MMA FanHouse http://mma.fanhouse.com MMA FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://mma.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif MMA FanHouse http://mma.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Jared Shaw Discusses His Past, Present And Future in Mixed Martial Artshttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/jared-shaw-discusses-his-past-present-and-future-in-mixed-marti/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/jared-shaw-discusses-his-past-present-and-future-in-mixed-marti/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/jared-shaw-discusses-his-past-present-and-future-in-mixed-marti/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The anniversary of EliteXC's final major show (Oct. 4, 2008) came and went last week with little fanfare. Perhaps that has to do with the fact that most of the organization's top employees and fighters have moved on to the UFC or Strikeforce, and the latter promotion has essentially picked up right where Pro Elite left off on Showtime and CBS.

But one former employee who has not found a new home in MMA is Jared Shaw. The former vice president of EliteXC had a tumultuous run in MMA, and now finds himself on the outside looking in. FanHouse spoke to Shaw late last week about why he isn't still involved with the sport and what it's like watching some of the stars he helped create find success with other organizations. The full video interview is below.

Jared Shaw FanHouse Interview from Ariel Helwani on Vimeo.

Jared Shaw Discusses His Past, Present And Future in Mixed Martial Arts originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>jared shawJaredShawAriel HelwaniMon, 12 Oct 2009 09:25:00 EST Gary Shaw 'Shocked, Disappointed' That Kimbo Slice Signs With UFChttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/02/gary-shaw-shocked-disappointed-that-kimbo-slice-signs-with-uf/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/02/gary-shaw-shocked-disappointed-that-kimbo-slice-signs-with-uf/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/02/gary-shaw-shocked-disappointed-that-kimbo-slice-signs-with-uf/#commentsFiled under: , ,


A year ago, Gary Shaw was promoting Kimbo Slice as the next big thing in mixed martial arts, while UFC President Dana White was mocking Kimbo as a street fighter with no athletic skill. What a difference a year makes.

Now White has given Kimbo a spot on The Ultimate Fighter, and Shaw told FanHouse Tuesday that he's shocked and disappointed, because Shaw was hoping to promote Kimbo as a boxer. But Shaw also said that he considers Kimbo a friend, and that he gives White credit for making a smart business move by hiring a fighter who, in Shaw's words, has the it factor. The full interview is below.
More Coverage: MMA Podcast on Kimbo & More

Michael David Smith: What's your reaction to Kimbo going on The Ultimate Fighter?
Gary Shaw: It shocked me when I heard, especially after Dana dissing him for two years and saying the nastiest things about him. So it surprised me, knowing who Kimbo is, that he would succumb to working with Dana. It shows that whatever comes out of Dana's mouth is not always the truth.

Are you disappointed on a personal level? You put a lot into promoting and marketing Kimbo.
Sure. I just don't think it's a big enough platform for him. I think it's a step back. I think he's bigger than that.

Do you consider Kimbo a friend?
Absolutely.

Are you angry with him?
No. No. Not at all. Not at all. Whatever Kimbo wants to do, I'm happy for him. I don't know what they paid Kimbo -- maybe they paid him a boatload of money -- and in that case he's doing the right thing. Kimbo is one of those people that comes along every once in ages who has what I call the it factor as a promoter. I have a lot of fighters who come to me and are great talents but don't have the it factor. And then you have someone who comes along and has the it factor. Manny Pacquiao has the it factor. He's a star. He reeks of stardom. People gravitate to him. Kimbo is that way. When he walks into a room, he lights up the room. People yell "Kimbo! Kimbo!" It doesn't have anything to do with how he did in his last fight. It has to do with the it factor. When Tyson walks into an arena, everyone stands up. He's Mike Tyson, of course, but he's got that it factor. When you're at a basketball game and they show Jack Nicholson on the big screen, the place erupts. He has that it factor. And then they might show someone else who's also a great actor, but he'll just get a little hand. It's that special it factor that people have, even if they're not the greatest athletes in their sport.

So if Kimbo has that it factor, wasn't it smart of Dana White to sign him for The Ultimate Fighter?
For sure. I give Dana credit. I'm not anti-Dana or anti-UFC or anti-MMA. I give him credit. He did the right thing. I would have done it a little differently: I would have said, early on, "Kimbo is an asset and I'd love to have Kimbo." I don't see that as a sign of weakness. I would say that in boxing, if you ask me what I think of Manny Pacquaio, I'd say, "I hope some day he'll fight for me."

Are you disappointed that Kimbo won't be boxing?
Yes. Because I really believe that I could make him the heavyweight champ.

Really?
Yes. And I believe he could have made a lot of money in boxing, because of that it factor, and I believe that boxing needs a heavyweight with real star power. If I ask you what heavyweight you'd want to see, I'm not sure you'd want to see any.

I think Kimbo on Showtime might have drawn more viewers than one of the Klitschko brothers on HBO.
Absolutely. He would have attracted boxing fans, MMA fans, he would have attracted the people who are Kimbo detractors and the Kimbo fans. What he's doing now, he's one of many. If I had put him in the boxing ring he would have been one of one.

How do you think he'll do on The Ultimate Fighter?
I hope he does well.

And you think he has real athletic potential in addition to the it factor?
Oh, yeah. He's an athlete. If I had a football team -- I'm not talking about the NFL, he's too old for that -- but if I had a football team he's one of the first guys I'd want to pick for a linebacker. He's an athlete and he's a star. He's got the whole package, and that's why I'm disappointed I won't get to put him in the boxing ring. I think if I had hooked him up with a great strength and conditioning coach and a great boxing trainer, he would have woken up the heavyweight division. At first everyone would have said he's old and he can't box, but after five or six wins, that would have changed. And he could have filled a void. Right now in boxing, the heavyweight division is a void.

Well, there is David Haye against Wladimir Klitschko coming up.
David Haye's going to get knocked out within three rounds. Remember I told you that. There are no bright stars in the heavyweight division to get fans excited. Kimbo would have breathed life into the heavyweight division.

Do you think Kimbo is 100% committed to the UFC now?
I don't know factually, but from what I hear I think so.

And what about you? Are you 100% committed to boxing, or might we see you back in the MMA world?
If the right MMA promotion came along or the right MMA fighters, I might promote an MMA fight. The fact that the company that I ran the mixed martial arts card for folded, that to me still hurts, personally, because I believe they made so many wrong moves. But right now I'm 100% in boxing and I have a lot of fighters that I represent, a lot of world champions and quite a few who are on the cusp of a world title.

Gary Shaw 'Shocked, Disappointed' That Kimbo Slice Signs With UFC originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Dana WhiteDanaWhiteGary ShawGaryShawKimbo SliceKimboSliceMichael David SmithTue, 02 Jun 2009 10:45:00 EST Dana White Was Right: Kimbo Slice Won't Win 'The Ultimate Fighter'http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/02/dana-white-was-right-kimbo-slice-wont-win-the-ultimate-fighte/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/02/dana-white-was-right-kimbo-slice-wont-win-the-ultimate-fighte/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/02/dana-white-was-right-kimbo-slice-wont-win-the-ultimate-fighte/#commentsFiled under: ,

Back when Kimbo Slice was the biggest star of EliteXC, which was once viewed as the Ultimate Fighting Championship's biggest competitor, UFC President Dana White was fond of saying that Kimbo wasn't even good enough to win the UFC's reality show for MMA beginners, The Ultimate Fighter.

Now Kimbo has been given a spot on the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter, which begins taping this week, and I believe White will be proven right: Kimbo won't make it out of the house and into the UFC.

The UFC's decision to give Kimbo a spot on The Ultimate Fighter -- which White confirmed to Kevin Iole of Yahoo -- makes sense from a ratings perspective. Kimbo is a big star, probably the most famous MMA fighter in America. But from a competitive standpoint, Kimbo just isn't good enough to beat the kind of competition he'll face on the show.

Don't forget that Seth Petruzelli -- who knocked Kimbo out in 14 seconds -- was a cast member on the second season of The Ultimate Fighter, where he was eliminated in the second round of the show. MMA has come a long way since then, and the quality of the fighters on The Ultimate Fighter is much higher now than it was in Season 2. If Kimbo isn't good enough to last even 15 seconds with Petruzelli, he isn't good enough to beat the fighters he'll face on the show.

And while The Ultimate Fighter is ostensibly a show for newcomers to the sport, the majority of the fighters who will share the house with Kimbo on Season 10 will have more than just the four professional fights that Kimbo has on his record. Kimbo will be more famous than the other fighters on the show, but he won't be more experienced.

I'm sure Kimbo will bring in a whole lot of new viewers to The Ultimate Fighter, and I know I'll be watching Season 10. But I'll be shocked if Kimbo wins his fights and becomes The Ultimate Fighter.

UPDATE: Read the comments from Kimbo's former promoter, Gary Shaw, and keep up to date on this story by following me on Twitter.

Dana White Was Right: Kimbo Slice Won't Win 'The Ultimate Fighter' originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Dana WhiteDanaWhiteKimbo SliceKimboSliceSeth PetruzelliSethPetruzelliMichael David SmithTue, 02 Jun 2009 07:07:00 EST Is Kimbo Slice's MMA Career Over?http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/14/is-kimbo-slices-mma-career-over/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/14/is-kimbo-slices-mma-career-over/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/14/is-kimbo-slices-mma-career-over/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In November 2007, Gary Shaw, then the president of EliteXC's live events division, said that he believed Kimbo Slice could become the first man to hold a major heavyweight boxing and MMA title simultaneously.

Slice, last seen losing to Seth Petruzelli in 14 seconds in the final EliteXC show last October, is reportedly set to make his boxing debut later this summer, however, don't expect him to be chasing an MMA strap any time soon.

Two days after telling the Miami Herald that a boxing career is in Slice's future, Shaw told FanHouse on Thursday that the former street-fighting star is no longer contractually tied to Strikeforce, the San Jose-based organization who purchased Slice's contract, along with 41 other EliteXC fighter contracts, earlier this year.

"[I'm] not sure exactly if or when Kimbo will start a boxing career," Shaw said via e-mail. "However he is not tied to Strikeforce."

When asked if we had seen Slice fight in his last MMA contest, Shaw responded:

"Could not answer that, as I have not sat down and talked at length with [Strikeforce] regarding the future plans, although I believe Kimbo would listen to all offers, as he should."

When contacted for comment, Strikeforce would not confirm nor deny Shaw's claim that Slice is free from his contract with the organization.

In March, Slice told the Nassau Guardian that he is eager to pursue a boxing career:
"Boxing is really my first desire. I have a lot of love for it and believe I can do pretty well. MMA is somewhat of a project for me. Boxing is one dimensional while there are a lot of dimensions in MMA. I don't think it would be a hard transition from MMA to stand-up boxing because of my fighting style."
If you ask me, Slice's best bet would be to pursue a K-1 kickboxing career. His boxing skills are simply not on par with the top boxers in the game, and neither are his ground skills with the top MMA heavyweights. It's no secret that kickboxers aren't as technically sound when it comes to the boxing aspect of their sport. That's why a K-1 career, where only punches and kicks are allowed, would seem to give him his best chance at success in the ring.

Of course, one could argue that the best fit for Slice, born Kevin Ferguson, is simply where the most money lies. And while he seems to be keeping his fighting options open, I wouldn't be surprised if we never see him compete in an MMA match again.

Is Kimbo Slice's MMA Career Over? originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Thu, 14 May 2009 15:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>gary shawGaryShawkimbo sliceKimboSliceAriel HelwaniThu, 14 May 2009 15:04:00 EST Gary Shaw Reality Show Back Onhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/11/gary-shaw-reality-show-back-on/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/11/gary-shaw-reality-show-back-on/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/11/gary-shaw-reality-show-back-on/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While watching the Antonio Tarver vs. Chad Dawson boxing match on HBO this weekend, I couldn't help but notice a very familiar logo smack-dab in the middle of ring: "Blood, Sweat & Bling," it read.

I knew I had seen this logo before, but it took me a while to actually figure out where. Then, as I noticed boxing promoter, Gary Shaw, pictured right, sitting ringside next to his son, Jared, who appeared to have been shouting instructions at Dawson every moment of the fight, I remembered why that logo looked so familiar.

I quickly thought of this infamous reality show teaser that appeared online late last year (Warning: Not safe for work language):



Brace yourselves, because according to Jared Shaw, the former VP of EliteXC, the Shaw family reality is back in production.

The above clip was actually put together several years ago, long before the Shaws got involved in mixed martial arts and EliteXC. However once it was leaked, the clip apparently generated enough buzz online that it got the wheels in motion to restart production. According to Shaw, new footage was shot last week leading up to the Tarver-Dawson fight (Dawson fights for Gary Shaw Productions), but there is no word as to when and where the show will air.

Gary Shaw Reality Show Back On originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Mon, 11 May 2009 15:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Antonio TarverAntonioTarverChad DawsonChadDawsongary shawGaryShawjared shawJaredShawAriel HelwaniMon, 11 May 2009 15:16:00 EST Gina Carano Continues Mainstream Push, Makes Top 20 of Maxim 'Hot 100'http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/11/gina-carano-makes-maxims-hot-100/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/11/gina-carano-makes-maxims-hot-100/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/11/gina-carano-makes-maxims-hot-100/#commentsFiled under: , ,

She may not have a home in the MMA world right now, but Gina Carano is still blowing up in the mainstream media world, as she will be ranked inside the top 20 of Maxim's "Hot 100" list for 2009.

The news was passed along to FanHouse from Carano's agent, Matt Walker.

Carano is included in some pretty good company. Among the others listed from Nos. 11-20 include Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry, and Sports Illustrated swimsuit magazine covergirl Marisa Miller. The "Hot 100" issue will be released on May 13.

Gina Carano Photos

    Gina Carano catches all the action at the Strikeforce show on Saturday, April 11, 2009 in San Jose, Calif.

    Tom Casino, Strikeforce

    LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 15: MMA fighter Gina Carano and UFC fighter Tyson Griffin attend UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar at the MGM Garden Arena on November 15, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

    Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images

    Gina Carano, right, punches Kelly Kobold during an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

    Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

    Gina Carano, right, punches Kelly Kobold during an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

    Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

    Gina Carano kicks Kelly Kobold during an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

    Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

    Gina Carano, right, kicks Kelly Kobold during an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

    Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

    Gina Carano celebrates her unanimous decision win over Kelly Kobold at an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

    Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

    Image #: 6187912 Mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano during a segment of "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" at CBS Television City on September 29, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. Francis Specker /Landov

    Francis Specker, Landov

    LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: MMA Superstar Gina Carano is seen during the Workout/Media Day with Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano at the Legends Mixed Martial Arts Training Center on September 17, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Gina Carano

    Robert Laberge, Getty Images

    20080531NKM 11/x Kaitlin Young lands a punch to the face of Gina Caranos during in their 140 lbs. Elite Xtreme Combat match at the Prudential Center. Newark, NJ 5/31/08 10:15:04 PM NOAH K. MURRAY/THE STAR-LEDGER

    Noah K. Murray, The Newark Star-Ledger/Corbis



She hasn't fought since EliteXC's finale last October, and has been in negotiations with Strikeforce, but has also mentioned talking to the WEC. Strikeforce is hoping to put together the long-awaited Carano vs. Cris Cyborg matchup that was expected to come about in EliteXC until the company folded. She recently told FanHouse's Ariel Helwani that she expected to be back in action by August.

Her matchups on CBS saw the biggest audience draw of any fighter aside from Kimbo Slice. Since then she was profiled on ESPN's E:60 and had her likeness used in a videogame.

Gina Carano Continues Mainstream Push, Makes Top 20 of Maxim 'Hot 100' originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Mon, 11 May 2009 10:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>christina aguileraChristinaAguileracris cyborgCrisCyborggina caranoGinaCaranojessica albajessica bielJessicaAlbaJessicaBielkaty perryKatyPerrykimbo sliceKimboSlicemarisa millerMarisaMillerMike ChiappettaMon, 11 May 2009 10:14:00 EST Kevin Randleman Turns Down Strikeforce Fight Against 'Feijao'http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/23/kevin-randleman-turns-down-june-6-feijao-fight/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/23/kevin-randleman-turns-down-june-6-feijao-fight/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/23/kevin-randleman-turns-down-june-6-feijao-fight/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Strikeforce suffered a tough break when current light heavyweight champion Renato "Babalu" Sobral pulled out of his June 6 title defense against Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante earlier this week. Sobral's wife is scheduled to give birth at the end of May and he reportedly felt like the fight was too close to her due date.

As a result, Cavalcante (7-1), a former EliteXC fighter who trains with Anderson Silva, was left without an opponent.

FanHouse has learned that the newest member of Strikeforce's light heavyweight division, Kevin Randleman (17-12), was offered to replace Sobral against Cavalcante, but the former UFC heavyweight champion turned down the fight. No specific reason was given.

When Randleman was a guest on ESPN Radio 1100's post-fight show in San Jose following the latest Strikeforce event, I asked him if he was interested in fighting Cavalcante at some point. He simply replied, "Who?" Randleman went on to say that he had never heard of the Brazilian fighter. Perhaps that has something to do with his decision.

"Now that I'm here, understand this - it comes from the heart," Randleman said at the Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz post-fight press conference two weeks ago, "I'll fight anybody, anywhere. When Scott (Coker) says it's time to get down and dirty, understand this: I'm not coming to lose, and I'm not coming to back up."

Apparently "anybody, anywhere" has some restrictions.

The 37-year-old Randleman (17-12) is looking to make somewhat of an MMA comeback. He returned to action last May, defeating Ryo Kawamura via unanimous decision at Sengoku II, following a year-and-a-half hiatus from the sport. If the highlight of his career was his shocking knockout of Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic at PRIDE Total Elimination 2004, then the low point of his twelve-year career was submitting a fake urine sample following his loss to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at PRIDE 32 in October 2006. Randleman later apologized for it and said that he had to take painkillers and antibiotics for a lung infection he suffered prior to the fight and knew they were banned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The NSAC subsequently suspended Randleman, but he has since been cleared to fight in the State of Nevada.

In January 2007, Randleman was hospitalized for severe kidney problems. Seven months later, he was arrested for DUI in Goodsprings, Nev.

A former two-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion at Ohio State University, Randleman defeated Pete Williams at UFC 23 to capture the UFC heavyweight title, but after one successful title defense against Pedro Rizzo, he lost the belt to Randy Couture at UFC 28.

Cavalcante was a perfect 3-0 while fighting for EliteXC, finishing all his opponents in the first round. As of now, there is no word on who, if anyone, he or Randleman will fight come June 6.

Kevin Randleman Turns Down Strikeforce Fight Against 'Feijao' originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>anderson silvaAndersonSilvakevin randlemanKevinRandlemanrenato sobralRenatoSobralstrikeforceAriel HelwaniThu, 23 Apr 2009 11:52:00 EST Gina Carano Close to Signing With Strikeforce, Still Hopes to Fight for Zuffahttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/23/gina-carano-is-close-to-signing-with-strikeforce-still-hopes-to/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/23/gina-carano-is-close-to-signing-with-strikeforce-still-hopes-to/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/23/gina-carano-is-close-to-signing-with-strikeforce-still-hopes-to/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Since the demise of EliteXC last October, Gina Carano has remained relatively quiet. The female mixed martial arts fighter is one of the biggest stars in the sport and it seems like every day someone's talking about her proposed super-fight with Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos.

Gina Carano Photos

    Gina Carano catches all the action at the Strikeforce show on Saturday, April 11, 2009 in San Jose, Calif.

    Tom Casino, Strikeforce

    LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 15: MMA fighter Gina Carano and UFC fighter Tyson Griffin attend UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar at the MGM Garden Arena on November 15, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

    Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images

    Gina Carano, right, punches Kelly Kobold during an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

    Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

    Gina Carano, right, punches Kelly Kobold during an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

    Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

    Gina Carano kicks Kelly Kobold during an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

    Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

    Gina Carano, right, kicks Kelly Kobold during an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

    Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

    Gina Carano celebrates her unanimous decision win over Kelly Kobold at an Elite XC show on Oct. 4, 2008.

    Tom Casino, CBS-SHOWTIME

    Image #: 6187912 Mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano during a segment of "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" at CBS Television City on September 29, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. Francis Specker /Landov

    Francis Specker, Landov

    LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: MMA Superstar Gina Carano is seen during the Workout/Media Day with Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano at the Legends Mixed Martial Arts Training Center on September 17, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Gina Carano

    Robert Laberge, Getty Images

    20080531NKM 11/x Kaitlin Young lands a punch to the face of Gina Caranos during in their 140 lbs. Elite Xtreme Combat match at the Prudential Center. Newark, NJ 5/31/08 10:15:04 PM NOAH K. MURRAY/THE STAR-LEDGER

    Noah K. Murray, The Newark Star-Ledger/Corbis


Of course, before fans finally get a chance to see Carano vs. Santos, the Xtreme Couture fighter has to agree to terms with the San Jose-based Strikeforce organization. Strikeforce purchased Carano's contract from EliteXC earlier this year, but she has yet to officially sign with the promotion.

Carano spoke to FanHouse about why her contract negotiations are taking so long and the possibility of fighting in the UFC or WEC. The full interview is below.

Ariel Helwani: Have you signed with Strikeforce yet?
Gina Carano: No, I have not signed with Strikeforce, but the contract's getting negotiated right now and as soon as it's signed I will let you know.

What exactly is the hold-up?
You know, I will probably be able to talk about it after the fact, but maybe that's just me finding an excuse not to talk about it (laughs). I feel like while things are going on, it's probably smart just to put your head down and work instead of talk about things, so I'll talk about it later.

When Strikeforce had their first press conference to announce the Showtime deal a couple of months ago, it seemed to me that CEO Scott Coker took a small shot at you publicly by essentially saying that training camp had started and you were holding out. What did you make of that?
I've read certain interviews and heard certain things, but I've said this a lot, I'm not into the game-playing. I'm not saying that Scott Coker is doing that, but I have been around long enough to know that you just have to put your head down and work and do the best for yourself. So, if somebody's trying to call you out or challenge you - even in a fight - you just gotta kept training and do your thing. I'm just trying to do the best I can and make the right decisions for myself.

You fought for Strikeforce once in December 2006 and then signed with EliteXC. Did you leave on good terms with the organization?
It wasn't on the best terms, to be quite honest, but I don't have anything against anyone and I hope that no one's got anything against me. I fought for Strikeforce once against Elaina Maxwell and I got a really good reaction, but I hadn't signed an agreement with anybody yet. So, here comes EliteXC all pumped and ready to go and they offered me a better deal, so I was like, 'You know, this is business; I'll just go with that.' Lo and behold, later on, EliteXC goes out of business and here comes Strikeforce and they are ready to put their stuff on TV. This is just a business world and I'm not taking anything personally.

Female Fighters

    Mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano has compiled a 7-0 record and attracted national attention with her appearances in Elite XC and the TV show 'American Gladiators'. Carano is just one of many female combatants making their presence felt in the fighting world.

    Tom Casino, WireImage.com

    Erin Toughill was a mixed martial artist and boxer who started as a professional fighter back in 1999. After putting up a 7-2-1 record in MMA, Toughill decided to retire and now competes as "Steel" in the second season of 'American Gladiators'.

    Ed Mulholland, WireImage.com

    Former Playboy model LaTasha Marzolla pursues a career in professional full-contact K1 in kickboxing under the nickname "Venus". Along with Carano, she appeared in the 2005 documentary film 'Ring Girls' which featured female Muay Thai fighters.

    A. Nevader, WireImage.com

    Mia St. John, also known as "The Knockout" and "Bunny Boxer," is an American professional boxer, model and Tae Kwon Do champion. St. John competed in her first MMA contest in January 2008, defeating her opponent with a first-round knockout.

    John M. Heller, Getty Images

    Professional boxer Laila Ali, the daughter of legend Muhammad Ali, has jabbed her way to a perfect 24-0 record (21 knockouts) in her career. She has also made an appearance on 'Dancing With the Stars', and is currently the host of 'American Gladiators'.

    Lefty Shivambu, Getty IMages

    "Baby Doll" Elena Reid is a professional boxer and current WIBA Flyweight champion who got her start with combat sports like karate and kickboxing. The 26-year-old southpaw currently holds a 19-4-6 record.

    Eckehard Schulz, AP

    Julie Kedzie is a competing MMA fighter that holds a third-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and specializes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. On February 10, she lost to Carano during Elite XC's televised card in what was called "the fight of the night."

    Tom Casino, WireImage.com


You earned just $25,000 for your last win over Kelly Kobold in October. Do you consider yourself an underpaid fighter?
Frankly, I am absolutely unmotivated by money. And I know that maybe people take that and don't understand what that means, but I am just not. What I am interested in is people that have respect. Not only respect for me, but people who have respect for women in MMA. So, the better that I can do for myself and the better I represent myself - which I have to work on all of this, by the way - the better it is for the sport. Of course money is nice when you have it in your pocket, but I am just trying to do the best deal possible. Everybody's talking on good terms now, so it's good.

What are the terms of your contract with Strikeforce?
Well, if it gets signed, it will probably be for this year and next year.

Do you have to compete in a specific number of fights?
Honestly, I'm not sure. Of course, if I am not able to fight for some reason, then the contract extends longer. We're kind of figuring that out.

A year ago, whenever UFC president Dana White was asked about promoting women's fights, he appeared to be absolutely against the idea. However, when EliteXC went out of business, he seemed very open to the idea of signing you and having you fight in World Extreme Cagefighting. Is there a part of you that is disappointed that you couldn't have signed with Zuffa (the parent company of UFC and WEC)?
Yeah, that's kind of been a little bit of the hold-up, also. I have sat down with Dana and (Zuffa co-owner) Lorenzo (Fertitta) and they have expressed interest and want to do something, but I am a little wary because I know that Strikeforce is signing women and the "Cyborg" (Santos) fight is over there. But to go and sign with the UFC would be amazing, also. I would have to go and fight (the contract that Strikeforce bought from EliteXC) in court and that would just seem like it would put more months in between me fighting, staying active and staying sane. I have a lot of decisions to make. I could do a lot of good for the sport if I fight "Cyborg" and get something started (in Strikeforce). I would fight for a belt and then every female after starts fighting this person for the belt and then more and more females get known. So, I have just been caught between two places and it's a very hard decision.

Let's just say that you were a real free agent and not tied to any organization. Do you think you would have decided to sign with Zuffa instead of Strikeforce?
I think that I would probably pick Zuffa because that's the big show, you know? To be a part of that would be amazing, but you know, here comes Strikeforce and they've got this CBS and Showtime deal and they are working their way up into being good competition. They have been respectful and haven't tried to push it too far in terms of being competitors with the UFC. They've built their company on some good roots and now they are ready to branch out on Showtime and CBS. But as of right now, the UFC is the big show, and for a female, it would be an amazing opportunity.

What did you think of the recent controversy surrounding one of Dana White's video blogs?
Some of us have different faults. Some of us miss weight occasionally (laughs); some of us are incredibly uncomfortable in front of the camera, so you gotta pick your poison. I think Dana has been notorious for being opinionated and that's probably why he gets so much attention. So, I don't know if that's surprising. I mean, guys talk like that all the time privately, so I don't know why people are so surprised.

So, barring any major setbacks, you're shooting for an August return to the cage against "Cyborg"?
I think so. I think that it will do something to me mentally if it was any time after August because it's been kind of a while already.

Have they told you where and when this fight will take place?
No, I think that will come right after the contract gets settled.

As you mentioned earlier, you have had trouble making weight before. However, you never blamed your troubles on "girl problems" like "Cyborg" did recently. What did you think of her excuse?
Obviously, I am not one to judge at all. I understand what it's like to go through that, so of course, I am sympathetic because it's not a good feeling, by any means, and you feel like you let people down. On top of it, I know what it's like to be a part of a sport where the majority of women can get to 135 or 140 (pounds). And for me, and maybe "Cyborg" and someone like Erin Toughill, who's a great fighter, we are all trying to go down to that majority (weight) region.

And you know, "Cyborg" had been training for a different fight against Marlos Coenen (scheduled for late February), who's another good fighter, months before that. She held off and didn't take that fight or got injured so she could fight for Strikeforce. Now, if you're training that long and you're holding off to do something good by fighting on this bigger show because that will help the sport, of course, something might happen like getting burned out. I'm not making any excuses for her, but (expletive) happens. So, you pick it up, you move along and try to do better the next time. You get everyone pointing the finger at you and it just makes you stronger.

In the interest of avoiding any more drama, do you think you guys should agree to fight at an open weight class or, just to be safe, a 200-pound weight limit?
(Laughs) You know, you might want to move it up to 250, just in case I get pizza happy.

I didn't mean to knock you, but you know...
Oh yeah, you didn't mean it as a knock? That was bad! Next time I see you, you are getting leg kicks in the interview. That'll be the top YouTube hit.

OK, fine. So, what weight class will this fight be contested in?
I absolutely think it needs to be at 145. I don't really feel good about myself if I don't go down. There's something mental that I have in my head that's like, 'Ok, I'm going to fight at 140 or 145.' I never want to waver on that because then I would be feeling like I am letting myself go. So, I think it will be 145 and it will be good. She'll make it. "Cyborg"'s made 140 before against Shayna Bazsler (in July 2008), so it's not like she hasn't proved that she couldn't make that. Maybe something was happening in her life, we never know.

You told me late last year that one of these days you will talk about some of the crazy behind-the-scenes stories that happened during your time with EliteXC. Are you willing to talk about some of those now?
Actually, I think that if we look back in hindsight, EliteXC really did give a good tight little effort. A piece of me misses EliteXC and I want the people who were a part of it to know that. It was pretty cool that chance that they took and busted it into Showtime and CBS. So, I don't think we should be too hard on EliteXC for going $55 million in debt (laughs).

So, no crazy stories at all?
No, I am not that person. C'mon, man, you ask me that question every single time! You think I am going to bust out on some kind of emotional rant?

Well, that's what I am shooting for. Anyhow, let's talk about your recent spread in Maxim Magazine. You have mentioned that you are shy in front of the camera, so how strange was it for you to pose in a bathing suit for a magazine?
That was a really fun photo shoot for me on a completely different level because, first of all, it was probably the most professional photo shoot I have ever been a part of. Second of all, it was just completely out of the ordinary. The more I try to take opportunities and advance my career, the more I realize that everything else besides fighting is completely out of character for me. So, doing a bathing suit photo shoot, I reached different levels of consciousness because, as a female, it's kind of nice to feel that way sometimes. You kind of feel like you are exploding with all sorts of different energy when you are doing that, so I enjoyed it. It was fun.

I was told that you were seen hanging out with your ex-fiance Kit Cope in San Jose two weeks ago. Are you guys back together?
(Laughs) No, actually, me and Kit are friends and as bad as the rep Kit gets sometimes, he really is a talented fighter and a good human being. He's somebody that I have been close to in the past, and I will always know him personally, but we both have our different lives now. So, it was nothing like that. He was there to support Nick Diaz and I was there to watch the "Cyborg" fight.

You appeared in a Pepsi Super Bowl commercial this year. What was more exciting: appearing in a Super Bowl commercial or being compared to Bruce Lee in that same advertisement?
Bruce Lee. That was definitely one of the coolest comparisons that I could have ever experienced in my life. That was just a big deal. On top of that, it's cool for Pepsi to take a leap of faith and appreciate what the country is into and put MMA on there. It was all around a very blessed project to be a part of.



And you will soon be appearing in a GM ad campaign, right?
Yeah, but I don't know if I am supposed to talk about it just yet. I did a certain campaign with GM and let's just say that there is going to be a possibility to meet one of my very close fans and hang out with them. I will talk about it later on when it comes out, probably in a week or two.

With all these new opportunities coming up, do you still consider yourself a full-time fighter?
Yeah, absolutely.

Gina Carano Close to Signing With Strikeforce, Still Hopes to Fight for Zuffa originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>chris santosChrisSantosdana whiteDanaWhiteelitexcgina caranoGinaCaranoscott cokerScottCokerstrikeforce destructionStrikeforceDestructionufcxtreme coutureXtremeCoutureAriel HelwaniThu, 23 Apr 2009 10:05:00 EST Brett Rogers: I'm in This to Hurt, to Smash, to Winhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/09/brett-rogers-im-in-this-to-hurt-to-smash-to-win/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/09/brett-rogers-im-in-this-to-hurt-to-smash-to-win/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/09/brett-rogers-im-in-this-to-hurt-to-smash-to-win/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ten months ago, Brett "The Grim" Rogers was riding high. He had just knocked out another opponent to improve to 8-0 in his mixed martial arts career, a win that carried special significance because it was the first MMA fight ever carried live on network television.

But it hasn't been easy for Rogers since then. His promotion, EliteXC, folded, leaving him without a job. He went from being a professional athlete fighting in front of millions to working at Sam's Club, and he wondered if his MMA career would ever resume.

On Saturday it finally will, as Rogers will fight Ron "Abongo" Humphrey for Strikeforce on Showtime. I interviewed Rogers this week about his time off, his thoughts on the fight and his future plans. The full interview is below.

Michael David Smith: You won the first MMA fight ever to be carried live on network TV. How significant do you think that is?
Brett Rogers: First and foremost, it was the most nervous I ever was in my life. While I was waiting around for the undercard to get over, I was so nervous. But I thought of it as an opportunity to go out there and put on a show, and that's what I did.

At the same time, that fight was in May of 2008. If I had told you then that you weren't going to fight again until April of 2009, I imagine you would have been disappointed.
Yeah, I would have been pretty disappointed. It's been a long time. It's been tough, but I knew this wasn't something I could give up on. It's something I love to do. Fighting is fun, and I'm working hard on being more than just a fighter, developing all my MMA skills. I think I'll show that this weekend.

You're a big puncher, and you've used punches to win every fight. Do you also have a ground game?
Yes. Most of the time I was off I was working on my jiu jitsu. In fact, I kind of put the stand-up game behind me so much that I was worried that I might have lost something in my timing on the stand-up. My ground game is very good, it's just that nobody has pushed me to use it. But I'm working at a gym where my coaches are pushing me to improve my ground game. It's coming together.

%Video-419%

And since you weren't fighting the last 10 months, I understand that in addition to improving your ground game you took a job at Sam's Club?
Yeah, I've been working there for quite some time and I got lucky that they took me back on before it was time for me to come out and fight again. It's just a job, though. I don't want that to be my career. It's difficult to work those hours and then fit in my training time, plus my family time. I want to get to the point where all I'm thinking about is working on my training.

When you look back at EliteXC, why do you think it failed?
I think it failed because they put too much into one person, and that person wasn't able to do what they needed. I knew as a fighter it was just a matter of time before their star guy would fall. People talked about me fighting Kimbo Slice, and of course I would fight Kimbo, but I don't think the organization should ever have relied on that one person. I think that was the downfall. There was a lot of s**t that was going on and I don't think I would ever want to be in an organization that was just relying on one person.

There was talk that you might fight Josh Barnett at the last Affliction show. Was that close to actually happening?
It actually was. I got to the point where I was behind on bills, it was tough, and I wanted to work. I was ready to go. Barnett is definitely a top fighter. If he wants to stand he can stand, if he wants to go to the ground he's good on the ground, so I was training pretty hard for that. I'm aiming to fight guys above me who can make me better.

Do you think you're ready for a fighter of Barnett's caliber?
As long as I'm consistently training, I'm ready for whoever. As long as I know in advance who I'm training for, I'm going to come in ready for that person.

Why did the Barnett fight fall through?
Basically, the fight between me and Barnett would have worked, it was just a conflict between contracts. They were willing to work with me, but my contract was holding me back.

What do you know about your upcoming opponent, Ron Humphrey?
Ron Humphrey, Abongo Humphrey, whatever you want to call him, I don't know too much about him, but I imagine he's going to come out real hard -- real hyper. He looks like he wants to focus mainly on his kickboxing skills. He's dangerous. Sometimes it's about who fights the hardest and he'll come out hard.

Your record is obviously impressive, but I'd like to see you fight a higher-ranked opponent. Do you have your eye on any particular opponents?
After the Humphrey fight, I'd just like to fight someone who's higher in the rankings -- someone ranked higher than me. I need that challenge to keep me on my toes. Fighting someone better than me will make me work that much harder. Definitely I'd like to fight Paul Buentello or Alistair Overeem. Anybody that's supposed to be better than me I'd like to get in there and bang with them. But that doesn't mean I'm going to go out there and overlook Abongo. He's got the heart and determination to come out there and fight, and maybe he can be the first person to push me past the first round. I don't even know what the second round feels like.

How much do you weigh right now?
Right now probably 275, so I've still got to lose a little weight. But losing 10 pounds is a piece of cake for me. I can sweat most of that out. I come in there heavy. I always come in there heavy. Humphrey is going to be 230 or 240 or something, he wants to be that lighter, quicker guy, so I'm going to put that weight on him and slow him down. I plan on having fun with this guy on Saturday night.

What do you hope to accomplish in MMA?
I just want other fighters to know that The Grim is in the game to hurt, to smash, to win.

Strikeforce Photos

    Frank Shamrock poses during an exclusive feature shoot for Showtime in Los Angeles in early March.

    Tom Casino, Strikeforce

    Nick Diaz poses during an exclusive feature shoot for Showtime in Los Angeles in early March.

    Tom Casino, Strikeforce

    Frank Shamrock poses during an exclusive feature shoot for Showtime in Los Angeles in early March.

    Tom Casino, Strikeforce

    Nick Diaz poses during an exclusive feature shoot for Showtime in Los Angeles in early March.

    Tom Casino, Strikeforce

    Frank Shamrock poses during an exclusive feature shoot for Showtime in Los Angeles in early March.

    Tom Casino, Strikeforce

    Nick Diaz poses during an exclusive feature shoot for Showtime in Los Angeles in early March.

    Tom Casino, Strikeforce

    Frank Shamrock poses during an exclusive feature shoot for Showtime in Los Angeles in early March.

    Tom Casino, Strikeforce

    Nick Diaz poses during an exclusive feature shoot for Showtime in Los Angeles in early March.

    Tom Casino, Strikeforce

    Frank Shamrock poses during an exclusive feature shoot for Showtime in Los Angeles in early March.

    Tom Casino, Strikeforce

    Nick Diaz poses during an exclusive feature shoot for Showtime in Los Angeles in early March.

    Tom Casino, Strikeforce

Brett Rogers: I'm in This to Hurt, to Smash, to Win originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Abongo HumphreyAbongoHumphreyBrett RogersBrettRogersKimbo SliceKimboSliceRon HumphreyRonHumphreyMichael David SmithThu, 09 Apr 2009 06:09:00 EST Gina Carano: Cris Cyborg Fight Will Happen in 2009http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/23/gina-carano-cris-cyborg-fight-will-happen-in-2009/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/23/gina-carano-cris-cyborg-fight-will-happen-in-2009/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/23/gina-carano-cris-cyborg-fight-will-happen-in-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,

Gina Carano still hasn't signed a contract with Strikeforce, but in a new interview she sounds confident that she will, and that her next fight will be against Cristiane "Cris Cyborg" Santos.

"It's gonna happen," Carano told MMA Weekly. "Actually, the only person I can think about right now. My focus is on her, and I don't really want to fight anybody else but her. Let's do it. Both of us want to make it happen, and it's probably going to happen this year."

But it can't happen until Carano signs on the dotted line, and so far, she hasn't. All indications are that Carano wants a significant raise from the $25,000 she made for her last fight. Strikeforce doesn't seem inclined to give her the kind of money she's seeking.

So how much is Carano worth? Sam Caplan of Five Ounces of Pain says Carano should get paid $100,000 a fight, while Zach Arnold of Fight Opinion says she's not worth nearly that much.

I like Carano and I'd like to see her get big money, especially if it's for a fight against Cyborg, which would be tremendous for women's MMA. But I think the smart business move for Strikeforce is to hold the line financially. And if the Cyborg fight blows up, then Strikeforce and Carano can talk about a raise.

Gina Carano: Cris Cyborg Fight Will Happen in 2009 originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Cris CyborgCrisCyborgGina CaranoGinaCaranoMichael David SmithMon, 23 Mar 2009 07:00:00 EST Kimbo Slice to Leave MMA for Boxing?http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/17/kimbo-slice-to-leave-mma-for-boxing/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/17/kimbo-slice-to-leave-mma-for-boxing/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/17/kimbo-slice-to-leave-mma-for-boxing/#commentsFiled under: ,


Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson may be ready to give up mixed martial arts and take up boxing.

Kimbo, who recently made a visit to his native Bahamas, was quoted by The Nassau Guardian saying that he wants to box:
"Boxing is really my first desire. I have a lot of love for it and believe I can do pretty well. MMA is somewhat of a project for me. Boxing is one dimensional while there are a lot of dimensions in MMA. I don't think it would be a hard transition from MMA to stand-up boxing because of my fighting style."
But Kimbo also seems to suggest that he'll fight twice in MMA for Strikeforce, which purchased his EliteXC contract:
"I have two more MMA fights scheduled before this year is out. Every fighter and athlete knows that you should not switch camps in the middle of something. Also, I train in Florida. My MMA trainer will also be training me for stand up boxing. Finishing up my contract would allow me to be a free agent."
Strikeforce has said it's still in negotiations with Kimbo, and it's not clear whether he'll ever actually fight in the cage for the promotion. My own feeling is that Kimbo's next fight will probably be in the boxing ring, with former EliteXC boss Gary Shaw serving as the promoter.

Hat tip: FightOpinion.com.

Kimbo Slice to Leave MMA for Boxing? originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Gary ShawGaryShawKimbo SliceKimboSliceMichael David SmithTue, 17 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST Kimbo Slice vs. Hasim Rahman: A Bad Fight in MMA or Boxinghttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/05/kimbo-slice-hasim-rahman-mma-boxing/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/05/kimbo-slice-hasim-rahman-mma-boxing/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/05/kimbo-slice-hasim-rahman-mma-boxing/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



In Thursday's episode of ESPN's MMA Live, Franklin McNeil calls a potential fight between Hasim Rahman and Kimbo Slice, "a tremendous fight," adding, "I think Kimbo could give him a tough fight, even in boxing." I've already made clear that I think Kimbo vs. Rahman is a bad idea, but since McNeil's comments indicate that it's an idea getting some momentum, let me go into a little more detail about why I don't like it.

The reasons I disagree with McNeil in calling this a "tremendous fight," if conducted under MMA rules, include:

1. I don't think Rahman is serious about learning mixed martial arts. His comments on MMA indicate that he thinks he can just waltz into the sport and beat anybody, simply because he's a boxer who used to get into street fights when he was a kid. Sorry, Hasim. It doesn't work that way. I don't know what kind of street fights you've been in, but I can guarantee that they didn't prepare you for going to the ground with anyone who has even a modicum of Brazilian jiu jitsu skills.

2. Despite Rahman's lack of seriousness about learning the finer points of MMA, I think he'd easily dispatch Kimbo becaues I don't think Kimbo is a legitimate athlete. He's a tough-looking guy who got rich and famous because he got into some brawls that got posted on YouTube, and I don't begrudge him his fame and fortune. But as a professional MMA fighter, Kimbo has never done anything the least bit impressive, and if he were serious about learning the sport, Kimbo wouldn't have wasted his chance to train with an MMA legend, Bas Rutten -- who was so dismayed by Kimbo's approach to training that he no longer wants anything to do with Kimbo.

3. A Kimbo-Rahman MMA fight would be bad for the sport. It would get major mainstream media exposure, and that means a whole lot of people who don't know anything about MMA would see the fight and get the wrong idea of what MMA is all about.

But while I don't much care for the idea that a Kimbo-Rahman match-up would be a tremendous fight in MMA, where I really disagree with McNeil is when he says Kimbo could give Rahman a tough fight in boxing. Rahman has been a professional boxer for 15 years, and he has 55 professional fights under his belt. He's a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, and although he's nowhere near as good a boxer now as he was when he knocked out Lennox Lewis, he's still a competent professional.

Kimbo, on the other hand, has never boxed at all. Guys who have never boxed don't just walk into a boxing ring and give a legitimate pro boxer a tough fight. And we already know, based on his loss to Seth Petruzelli, that Kimbo doesn't have a chin -- which means Rahman, who still has a powerful right hand, would only need to connect once to knock Kimbo out. Not only do I not believe Kimbo could give Rahman "a tough fight" in boxing, I would be absolutely stunned if Kimbo even lasted a round with Rahman in a boxing match.

As a fan of both boxing and MMA, I think Kimbo fighting Rahman would be bad for either sport. I hope there aren't any promoters out there who believe this would be a tremendous fight.

Kimbo Slice vs. Hasim Rahman: A Bad Fight in MMA or Boxing originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:32:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Franklin McNeilFranklinMcneilHasim RahmanHasimRahmanKimbo SliceKimboSliceMMA LiveMmaLiveMichael David SmithThu, 05 Mar 2009 19:32:00 EST Ex-EliteXC VP Jared Shaw: 'I Have Been Singled Out as the Bad Guy'http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/03/ex-elitexc-vp-jared-shaw-i-have-been-singled-out-as-the-bad-gu/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/03/ex-elitexc-vp-jared-shaw-i-have-been-singled-out-as-the-bad-gu/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/03/ex-elitexc-vp-jared-shaw-i-have-been-singled-out-as-the-bad-gu/#commentsFiled under:


Jared Shaw, the former vice president of EliteXC, has given his first interview since the organization folded in October, and he says he believes that the MMA promotion's failures have been unfairly pinned on him.

Shaw tells Ariel Helwani of Versus.com:
I believe in some way I have been singled out as the bad guy. Some people want to blame me for the demise of the company, but those that were close know the truth. I haven't gone on the record with anybody because I don't really have anything to say. I know what I brought to the table, and I believe in karma. I believe in what goes around comes around, and those that were responsible for the demise - and it's not one person in general - they all know it and they've all felt it. I don't need to point my finger at anyone.
Despite saying he doesn't want to point fingers, Shaw does have some negative opinions to share, including saying of Ken Shamrock, "I got no respect for that guy." Shaw also talks about Kimbo Slice, Seth Petruzelli, and Strikeforce's acquisition of many EliteXC fighters. The whole interview is worth a read.

Ex-EliteXC VP Jared Shaw: 'I Have Been Singled Out as the Bad Guy' originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jared ShawJaredShawMichael David SmithTue, 03 Mar 2009 14:28:00 EST Strikeforce Still Talking to Kimbo Slice, No Contact With Hasim Rahmanhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/27/strikeforce-still-talking-to-kimbo-slice-no-contact-with-hasim/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/27/strikeforce-still-talking-to-kimbo-slice-no-contact-with-hasim/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/27/strikeforce-still-talking-to-kimbo-slice-no-contact-with-hasim/#commentsFiled under: ,

Former boxing heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman says he's serious about taking up mixed martial arts, and that he'd love to fight Kimbo Slice. My opinion is that Rahman is not serious at all, and he just sees MMA as a way to cash an easy paycheck.

Bolstering my opinion that he's not really serious is this: Rahman's manager told Sherdog that he's in contact with Strikeforce about Rhaman fighting for the organization. But Strikeforce tells me that's not the case. I asked Strikeforce Vice President Mike Afromowitz via e-mail about Rahman, and he answered, "There has been no dialogue between Strikeforce and Hasim Rahman."

So there you have it. Don't count on seeing Rahman in the cage for Strikeforce any time soon.

As for Kimbo, Strikeforce is still talking about getting him on one of its upcoming cards, but nothing has been scheduled, and all Afromowitz could tell me was, "Our dialogue with Kimbo is ongoing."

I think the chances are pretty good that Kimbo will fight for Strikeforce some time this summer, but unlike EliteXC, which built its entire promotion around Kimbo, Strikeforce will treat him more like an ordinary fighter, putting him in the middle of a card, and not the main event. My guess is that the ongoing dialogue between Kimbo and Strikeforce focuses on whether he'll keep getting paid like a main event fighter when he's appearing on undercards.

Strikeforce Still Talking to Kimbo Slice, No Contact With Hasim Rahman originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Hasim RahmanHasimRahmanKimbo SliceKimboSliceMichael David SmithFri, 27 Feb 2009 18:34:00 EST Hasim Rahman Wants to Try MMA, Fight Kimbo Slicehttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/26/hasim-rahman-wants-to-try-mma-fight-kimbo-slice/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/26/hasim-rahman-wants-to-try-mma-fight-kimbo-slice/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/26/hasim-rahman-wants-to-try-mma-fight-kimbo-slice/#commentsFiled under: ,

Former heavyweight boxing champion Hasim Rahman says he wants to give mixed martial arts a try, and he's already talking up Kimbo Slice as his first opponent.

Rahman told FightHype.com that if he fights Kimbo, "I see him getting knocked out quick. ... Kimbo would get knocked out trying to take me to the ground."

I'm sure Rahman is right that he'd knock Kimbo out, but that's because (as Seth Petruzelli showed), it's easy to knock Kimbo out. Any halfway decent heavyweight boxer should be able to knock Kimbo out quickly. That doesn't mean he'd be any good at MMA.

And that's the problem I have with Rahman's foray into MMA: The indications, both from what he told FightHype and from what his manager told Sherdog, are that he just wants to beat up cream puffs like Kimbo, Butterbean, Tank Abbott or James Thompson, and that he doesn't realize that if he wants to be a legitimate MMA fighter, he'd need to develop a world of skills that he currently doesn't possess.

I've always been a Rahman fan, and I would love to see him give MMA a real shot. But you get the sense from reading his comments, including "I don't follow MMA," that he has no idea what he'd be getting himself into. If all he's looking to do is beat up Kimbo, he'll do just fine. But if he plans on taking on serious opposition,he's in for a rude awakening.

Hasim Rahman Wants to Try MMA, Fight Kimbo Slice originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Hasim RahmanHasimRahmanKimbo SliceKimboSliceMichael David SmithThu, 26 Feb 2009 08:48:00 EST MMA Top 10 Welterweights: Georges St. Pierre Can Clean Out the Weight Classhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/14/mma-top-10-welterweights-georges-st-pierre-can-clean-out-the-w/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/14/mma-top-10-welterweights-georges-st-pierre-can-clean-out-the-w/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/14/mma-top-10-welterweights-georges-st-pierre-can-clean-out-the-w/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The biggest challenge for the UFC in the next couple of years may be finding legitimate challenges for welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.

If he beats Thiago Alves this summer, St. Pierre will have defeated almost every real challenger the UFC could give him at 170 pounds: Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, Matt Serra, Matt Hughes and even B.J. Penn have been defeated by GSP. I suppose it's possible that the UFC could sign Jake Shields, or throw Mike Swick or Carlos Condit at St. Pierre, but when you look at the list of the top 10 welterweights in the UFC, you see that if St. Pierre beats Alves, he'll have already beaten the best challengers the UFC could give him.

The full list of the top 10 welterweights in MMA is below.

Top 10 welterweights in MMA
1. Georges St. Pierre
2. Jon Fitch
3. Thiago Alves
4. Josh Koscheck
5. Jake Shields
6. Mike Swick
7. Matt Serra
8. Matt Hughes
9. Carlos Condit
10. Dustin Hazelett

MMA Top 10 Welterweights: Georges St. Pierre Can Clean Out the Weight Class originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 06:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Carlos ConditCarlosConditGeorges St. PierreGeorgesSt.PierreJake ShieldsJakeShieldsJon FitchJonFitchJosh KoscheckJoshKoscheckMatt HughesMatt SerraMattHughesMattSerraMike SwickMikeSwickMMA rankingsMmaRankingsThiago AlvesThiagoAlvesMichael David SmithSat, 14 Feb 2009 06:30:00 EST Strikeforce's Scott Coker on Kimbo, Tito, Fedor, Ken Shamrock and Dana Whitehttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/11/strikeforces-scott-coker-on-kimbo-ken-shamrock-tito-ortiz-da/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/11/strikeforces-scott-coker-on-kimbo-ken-shamrock-tito-ortiz-da/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/11/strikeforces-scott-coker-on-kimbo-ken-shamrock-tito-ortiz-da/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Strikeforce wants to showcase Kimbo Slice (but not in main events), could offer Tito Ortiz a contract, would love to promote Alistair Overeem vs. Fedor Emelianenko, and has nothing but respect for Dana White and the UFC.

Those subjects, plus Gina Carano vs. Cris Cyborg, a Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le rematch, and the reason Ken Shamrock may never fight on television again, were discussed when I interviewed Strikeforce founder and CEO Scott Coker on Wednesday. The interview is below.

Michael David Smith: Let's start with Kimbo Slice. You could make a pretty good case that Kimbo is both your most famous fighter and your least skilled fighter. So what's the strategy for promoting a guy who has this larger-than-life personality, national TV and magazine covers, but just isn't all that good at MMA?
Scott Coker: Well, in the past I think Kimbo -- you're right. His skill level is a guy who's up and coming and trying to learn MMA. Let's face it. He beat Tank Abbott and Bo Cantrell, but he's only had three or four fights, and it was almost unfair to him because he had to do so much as a fighter so quickly because of his popularity.

It reminded me of Bob Sapp, this guy who was a great athlete, a football player, in K-1 in Japan. He trained for six months and knocked out Ernesto Hoost, who was a K-1 champion. So everyone thought Bob was going to be the guy, and then he fought Mirko Cro Cop and got an orbital fracture. He needed to take a step back.

So for Kimbo, my suggestion is let's sit back, get you back in the gym, and you don't have to be a main event. Let's get you 10 or 12 fights and then maybe move on from there.

But you do expect Kimbo to fight for Strikeforce in 2009?
Yeah, I'm expecting him to fight. I'm sure he wants to fight. I think he'll want to get back in the cage at some point in '09. I think it's just a matter of where we fight, who we fight, and some of those conversations just haven't happened yet.

Let's talk about some other fighters. Do you expect to offer Tito Ortiz a contract?
Yeah, sure. We haven't had a sit-down with Tito, but for sure we should have that sit-down with Tito. Our company's expectations and goals have just changed as of last Thursday and I think we should have that conversation with him, but it hasn't happened yet.

Will Jake Shields fight for Strikeforce?
Yeah. We're in talks right now with his father, who is his manager, and we're trying to get him on board for our April 11 fight card. Some of the opponents who were thrown around were either Joe Riggs, Jay Hieron, maybe Phil Baroni.

Jake wants to fight the top welterweights. Realistically, can you offer him a fight with the top welterweights, or are they all in the UFC?
I think he's a fighter who has a lot of goals. I can't speak for Jake, but I think he wants to be the best in the world, and I think there's a couple we have who could be a good match-up with him. Especially with our relationships in Japan. And Jake did say he would love to fight Frank Shamrock, he would love to fight Robbie Lawler, and he's willing to move up and fight at a catch weight. At the end of the day, he wants fights that will enhance his career, and I think we have some fighters he can take on, on our roster.

Alistair Overeem is your heavyweight champion. When will we see him defend his belt?
I'm hoping before the end of '09. As you know, he's been very busy beating everyone up in K-1 and in Dream. We're hoping we can get a fight with him by the end of the year. I think he's one of the top four or five heavyweights in the world.

Alistair has said he'd like to fight Fedor Emelianenko. Is there any conceivable way that could happen in Strikeforce?
Yeah, why not? I don't see why not. I know Fedor is working with Affliction right now, but in the future you never know. If we could put that fight together, that would be fantastic. ... When (Overeem) first started fighting with us in '06, he was just a young kid, I think he was 25 years old. So he's just getting to his peak. He has great stand up, and although he's not a jiu jitsu guy, he's developing his ground game to where he can be effective with submissions. He's one of the best in the world. Him and Fedor, boy that would be some match-up, huh?

I assume you have no interest in EliteXC's heavyweight champion, Antonio Silva, because of his failed drug test and subsequent fight in Japan?
Yeah, I called the California State Athletic Commission and I asked their position on that fighter, and they said he's going to have a hearing in July. ... He's going to probably end up fighting in Japan, for the next 12 months or however long he's on suspension, and that was the primary reason for us not to engage in a relationship with him.

Is it fair to say your middleweight champion, Cung Le, is an actor first and a fighter second?
Oh, I don't think that's accurate. Cung Le is now just getting into his acting career, and he's doing very well. But he and I spoke yesterday, and if Frank beats Nick Diaz, Cung Le and Frank Shamrock will be the next fight. That's been confirmed.

How long for that?
Probably four or five months after the fight. It depends on how Frank is. In MMA you never know, but if Frank wins that fight, he will be fighting Cung Le in a rematch of what was probably the best fight of the year last year.

What about Ken Shamrock? My sense in talking to people at CBS is that they've been furious with Ken since he pulled out of the Kimbo fight and frankly they don't want anything to do with him. Is that your sense?
I think that's accurate. The folks at the network really have no desire to work with him. So we did not pick up Ken's contract.

So is there any chance of Frank vs. Ken in Strikeforce, or would that have to happen in the Shamrock family backyard?
If it does go in a backyard I'd sure like to promote it. But seriously, I think that fight should happen and I think it would create a lot of interest. The Shamrock name in the history of MMA is going to be in the books, and there's a story to be told, and it's an amazing story. But at the end of the day, it's going to have to be something that makes sense for everybody, including the TV partners. Showtime and CBS are our partners, and I'm not sure if they're going to be up for that any time soon.

Is K.J. Noons vs. Josh Thompson confirmed for your April 11 card?
No, it's not. That's the other half of the card we're working on right now. We should probably have the full card confirmed by the end of the week.

When will we see Brett Rogers fight for Strikeforce?
We're going to put him to work right away. I talked to his management and we're talking about a couple of events in May. ... We'll do a big fight in May and we'll also do a ShoXC card in May, and we're going to put him to work right away.

Will you do pay-per-view shows?
How I feel about the pay-per-view business is, we will absolutely be in the pay-per-view business. But jumping in just to jump in doesn't make sense to me. The platforms that are available to Strikeforce and the fighters now will build them into stars. And once the fighters are built into stars, then we will be in the pay-per-view business.

Is the future of MMA a combination of some fights on network TV, some on basic cable, some on premium cable and some on pay-per-view?
Yes. I think it's a combination.

Are you a competitor to the UFC?
Well, when you say competitor, that means we're in the same industry, and to be very honest, it's an industry that they built. We're very respectful of that. If Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White didn't come in in 2001 and buy the UFC from Bob Meyrowitz and put all their resources and passion into the sport, the sport probably would be dead. Or it would be an underground thing and you'd hear horror stories. We're very respectful of that.

They do what they do and we do what we do. When I think of competitors, I think of trying to affect each other's businesses, and trying to cause trouble with fighter relationships, but I think this industry is not going anywhere and we're just trying to do our part.

Do you expect the UFC to treat you like a competitor? Will they put a show on Spike on April 11?
I can't answer for them. Traditionally, Dana and those guys have been really good to me, and I have a lot of respect for them. In our household, every pay-per-view they do, all year long, we buy every one of them. Even the ones from England.

Do you know Dana White and the Fertittas personally?
I've met them, yes. Dana and I have had conversations on the phone a couple times. They've always been nice to me.

You seem like you're just focusing on your own promotion and not on the UFC.
I think this is a historical point for us. We look forward to putting on the best fights in the history of Strikeforce.

Strikeforce's Scott Coker on Kimbo, Tito, Fedor, Ken Shamrock and Dana White originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Alistair OvereemAlistairOvereemCung LeCungLeDana WhiteDanaWhiteFedor EmelianenkoFedorEmelianenkoFrank ShamrockFrankShamrockKen ShamrockKenShamrockKimbo SliceKimboSliceScott CokerScottCokerTito OrtizTitoOrtizMichael David SmithWed, 11 Feb 2009 18:15:00 EST Strikeforce: Gina Carano-Cris Cyborg Fight '50-50' for April 11 on Showtimehttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/11/strikeforce-gina-carano-cris-cyborg-fight-50-50-for-april-11/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/11/strikeforce-gina-carano-cris-cyborg-fight-50-50-for-april-11/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/11/strikeforce-gina-carano-cris-cyborg-fight-50-50-for-april-11/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Strikeforce mixed martial arts promotion has not yet finalized a deal with MMA's most popular female fighter, Gina Carano. But it does have a deal in place with the woman everyone wants to see Carano to fight, Christiane "Cris Cyborg" Santos. And Strikeforce founder and CEO Scott Coker told me Wednesday that there's a 50-50 chance a deal with Carano will get done in time for the Carano-Cyborg fight to take place on April 11.

Coker said Cyborg will definitely appear on the card, and the only question is whether Carano will agree to be Cyborg's opponent.

"We're in dialogue with Gina," Coker said. "We did invite her -- through her manager -- to fight Cyborg on April 11. Cyborg is ready to go, and I think at some point today there will be further dialogue with Gina."

Coker said he's excited about the prospect of Carano vs. Cyborg not because he thinks women's MMA is a way to distinguish Strikeforce from the UFC, which doesn't promote women's fights, but simply because he thinks Carano vs. Cyborg would be a great contest.

"I've just always supported women's martial arts fighting," Coker said. "When we were doing kickboxing we had women's fights on all the cards, and they were getting standing ovations for the fight of the night. ... When you watch women's MMA, there's some tough girls out there that can bring it, and Gina Carano has shown that a superstar can be developed from female fighting."

So how likely is it that Carano vs. Cyborg will take place on the April 11 card in San Jose, which is headlined by a main event of Frank Shamrock vs. Nick Diaz? Coker said it's a 50% chance.

"My gut feeling right now is we have a shot at it, and it's 50-50," Coker said. "She'd have to sign, start training camp and get going, but I think there's a 50-50 shot we can make it happen. This first fight card, we're promoting it as the greatest card in the history of Strikeforce. I think we've had some good fights in our history, so we have to deliver."

Strikeforce: Gina Carano-Cris Cyborg Fight '50-50' for April 11 on Showtime originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Cris CyborgCrisCyborgGina CaranoGinaCaranoScott CokerScottCokerMichael David SmithWed, 11 Feb 2009 15:45:00 EST Frank Shamrock Prepares for Nick Diaz, Plans to Fight Ken Shamrock Some Dayhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/10/frank-shamrock-prepares-for-nick-diaz-plans-to-fight-ken-shamro/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/10/frank-shamrock-prepares-for-nick-diaz-plans-to-fight-ken-shamro/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/10/frank-shamrock-prepares-for-nick-diaz-plans-to-fight-ken-shamro/#commentsFiled under: ,

Frank Shamrock says all of his focus is on his fight with Nick Diaz in the main event of the April 11 Strikeforce event on Showtime. But he also says he expects to fight his adopted brother, Ken Shamrock, at some point.

"It's a fight I want to do," Frank Shamrock said Tuesday on a call to promote the Diaz fight. "It's a compelling story. Ken is going through some personal and emotional problems right now, and we'll let him work that out, but this fight is very important to me. ... And I think it's important that I kick his ass."

The Shamrock brothers, who were adopted later in life and did not grow up together, have long had a love-hate relationship and have jawed at each other in the media. A Shamrock vs. Shamrock fight has been discussed for years, but their age (Frank is 36 years old and Ken turns 45 on Wednesday) has led some fans to conclude that the fight will never happen.

Frank Shamrock, however, said that even though he's getting older, he's not planning to cut back on his fighting.

"I plan to fight more often," he said. "I had a program of fighting twice a year, but as I get older I want to fight a little closer together so I don't get out of shape."

Ken Shamrock (who was last seen backing out of a fight against Kimbo Slice because of a last-minute injury) has a fight scheduled in a minor-league promotion Saturday, and Frank Shamrock says he's not planning to watch. For now, Frank says all his focus is on his fight with Diaz, which will be contested at a catch weight of 179 pounds.

"He's a guy who throws and talks trash," Frank said of Diaz. "And on April 11 I'm going to knock him out."

Frank Shamrock Prepares for Nick Diaz, Plans to Fight Ken Shamrock Some Day originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Frank ShamrockFrankShamrockKen ShamrockKenShamrockNick DiazNickDiazMichael David SmithTue, 10 Feb 2009 15:07:00 EST Frank Shamrock vs. Nick Diaz on Strikeforce April 11 Showtime Cardhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/10/frank-shamrock-vs-nick-diaz-on-strikeforce-april-11-showtime-ca/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/10/frank-shamrock-vs-nick-diaz-on-strikeforce-april-11-showtime-ca/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/02/10/frank-shamrock-vs-nick-diaz-on-strikeforce-april-11-showtime-ca/#commentsFiled under: ,

Strikeforce has already said that Frank Shamrock will fight in the main event of its first show of 2009, which will take place on April 11 in San Jose and appear on Showtime. Now the organization has reportedly signed Nick Diaz as Shamrock's opponent.

Sam Caplan of Five Ounces of Pain reports that the Shamrock vs. Diaz fight has been agreed to and could be announced today. The fight makes sense for Strikeforce because both Shamrock and Diaz are fairly big names in the MMA world, and they both live in California and should draw well in San Jose. They also have a history of trash talking between them, which never hurts with building up hype for a fight.

However, from a competitive standpoint, this fight is something of a head scratcher for the simple reason that the size difference between Diaz and Shamrock is significant. Diaz last fought in July, and for that fight he weighed in at 159.5 pounds. Shamrock last fought in March, when he weighed in at 185 pounds. It's not clear what the weight limit will be for the Diaz-Shamrock fight, but it's fair to say Shamrock will have a big size advantage.

Overall, Diaz vs. Shamrock isn't a bad main event, but it's also far from being one of the marquee MMA fights of the year. I hope Strikeforce is planning a good undercard.

UPDATE: Strikeforce has confirmed that the fight will take place, at a catch weight of 179 pounds.

Frank Shamrock vs. Nick Diaz on Strikeforce April 11 Showtime Card originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Frank ShamrockFrankShamrockNick DiazNickDiazMichael David SmithTue, 10 Feb 2009 04:35:00 EST