Legend Oleg Taktarov?

arite85 · 10-21-2006, 12:17 PM

I've heard people include Taktarov's name when listing legends. Is this guy really considered a legend? He had such a short career (cause he left for the movies) and in my opinion didn't really beat anybody that impressive. He never beat Severn although he went the distance with him as and lost in a decision. Yes he did hang on to where shamrock couldn't beat him in UFC 7 but I wouldn't say he had an impressive performance, and had they had judges at that time, he most certainly would have lost. He lost quickly to Renzo Gracie, which is understandable. Then you have a large group of mid-grade fighters that beat him to. The only win over someone with a name is over Tank Abbott and everyone knows tank is like a fish out of water when he gets put on his back.

Am I totally missing something that makes this guy a legend or are people crazy classifying him as one? I guess he was one of the first well rounded fighters, but i don't know if that makes you a legend

**DimmuSakuraba** · 10-21-2006, 12:20 PM

Considering how young MMA is. Basically, if you were as big as Spencer Fisher back in the day, some people would consider you a legend.

Oleg won a tournament, that was cool. But, he's certainly not a legend to me.

plasterdog · 10-21-2006, 12:36 PM

he's a tough bastard .. that's 1 thing that makes him a legend to me

He got a broken ankle in the russian military sambo finals but carried on a slammed his opponent on his head ko'ing and getting the title. He was then given good treatment instead of shipped off to some shit country ...

that alone makes him a legned imo

THXPKR444 · 10-21-2006, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arite85

I've heard people include Taktarov's name when listing legends. Is this guy really considered a legend? He had such a short career (cause he left for the movies) and in my opinion didn't really beat anybody that impressive. He never beat Severn although he went the distance with him as and lost in a decision. Yes he did hang on to where shamrock couldn't beat him in UFC 7 but I wouldn't say he had an impressive performance, and had they had judges at that time, he most certainly would have lost. He lost quickly to Renzo Gracie, which is understandable. Then you have a large group of mid-grade fighters that beat him to. The only win over someone with a name is over Tank Abbott and everyone knows tank is like a fish out of water when he gets put on his back.

Am I totally missing something that makes this guy a legend or are people crazy classifying him as one? I guess he was one of the first well rounded fighters, but i don't know if that makes you a legend

He's a pioneer and a legend. One's record is not what makes one a legend. Sakuraba doesn't have a great MMA record, for example. But, he is obviously a MMA legend.

On the Shamrock fight. Ken dominated the fight from start to finish. Ken only had two legit losses before he left for the WWF, in my opinion. One against Royce in UFC 1, and one against Funaki. He stated his Suzuki losses were works in his first book.

iron belly · 10-21-2006, 12:40 PM

he did beat marco ruas also, alot of people consider *most* of the original ufc tournament winners legends of the sport

**DimmuSakuraba** · 10-21-2006, 01:01 PM

Yeah, in about 50 years, I don't think people will know much about these guys.

You know who Mike Pilafo is? I didn't think so.

elwapocharlie · 10-21-2006, 01:56 PM

Oleg was an evolving mixex martial artist, he did have some beautifull submissions and the dude took a bloody pounding from Ken Shamrock and Dan Severn and never gave up. True friggin warrioir !!

Ancient Warrior · 10-21-2006, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iron belly

he did beat marco ruas also, alot of people consider *most* of the original ufc tournament winners legends of the sport

I'm glad someone remembered this bout.

Ruas didn't adjust to the altitude too well, but it was an impressive show of skill, against another possible legend.

arite85 · 10-21-2006, 02:03 PM

I'm not saying he wasn't good. I actually like Taktarov although you may have read my post as if he wasn't deserving. He did have some good characteristics. It's just that, for the most part, when he won it was against mid-card guys and he had trouble when he fought other legends. He did have some awesome finishes and he did go through an entire tournament and win. Not to mention, I agree with you all when you say he could take a beating and wouldn't give up. So he has some good results, but it was such a short span and I would still consider it limited success, and just because you can take a beating doesn't give you legend status. I guess I don't really mind if he is a legend, because he was a big name in the early game, but I just don't think if he came in today and had the sort of success he had back in the day, that he'd be talked about the same as we do guys like liddell or Fedor

10-21-2006, 02:04 PM

Great fighter in his era, but not a legend for me personally