Pat Healy
With the cancellation of the upcoming Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy event following an injury to headliner lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez, every fighter on the card has had their lives thrown into turmoil.
Number one lightweight contender Pat Healy feels particularly “devastated” over the cancellation, having put so much time in training as well as his own funds into preparing for a world title.
Healy tells ‘The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo‘ that he would have gone so far as facing Josh Thomson in an interim title fight in order to save the card.
Check out part of that interview below, or hit play above, to listen to the podcast.
“I was so shocked. It was like less than a week (until the event). It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion. I’m getting on the flight the next day. I’m devastated man. This opportunity was so big for me, I’ve worked so hard for this, for it to fall through right at the end, I can’t tell you how devastated I am. I’m so bummed out.
“If I had to guess, and I’m at the low end, but from the start of the training camp to the end I’ve put like $4000 to $5000 into my training. Now I probably won’t even fight until the end of the year and you gotta take your show money and sponsorships and at the very low end, that’s what you’re going to miss out on. It can be a significant cut to your income for that year and your quality of life.
“(Cancelling the card) makes me nervous. My job security doesn’t feel as tight. It sounds like Strikeforce wanted to keep the card on and for Showtime to pull the plug, it makes you nervous for what’s to come after this for sure.
“There were options (to save the card). They could have done an interim belt. I know Josh Thomson would have fought me. I would have taken anyone they would have offered me. I would have done my part to keep the event going. (Losing my title shot) wouldn’t have even been a consideration.
“I’ve put a lot of work into this and (the card and fight getting cancelled) is as emotionally taxing as it can come.”
Also featured on Monday’s podcast were Strikeforce heavyweight Daniel Cormier, Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold, and Team Jackson-Winkeljohn coach Mike Winkeljohn.