC, a King of the Cage title will be defended on the card. Current KOTC middleweight champ Keith Barry will square off against Reggie Orr. You might remember Orr from the current season of “The Ultimate Fighter“, as he was chosen to be a part of the show’s 32-member cast. However, he was unable to advance into the TUF mansion and the official cast of 16 after he was defeated in a qualifying match.

According to Junkie, Fabricio Camoes and Debi Purcell are also slated for the card as well against yet to be determined opponents. Purcell had been scheduled to take on Carina Damm in a 130 pound bout, but Damm was removed from the card after the California State Athletic Commission announced that she had recently tested positive for steroids. Junkie is quoting EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw as indicating that Purcell could have to fight a replacement that is actually tougher than Damm.

Knapp confirmed the news with Diabate’s manager, Ken Pavia. A debut date and an opponent has not been determined.

Diabate, who has a lifetime pro MMA record of 12-6-1, according to Sherdog.com, is a French-born kickboxer and is regarded by many as one of the top pure strikers in MMA. While Dan Henderson was preparing for his fight vs. Anderson Silva at UFC 82, Diabate was recruited to join his training camp at Team Quest’s location in Temecula, Calif.

The 34-year old has been defeated just once in his last six fights. However, Diabate has not fought in almost a year, with his last bout coming at Cage Rage 21 on April 21, 2007. In that bout he recorded a first round submission over Ryan Robinson when he secured an armbar just 1:15 into the fight.

Prior to the win over Robinson, Diabate competed at PRIDE “Final Conflict” on September 10, 2006, where he suffered a first round TKO loss due to stomps to current UFC light heavyweight Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.