David "Tank" Abbott, a name synonymous with controversy in the world of mixed martial arts, was born in 1965 in Huntingbeach, California. This towering figure, standing at 6 feet 270 pounds, had a storied past as a college wrestler, which ultimately led him to discover his passion for bare-knuckle fighting on the beaches of Southern California.
Abbott's undefeated record in Pit-Fighting, a sport popularized by outlaw biker gangs, was a testament to his formidable skills. In this brutal sport, a large pit is dug, and two fighters jump in, engaging in a fierce brawl. This "sport" was famously depicted in the film Stone Cold.
In 1995, Abbott entered the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) with an impressive undefeated record of 8-0, with all 8 of his wins coming by way of knockout. His one-punch knockout power left opponents reeling, and he quickly became a fan favorite.
Over the next 8 years, Abbott continued to rack up impressive victories against a host of undefeated fighters. Some of his notable wins include a knockout of 300-pound John Matua in just 1 round (1995),a 1-round knockout of 6ft.8inch. 300lbs. Paul "Polar Bear" Varlans (1995),a 1-round knockout of 250-pound Steve Nelmark (1996),and a 1-round knockout of 220-pound Hugh Duarte, who was 8-0 at the time (1998).
In addition to his impressive wins, Abbott also defeated two Martial Arts World Champions, including UFC Champion Steve Jennum by TKO in 1995 and GC Champion Cal Worsham in 1996.
Despite his impressive resume, Abbott failed in his three bids to capture a world championship, falling to Oleg Taktarov in 1995, Don Frye in 1996, and Maurice Smith in 1997.
Prior to his mixed martial arts career, Abbott had a stint as a professional wrestler, scoring a number of quick knockouts in special wrestling "shoot-matches" for about 4 years. However, in 2003, he launched a highly publicized comeback in mixed martial arts, which ultimately ended in stunning setbacks to Frank Mir, Kimo Leopoldo, and Wesley "Cabbage" Correira.
