Lets give Cung his credit… He can knock people out and he’s a fantastic striker w/ great skill and he was a good wrestler in college.
His professional MMA record is 6-0 All with stoppages (tko’s)…kicks, cuts, breakage, strikes, punch.
in k-1 he’s 3-0 with 1 knockout
Didn’t look for his San Shou record but I’m sure that impressive,
From Wikipedia: [i]
Cung Le has three bronze medals in amateur San Shou kickboxing world competition, and has been a three-time captain of the United States teams that competed in the Wushu World Championships. Le was the U.S. team captain at the World Martial Arts Championships in 1997 (Italy) and 1999 (Hong Kong).
On 15 December 2001 he defeated Shonie Carter by unanimous decision in San Jose, CA to win the IKF Pro Light-Heavyweight San Shou World Title.
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Thats more than 90% of MMA strikers can say.
Now with all due respect to him, i am not as inspired with rage as some of his detractors but i do believe that his nuthuggers have overrated his striking ability.
He doesn’t have the pedigree everyone makes his striking out to seem like. They make him sound as if he’s Michael McDonald
Short Run Down Of the “Black Assassin”
- 2004 K-1 North American Grand-Prix Champion
- 2002 K-1 North American Grand-Prix Champion
- 2002 K-1 USA GP Champion
- W.K.C. World Cruiser Weight Champion
- W.K.A. North American Heavyweight Champion
- Canadian Heavyweight Champion
That is what most people make Cung sound like.
While he’s no slouch at all… He’s not what everyone is clamoring about. I mean for instance name another San Shou fighter other than Cung Le. VERY few people can. Thats because there’s little depth in that sport and he’s a big fish in a little pond. I believe he’d be exposed in K-1, and the upper echelons of MMA.
The problem in MMA right now is that people want to prove themselves by standing and banging with Cung. Frank Shamrock said a while back that the future of MMA is the standup game (this was during the tito, hammer house era). People dont want to see grappling… so even guys with wrestling pedigree’s such as Hendo want to stand and bang.
Its pretty obvious when you have guys that should be subbing Cung Le standing with him and trying to trade with a striker in his element…getting picked apart, and not being smart enough to change their gameplan (ie. Frank)
So while he’s not the best striker in the world he’s easily a top tier MMA striker just based off of his record. Undefeated, every fight a stoppage because of his striking? DAMN.
Shit no matter what you want to say about him he’s making it happen. Now all thats left to see is what will happen when he faces worthy opponents.
I think his potential is HIGH. Imagine what happens if/when he sticks to mma and develops a ground game. Natural athletic ability + Killer Instinct + Experience… that is a dangerous fellow.
But lets not throw him to anderson silva or GSP yet (Le fought at 175, i bet you he could make the cut to 170).
And that .gif? something you seen in Muay Thai all the time but never in MMA. A.Silva, Cung Le, Jamie Varner, etc these guys are bringing a revolution to the striking game. No more sitting in the pocket and expecting to throw bombs and just hope one hits.
no more “horse shoes and hand grenades” type striking its about pinpoint precision.