Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra once said, “I never said most of the things I said.” He also said, “It’s like dj-vu all over again.” These head-scratching comments are just a few of the more memorable sports quotes from athletes throughout the years. Of course, there are plenty of inspiring quotes from athletes and coaches, such as words of wisdom from Vince Lombardi and John Wooden. Every sport has its share of interesting quotes, so here are few entertaining quotes from MMA fighters.
Sports quotes can definitely inspire, but some athletes say stuff that is just plain nonsensical and MMA fighters are no exception. Ken Shamrock definitely has had his share of head shakers, including telling an opponent that “I will beat you into a living death.” It makes no sense, but it does sound ominous. He also told Tito Ortiz that he would knock his hair black. Not only did Shamrock fail to do this, he’s never actually beaten Ortiz. On the flip side Patrick Smith once informed Shamrock that he was “impervious to pain.” It only took Shamrock about two minutes to disprove that statement and force Smith to tap out.
Anderson Silva, arguably one of the best MMA fighters of all time, has his share of interesting quotes. A master of multiple styles of fighter, Silva once said, “I don’t think strength plays that big of a difference. If it’s that big of a difference, then the elephant would be the king of the jungle, not the lion.” He also claimed that while hurting an opponent isn’t high on his list of priorities, “if somebody disrespects me, they will pay for it. I promise.”
There are fighters that really don’t talk a lot of trash, and then there is Chael Sonnen. He doesn’t mind insulting people or even entire countries, if the thought occurs to him. There are so many great Sonnen quotes that it’s tough to pick just a few. He likes to refer to himself in the third person with quotes such as “Chael Sonnen could wear the Golden Gate Bridge as his championship belt.” He also spends a good deal of his time discussing his dislike of both Wanderlei Silva and Anderson Silva. For instance, he stated “I want an easy fight . . . either of the Silvas. They all suck. Gimme a Silva.” Perhaps what he meant was he wanted Anderson Silva to have an easy fight, considering that Silva has beaten him twice.
While funny quotes are entertaining, mixed martial arts is not just entertainment, it’s a way of life. So if you are feeling discouraged or just need a little push to get motivated, consider a few great quotes from the master himself – Bruce Lee. Lee is considered by many to be the father of MMA, and he certainly was a strong advocate for training in multiple fighting styles and offered plenty of good advice for fighters. He said, “use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it.” That’s right at the heart of mixed martial arts.
There’s a Bruce Lee quote for practicality any situation you encounter in life, from over thinking your goals to having faith in yourself. He tells us, “if you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you will never get it done.” So quit thinking, go to the gym and start working. While you’re there remember, as Lee says, “it’s not the daily increase, but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.
