(Let’s just say that the cake with a stripper in it ended in a goddamn bloodbath.)
Much has been done to try and explain away the assholish behavior of Rousimar Palhares in the wake of AnkleGate ’13. Although “Toquinho” — which means either “Tree Stump,” “The Brazilian Ankle-Eating Sasquatch,” or “OH GOD, I TAP! I TAP!!” depending on who you ask — has been notoriously dubbed a dirty fighter for his inability to release a submission hold when prompted, it was his knee-obliterating heel hook of Mike Pierce at Fight Night 29 that truly took the blood-filled cake, forcing the UFC to release Palhares back into the jungles of Brazil forevermore.
Recently, it was announced that Palhares would emerge from hiding to take on UFC veteran Dean Lister in a submission-only match at the 2013 World Jiu-Jitsu Expo. The MMA world reacted with equal parts fear and excitement — kind of like how Rousimar reacts when he catches his reflection in a puddle. Sadly, WJJE president Renzo Gracie broke the news earlier today that a shoulder injury has forced Palhares out of the match. That is not the must-read material. Renzo’s analysis of Rousimar Palhares the person, however, absolutely is:
Palhares is like a 12 years old kid. He was raised in a farm in Brazil, and you can’t picture a farm in Iowa. He’s so naive. The reality is, he has a completely different mindset. They’re born like Indians, and it’s like getting an Indian from the jungle and expect them to live here.
(Let’s just say that the cake with a stripper in it ended in a goddamn bloodbath.)
Much has been done to try and explain away the assholish behavior of Rousimar Palhares in the wake of AnkleGate ’13. Although “Toquinho” — which means either “Tree Stump,” “The Brazilian Ankle-Eating Sasquatch,” or “OH GOD, I TAP! I TAP!!” depending on who you ask — has been notoriously dubbed a dirty fighter for his inability to release a submission hold when prompted, it was his knee-obliterating heel hook of Mike Pierce at Fight Night 29 that truly took the blood-filled cake, forcing the UFC to release Palhares back into the jungles of Brazil forevermore.
Recently, it was announced that Palhares would emerge from hiding to take on UFC veteran Dean Lister in a submission-only match at the 2013 World Jiu-Jitsu Expo. The MMA world reacted with equal parts fear and excitement — kind of like how Rousimar reacts when he catches his reflection in a puddle. Sadly, WJJE president Renzo Gracie broke the news earlier today that a shoulder injury has forced Palhares out of the match. That is not the must-read material. Renzo’s analysis of Rousimar Palhares the person, however, absolutely is:
Palhares is like a 12 years old kid. He was raised in a farm in Brazil, and you can’t picture a farm in Iowa. He’s so naive. The reality is, he has a completely different mindset. They’re born like Indians, and it’s like getting an Indian from the jungle and expect them to live here.
Renzo also might want to reconsider how he uses the term “Indian.” All I’m saying is, if there are enough homeless junkie MMA fans out there to cause an uproar when Ian McCall bashes them on Twitter, there’s gotta be enough Native Americans left on this planet to take Renzo to task for insinuating that they couldn’t function in a civilized society. Although now that I think of it, the 1997 Tim Allen vehicle, Jungle 2 Jungle, does lend some credibility to Renzo’s hypothesis.
(After seeing this photo, Palhares could only ask why Lister “didn’t require a referee to yank him off his opponent like a normal person.”)
The emotional effects of post-UFC life on the average fighter is a subject that has both been vigorously discussed and tremendously explored. In the nearly 10 years since the promotion held its first event, several brave souls have attempted to shed a light on what it means to be a UFC fighter (or to have been), be it through autobiographies, documentaries, or a series of increasingly depressing public appearances. There was also Bar Brawler, but that tale of insanity is in a class of its own.
Kenny Florian is a good example of a fighter who has successfully adjusted to life outside of fighting, having parlayed his extensive career with the UFC into a multitude of desk jobs including UFC on FOX analyst, MMA Live and UFC Tonight co-host, and the sole speck of personality present during a UFC on FUEL broadcast. Veterans like Luke Cummo, on the other hand, left the UFC on a spaceship to live with the Bull Pegasus on Planet Bathsaltia forevermore.
What I’m getting at is, there are fighters who have followed the KenFlo path of post-UFC life and there are those who have followed the Mayhem Miller path of self destruction. Based on the news passed along by Graciemag last night, it seems we can assume that UFC veteran Dean Lister falls into the latter category, as he has *voluntarily* accepted a short-notice, submission-only Jiu-Jitsu match with Rousimar Palhares at this year’s World Jiu-Jitsu Expo on November 9th.
(After seeing this photo, Palhares could only ask why Lister “didn’t require a referee to yank him off his opponent like a normal person.”)
The emotional effects of post-UFC life on the average fighter is a subject that has both been vigorously discussed and tremendously explored. In the nearly 10 years since the promotion held its first event, several brave souls have attempted to shed a light on what it means to be a UFC fighter (or to have been), be it through autobiographies, documentaries, or a series of increasingly depressing public appearances. There was also Bar Brawler, but that tale of insanity is in a class of its own.
Kenny Florian is a good example of a fighter who has successfully adjusted to life outside of fighting, having parlayed his extensive career with the UFC into a multitude of desk jobs including UFC on FOX analyst, MMA Live and UFC Tonight co-host, and the sole speck of personality present during a UFC on FUEL broadcast. Veterans like Luke Cummo, on the other hand, left the UFC on a spaceship to live with the Bull Pegasus on Planet Bathsaltia forevermore.
What I’m getting at is, there are fighters who have followed the KenFlo path of post-UFC life and there are those who have followed the Mayhem Miller path of self destruction. Based on the news passed along by Graciemag last night, it seems we can assume that UFC veteran Dean Lister falls into the latter category, as he has *voluntarily* accepted a short-notice, submission-only Jiu-Jitsu match with Rousimar Palhares at this year’s World Jiu-Jitsu Expo on November 9th.
I know, Bruce — it’s shocking, it’s horrifying, it’s borderline masochistic. But let us not forget that Lister is a former three time ADCC world champion, as well as a Four-time Machado National BJJ champion and a National Gracie BJJ champion. In fact, Lister is coming directly off a silver medal-earning run at this year’s ADCC Championships in the -99 kilograms division, hence why he agreed to the match on such short notice. Lister is also something of a leglock specialist in his own right, so let’s everybody take a chill pill here.
Of course, one can’t help but ask: Who in their right mind allowed Paul Harris to participate in a BJJ tournament when the man clearly has no understanding of what it means to submit?
What’s that? It was Renzo Gracie who made the call, you say? Well, I’m sure he had his reasons (via MMAFighting):
I already wanted to get ‘Toquinho’ in the event, but wanted even more after everybody started criticizing him and I wouldn’t let that happen. He’s a great guy, an incredible grappler, and I respect him a lot. He represents jiu-jitsu all the time.
Dean has done some epic fights at ADCC and took this fight on short notice, but he was already in shape after his fights this weekend. He’s a great talent and accepted the challenge as soon as we offered it. They are both great leg lock guys and this fight will be amazing.
Yes, amazing. As in, “You will be amazed that this fight was ever allowed to happen should Palhares get ahold of Lister’s leg and continue cranking until he has broken it off at the knee.”
Personally, I’m praying that the above scenario is played out in reverse, if only so Paul Harris can experience the following epiphany while laid up in the hospital:
(An artist’s depiction of what may have happened had Nick Diaz not been a complete space-case.)
Sigh…
We can’t be the only MMA news outlet that is getting tired of Nick Diaz’s inability to accept responsibility for his actions, or at the bare minimum speak up when his inability to do so is called into question. The man is one of the most entertaining and plain intimidating fighters in the game today, yet the only thing that seems to be holding him back is this ever-present sense of adolescent rebellion. And it looks like were not the only ones sharing this frustration.
You know the story by now. After no-showing for his BJJ superfight against Braulio Estima, Diaz went back into hiding, opting to have coach Cesar Gracie do his talking for him. In an incredibly long letter, Gracie claimed that a “lack of professionalism” on Estima’s part (ie. an inability to make the required 180 lbs.) was the reason for Diaz’s decision to pull out, even though Estima claimed to have made the required weight on the morning of the fight.
This was enough to set off a “fed up” Estima, who responded to Gracies claims with his own statement that awaits you after the jump.
(An artist’s depiction of what may have happened had Nick Diaz not been a complete space-case.)
Sigh…
We can’t be the only MMA news outlet that is getting tired of Nick Diaz’s inability to accept responsibility for his actions, or at the bare minimum speak up when his inability to do so is called into question. The man is one of the most entertaining and plain intimidating fighters in the game today, yet the only thing that seems to be holding him back is this ever-present sense of adolescent rebellion. And it looks like were not the only ones sharing this frustration.
You know the story by now. After no-showing for his BJJ superfight against Braulio Estima, Diaz went back into hiding, opting to have coach Cesar Gracie do his talking for him. In an incredibly long letter, Gracie claimed that a “lack of professionalism” on Estima’s part (ie. an inability to make the required 180 lbs.) was the reason for Diaz’s decision to pull out, even though Estima claimed to have made the required weight on the morning of the fight.
This was enough to set off a “fed up” Estima, who responded to Gracies claims with his own statement.
@CesarGracieBJJ Hi César i was reading yr statement. vry interesting points..
1st- When junior approached me 2 Offer me the fight I was actually training at the blackzilians at the time so obviously I was training Mma. Junior told me abt nick not wanting 2 fight an Mma fighter. I nevr fought before so he said it was fine & y u dnt cancel the fight before if ths was really an issue..??
2nd- nobody has ever bended no rules for me. Because there was no rules set to start off with, it wasnt going to be a UFC match but a superfight on a BJJ Expo so the whole point here was for us to show a fight..has Nick signed a contract that stated the date time and weight that we both need to reach? I didn’t. And since this whole thing was going to be a friendly event I really don’t see any issue here even if Nick turned up 10lbs overweight. Still when asked I went and dropped the weight to meet the requirement. Actually to put things straight it was myself that called Junior around 10pm Friday to check if there is going to be a weigh in at all. He kept contacting you and got back to me saying I need to be 180 that time, of course I said I can’t for the simple reason I was away in Irvine and it was already late at night but I said sure no problem I’ll make it first thing in the morning if needed, even if it would put me in a bigger disadvantage I didnt care I just came to fight. Junior had actually called me back no later than midnight that he spoke to you and confirmed the weigh in for 10am.
Besides when did Nick actually weigh in? And who witnessed that if we are being so strict and proffessional?
3rd – you are saying Nick had left by 10am Saturday morning? Why you never said anything then? I even asked you I’d like to see him and his weight and you said he’s not gonna come down because he ate already and wouldn’t make the weight anymore. And Lana after speaking to you called his room and said he was actually there sleeping. Nobody at any point had mentioned he could have left. Leaving me believing we would fight till the very last minute, now youre talking about lack of proffesionalism in the organisation of the superfight and this was very professional behaviour right?
There is many more points here that I don’t agree with but I am just fed up of this whole situation and don’t agree for anyone to ever release the blame from Nick for whatever reason, we were there to fight and that’s what should happen no excuses, we are both professional athletes and should respect one another no matter what. And this is inexcusable.
I don’t know about you guys, but there seems to be so much “he said/she said” drama surrounding what was supposed to be a friendly charity match that I’ve really gone past the point where I give a shit about the match that was suppose to happen in the first place. Nick Diaz is being Nick Diaz, and why anyone would expect otherwise is beyond me. Whether or not you will place the blame on Diaz or Estima for this blown opportunity likely depends on how much of a Diaz enthusiast you really are, and I’m not going to try and change anyone’s mind. Like I said, the guy is a fantastic fighter. I just wish he would grow the fuck up.
