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American Bob Sapp in Croatia for an MMA match

THE “BEAST” STRIKES AGAIN

From the big stage of Japan’s K-1 to spotlights in Croatia. A barrage of hype for a very brief match.

By Ennio Falsoni

I watched him descend from the small aircraft that had brought him to Split from Zagreb, and it was quite unusual. Indeed, he is 199 cm tall (almost 6’7”), has enormously broad shoulders and generally weighs about 170 kilograms (375 lbs.).

Obviously, we are talking about Robert Malcolm Sapp, better known as Bob “The Beast” Sapp. Born in Colorado Springs (USA) on September 22, 1974, he played American football before moving on to kickboxing, wrestling and now the Mixed Martial Arts. Bob became famous mostly due to his participation in Japan’s K-1 Grand Prix in which he became a superstar, a true overnight sensation. Previously, he was relatively unknown in the world of martial arts and his appearance caused quite a stir among insiders. Sure, he was enormous, but his kickboxing technique was close to non-existent. He was limited to some low-kicks and sweeping windmill punches from either side, like a backroom brawler. The rest was pretty much missing, including his physical conditioning. Nevertheless, Bob Sapp can boast of an incredible victory over Ernesto Hoost, a four-time K-1 Grand Prix champion, but also searing defeats against Remy Boniaskj and Hong Man Choi, an equally enormous Korean who, along with famous sumo wrestler Akebono, led people to wonder if K-1 Grand Prix had become a new form of the Barnum & Bailey Circus.

 It was 1 o’clock in the afternoon of March 27 and Marko Zaja (the event organizer), and his entire staff, were in a state of agitation at the Split airport because up to the last minute they didn’t know whether their American guest would arrive or not. In fact, Sapp had been in Sofia, Bulgaria, where, for three months, they had been filming a re-make of “Conan the Barbarian”, with him in a leading role as a bad guy. But finally, their worries disappeared as they saw him exit the small Croatian Air plane.

Every normal person near him looked like a Lilliputian in comparison. Likewise, the modest bag he was carrying seemed more appropriate for a dwarf.

He speaks in a baritone voice and moves slowly, but his presence dominates the scene like few others and he is anything but stupid.

Igor Jushko, the manager who dealt with him on behalf of the promoter, was serene. “Bob is boyish, his mind is always elsewhere, but he is also trustworthy. He said he would come to Croatia and here he is.”

Marko Zaja, very nervous before Sapp’s arrival, was finally able to relax. Keeping the promise he had made to bring Sapp to Split was of great importance to him. And when you promise something, your future credibility is on the line if you fail to deliver.

Bob Sapp was in Split for the Gala thanks to the collaboration between Zaja, the Mayor of Split and Rumanian Eduard Irimia, president of “ColliZion”. His opponent  in an “Ultimate Fighting” match was to be Austria’s Sascha Weinpolter, a young man weighing only 96 kilos. During the improvised press conference in the airport’s restaurant, Bob “The Beast” Sapp declared that he currently prefers MMA rather than K-1 because it gives him a better opportunity to take advantage of his size and physical strength. He also said that as soon as the gong sounded there would be war in Split. He had come to win. He would charge his opponent from the very start and would finish him off quickly. He was true to his word.

 His match would be the 14^th on the long fight card slated for that night. When the speaker announced Bob Sapp, all 6000 people present at the excellent Split facility started to quiver. “The Beast” finally appeared, emerging out of the machine-generated smoke clouding the walkway to the ring, shrouded in his trademark white cape. He approached the ring with slow steps accompanied by rock music, and with a dramatic gesture he suddenly opened his cape raising his arms to the sky to fully show his massive body. Perhaps he wanted a standing ovation from his public. He entered the ring between the ropes while glaring at his opponent as if he hated him. Before the gong sounded he bent forward almost as if dropping into a starting block for a 100 meter dash in a track and field stadium. At the gong, still bent forward, he began hunting Sascha who circled around the ring. Sapp finally caught up with him and hurled him to the canvas. He lunged on his body with all his weight and pushed his forearm down on his rival’s throat.

I thought the fight was over right then. Instead, the Austrian, with an unexpected leap, managed to free himself and resumed his circular dodging. Bob caught up with him again, hurled him down again and this time he pressed  the Austrian’s carotid artery so forcefully that the latter had to give up, beating his hand on the canvas. Sapp “The Beast” won as per the script. Some in the crowd hooted. He was up on the ring a mere 2-3 minutes and cashed in 25,000 dollars. Not bad for a short night’s work. Well done Bob!