Bob Sapp: 2003 NHB Fighter of the Year
Bob Sapp: 2003 NHB Fighter of the YearBy Edward Pollard |
Sapp enjoys a level of celebrity that’s unparalleled for NHB athletes, and not just in Japan. Granted, his star was first hoisted in the powerful island nation, where people are never shy about adoring their celebrities. What makes his success remarkable is that it has survived the meat-grinder effect that intense scrutiny can have on any object of the public’s affection. Maybe it’s because there’s so much of him. A familiar adage admonishes those to whom life gives lemons to make lemonade. Sapp followed that advice when his fledgling career in the NFL floundered, and he discovered his ticket in the burgeoning ranks of mixed martial arts. True, he’s somewhat of a force of nature whose success owes more to his size and strength than his finely honed technique. Yet he continues to prevail. Sapp, who hails from Colorado Springs, Colorado, has a genetic head start that drives others to distraction. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 350 pounds, he looks like the Michelin Man come to life. But he also has just the right sense of humor to complete the package. He grimaces and grins and gestures and poses as if he’s a character in a life-size comic book. Perhaps that’s what sets him apart from the crowd: He’s willing to play the part of the superhero—or super-villain—and he does it well. Sapp is making great strides in NHB fighting. His first bouts were under the umbrella of the PRIDE Fighting Championships, and he quickly established himself as an aggressive and dynamic figure, one who was feared in the ring and loved by fans. He became a key figure in the organization’s often-unconventional matchups, proving himself against two Japanese grapplers in consecutive events. His first professional loss came during a David-and-Goliath bout with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Sapp manhandled the tenacious but smaller fighter, at one point nearly crushing his neck. It was a frightening display of the ease with which he can juggle his opponents. If not for the Brazilian’s quick thinking and technical finesse, the outcome would have been tragic. Instead, it was one of the most exciting fights in history. Sapp’s next appearance came four months later in a special tournament pitting Japanese fighters against representatives of the K-1. He prevailed, mainly by using his skills to avoid being taken down, where he might have found himself out of his element. Since then, he’s suffered but a single defeat—after a vicious high kick delivered by Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, a man who’s also being inducted in this year’s Hall of Fame. Obviously, Sapp’s mass demands life-or-death performances from his opponents. Detractors who label him as only the newest in a long line of overwhelming but ultimately expendable gatekeepers for the sport have been surprised time and again at his leaps in skill. As expectations mount, the big American continues to train with conviction and focus. If he can maintain his schedule of personal appearances and grease the promotional machine that feeds off his popularity, he’s bound to grow even bigger than he is now. For all his accomplishments and all his potential, Black Belt has named Bob Sapp its 2003 NHB Fighter of the Year. (This profile originally appeared in the January 2004 issue of Black Belt.) 
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