This Month’s MMA Birthdays: ‘Tank’ Abbott Turns 50

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Perhaps no one in mixed martial arts history has inspired trepidation quite like David “Tank” Abbott, who will celebrate his 50th birthday on April 26.

Abbott debuted under the Ultimate Fighting Championship banner in July 1995, scoring two of the most violent knockouts in the promotion’s history at UFC 6, first against John Matua and later against Paul Varelans. Though he lost the tournament final to Oleg Taktarov, his reputation had been established. Few men hit harder or with more ferocity. Ask Steve Nelmark, who was victimized in equally brutal fashion in 1996. Abbott competed in five UFC tournaments before exiting the organization in 2003, reaching the final in two of them and the semifinals in three others. His current record sits below .500 (10-15), but the Huntington Beach, Calif., remains a beloved figure among hardcore fans.

“Tank” last competed at a King of the Cage event in April 2013, as he succumbed to second-round punches from Ruben Villareal. Only three of his 25 pro bouts have gone the distance.

Those in MMA celebrating a birthday during the month of April:

APRIL 1

Vitor Belfort (38)

APRIL 2

Luiz Cane (34)
Cole Konrad (31)
Yi Sak Kim (29)

APRIL 3

Chael Sonnen (38)
Kazunori Yokota (37)
Travis Reddinger (33)

APRIL 4

Ray Mercer (54)
Stephan Bonnar (38)
Brian Foster (31)
Asuka Mikami (30)

APRIL 5

James Wilks (37)

APRIL 6

Marcus Brimage (30)

APRIL 7

David Baggett (35)
Russ Miura (34)

APRIL 9

Andrew McInnes (30)

APRIL 10

Luis Alberto Nogueira (33)
Sakae Kasuya (32)
Michal Materla (31)
Shinji Maeguchi (30)
James Moontasri (27)

APRIL 11

Gary Quan (44)
Krasimir Mladenov (29)

APRIL 12

Nobuhiko Takada (53)
Roman Savochka (37)
Gilbert Melendez (33)
Tiago dos Santos e Silva (28)
Rick Glenn (26)

APRIL 13

Emi Tomimatsu (33)
Ben Saunders (32)
Yuko Oya (28)

APRIL 14

Ebenezer Fontes Braga (46)
Anderson Silva (40)
Jussier da Silva (30)

APRIL 15

Enson Inoue (48)
Kenichi Hattori (37)
Magomed Saadulaev (31)
Gabrielle Holloway (25)

APRIL 16

Jason Norwood (31)
Nate Diaz (30)
Pat Audinwood (29)
April Osenio (21)

APRIL 17

Benjamin Smith (35)
Martin Kampmann (33)
Tyron Woodley (33)
Siyar Bahadurzada (31)

APRIL 18

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (31)

APRIL 19

Farkhad Sharipov (31)
Kelli Gottardo (28)
Pascal Krauss (28)

APRIL 20

Dean Storey (47)
Sheila Bird (39)
Moise Rimbon (38)
Daiju Takase (38)
Nate Marquardt (36)
Tyson Griffin (31)

APRIL 21

Ronny Markes (27)
Adriano Moraes (26)

APRIL 22

Eric Schambari (37)

APRIL 23

Josh Bryant (35)
Diego Saraiva (33)
Sam Stout (31)

APRIL 24

Marcio Cruz (37)
Achmed Labasanov (37)
Cosmo Alexandre (33)
Shoji Maruyama (32)
Alan Belcher (31)
Germaine de Randamie (31)
Michael Chandler (29)

APRIL 25

Kazuo Misaki (39)
Alexandre Ferreira (36)
Clifford Starks (34)
T.J. Waldburger (27)
Leonardo Mafra Texeira (26)

APRIL 26

David Abbott (50)
Megumi Fujii (41)
Carlos Condit (31)
Cole Miller (31)
Marlon Moraes (27)

APRIL 27

Paul Cressaty (44)

APRIL 28

Leopoldo Serao (36)
Takasuke Kume (30)

APRIL 29

Dustin Hazelett (29)

APRIL 30

Jeff Joslin (40)
Yoel Romero (38)
Al Iaquinta (28)
Kinberly Tanaka Novaes (24)