Frank Shamrock

About Frank Shamrock

Frank Shamrock (born Frank Alisio Juarez III on December 8, 1972 in Santa Monica, California) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. Shamrock was the first to hold the UFC Middleweight championship (renamed the UFC Light Heavyweight championship) and retired as the five-time defending undefeated champion. Frank was also crowned an Interim King of Pancrase. He has also been the Strikeforce Middleweight champion. He has been named "Fighter of the Decade" for 1990's 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 the adopted younger brother of mixed martial arts fighter and former professional wrestler Ken Shamrock.

From the age of 12, Frank Juarez was placed in various foster homes, group homes, and crisis centers. Eventually he went to live with Bob Shamrock, who had taken in hundreds of troubled boys (including Frank's older stepbrother Ken). Juarez went to live with Shamrock at his home in Susanville, California, and was officially adopted by Shamrock at the age of 21. As his brother Ken did previously, Frank would later change his legal name to Shamrock.

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 debut in the Pancrase organization in December 1994.