MMA to Roy Jones: You're Not Welcome

UFC president Dana White recently stated that he has no interest in ever booking a Roy Jones Jr. vs. Anderson Silva mixed martial arts match. Apparently, Strikeforce wants no part of the former pound-for-pound boxing king, either.

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker revealed on Wednesday's conference call to promote the May 15 Strikeforce Challengers event on Showtime, that Nick Diaz's manager called him hours prior to see if he would be interested in setting up a Nick Diaz vs. Jones MMA match. While Coker appeared to be lukewarm to the idea, his television partner, Showtime Sports SVP and GM, Ken Hershman, made it clear that he wants nothing to do with televising a Roy Jones Jr. MMA match

"I get a Roy Jones call once a week, pitching me things," Hershman said. "That would be a very, very long shot of ever happening on Showtime."

Hershman seems to share White's feelings on the matter, which are that Jones' involvement in MMA would make a mockery of a sport looking to legitimize itself in the eyes of mainstream sports fans.

"I think it's an insult to the integrity of mixed martial arts to think Roy Jones, or any professional boxer, can just come in and fight Nick Diaz in a mixed martial arts context," Hershman added. "In a boxing context, it's completely different. Beyond that, it's not the strategy that we're employing. We're looking to build the best mixed martial arts brand. I believe that we have the best professional boxing brand on television and I think our fights, month in and month out, prove that. I don't see the need to combine the two at the moment ... I wouldn't want to go down that path just now."

I completely agree with Hershman (and White). One can argue that Jones has no business competing against the best boxers in the world anymore, so what makes him think he can hang with the best MMA fighters? Furthermore, any combination of Jones competing against an MMA fighter in either a boxing match or an MMA match is a lose-lose situation for all parties involved. The MMA fighter would most definitely lose to Jones in the boxing match and -- surprise! -- Jones would get creamed in an MMA match. So, what's the point?

MMA should be past the point of booking these freak show matches against over the hill athletes. Japan will probably never catch on (the recent Jose Canseco/DREAM announcement comes to mind), but kudos to North America's strongest MMA players for putting their foot down once and for all.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-06-2009 @ 8:06PM

gillygodfried said...

i think the ppv would sell, hell put him against somebody on thier way out like houston alexander

5-06-2009 @ 9:30PM

dave said...

not only would this fight make money...you don't think these mma fighters would LOVE a chance to KO jones? this strikeforce guy is on the same bs that dana white is on. obviously they're afraid of jones winning, which WOULD make a mockery of their sport. at least in some circles. i for one love it and think things like this aren't being handled correctly.

5-06-2009 @ 11:22PM

kwilbur10 said...

well he would never see a fight in the UFC because Dana is scared that roy might beat somebody and this would destroy the growth of MMA even though it is growing very rapidly. just because EVERYONE has a punchers chance to win (hint hint rashad and chuck) is why dana will not sign him to a fight.

5-07-2009 @ 1:11AM

kpchprather4 said...

I think it's an interesting idea, even more interesting that no one in MMA will touch Roy. Jones is past his prime and that is I'm sure the 'company line'-but this would make MMA look very bad if Roy danced and moved and made it a standup fight. If he's not taken to the ground, Roy knocks out whomever is in front of him. Superior boxing skills for sure.

Having said that-I'm guessing that if Manny the PacMan decided he wanted to give it a go, White and co would be all over it-because Manny is THE MAN right now in fighting. He's The Next Big Thing.

MMA's refusal to talk with Jones has more to do with the fear of a washed up boxer beating an MMA guy than it does not wanting to tarnish the sport. They'd take the ginormous PPV of a Pacman vs. whomever fight in a heartbeat because half of the world would pay to watch it.

5-07-2009 @ 10:02AM

bobetj7 said...

I dont care what anyone thinks, if Roy connects he would put anyone of those dudes to sleep.

5-07-2009 @ 10:58AM

Murph said...

Roy without gloves on would KILL anyone in MMA. just think a min. a three punch combo from Jones and WHOEVER was on the other end of it would spend the rest of their lives eating thru a tube

5-07-2009 @ 4:53PM

Eric said...

How well is Jones going to throw that 3 punch combination when he is on his back? No wrestling background or training = no takedown defense.

5-07-2009 @ 2:03PM

How many headkicks has Jones blocked in his boxing career? a couple of low kicks then a head kick & it would all be over.

Why would any MMA fighter stand and trade punches with Jones? Jones has no wrestling, muay-thai, or jui-jitsu background.

Jones could be taken down, mounted, and either ground-n-pounded or submitted easily.

5-07-2009 @ 4:29PM

shane said...

HEY DANA:
WHAT IS THE MATTER, ROY JONES WOULD PUT THE LIGHTS OUT OF ANY OF MMA GUYS. THE FIGHT MIGHT LAST 30 SECONDS AND EVERYONE WOULD LOVE TO SEE IT!

5-08-2009 @ 5:38PM

earsstinks said...

Jones is washed up and probably bling broke and is desperate for a payday !

5-09-2009 @ 2:50AM

into228 said...

Wash up yes but he is FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR from broke

5-09-2009 @ 4:31PM

Mr. Reynolds said...

MMA is a bunch of bitches. If its mixed martial arts/fighting, why not have a boxer, sumo wrestler, etc. compete. Aint that mixed? I understand the concept of various styles of martial arts but it's still weak. MMA is just two guys duking it out. Great...they have holds that make guys tap out. Big f*cking deal! So does guys on the streets fighting I grew up on. I saw MMA and it's two guys, kicking like girls and hoping they land a lucky punch. It's not far from a f*cking tough guy competition, pro wrestling and fight club. That's why retired athletes join up cuz it's easy money and no real art or skill to it. Roy Jones would whoop plenty ass cuz the bums in MMA only tackle their competition and lay on the mat til it's broken up. F*cking boring if you ask me unless their a knock out. Roy could tie them up on the mat then get back on his feet and knock these bums out. Roy would reveal the passing fancy to feed our sick need for violence that MMA is. MMA needs Roy to legitimize a back yard trailer park form of entertainment. I'll take the sweet science of boxing (a real sport) over two former street brawlers in a cage trying to get a few dollars to drink off after a match. I guess a bum has to make a living somehow and why not do it like two caged animals. And to think folks sent Mike Vick to jail for dog fighting. If that's the case, MMA owners should get a life sentence. MMA only appeals to blood thirsty folks who enjoy over-violent events. The same yahoos that paid to see Evil Knievel crash. I'd respect MMA if they actually used more martial arts techniques, like a kick, to knock out the competition but they don't have to. Just lay on the mat, bounce around, throw several missing punches, kick a guy in the calf and hope you land a solid punch and get paid. Pathetic! Bruce Lee would be ashamed of this monkey-on-monkey bullsh*t masquerading as a professional athletic event. MMA has disgraced the true form of asian maritial arts and replaced it with American barbaric roman coliseum gore matches/back yard brawls. Like the USFL, enjoy your momentary life.

5-10-2009 @ 7:04PM

eddiehaeffer said...

BOXING is "NOT" Martial Arts... Dana would be stupid to put one of his stars that has little boxing ability against a legitimate boxer... Real Men Fight in Rings, Cages are for ZOO's!!!

5-12-2009 @ 4:34PM

BIG DADDY71 said...

Well to me it goes all the way back to when people wanted to see a fight, which actually came close to being booked, between a boxer vs someone in martial arts to see which was better. Back in the day the talk originally started with Muhamed Ali vs Bruce Lee, after Lee made the statement the he copied Ali's style of footwork. So this fight set up in the right way could really like be one of the biggest events ever or at least be on the way.

5-12-2009 @ 4:40PM

Actually if you will take a look at the original first five years of UFC street brawler, shoot fighting, and boxers were in the UFC fighting classes. It was originally a fighting promotion to promote all styles of fighters.