Sean Shamrock defeats Craig Yustat at "Fight Republic: Reno's Downtown Showdown" on July 8, 2011. Photo courtesy of Kevin Reyes Gibbs/Figure Four Fotos

What if when you were a kid you asked one of your classmates what their father did and he said, “My Dad is the most dangerous man in the world”?

What if the first time you went to work with your father you saw him get in a cage with a huge tattooed man who walked out carrying a giant wooden cross on his back, and you watched your father knock him unconscious as thousands of fans cheered wildly?

If either of those scenarios sound like it could be you, then your name is likely Sean Shamrock and your father is none other than UFC Hall of Famer and living legend Ken Shamrock.

As Ken prepares for a September bout against James “Lights Out” Toney, and Sean is coming off his second fight and second first round victory, it seemed the appropriate time to get to know this young Shamrock, find out what his plans are, what he thinks about his Father stepping back in the cage at 47-years-old and what life has been like growing up the son of “The World’s Most Dangerous Man”.

Sean Shamrock wins with a triangle choke submission 1:27 of the first round over Craig Yustat. Photo courtesy of Kevin Reyes Gibbs/Figure Four Fotos

PRO MMA NOW: Hi Sean, thank you for speaking with us at ProMMAnow.com (www.prommanow.com). First of all, congratulations on your win this past weekend. You scored a first round triangle choke submission over Craig Yustat at Fight Republic in Reno. Can you kind of walk us through the fight and how you were able to set up the finish?

SEAN SHAMROCK: Well I knew going into the fight he had no ground game so I figured I was gonna go in there and take him down and work there. I thought I was gonna get the TKO, but right, I ended up turning into a triangle choke because I didn’t want to punch anymore.

PRO MMA NOW: How did it feel to pick up another win and do it so quickly?

SEAN SHAMROCK: It felt really good going in there and dominating the way I did because of everything that has happened in the last two months. It felt great to win and do it in a dominating fashion.

PRO MMA NOW: From what I understand you are 18-years-old and this was your second fight, is that right?

SEAN SHAMROCK: Yes it was.

PRO MMA NOW: How serious are you taking your MMA training and do you feel like you want to pursue MMA as a career?

SEAN SHAMROCK: As long as I have the desire and the heart and health to do it I will do it. Everybody wants to make something of themselves and I feel this is the way to do that for me.

PRO MMA NOW: Now your brother Ryan [Shamrock] fights too, right? Do you have any other siblings that fight or is it just you and Ryan?

SEAN SHAMROCK: Yes my brother has fought I think twice. As of now Ryan and I are the only ones but soon my brother Connor will and hopefully all three of us can headline a show and draw a really big crowd.

PRO MMA NOW: Where do you live and train and who do you train with? (Do you train with your Dad and Ryan a lot too?)

SEAN SHAMROCK: I live in Sparks, Nevada, and I train at the IFC gym. I train with my Dad, my brother Connor, another up-and-coming fighter named Briggs Foreman, and my boxing coach Lance Foreman. I don’t get to train with my brother as much because he lives in San Diego.

PRO MMA NOW: So when did you first realize your Dad was kind of a big deal, and what has it been like growing up a Shamrock?

Sean Shamrock gets inspected by the ref before the fight. Photo courtesy of Kevin Reyes Gibbs/Figure Four Fotos

SEAN SHAMROCK: I didn’t see him as a big deal until my friends at school started asking for autographs. I just see it as everybody’s dad has a job my Dad’s job just happened to be way cooler and gets paid more.

PRO MMA NOW: Did you ever have kids that wanted to test you because you were a Shamrock? If so, how did you deal with it?

SEAN SHAMROCK: I always have kids that come up and wanna fight me or bully me because I’m a Shamrock but I don’t mess with it. I’m a very calm person. Outside of training you wouldn’t even know I was a fighter by how non-violent I am outside of the gym. I’m usually friends with everyone I meet.

PRO MMA NOW: When did you first see your Dad fight live and what was that like?

SEAN SHAMROCK: I first saw him fight live against Kimo [Leopoldo] and it was an intense feeling after he knocked him out with a knee. I remember everyone cheering and yelling and me getting the chills and I told myself I wanted that for me.

PRO MMA NOW: When did you first start training and when did you know for sure that you wanted to fight?

SEAN SHAMROCK: I started training when I was five-years-old down in San Diego along with both of my brothers and I think about my freshman year I realized that it’s an easy way to make money. It’s a sport that I think I can eventually be the best at and I love to be the best at everything I try to do. I mean, who doesn’t.

PRO MMA NOW: What is your favorite fight of your Dad’s to watch?

SEAN SHAMROCK: Favorite fight of my Dad’s would probably have to be the first Tito [Ortiz] fight. Yes, I know he lost, but I saw more than a loss, I saw heart to stand in there and take a beating and still not giving up because of all the pride he had. I took all of that from that fight and I think that’s why every time I step in the ring I will give it 100% winning or losing.

PRO MMA NOW: How do you feel about your Dad fighting James Toney and how do you see the fight playing out?

SEAN SHAMROCK: I see it as another fight, he wants to do it, I say let him. He knows that he may not get to do it for very much longer so do it while you can. Who knows, I may be the same way when I’m older. I say it’s a good way to test out if he wants to keep going.

PRO MMA NOW: Do you know any details about your next fight yet Sean? How soon would you like to get back in there?

Sean Shamrock made his MMA debut at King of the Cage 59 in July 2010, scoring a first round KO victory. Photo credit: Lauren Oehrlein

SEAN SHAMROCK: I’m not exactly sure yet, but I got college lined up and I wanna make sure I have an education first before I run off and try to be Mr. Hollywood, because talent can only take you so far, with knowledge there are endless possibilities.

PRO MMA NOW: Do you have a goal of when you would like to turn pro?

SEAN SHAMROCK: I’d say probably around 20 I’d like to turn pro, and by the time I’m 22 or 23 I think I will be a name many people know.

PRO MMA NOW: Sean, thanks so much for taking time to talk with us. Is there anyone you would like to thank or shout out?

SEAN SHAMROCK: I’d like to give a shout out to Taylor Swift and everybody who has supported me through hard times and everybody that wants to see me succeed.

A special thanks to Kevin Reyes Gibbs of Figure Four Fotos. To see more of his photos from “Fight Republic: Reno’s Downtown Showdown” event check out www.figurefourfotos.smugmug.com.

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