Man, they sure are lowering the bar these days. According to TMZ, Dave Bautista (aka former WWE professional wrestler “Batista“) and renowned MMA trainer Cesar Gracie have created a new tag team, and will be opening a Gracie Fighter Jiu Jitsu franchise in Tampa. Though the gym is currently only open to “close martial artist friends,” it will be opened to the public next week; you can see a couple photos of the joint here.
The last we heard about Bautista’s MMA career is that it was dead thanks to the UFC acquiring Strikeforce. I’m not sure if I’m more surprised that Bautista can’t stop pretending he’s a real fighter or that Cesar is whoring out the Gracie family name like that. I hope his cousin Renzo gives him a good talking to about this whole ordeal.
Man, they sure are lowering the bar these days. According to TMZ, Dave Bautista (aka former WWE professional wrestler “Batista“) and renowned MMA trainer Cesar Gracie have created a new tag team, and will be opening a Gracie Fighter Jiu Jitsu franchise in Tampa. Though the gym is currently only open to “close martial artist friends,” it will be opened to the public next week; you can see a couple photos of the joint here.
The last we heard about Bautista’s MMA career is that it was dead thanks to the UFC acquiring Strikeforce. I’m not sure if I’m more surprised that Bautista can’t stop pretending he’s a real fighter or that Cesar is whoring out the Gracie family name like that. I hope his cousin Renzo gives him a good talking to about this whole ordeal.
We can only imagine what a normal training day is like at Batista Top Team. Let’s see here, we’ve got jiu jitsu for dummies followed by tire-flipping. After that you have your choice of “Juice” 101, How to Sell a Punch, or 10 Steps to a Meaner Mug. You’ve got your work cut out for you, Ron Kruck.
This seems more like a publicity stunt than anything — or maybe it’s Bautista’s attempt to convince Dana White that he’s not a fake-fighter after all. What’s your take?
(What part of “I’ll get to it when crafts time is over” don’t you understand? / Photo courtesy of KiyoshiDM)
After Josh Barnett‘s re-licensing bid was stonewalled by the CSAC in December — leading him to basically give up on California altogether — Strikeforce figured they could solve their problems by hosting Barnett’s promotional debut in Texas, a lawless wasteland whose notoriously lax athletic commission allowed Antonio Margarito to box Manny Pacquiao at Cowboys Stadium the year after after he was caught loading his gloves.
That fact that we hadn’t heard anything about Barnett’s licensing status in the lead-up to June 18th’s “Overeem vs. Werdum” event at the American Airlines Center seemed like a good sign. But problems remain — namely, that the Babyface Assassin reportedly hasn’t completed his Texas licensing application, with just ten days until showtime.
(What part of “I’ll get to it when crafts time is over” don’t you understand? / Photo courtesy of KiyoshiDM)
After Josh Barnett‘s re-licensing bid was stonewalled by the CSAC in December — leading him to basically give up on California altogether — Strikeforce figured they could solve their problems by hosting Barnett’s promotional debut in Texas, a lawless wasteland whose notoriously lax athletic commission allowed Antonio Margarito to box Manny Pacquiao at Cowboys Stadium the year after after he was caught loading his gloves.
That fact that we hadn’t heard anything about Barnett’s licensing status in the lead-up to June 18th’s “Overeem vs. Werdum” event at the American Airlines Center seemed like a good sign. But problems remain — namely, that the Babyface Assassin reportedly hasn’t completed his Texas licensing application, with just ten days until showtime.
Yesterday, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker assured the media that Barnett would be licensed in time for the fight. According to Susan Stanford, Public Information Officer for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Barnett has until 72 hours before fight time to complete his application, but has not yet done so.
Earlier today Stanford told Bloody Elbow that “Mr Barnett’s application is incomplete.”
She declined to state what additional materials Barnett needs to submit to complete the application, but she did confirm that he has submitted some materials to begin the application process.
Ominously, Stanford also indicated that Texas authorities would weigh Barnett’s status with the California State Athletic Commission when deciding whether or not to license him to fight.
Barnett, who is slated to face Brett Rogers in the quarterfinals of Strikeforce’s heavyweight tournament, responded to the original report via Twitter in his usual lovable style:
I would just like to give a warm and hearty “Fuck You” to BloodyElbow and anyone else for irresponsible “gotcha” journalism…I am being bombarded w/unnecessary questions and friends and fans are getting stressed for nothing.
Okay, so fuck us, then. But aren’t we allowed to be skeptical considering Barnett’s history with American athletic commissions? He’s the last person who should be waiting until ten days out to get his papers in order.
Semi-related: Where the hell has Brett Rogers been lately? Is it weird that the dude’s been a ghost since February?
Strikeforce’s June 18 fight card took a serious blow on Tuesday when it was announced that the most famous fighter in women’s MMA, Gina Carano, would not be competing on the fight card because she was not medically cleared to fight. Later i…
Strikeforce’s June 18 fight card took a serious blow on Tuesday when it was announced that the most famous fighter in women’s MMA, Gina Carano, would not be competing on the fight card because she was not medically cleared to fight. Later in the day, MMAJunkie.com broke the news that Carano had indeed been cleared […]
(Stann’s weekend just got a whole lot more interesting.)
According to a report by Dave Meltzer from his F4WOnline.com insider newsletter, there’s more than just a win bonus at stake for former WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann when he squares off against former Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago. He’ll earn a TUF coaching gig opposite Michael Bisping if he has his hand raised Saturday night.
(Stann’s weekend just got a whole lot more interesting.)
According to a report by Dave Meltzer from his F4WOnline.com insider newsletter, there’s more than just a win bonus at stake for former WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann when he squares off against former Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago. He’ll earn a TUF coaching gig opposite Michael Bisping if he has his hand raised Saturday night.
Since Chael Sonnen was knocked out of contention for the coaching slot when he was placed under an indefinite suspension by the California State Athletic Commission, the UFC’s back-up plan is to have Bisping and Stann as opposing coaches. Meltzer didn’t say whether it would be another “Team USA vs. Team UK” show, but it’s a good possibility considering Stann’s status as an All-American hero and Bisping’s as a cocky, spit-slinging Brit.
The question is, since the winner of a planned December Sonnen-Bisping bout was to get the next shot at Anderson Silva, does this mean that Bisping or Stann could get a title shot in the near future?
Now the UFC is jumping the shark.
Fitch hasn’t earned another title shot, so bring in Diaz who hasn’t fought in the UFC in years and give him one. And hey, while you’re at it, Joe Silva, Brian Stann and Michael Bisping haven’t had a shot yet. Why don’t you let them fight for one. Forget rankings and stupid details like that.
Following a year’s worth of layoffs due to surgery on his knee and hips, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueiraannounced this weekend that he’d be returning to action at UFC 134 (aka ‘UFC Rio‘) on August 27th. He didn’t name an opponent, but said that he’s “looking forward to fighting in the co-main event.” His longtime training partner Anderson Silva will be headlining the show against Yushin Okami.
Following a year’s worth of layoffs due to surgery on his knee and hips, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueiraannounced this weekend that he’d be returning to action at UFC 134 (aka ‘UFC Rio‘) on August 27th. He didn’t name an opponent, but said that he’s “looking forward to fighting in the co-main event.” His longtime training partner Anderson Silva will be headlining the show against Yushin Okami.
“We are lobbying daily for the fight,” said Schaub’s manager Lex McMahon in a text to ESPN.com. “As of now, we have not been offered the fight. We are optimistic that if [Nogueira] is healthy, Brendan has a good shot to be his opponent in Brazil…Also, I’m a huge Cro Cop fan and have tremendous respect for him, but it seems a stretch that Cro Cop would fight [Nogueira] in Brazil after Brendan knocked him out with one of the most vicious KOs I’ve ever seen. Brendan is one of the most dominant fighters in the division and we’re hopeful the UFC will reward him with the great honor of fighting in Rio.”
Schaub has racked up four-consecutive victories in the Octagon, establishing himself as a serious heavyweight contender with his recent wins over Cro Cop and Gabriel Gonzaga. Nogueira would be another big-name feather in the Hybrid’s cap — and there’s no better time to challenge him than when he’s coming off a battery of injuries and surgeries. Very clever, Brendan.
Of course, the UFC might set Big Nog up with a less dangerous opponent if they want the Brazilian legend to pick up a comeback victory on his home turf. And if that’s the case, we just might see Cro Cop going through the motions one last time.
After Jon Jones defeated Mauricio “Shogun” Rua on Saturday, March 19th at UFC 128, the UFC brought Jones’ next opponent into the Octagon to meet him. The man that Jones will face in his first title defense is “Suga” Rashad…
After Jon Jones defeated Mauricio “Shogun” Rua on Saturday, March 19th at UFC 128, the UFC brought Jones’ next opponent into the Octagon to meet him. The man that Jones will face in his first title defense is “Suga” Rashad Evans, a fighter that Jones had trained with and has become good friends with. Evans […]
