Dear God, No: Is Dada 5000 Actually Considering Another MMA Fight?


(Unless he plans on actually using that sledgehammer, this is going to end poorly.)

Vince Lombardi was once famously quoted as saying that “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up” that is the true measure of a man. Then again, he also died of stupid butthole cancer because he was too proud to get a proctoscopic exam, so what the f*ck does he know?

What we’re getting at is, there comes a time in everyone’s life where throwing in the towel doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re refusing (or unable) to get up. In the combat sports world especially, we’ve seen countless fighters place ego above all else and continue fighting well beyond the point that their bodies have told them to stop, and to what end? (More often than not,  few wholly unnecessary concussions.

So if you were, say, a 38-year-old guy who nearly died from kidney failure while competing in your first MMA fight in 5 years, you’d probably hang up the 4 oz. gloves for good and thank your God for bringing you out of that coma you were in, right? Well, not if you’re Dada 5000 you wouldn’t!

The post Dear God, No: Is Dada 5000 Actually Considering Another MMA Fight? appeared first on Cagepotato.


(Unless he plans on actually using that sledgehammer, this is going to end poorly.)

Vince Lombardi was once famously quoted as saying that “It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up” that is the true measure of a man. Then again, he also died of stupid butthole cancer because he was too proud to get a proctoscopic exam, so what the f*ck does he know?

What we’re getting at is, there comes a time in everyone’s life where throwing in the towel doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re refusing (or unable) to get up. In the combat sports world especially, we’ve seen countless fighters place ego above all else and continue fighting well beyond the point that their bodies have told them to stop, and to what end? (More often than not,  few wholly unnecessary concussions.

So if you were, say, a 38-year-old guy who nearly died from kidney failure while competing in your first MMA fight in 5 years, you’d probably hang up the 4 oz. gloves for good and thank your God for bringing you out of that coma you were in, right? Well, not if you’re Dada 5000 you wouldn’t!

Despite spending two weeks in a hospital following his near-fatal loss to Kimbo Slice at Bellator 149, it looks like Dada 5000 aka Dhafir Harris might actually be considering another fight. In a statement posted to his instagram this morning, Dada cleared up what went down on the night of Bellator 149 — which was somehow much, much worse than you think — and kinda sorta hinted that he would be returning to the cage to give this silly little sport another try.

The post has since been taken down, but BloodyElbow was able to grab a screenshot:

The statement reads: “To All My fans, Supporters, Haters, And Critics Alike. I haven’t been on Social media due to situations Beyond My Control. (Not because of the outcome of the fight) Tune in to ESPN Dan Lebatard Tv and Radio Show This Wednesday @12 Noon. In my up and coming interview as I will put an end to all Accusations, Opinions Speculations, and Assumptions about the Fight. A lot of folks celebrities alike have jump to conclusions without the facts. Yes I trained very hard for this fight and I was in Fighting Shape.. But those who knew me they knew that something wasn’t right by the look in my Eyes when I stepped into that ring. But Stay tuned for the rest of that shocking story (Coming up) But tune in this Wednesday @ 12 noon on the ESPN the Dan Lebatard Tv and Radio Show! For the 1st of many interviews from DADA5OOO! Yes I did have kidney failure during the fight I also had 2 heart attacks which I did code aka Died during the Fight. Glory to the Most High which saw favor in me to bring me back. which put me in Memorial Herman Hospital in Houston Texas for more then 3 weeks after the fight. Just to come back to Miami and to continue treatment at South Miami Hospital. Thank you all for your Prayers And Support I will make a full recovery and will be back Bigger, Faster and stronger than ever before that much you can Count On!!!”

Wait, so Dada not only suffered kidney failure, but two heart attacks during the fight *and* coded? And he still wants to fight?!!

You know what, f*ck it. You’ve earned this, Mr. 5000. (*salutes*)

Probably the saddest thing about this whole idea is the fact that Bellator will DEFINITELY book him another fight. Hell, they’ve probably already started hyping up Dada vs. Kimbo II.

“One has heart-stopping power, the other can literally come back from the dead! Tune in this summer to see the sequel to the ultimate street brawl at Bellator 188: Coronary!!”

I know Bellator doesn’t typically name their events, but you get the picture.

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And So It Begins: The #PotatoCurse Claims Its Second Victim, Tony Ferguson


(Wait, it was the *other* guy who got injured for once? You’re kidding…)

For close to a week now, we’ve been hinting that a great rash of injuries was set to befall the UFC. Chalk it up to our well-documented knack for predicting the future, chalk it up to the series of Rube Goldbergian traps we placed in the homes of several prominent MMA fighters, but we haven’t help but shake the feeling that 2016 will bring with it an injury curse that makes the injury curse of 2012 look like a series of bumps and bruises.

The Great Injury Curse of 2016 — henceforth to be known and referred to as the #PotatoCurse by *all* MMA media entities — got off to a promising start last week, claiming Daniel Cormier just weeks out from his highly-anticipated title fight rematch with uber rival Jon Jones. Last night, the #PotatoCurse claimed its second victim in the form of lightweight Tony Ferguson, forcing him out of his #1 contender bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov and destroying the second straight UFC main event in as many weeks.

Details after the jump.

The post And So It Begins: The #PotatoCurse Claims Its Second Victim, Tony Ferguson appeared first on Cagepotato.


(Wait, it was the *other* guy who got injured for once? You’re kidding…)

For close to a week now, we’ve been hinting that a great rash of injuries was set to befall the UFC. Chalk it up to our well-documented knack for predicting the future, chalk it up to the series of Rube Goldbergian traps we placed in the homes of several prominent MMA fighters, but we haven’t help but shake the feeling that 2016 will bring with it an injury curse that makes the injury curse of 2012 look like a series of bumps and bruises.

The Great Injury Curse of 2016 — henceforth to be known and referred to as the #PotatoCurse by *all* MMA media entities — got off to a promising start last week, claiming Daniel Cormier just weeks out from his highly-anticipated title fight rematch with uber rival Jon Jones. Last night, the #PotatoCurse claimed its second victim in the form of lightweight Tony Ferguson, forcing him out of his #1 contender bout against Khabib Nurmagomedov and destroying the second straight UFC main event in as many weeks.

Details after the jump.

Yes, just two weeks out from his UFC on FOX 19 main event, “El Cucuy” took to Instagram to relay the news of an injury that you don’t hear a lot of in *any* professional sport.

“I am out of my Fight Due to Blood/Fluid in my Lung,” wrote Ferguson. “Usually I can Power Through These things. Doc said it wasn’t wise to Fight due to any more trauma could be terminal.”

Ferguson later wrote that he should be cleared to fight again in a few weeks, but in his absence, the UFC went ahead and bumped the evening’s scheduled co-main event between Rashad Evans and Glover Teixeira into the main event slot. This now makes for the second time in a row that this Nurmy vs. Cucuy has been cancelled due to injury.

But there may be hope, in that no less than 5 fighters from two different weight classes have offered to step in against Nurmagomedov on extremely short notice. As you might expect, one of these people is Donald Cerrone, but perhaps the most intriguing name in the mix is current lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos. In a message posted to his Twitter, Dos Anjos called out the Dagestani grappler (and the last man to beat him) for a fight this summer.

“Sorry to hear Ferguson is out. @TeamKhabib We have some unfinished business, I’ll be ready in July.”

Ferguson’s response was nothing short of nuclear.

BJ Penn also threw his name in the mix, but with the UFC not wanting to witness its first in-ring murder anytime soon, his name was quickly thrown out. As of this write-up, it looks like Cerrone is being given top bill to face Nurmagomedov in a welterweight contest, but only if he can still fight Patrick Cote in June as well.

Honestly, we’re still trying to wrap our heads around the idea that Khabib Nurmagomedov has made it through an entire training camp intact. We’ll let you know who the UFC decides on as an opponent for him when/if it happens.

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Cris Cyborg Actually Coming to the UFC, Faces Leslie Smith at UFC 198


(Finally, the superfight that UFC fans have been demanding for years is coming together.)

Like XYIENCE energy drinks and the music of Stemm, the idea of seeing Cris Cyborg fight in the UFC has been long abandoned by the majority of MMA fans. It seemed like a very real possibility a few years back, but then Tito Ortiz went and messed everything up like the blockhead that we know him to be. Between Cyborg’s failed attempts to make 135 pounds and Ronda Rousey‘s fall from grace in the time since, the former Strikeforce featherweight champion (and current Invicta champion) has found herself with a lower stock value than possibly ever before.

But now, it seems that all is about to change for one of the sport’s scariest competitors.

The post Cris Cyborg Actually Coming to the UFC, Faces Leslie Smith at UFC 198 appeared first on Cagepotato.


(Finally, the superfight that UFC fans have been demanding for years is coming together.)

Like XYIENCE energy drinks and the music of Stemm, the idea of seeing Cris Cyborg fight in the UFC has been long abandoned by the majority of MMA fans. It seemed like a very real possibility a few years back, but then Tito Ortiz went and messed everything up like the blockhead that we know him to be. Between Cyborg’s failed attempts to make 135 pounds and Ronda Rousey‘s fall from grace in the time since, the former Strikeforce featherweight champion (and current Invicta champion) has found herself with a lower stock value than possibly ever before.

But now, it seems that all is about to change for one of the sport’s scariest competitors.

This morning, UFC officials confirmed that Ms. Justino has finally booked her debut fight:

One of the most feared fighters in the world is finally making her way to the Octagon, as Invicta FC featherweight champion Cris “Cyborg” Justino faces Leslie Smith at UFC 198 on May 14.

The bout, which takes place at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil, will be held at a catchweight of 140 pounds.

This is, obviously, a rather historic moment for both women’s MMA and the UFC. In booking its first-ever women’s catchweight bout, the UFC might just be stating its intention to eventually establish some higher female weight classes down the line. Now that the allure of not only Ronda Rousey, but the person to beat her has been shattered, we may very well see the UFC start branching out its female divisions in order to find the next “unstoppable” champion to promote to mainstream audiences.

There’s no doubt that Cyborg could be that person, in any case. She may not be “undefeated” (having dropped her very first professional fight back in 2005) or ever wind up on the cover of SI’s swimsuit edition (then again…), but Justino did kick off 2016 by defending her Invicta title for the third time in a fashion that should serve as a terrifying reminder of her capabilities. Against the 8-6-1 Smith, she will also likely have another highlight reel finish on her hands to carry into a fight with whoever emerges from this Rouse-Tate-Holm car wreck.

That’s if she actually can make 135 pounds, of course, which we’re not entirely convinced she can.

UFC 198: Werdum vs. Miocic goes down on May 14, 2016 at Arena da Baixada in Curitiba, Brazil.

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Friday Link Dump: UFC to Relaunch ‘Fight For the Troops’ Events, MMA’s Top 10 Rising Stars, The Best State Nicknames + More

(Free fight: Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier at UFC 197)

The Beaten Path: MMA’s Top 10 Rising Stars (Bleacher Report)

Last Man to Win a UFC fight in New York, Marco Ruas Says Legalization Will Revolutionize MMA (MMAFighting)

UFC Plans Return of ‘Fight for the Troops’ Series for First Time Since November 2013 (MMAJunkie)

The post Friday Link Dump: UFC to Relaunch ‘Fight For the Troops’ Events, MMA’s Top 10 Rising Stars, The Best State Nicknames + More appeared first on Cagepotato.


(Free fight: Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier at UFC 197)

The Beaten Path: MMA’s Top 10 Rising Stars (Bleacher Report)

Last Man to Win a UFC fight in New York, Marco Ruas Says Legalization Will Revolutionize MMA (MMAFighting)

UFC Plans Return of ‘Fight for the Troops’ Series for First Time Since November 2013 (MMAJunkie)

Gunnar Nelson on Diaz-McGregor Rematch: Conor Will Pick Him Apart (BloodyElbow)

Gracie Shrugs off Shamrock PED Test Failure (MixedMartialArts)

Larry Sanders Show Star Garry Shandling Dead at 66 (Screen Junkies)

20 Outrageous Tweets by Microsoft’s Twitter-Taught AI Chatbox (The Escapist)

32 Creepy Easter Bunnies That Will Ruin Your Easter (Pics) (Radass)

Shocking Rumors: Ted Cruz Sex Scandal? (Every Joe)

The Best State Nicknames (Ranker)

The post Friday Link Dump: UFC to Relaunch ‘Fight For the Troops’ Events, MMA’s Top 10 Rising Stars, The Best State Nicknames + More appeared first on Cagepotato.

Friday Link Dump: Fight Night 85 Weigh-Ins, A Slew of High-Level Fights Booked, Stripper Work Confessions + More

(The Fight Night: Brisbane weigh-ins kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET)

Anderson Silva vs. Uriah Hall Booked for UFC 198 (Instagram)

Gegard Mousasi vs. Derek Brunson Targeted for UFC 200 (BloodyElbow)

Renan Barao Jumps Up to Featherweight to Fight Jeremy Stephens (MMAWeekly)


Matt Mitrione Signs With Bellator, Says Promotion Has “An Air of Sincerity” Not Present in UFC
(Sherdog)

The post Friday Link Dump: Fight Night 85 Weigh-Ins, A Slew of High-Level Fights Booked, Stripper Work Confessions + More appeared first on Cagepotato.


(The Fight Night: Brisbane weigh-ins kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET)

Anderson Silva vs. Uriah Hall Booked for UFC 198 (Instagram)

Gegard Mousasi vs. Derek Brunson Targeted for UFC 200 (BloodyElbow)

Renan Barao Jumps Up to Featherweight to Fight Jeremy Stephens (MMAWeekly)


Matt Mitrione Signs With Bellator, Says Promotion Has “An Air of Sincerity” Not Present in UFC
(Sherdog)

After Rory MacDonald Bombshell, Is MMA’s Free-Agent Market About to Heat Up? (Bleacher Report)

-Mark Hunt Explains Why He Turned Down UFC’s $450,000 Offer ‘To Go Away’ (MMAJunkie)

St. Paddy’s Hangover: We Rank the Leprechaun Movies (Screen Junkies)

The First Trailer For Seth Rogen’s Sausage Party Is Demented (The Escapist)

These Stripper Work Confessions Are a Must-Read (Radass)

Ranked: 69 Best Porn Stars in 2016 (EveryJoe)

19 Silly WikiHow Articles You Won’t Believe Really Exist (WorldWideInterweb)

The post Friday Link Dump: Fight Night 85 Weigh-Ins, A Slew of High-Level Fights Booked, Stripper Work Confessions + More appeared first on Cagepotato.

Ken Shamrock & Kimbo Slice Both Fail Bellator 149 Drug Tests, Because MMA


(To maximize your experience here at CagePotato, we ask that you read this article with this song in the back of your mind.)

Well, if we weren’t being forced to reconsider the moral implications of this whole “freakshow fight” concept before, we sure as Hell are now.

You guys remember Bellator 149, right? The card with the one fight where the guy almost died and the other fight where one of the guys probably should have died, but instead one of them just got kneed in the nuts? It was truly one of the peak moments in our sport’s young history, but as they say, “nothing stays gold forever.”

The post Ken Shamrock & Kimbo Slice Both Fail Bellator 149 Drug Tests, Because MMA appeared first on Cagepotato.


(To maximize your experience here at CagePotato, we ask that you read this article with this song in the back of your mind.)

Well, if we weren’t being forced to reconsider the moral implications of this whole “freakshow fight” concept before, we sure as Hell are now.

You guys remember Bellator 149, right? The card with the one fight where the guy almost died and the other fight where one of the guys probably should have died, but instead one of them just got kneed in the nuts? It was truly one of the peak moments in our sport’s young history, but as they say, “nothing stays gold forever.”

According to a report by MMAFighting that broke Friday evening  – and would have been covered by us had we not been face deep in a hot wing eating competition at Dave & Buster’s at the time (we took 3rd out of 12, not that you care) — both the guy who didn’t almost die (Kimbo Slice) and the guy who suffered his first career loss via test-nical knockout (Ken Shamrock) failed their pre-fight drug tests.

Slice and Shamrock had banned substances in their system per the results of pre-fight drug tests, multiple sources said.

Both men have been administratively suspended by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) pending an adjudication process, sources said. The official test result documents, showing the exact substances Slice and Shamrock tested positive for, have been withheld by the TDLR due to potential pending litigation. Athletes on the card had urine samples taken before their bouts.

You said it, bird character from The Muppets whose name escapes me.

Honestly, we probably should have seen this coming in the case of Shamrock, who aside from having previously tested positive for banned substances following a 2009 win over a guy who actually *did* die shortly thereafter (the connections are everywhere!), turned 52 just 8 days prior to his bout with Royce Gracie. At that age and with that much wear-and-tear from both his fighting and professional wrestling days, I’d imagine old Shammy would need a Pulp Fiction-esque shot of adrenaline straight to the heart just to get out of bed every morning, let alone fight.

No word yet on how this result will affect Shamrock’s plans to appeal the loss, but I’m guessing…it certainly won’t help.

As for Kimbo, well, let’s just hope that that “banned substance” in question is a little harmless Mary Jane that entered his system while he was working security for one of those club-centric porn shoots, or we are going to be sorely disappointed in him. Say what you want about Mr. Kevin Ferguson, but the guy has always come across as an honest sportsman in our eyes. I mean, sure, who knows what say he had in EliteXC’s decision to bribe Seth Petruzelli, but we’re going to guess “nada,” which is EXACTLY the amount of steroids he would need to beat “Dada” on even his worst day, which conveniently happened to be the night he actually fought Mr. 5000. I mean, did you see his opponent hit pads? KFerg could have walked into that fight drunk and on shrooms (and very well might have) and still emerged victorious without *barely* needing an oxygen tank after.

In conclusion, Kimbo Slice is a hero who name is clearly being dragged through the mud by the Dada 5000 team, and Ken Shamrock needs to quietly go away forever.

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