Too bad he had to go out on that loss in Israel, but this is a pretty good write up that the guy did in advance of today's IFC show:
Quote:
It's only fitting that a fighter nicknamed "Mr. International" call it quits on foreign soil. Israel was the eleventh country dotting Shonie Carter's MMA resume and it will be the last. After more than eighty professional fights, the flashy Chicago native will be hanging up his gloves.
One of the sport's earliest African American stars, Carter always stood out. Rocking a suit as only he can, I last saw Shonie at the UFC Expo in Las Vegas. True to himself, he was still putting on a show. A show is what Carter was famous for, at least before the bell rang. In The MMA Encyclopedia we wrote about Carter's aesthetic:
He brings a street edge to shows that are all too often filled with similar haircuts, bad tattoos, and Affliction T-shirts. Into this sea of sameness appears Carter, resplendent in a top hat, pimp suit, and cane.
He carries this style into the cage as well. His fights often feature high-amplitude and high-velocity judo throws and outrageous karate style strikes, including his most famous moment, a desperation spinning backfist that ended the night for Matt Serra at UFC 31.
As flashy as he was in the lead up to a fight, and despite the high risk moves that made him famous, Carter was generally a very careful fighter in the cage. Forty nine of his fights went to a decision, the product of a controlling style that saw him outgrapple strikers and carefully outstrike grapplers.
Like many midwesterners, Carter started his career with Monte Cox's Extreme Challenge. A close decision loss to Pat Miletich, a fight many thought he won, propelled him to the larger stage in both the United States (UFC) and Japan (Pancrase). Carter was too active to stay tied down to any one promotion however, and in the days before big money existed in the sport, he didn't have to. He fought everywhere and anywhere traveling to Guam or Japan one week and fighting close to home for King of the Cage the next.
Everywhere he went, Shonie Carter brought fun along for the ride. Even on the fourth season of The Ultimate Fighter, Carter breathed life into a show that was otherwise on life support. It was there a new generation of MMA fans were introduced to Carter, complete with his cathphrase "If you bring it, I will bling it."
Unfortunately, by the time he got a second chance in the UFC, he could no longer compete at the elite level. That didn't stop him from fighting though. His final bout, a decision loss to Jeremy Knafo, was his sixth fight this year alone. But with just two wins in his last ten fights, Carter decided to call it quits. No doubt he'll still be on the scene, still sporting a classy suit. And if you bring, well, he just may bling it.
First promoter that waves a decent check at him will have him out of retirement in a blink.
__________________
His helmet was stifling, it narrowed his vision. And he must see far. His shield was heavy. It threw him off balance. And his target is far away.
you know.... first time a saw Shonie fight, was at a Shidokan Tourny in a small place in Chicago, everyone came out in traditional style in a Gi, Shonie comes out in a red bedazzled robe, a red bedazzled baseball hat and carrying some belts from judo or muy thai, and i kept thinking... who TF is this asshole..... and hated him.... met some of his friends told them what i tthought and they all laughed and said thats Shonie.... and while you may hate him.... you will never forget him will you? and it made me think a bit, and then Season 4 of TUF happened and i like him a lil more, and then i ran into him in Vegas superbowl weekend (bears v colts and was Silva v Lutter), i saw this black dude in a flashy outfit wearing sunglasses at 11pm and im thinking in my head.... wtf.... then i realised it as i walked by and yelled SHONIE!!! he turned right away and greeted me and talked to me for a few minutes till his cell started getting bombarded. he really was an awesome guy to talk to, we talked about some things from chicago esspecially the Bears, i spoke of guys we both knew as friends.... i havent met him since but hes genuenly a nice and fun guy. i wish him all the best..... shame i havent gotten to support him more.
Well it has been a long career for one of the most ellaborate fighters in the world. He won the WEC Welterweight title, had a stint on the Ultimate Fighter Season Four and had a record of 49-26-7-1. Good career Shonie Carter!
Shonie Carter says goodbye
Linear Mode
