MMA Career
White debuted at 23 years of age in the Pancrase organization in Japan after being recruited by Ken Shamrock. Thrown right into the fire from the beginning, a very inexperienced White would go 8-17-1 in Pancrase to start his career.
However, White would turn his career around in a big way towards the latter part of the decade. He turned in an impressive showing against MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba at PRIDE 2, landing a hard punch in the opening seconds to stagger Sakuraba and fighting very competitively, showcasing excellent submission defense and escapes throughout the fight until he was finally caught in an armbar late in round 3.
From 1998 to 2002, White found great success in mixed martial arts competition, compiling a record of 9-1 and winning the King of the Cage Middleweight Championship. White defended the title four times before losing a decision to MMA pioneer Jeremy Horn. This was especially impressive because at the time, King of the Cage was an upper echelon MMA promotion. He evolved into one of one of the more talented and well known mixed martial arts fighters in the world and developed excellent striking to go along with a solid submission wrestling base.
White also had impressive showings in the UFC, fighting to a draw with Ian Freeman in a fight that he took on short notice, and also turning in a competitive, hard fought loss to former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell at UFC 49 in 2004.
Read more about this topic: Vernon White (fighter)
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“He was at a starting point which makes many a man’s career a fine subject for betting, if there were any gentlemen given to that amusement who could appreciate the complicated probabilities of an arduous purpose, with all the possible thwartings and furtherings of circumstance, all the niceties of inward balance, by which a man swings and makes his point or else is carried headlong.”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)