We all probably think our bosses are full of shit to some extent, but saying it in public isn’t the smartest idea. Nate might be accompanying Nick at the welfare office sooner rather than later. However, knowing Dana White, it’s possible that he’s making the whole thing up. Maybe Nate will pull the “I don’t have a manager” card like his brother did late last year? There’s a lot of uncertainty and speculation around the issue. The only sure thing is that Khabib Nurmagomedov still not fighting a legit top-10 opponent sucks. He’s 21-0 and just came off a dominant unanimous decision win over Pat Healy. He needs to fight a top guy at this point or else he’s just wasting his time. But if Dana White is telling the truth, fighters are avoiding Nurmagomedov like thugs avoid bodyguard Ken Shamrock.
He’ll continue to sit on the sidelines for now. We’ll have more updates as we get them.
UPDATE: Nate Diaz’s manager Mike Kogan claims that the fight not coming to fruition is the UFC’s fault. “There are conditions that we asked for that were turned down by the UFC, so the fight didn’t happen,” he told MMAmania. Diaz himself, however, adopted a less diplomatic stance…
(Quick poll – Which is funnier: Miller’s hair or Shields’ attempt at a mean mug?)
You can hate on the over-the-top theatrics of professional wrestling all you want, but there’s no denying the sport’s influence on the world of MMA. Do you think we would have ever seen Jonathan Ivey break out “The People’s Elbow” in a fight if The Rock hadn’t done it first? And how about that Chael Sonnen character, who we would all just write off as another boring wrestler if not for his Billy Graham-esque heel routine? The list goes on and on, but greater than the signature moves, greater even than the whimsical trash-talking pro wrasslin’ has inspired in our great sport, is the post-fight cage confrontation.
It has been responsible for some of the most unintentionally hilarious highs and Gus Johnsony lows that MMA has ever seen, yet we can’t seem to look away when such an inherently silly situation is presented in the aftermath of a fight. The UFC clearly understands this, and in an effort to set up everyone’s dream match of Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones Georges. St. Pierre, both the UFC and Silva’s manager have hinted that not only is the middleweight champ going to be in attendance at UFC 154, but should St. Pierre emerge victorious, the two will face off in the cage and lay the foundation for the next great MMA superfight. So with that in mind, we’ve compiled a brief, albeit memorable, video tribute to the post-fight confrontation. Enjoy.
(Quick poll – Which is funnier: Miller’s hair or Shields’ attempt at a mean mug?)
You can hate on the over-the-top theatrics of professional wrestling all you want, but there’s no denying the sport’s influence on the world of MMA. Do you think we would have ever seen Jonathan Ivey break out “The People’s Elbow” in a fight if The Rock hadn’t done it first? And how about that Chael Sonnen character, who we would all just write off as another boring wrestler if not for his Billy Graham-esque heel routine? The list goes on and on, but greater than the signature moves, greater even than the whimsical trash-talking pro wrasslin’ has inspired in our great sport, is the post-fight cage confrontation.
It has been responsible for some of the most unintentionally hilarious highs and Gus Johnsony lows that MMA has ever seen, yet we can’t seem to look away when such an inherently silly situation is presented in the aftermath of a fight. The UFC clearly understands this, and in an effort to set up everyone’s dream match of Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones Georges. St. Pierre, both the UFC and Silva’s manager have hinted that not only is the middleweight champ going to be in attendance at UFC 154, but should St. Pierre emerge victorious, the two will face off in the cage and lay the foundation for the next great MMA superfight. So with that in mind, we’ve compiled a brief, albeit memorable, video tribute to the post-fight confrontation. Enjoy.
We don’t quite understand why so many professional fighters feel they need to repeat themselves at least a dozen times in order to get their point across, but at UFC 96, Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans were going to do it anyway. Jackson had just defeated Keith Jardine via unanimous decision, and Evans — three piece and all — was called into the octagon to bicker with Rampage while Joe Rogan quietly played the role of Paul Heyman in the background.
“I’m getting that belt back. Think about it, know it, see it,” quipped Jackson, as if we needed any reminder of how badly The Secret had poisoned his fragile mind in the time since he lost the belt. And you gotta love that even while trash-talking, Rampage still manages to squeeze in a few excuses for his performance in the fight he literally just got done with. That’s a respectable dedication to bullshittery right there folks. Although Rashad seemed content to simply mumble “Yeah, yeah, we’ll see” until the audience entered a state of reduplicative paramnesia, he would score the victory over Jackson when the two finally met at UFC 114, so we guess his words were ultimately meaningless. That goes double for Jackson.
Blame this on “The Axe Murderer’s” lack of English tutelage if you must, but it’s clear that something was in the air when Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva faced off at UFC 61. The creepily-long staredown, the whispered threats, the fevered pacing; you might even say that sparks were flying between the two legends (specifically, Nicholas Sparks). The year was 2006: Wandy was still a killing machine over in PRIDE and Chuck was the undisputed king/poster boy of the UFC. It was an MMA fan’s match made in heaven, and one that was all but guaranteed after Chuck bested “Babalu” Sobral (again) at UFC 62.
Although “The Iceman” was successful on his end, negotiations unfortunately fell apart between yet another PRIDE star and the UFC, forcing us to wait two long years to see these two throw down at UFC 79. In that time, Wanderlei had been nearly decapitated by Mirko Cro Cop and Dan Henderson in back-to-back bouts and a sans title Liddell was coming off a loss to Keith Jardine at UFC 76. Despite the significant deflation of hype heading into it, Liddell and Silva managed to turn in a Fight of the Year-earning performance that pleased even the most cynical of cynics. It would be Liddell’s last win as a professional. Wanderlei, however, has vowed not to retire until the moment he is permanently disabled in the octagon. Then again, if that happens he will still be able to find work if he looks hard enough.
#3 – GSP Ez Not Empress
Now this one is a perfect of example of life imitating (mixed martial) art(s). Just two events after Wandy and Chucky Boy engaged in one of the greatest cage confrontations in MMA history, Georges St. Pierre proceeded to totally blow up Matt Hughes‘ spot at UFC 63. Hughes had just finished defending his welterweight title — and earning some much needed redemption — against B.J. Penn, while St. Pierre had attended the event to support his fellow Canuck David Loiseau in his fight against Mike Swick. In the aftermath of Hughes’ victory, St. Pierre would reveal a brash side of his personality that we have yet to see again, declaring that he was “not impressed” with Hughes’ performance. It was a bold statement to say the least, especially considering that Hughes had already beaten St. Pierre in their first title fight at UFC 50.
Three years later, Kanye West would totally steal St. Pierre’s (and Taylor Swift’s) thunder by pulling the same kind of shenanigans at the 2009 VMA’s, the scoundrel. As for the St. Pierre/Hughes beef, well, we all know how that one ended.
“Did I stutter?! I said you’re a lay-and-pray artist who will NEVER beat Georges St. Pierre!”
It appears we weren’t the only ones surprised by Donald Cerrone’s recent comments for UFC lightweight Anthony Pettis. Anthony Pettis, who claims that he’s always been cordial with Cerrone in the past, recently attempted to make sense of the whole ordeal on “The MMA Hour.” Spoiler alert: He ain’t too keen on being told to “grab his purse and dance,” brother.
“It’s comedy. This is the first news to me that I have heard of Cerrone calling me out or that he has been calling me out or he wanted to fight me. I talked to my manager about it and I think it’s just him trying to get his name out there and trying to get to my spot, trying to get to that title shot, to try and get closer to a title shot. But, for him to do it the way it did, just pissed me of, so. If he gets passed with his fight with Melvin, and it makes sense for me to fight him and then fight for a title shot, then I will do it. If he is in my way, I will take him out. (I’m)100 -percent (pissed off). I am super pissed. I am not the guy to talk or the type of guy to be out there and talk shit about anyone, but for him to call me out and put it the way he put it, pretty much saying that I am afraid to fight somebody, that is never the case. I am never afraid to fight anybody. I want to be the best lightweight in the world and if he is in my way, then I will take him out too. He wanted to fight in August, I wasn’t going to be ready until October or November and I openly said it on Twitter and I openly said it everywhere, so it’s not a matter of me ducking him, if he wants to fight in November, let’s do it, I will gladly take that fight and I will be so motivated to whoop his ass.”
“Did I stutter?! I said you’re a lay-and-pray artist who will NEVER beat Georges St. Pierre!”
It appears we weren’t the only ones surprised by Donald Cerrone’s recent comments for UFC lightweight Anthony Pettis. Anthony Pettis, who claims that he’s always been cordial with Cerrone in the past, recently attempted to make sense of the whole ordeal on “The MMA Hour.” Spoiler alert: He ain’t too keen on being told to “grab his purse and dance,” brother.
“It’s comedy. This is the first news to me that I have heard of Cerrone calling me out or that he has been calling me out or he wanted to fight me. I talked to my manager about it and I think it’s just him trying to get his name out there and trying to get to my spot, trying to get to that title shot, to try and get closer to a title shot. But, for him to do it the way it did, just pissed me of, so. If he gets passed with his fight with Melvin, and it makes sense for me to fight him and then fight for a title shot, then I will do it. If he is in my way, I will take him out. (I’m)100 -percent (pissed off). I am super pissed. I am not the guy to talk or the type of guy to be out there and talk shit about anyone, but for him to call me out and put it the way he put it, pretty much saying that I am afraid to fight somebody, that is never the case. I am never afraid to fight anybody. I want to be the best lightweight in the world and if he is in my way, then I will take him out too. He wanted to fight in August, I wasn’t going to be ready until October or November and I openly said it on Twitter and I openly said it everywhere, so it’s not a matter of me ducking him, if he wants to fight in November, let’s do it, I will gladly take that fight and I will be so motivated to whoop his ass.”
I never understood the “What’d I do?” or “It’s not what was done but how it was done” responses to trash talk, which are essentially what we’re seeing here. What’d you do? You’re a professional fighter who is further up the totem pole than the other professional fighter below you. Cerrone wants a future title shot, and consecutive victories over Melvin Guillard and yourself can possibly give him one. He’s already booked to face Guillard, and is now trying to do whatever he needs to do to get a fight against you. If it offends you that much, maybe something can be arranged where you two can fight over it, possibly for some money, fame and a title shot against the …wait, never mind. Well played, Cerrone.
“Here at AKA, we’ve got fighters who come out to fight, fighters who will face anyone and don’t hide from any opponents. You’ve also got cowards out there like B.J. Penn who say they want to fight people, but then they run and hide.”
I guess that statement wasn’t direct enough for two, maybe three people on the planet, because Fitch was asked to clarify if he thought Penn was a coward. His response?
“Yes. He’s a coward. He wouldn’t be welcomed here.”
I bet Erick Silva finds your “running and hiding” comment hilarious, considering that’s exactly what you’re attempting to do with him. And not to create an MMA conspiracy theory on the spot, but if Fitch gets injured and has to pull out of his fight against Silva, I’m sure a lot of fans will think that the injury is “suspiciously convenient.” But who knows?
Does Fitch have a point about Penn waiting for Rory MacDonald instead of looking for another fight? Does anyone have any interest in watching Fitch and Penn do the man dance again? And how excited will you be about Cerrone vs. Pettis? Let us know, and keep it civil.
If you bought a ticket to see Kimbo Slice attempt to extend his professional boxing record to 4-0 with a win over Mike Glenn on March 24, you might want to get yourself a refund — that is unless you want to watch him fight a lesser opponent instead.
CagePotato.com has learned from a source close to Glenn who contacted us Tuesday afternoon that Slice, whose real name is Kevin Ferguson, has bowed out of the bout. According to the source the former UFC fighter allegedly told the promoter that he would still participate in the event if they found him another opponent, but explicably stated that he did not want to fight Glenn.
(U mad?)
If you bought a ticket to see Kimbo Slice attempt to extend his professional boxing record to 4-0 with a win over Mike Glenn on March 24, you might want to get yourself a refund — that is unless you want to watch him fight a lesser opponent instead.
CagePotato.com has learned from a source close to Glenn who contacted us Tuesday afternoon that Slice, whose real name is Kevin Ferguson, has bowed out of the bout. According to the source the former UFC fighter allegedly told the promoter that he would still participate in the event if they found him another opponent, but explicably stated that he did not want to fight Glenn.
Now the promoter is scrambling to find an opponent for Glenn, a Strikeforce vet who holds a 5-6 record in MMA, who was to make his boxing debut against Slice in the main event of the show in front of his hometown crowd at the O’Reilly Center in Springfield, Missouri in less than two weeks. FYI, the only stoppage on Glenn’s MMA record was a doctor stoppage due to a cut, so maybe Kimbo didn’t like the odds of knocking him out.
Glenn posted the following statement on his Facebook page moments ago:
“Just [want] to tell everybody that bought tixs to see me fight kimbo that he has back[ed] out of the fight… Uh, don’t know why but he has pulled out. He is still on the card, but he wants to fight someone else… Huh, weird!!! To all the people that bought tix to see me I’m sorry, it’s not my doing. Just thought I would let u all know.”
Way to screw the promoter, fans and the friends and family of your opponent who were all excited for this fight, Mr. Slice. Looks like Gary Shaw was right about him.
Can’t wait to hear what $kala has to say about this one.
(I think the message was quite clear. I specifically told Nick NOT to be scared.)
It looks like Strikeforce has missed the marketing train once again as the promotion has passed on a self-selling grudge match between Jason "Mayhem Miller&quo…
(I think the message was quite clear. I specifically told Nick NOT to be scared.)
It looks like Strikeforce has missed the marketing train once again as the promotion has passed on a self-selling grudge match between Jason "Mayhem Miller" and Nick Diaz and will instead once again pair the latter up with KJ Noons in a rematch of their 2007 EliteXC title bout. In that fight, Noons emerged victorious due to doctor stoppage resulting from a cut sustained by Diaz. More memorable than their bout was the in-cage melee between Team Cesar Gracie and Noons’ father a year later after Noons’ fight with Yves Edwards in Hawaii during which Nick’s immortal "Don’t be scared, homie," line was born. EliteXC brass orchestrated a rematch-hyping staredown between KJ and Nick, but as we have learned, whenever a Diaz is involved, anything can, and usually will happen.
This time around Diaz’s welterweight strap will be up for grabs, which makes perfect sense according to Strikeforce calculus. Anywhere else Noons may have to…I don’t know…win a fight at 170 perhaps before getting a shot for the belt. But this is Strikeforce, where logic is overrated and matchmaking is easy if you have a magic eight ball.
