Jenna Jameson just told our photog she plans on pressing charges against Tito Ortiz.
Fighting back tears, a clearly emotional Jenna was driving away from her home
in Huntington Beach, CA moments ago -- when she stopped and told our photog, "I'm gonna be alright."
Jenna -- who was wearing giant sunglasses -- continued, "My babies are alright ... everything's OK .. he's in jail."
Jenna was accompanied by her father -- the man who we've learned made the initial call to 911.was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence on Monday, said Lt. Mike Reynolds of the Huntington Beach Police Department.
TMZ.com was one of the first to report police activity outside of Ortiz’s private residence on Monday morning.
The alleged victim’s identity will not be released at this time by the department, said Reynolds, though he said officers had been called to the scene by the victim’s father and that the victim wasn’t taken to the hospital.
The 35-year-old Ortiz is the father of 13-month-old twins, Jesse James and Journey Jette, with former adult film star Jenna Jameson, who resides with the fighter in Huntington Beach, Calif. Ortiz and Jameson are not married.
Ortiz, who is currently starring as a coach opposite rival Chuck Liddell on Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter 11” airing Wednesdays, was handcuffed at the scene and transported to the Huntington Beach Police Department this morning for booking and arraignment, said Reynolds.
Reynolds said Ortiz will have the opportunity to post bail once he is arraigned; the district attorney’s office will review the case and decide whether to press charges.
One of the UFC’s biggest draws at the early part of the decade, Ortiz’s career had recently been cast in doubt with news that he wouldn’t be facing Liddell in a third match at UFC 115 on June 12 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to culminate the end of TUF’s 11th season. Instead, former middleweight champion Rich Franklin will face Liddell instead, fueling rumors that a possibly injured Ortiz leaves the reality show early.
Ortiz has dropped three of his last four bouts, including a second TKO loss to Liddell at UFC 66 in December 2006 in Las Vegas. Ortiz drew with former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans at UFC 73 on July 2007 in Sacramento, Calif.
Leonard Garcia won a split decision 29-28, 28-29,29-28 over Chan Sung Jung in a fight that is easily in contention for fight of the year. Garcia, a WEC vet, and Jung, who was making his WEC debut, engaged in nonstop action for three rounds.
The first round started out with both fighters swinging away for a straight minute and a half. Jung knocked Garcia down and looked close to finishing him off, but Garcia survived. He got back to his feet, but the damage was clear.
The second round had more explosive action. As the raucous crowd at Arco Arena chanted, "GAR-CI-A!" Jung started out with a head kick and big punches. Garcia followed up with big punches of his own and appeared to rock Jung, but the "Korean Zombie" fought through it, and then hopped on Garcia's back and took him to the ground, attempting a rear naked choke. Jung couldn't sink in his hooks, and again, Garcia got back to his feet. In the final minute and a half of the round, Jung threw some punishing knees and punches, but then Garcia followed up with his own knees and punches.
Neither fighter appeared to have lost any gas in the final round, continuing to throw more and more punishing punches throughout the bout. After the final horn sounded, the two fighters smiled broadly at each other and hugged, both aware of the special fight they had just created.
Before the scores were read, Garcia told the camera that he broke his hand, and his corner had to cut his gloves off his hand. Jung may have lost his WEC debut, but he clearly made his mark on American MMA in what commentator Joe Rogan called "the fight of the decade."
During Jake Shields' post-fight interview, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, being a bully, interrupted and subsequently took a beatdown, pro wrasslin' style, by the Diaz Brothers and a fat dude whose name is yet to be determined (pictured below center). First things f-cking last, I'm a HUGE fan of Nick and Nate Diaz. Sure, they're unruly gangsta-sign-throwing mushmouths, but they're also artists of their craft, two of the most innovative and analytical fighters in all of MMA. The fact that they are both also emotionally unhinged only adds to the excitement of watching the characters that the brothers have become in MMA. But ultimately there is a line, and that line was crossed at STRIKEFORCE: NASHVILLE.
Mayhem Miller, from all Strikeforce official accounts thus far, including CEO Scott Coker, went into the ring uninvited and tried to interject himself into Shields' post-fight interview. Jake Shields pushed Miller, Gilbert Melendez pushed Miller, Nick Diaz punched Miller, and Nate Diaz put the boots to Miller while he was tussling with Nick and the fat dude on the ground.
Here's the funny part -- CBS could've cut away from this melee. They did momentarily cut away when Mayhem Miller first interjected, but then they went right back, and continued to air even after things got completely out of control. It was a scene totally out of the WWE, with the announcers talking over the complete chaos going on in the ring, and Mayhem being held on the ground getting stomped by Nate Diaz and punched by Nick Diaz. CBS did finally go to break, but only after everyone was pulled apart. After a lengthy commercial break, they actually replayed the opening of the ugly incident; and in the West Coast replay, CBS kept the brawl in the telecast. Seems CBS is going with the any-news-is-good-news philosophy, and I really think we needn't overreact in terms of this being a negative to MMA. The involved parties should be punished no doubt, but bench-clearing brawls are commonplace in baseball and referees stand back and watch hockey fights. Fines are levied, suspensions are handed down, and the games continue. Strikeforce staying on CBS is near completely dependent on the 18-49 ratings, and in part on Fedor Emelianenko's future with the company. If the numbers are there, so will Strikeforce be on CBS.
Dan Henderson vs. Jake Shields Highlights
Jason Mayhem Miller says "That was totally unintentional" Nick Diaz says "It wasn't my fault. It just made me really angry, ya know"
Fans of mixed martial arts are aware that, according to the mainstream sports world, their sport lies relatively low on the totem pole of athletic legitimacy. The sport is plagued by accusations of brutality and barbarism. Columnists write of the gratuitous violence and bloodshed that is almost unwatchable. Uninformed masses, unaware of the measures taken to protect fighters, predict a day that a fighter dies in the cage. As a result of this perception, many fight fans call for the competitors to act as “good ambassadors” of the sport. While everyone loves some good pre-fight trash talk and intense weigh-in stare downs, the majority of fans would like to see public perception of their sport elevated beyond the level of common thuggery. Yesterday’s Strikeforce event, airing live on CBS, had an opportunity to move MMA one step closer to sports legitimacy.
The event was Strikeforce’s definition of a super card. The list of bouts included three championship fights, consisting of five fighters considered to be among the top ten in their respective weight classes. The fights were to air on CBS, essentially meaning that the entire country could watch the card for free. It was a clear chance to recruit new fans to the sport and an opportunity to sway some of the media pundits who have been condemning the fledgling sport.
It was also to be a glorious night for the promotion. With a strong showing, Strikeforce could legitimize itself as a viable contender to the UFC. And, for Strikeforce, the card delivered. In many ways, it was a night of upsets, beginning with Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal shockingly outpointing heavily favored Gegard Mousasi for the promotion’s light heavyweight crown. In the second title contest of the evening, Strikeforce Lightweight Champion, Gilbert Melendez, clinically dominated Japanese champ Shinya Aoki, a man many believed to be the top 155-pounder in the world. And finally, in what should have been the highlight of the night, Middleweight Champion Jake Shields survived a Round One knockdown to dominate MMA legend, and recent UFC turncoat, Dan Henderson. This victory was especially significant for Strikeforce, as many believed Henderson to be the second-best middleweight in the world, and the only legitimate threat to pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva. With wins that can be called dominant, Shields and Melendez proved that the top competitors in Strikeforce can compete with the best that any promotion has to offer. It was, indeed, a grand night for the promotion and the sport. However, in a night full of upsets, the events that occurred after the final bout of the night gave the fans a lot to be upset about.
During Shields’s post-fight interview with commentator, Gus Johnson, middleweight contender Jason “Mayhem” Miller entered the cage to demand a title shot. This type of showmanship is unpopular, but not uncommon in the world of MMA. Typically, a display like Miller’s is seen as disrespectful to the victorious fighter. It is a brazen and arrogant attempt to disrupt a winner’s time in the spotlight. However, this particular instance showed how ugly these situations can become. Shields didn’t take well to Miller’s intrusion, and responded by angrily shoving the title hopeful away. This act led to an all-out brawl, with Shields’s entourage, including Gilbert Melendez, Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz, and his brother Nate. Miller was held to the ground as a shower of fists rained down upon him, many coming from the notorious Brothers Diaz. And, to make matters worse, Gus Johnson, perhaps the finest play-by-play man in sports, embarrassingly suggested that these things happen in the world of mixed martial arts.
Johnson’s comments, almost certainly spoken out of humiliation and confusion, should cause distress to many fans of the sport. In actuality, these things don’t happen in MMA, and ought not to happen in any legitimate sporting enterprise. Episodes like this are crippling toward the goal of overcoming the public perception that the sport is merely organized bar fighting, perpetrated by a bunch of degenerates not fit for civilized society. To an avid viewer of MMA, the sport is populated by deserving and revered gladiators, who are both respectful of the fans and their competitors. It is routine to see pre-fight handshakes and post-fight hugs inside the cage. But, to a common sports fan, new to the fighting game, the Miller/Shields brawl only serves to further a misinformed opinion of a truly great sport.
Chances are that Strikeforce will consider capitalizing on this incident with a big-money title fight between Shields and Miller. And from a business perspective, it makes sense. In order for Strikeforce to remain a viable contender to the UFC, it needs to consistently put on matches that people want to see. And, unfortunately, such incidents, whether a post-fight melee or a benches clearing brawl, ignite general interest from the sporting world. However, in the grand scheme of things, it may be necessary to postpone this rematch, and impose disciplinary action on the offending parties. For, it is ultimately necessary for professional MMA in America to prove to the world that this type of behavior, more closely associated to professional wrestling than professional athletics, is not tolerated within the sport. Strikeforce ought to lay heavy fines, and possibly suspensions, on Miller, Melendez, and Shields, whose actions instigated the brawl. Furthermore, in addition to fines and suspensions, both Diaz brothers should be permanently banned from ringside in all future fights, as this is not the first time their conduct has tarnished the good name of the sport. Both brothers were a part of post-fight shenanigans following a match between K.J. Noons and Yves Edwards. In fact, it was only a few years ago that Nick Diaz failed a drug test so impressively, that it was believed he was intoxicated during the fight. And Nate, after winning a The Ultimate Fighter television show, has proved to be a wholly mediocre fighter, whose finest moment inside the octagon was simultaneously choking out and flipping off Kurt Pellegrino.
While a match between Miller and Shields would certainly draw interest, ratings, and cash, it would ultimately harm the sport itself. It would open the doors, literally and figuratively, for fighters looking for a fast track to a title shot. Thoughts ?
Strain slightly and you may hear Hiroyuki Kato muttering Saturday night in Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Aoki, I watched Kazushi Sakuraba. I knew Kazushi Sakuraba. Kazushi Sakuraba was a friend of mine. Mr. Aoki, you're no Kazushi Sakuraba.
Music City. Bridgestone Arena. A short rib's throw from the Ryman Auditorium. Foreign soil in a foreign country. Did it really come to this for the 37-year-old Kato, considered by many to be the most powerful executive in Japanese mixed martial arts? For Shinya Aoki, the standard-bearer, the current and future? For an industry and a country they cherish equally.
Aoki, 26, 5-foot-11, disdainful, proud, simple, stands burdened by the weight of expectation and anticipation. Slender surly young man, what role will you grasp? Savior? Can you resurrect what once was? Or are you the final nail? The one that couldn't get it done? The reason a feared man gargled difficult words under his breath?
"I haven't been nervous like this in a long time," Kato said from beneath a thinning, graying flattop. "It's very important."
* * *
In the U.S., scouts tirelessly scour every corner of the country in search of the next Clemens or Jordan or Elway. They do this because sport is big business. Because if they don't, someone else will.
Things aren't so different in other parts of the world, which is how Sotaro Shinoda came to know the name Shinya Aoki, a skinny kid with a hefty reputation for finding ippon (finishes) in his high school judo matches.
Shinoda worked alongside Kato and others at Dream Stage Entertainment, the parent company for the Pride Fighting Championships, and kept close tabs on Aoki as he passed through to university life. They watched him become a police officer, before he changed his mind. They watched him step into the ring for the first time. They watched, waited, and not quite three years into his career, still skinny, still searching for definitive endings, Aoki received an offer from Kato's management company, Real Entertainment, to compete in Pride, which in 2006 was the world's dominant MMA organization.
Aoki was the future, the next Sakuraba -- a master showman and the major reason Japanese audiences were so attached to Pride in its early years.
"Simply, he made the MMA business in Japan," Aoki said of Sakuraba. "Japanese fans will always remember him."
Yet less than a year after Aoki debuted in Pride's Bushido series, the company fell under serious pressure when reports linked its management to figures in the Japanese and Korean underworld. Coinciding with UFC's ascension in the U.S., the sport's power base shifted almost overnight from Japan to North America. Deep in debt and facing mounting public scrutiny, Pride CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara sold the company in 2007 to UFC majority owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta.
"That's when things became difficult to navigate because the power structure changed," said Strikeforce president and CEO Scott Coker, whose strong ties to the Japanese fight scene helped maneuver Aoki (23-4) into a cage on American soil against Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez (17-2). "Since Pride left there's been a void. I know fans are still hurt by the demise of Pride. It basically went away. It was like a subculture in Japan. They had a ton of fans. It was something that set the bar."
With an aging, battered Sakuraba taking a step back and Pride lightweight champion Takanori Gomi burning bridges with Kato, Aoki was given the chance to stand as Japan's preeminent fighter. The new platform, a congealing of old Pride and K-1 factions, was called Dream. Aoki has gone 9-2 in the organization, and currently stands as Dream's lightweight champion.
* * *
On Dec. 31, 2009, Japanese MMA was in a bad place. Dream was chugging along, pulling mediocre to moderately acceptable television ratings. Much of the top international talent that marked Pride's heyday had left for America. There wasn't any real momentum behind MMA anymore. Dream was coming off like a faux Pride and upstarts such as Sengoku, formed as a reaction to the sale of Pride to the UFC, seemed incapable of finding stability in a contracting market.
Combine that with what many believe to be the worst economic downturn in Japan's history, and it's no surprise that the MMA industry is diminished to the point where it may soon require a pressing of the reset button.
New Year's Eve at the Saitama Super Arena, a miraculous venue housing many of Japan's best fight cards, Aoki said he was possessed. Literally, by a demon.
Spurned on by Kato -- who hammered into Aoki just how important it was that he defeat Sengoku lightweight champion Mizuto Hirota in the rubber match of a best-of-nine series pitting the promotions' fighters -- the 26-year-old submission wizard grotesquely and unmercifully snapped Hirota's right arm in just over two minutes. Aoki rose to his feet, looked down on his victim and gave him the finger.
Months later, Aoki's decimation of Hirota is a piece of the Dream champion's mythology. During the promotion for his bout against Melendez, he repeatedly insisted he doesn't hold any regrets, nor does he maintain a sense of responsibility.
Aoki has tired of answering questions about Hirota. He doesn't see what all the fuss is about.
"I can't deny that it will happen again," Aoki expressed in baritone voice which takes on the raspy tinge of a post-March Madness basketball coach.
Who is Shinya Aoki?
For starters, he's isn't Kazushi Sakuraba. He isn't a darling of the Japanese television networks. The bout with Melendez won't even be televised back home. (It's relegated to highlights on Japan's national sports news broadcasts.)
He lives frugally, happy to compete and teach. Aoki's parents control his bank account, from which his mother provides a monthly allowance. Aoki's manager, Masaki Hasegawa, the president and owner of Koubudo, a chain of MMA related stores throughout Japan, pays him a regular salary via Dream that is separate to his fight purses. Aoki doesn't watch television. He doesn't have Internet at home either, only in the gym, which is where he spends most of his time.
"MMA is his biggest concern and interest," Hasegawa said. "He doesn't have anything else besides MMA. His only interest is to be stronger than he was yesterday."
Said Aoki: "I dedicate my life to fighting."
* * *
Hiroyuki Kato peered down at Aoki, who was sitting at a large round table surrounded by a dozen or so countrymen.
"I think Aoki knows" the immediate future of Japanese MMA is riding on his performance, Kato said. "This is a big deal, a Japanese fighter on CBS prime time. I expect that many circumstances will change, and people will become encouraged. I hope this fight will change everything for the better."
Asked if he's comfortable in the role of a next-generation Sakuraba, Aoki confirmed he was.
"Our generation has to lead Japanese MMA," he responded. "I feel I'm representing Dream and also Japan."
And what if Kato's prized fighter fails in his bid to capture Melendez's Strikeforce title?
"I don't know what happens," the powerful manager and producer admitted. "Probably, we have to start from the beginning. Even under these circumstances we will never give up to get MMA back to where it was in Japan."
The official weigh-in event for Strikeforce: "Nashville" got underway today (April 16) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
All fighters set to compete on the CBS "Saturday Night Fights" card made weight with the exception of Andrew Uhrich, who came in a measley half-pound over the welterweight limit. He currently has two hours to lose the extra weight.
Despite the percolating tensions between light heavyweights Gegard Mousasi and "King Mo" Lawal, things remained fairly even-tempered throughout the affair.
And Dan Henderson looked to be having the time of his life.
Here are the complete Strikeforce: "Nashville" weigh in results:
Watch Live on CBS Saturday Night @ 9pm EST.....
Main event:
185 lbs.: Jake Shields (184 3/4) vs. Dan Henderson (185) Main card (Televised):
205 lbs.: Gegard Mousasi (204 1/2) vs. Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal (204 1/4)
155 lbs.: Gilbert Melendez (154 1/2) vs. Shinya Aoki (154 1/2) Under card (May not be broadcast):
185 lbs.: Jason "Mayhem" Miller (185) vs. Tim Stout (186)
170 lbs.: Zach Underwood (179 1/2) vs. Hunter Worsham (180 1/2)
185 lbs.: Josh Schockman (205 1/4) vs. Cale Yarbrough (203 3/4)
125 lbs.: Dustin Ortiz (125) vs. Justin Pennington (124 1/4)
170 lbs.: Andrew Uhrich (171 1/2) vs. Dustin West (169 1/2)
205 lbs.: Chris Hawk (205 3/4) vs. Ovince St. Preux (205 1/2)
145 lbs.: Thomas Campbell (145 3/4) vs. Cody Floyd (145 1/4)
Strikeforce Nashville Weigh-ins
Tim Stout vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller weigh-in video!
WW Quarterfinal Match
- Ben Askren def. Ryan Thomas via technical submission (guillotine choke), 2:40 of round 1 The ending of this fight was somewhat controversial. The referee stopped the fight after asking Thomas if he was okay and getting no response. (We're not sure how he *could* have responded, considering the position he was in.) Thomas never tapped, and immediately protested the stoppage. FW Quarterfinal Match
- Wilson Reis def. Shad Lierley via submission (rear-naked choke), 3:33 of round 3 LW Quarterfinal Matches
- Toby Imada def. James Krause via submission (armbar), 2:24 of round 2
- Pat Curran def. Mike Ricci via KO, 3:01 of round 1 Imada and Curran join Roger Huerta and Carey Vanier in the lightweight tournament semi-finals. Matchups will be announced next week. "Local Feature Fight Card"
Louis Taylor def. Ryan Sturdy via TKO, 1:08 of round 1 Felice Herrig def. Jessica Rakoczy via split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29)
Bryan Goldsby def. Jeff Curran via unanimous decision (29-28 x 3)
Bellator XIV Highlight - Pat Curran KOs Mike Ricci
Airing live on Fox Sports Network on April 15, 2010, Pat Curran battled Mike Ricci in the quarterfinals of the Bellator Lightweight Tournament. The contest ended with a stunning right hook to the head that sent Ricci crashing to the canvas unconscious as Curran advanced in the tournament.
UFC president Dana White has just unloaded a middleweight bomb on ESPN’s Jim Rome is Burning. Not only did the brash promoter announce 185-pound king Anderson Silva will make his next title defense against Chael Sonnen, but he stated he’ll cut the Brazilian if he ever resorts back to his shenanigans.
“Chael Sonnen is one of these guys that’s not going to lay back, not gonna do what these other guys [have done],” White told host Jim Rome. “When he’s been in these positions – when these types of fights have happened – it’s been against real good jiu jitsu guys. Guys that want to get the fight to the ground.
“Well, Chael Sonnen is gonna want to take this fight to the ground, but he’s gonna double-leg him and bring him down.”
Sonnen leapfrogged into the top contender spot after dominating Nate Marquardt at UFC 109 in February. Although his lopsided unanimous decision cemented his spot for the next shot at the belt, Sonnen suffered a severe cut on his forehead that forced him on the IR – otherwise it would have been him, and not Demian Maia in Abu Dhabi.
Silva turned the MMA world upside-down when he decided that he would make ufc 112 his very own circus sideshow act. For his third straight title defense, the baddest 185-pounder on the planet appeared more interested in showboating than elbowing.
After calling Maia out in the opening rounds for not engaging, Silva was the one that spent the championship stanzas circling the Octagon refusing to throw. Not only did this enrage fans, who booed the champ for much of the 5thRound, but white went crazy after witnessing Silva’s antics.
White was so disgusted with Silva that he handed the belt to Ed Soares, “The Spider’s” manager, in the 4thRound and told him to wrap the gold around Silva’s waist because White wasn’t going to do it.
The brash promoter immediately stormed off backstage, leaving well before it was announced Silva had earned a unanimous decision victory over Maia.
Four days later and White is still fuming, even threatening the job security of his prized assassin.
“If he ever acts like that again in the ring I will cut him,” White emphatically stated. “I don’t care if he’s the pound-four-pound best fighter in the world. I don’t care if he’s the middleweight champion. I will cut him, absolutely.”
One day before Bellator Fighting Championships’ much-anticipated show at the Chicago Theatre, the historic venue played host to the official weigh-in for the event.
Bellator 14 will be broadcast live in prime time nationwide on Thursday on FOX Sports Net and during special Bellator highlight shows on Saturday night on NBC, Telemundo and mun2.
The card’s Main Event is a matchup between former NCAA wrestling champion and 2008 U.S. Olympian Ben Askren and former UFC standout Ryan “The Tank Engine” Thomas, who used Wednesday night’s weigh-in as an opportunity to set the stage for the fight.
“Ben is a great wrestler, but this isn’t a wrestling match,” Thomas said during the press conference portion of the event. “So we’re gonna find out if he’s a real fighter or if he should just stick to wrestling.”
Without missing a beat, Askren shot back confidently that “the last person who talked about my wrestling got put to sleep.”
The official results of the weigh-in are as follows:
Main Card:
Ben Askren (170.5) versus Ryan Thomas (170.5) – at 170 lbs.
Shad Lierley (144.5) versus Wilson Reis (145.5) – at 145 lbs.
Mike Ricci (155.5) versus Pat Curran (155.5) – at 155 lbs.
James Krause (155.5) versus Toby Imada (155.5) – at 155 lbs.
Local Feature Fight Card:
Jeff Curran (141) versus Bryan Goldsby (141) – at 140 lbs. catchweight
Felice Herrig (117) versus Jessica Rakoczy (121) – at 120 lbs. catchweight
Daniel Straus (154) versus Jonatas Novaes (156) – at 155 lbs.
Louis Taylor (185.5) versus Ryan Sturdy (188.5)* – at 185 lbs.
(*Sturdy has 90 minutes to make weight. Update will follow.)
With #1 Fedor Emelianenko's next fight date forever receding just beyond the horizon like a mirage in the desert, fans of top flight heavyweight action are turning increasingly to the UFC.
Things have been so slow in the Light Heavyweight division lately that I was tempted to simply re-post last month's commentary. But that would be wrong.
#1 Georges St. Pierre will put his UFC title on the line against #6 Dan Hardy this Saturday at UFC 111. Few expect the trash talking Brit to take the title, but it's a fight and anything can happen. Fans should relish the chance to see a great champion like GSP fighting at the top of his form regardless.
#1 Jose Aldo will defend his title and position as the 145lbs fighter in the world on April 24th as the WEC makes their first foray into the pay-per-view market. He'll defend his title against WEC poster boy #3 Urijah Faber in Faber's hometown of Sacramento, California.
There's a new champion and his name is #1 Dominick Cruz. The Alliance Gym bantamweight outclassed the seemingly overmatched (albeit also injured) #2 Brian Bowles at WEC 47 this month. After two rounds of dynamic angles, head and trunk movement as well as a frustrating jab, Bowles was getting picked apart.
How did you get started with the UFC? I had no idea what I was getting into. I just got a call from my agent that the UFC was looking for an “Octagon Girl.” Basically, they wanted a hot athletic girl and had a cattle call for models, like most auditions. But Dana White himself was there. They asked a few questions and had me throw on the outfit. That was it.
You didn’t have to fight the other girls? No! I didn’t have to choke them out—though I could probably do that now.
Because you’ve since started training in MMA? Yeah. I have kickboxing and Muay Thai training now. And I’ve done gymnastics for years and years. I’m pretty flexible. I can do all kinds of things.
Wow. Like what? I’m double-jointed. I can do some wacky stuff.
Moving on before our heads explode, what’s a guilty pleasure nobody knows you enjoy? I love sneaking chocolate into theaters and moviehopping. You know, watching multiple movies on one ticket? It was easier in high school.
Would you like to go from sneaking into movies to being in them someday? I’m a singer. I’d like to provide people with good music to have fun and dance to, but I also dream about acting. I’ve done some…Being another person comes naturally to me. It’s just a childlike quality. I find it easy to pretend. I enjoy it.
How has the UFC changed since you started? It’s changed incredibly. When we started out, we were doing a lot of smaller venues. I can remember one of my first fights—I was excited because they were flying me out to Anaheim. Now I just got back from Australia, and we’re going to Dubai soon.
Have you thought about joining the likes of Gina Carrano and mixing it up in the ring? The thought of getting hit in the face does not appeal to me. More power to the women who go in there, but I just feel women should be feminine.
So you’re into guys who are super macho? Not at all. People always ask me if my boyfriend has to have a six-pack. Look, I’m around that all the time with the fighters. A six-pack is fine, but I don’t really care about physical appearance. I like computer nerds and a guy who can make me laugh. Kind of the silent killer type. Someone who doesn’t need to be the center of attention but can command it anyway. But I’m a Scorpio, so that means I’m crazy. You don’t want to mess with me.
Er, we won’t! Who are you dating now? I’m actually going to a fan’s prom soon.
What? Yeah, he did this series of videos on YouTube asking me to his prom. He would even come to fights with his friends holding up signs that said be my prom date! He’s this 17-year-old kid, and it was sweet, so I said yes.
Is he going to get to make out with you? No. Maybe. Oh, I don’t know! I guess if he plays his cards right…
In the most anticipated matchup in mixed martial arts (MMA) so far in 2010, the STRIKEFORCE middleweight (185 pounds) championship will be on the line when MMA legend and two-time Olympic wrestler Dan Henderson challenges champ Jake Shields in the main event of a live, CBS primetime televised, triple-header from Nashville, Tennessee’s Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, April 17.
Henderson left UFC last year for STRIKEFORCE and the opportunity to compete on national broadcast television, and fight the sport’s best fighters.
“There’s no bigger platform and CBS was a huge part of my decision,” said Henderson, the only fighter in history to simultaneously hold two different titles in two different weight classes for a major MMA promotion (PRIDE Fighting Championships).
Shields, STRIKEFORCE lightweight (155 pounds) champion Gilbert Melendez, and STRIKEFORCE Founder and CEO Scott Coker spoke with the media on a conference call Friday.
Henderson will be looking to make a major impact and win in dramatic fashion in his STRIKEFORCE debut. If he wins, he will be able to stop the momentum of a young star and win the most prestigious title of his decorated career; a win for Shields over a seasoned, highly accomplished fighter such as Henderson, would cement his reputation as one of the world’s best competitors.
Although Shields was nearly choked out before getting saved by the bell in his last fight against Jason “Mayhem” Miller, Shields has been on a roll, winning his last 13 fights.
Against Henderson, Shields, a Cesar Gracie-trained Jiu Jitsu black belt, will face the toughest challenge of his career.
“I know he has good power, but I’m not the easiest guy to hit and I certainly can take a punch,” Shields said. “I’m ready for it, I’ve worked hard on it. I know on paper he’s a better wrestler, but a lot of times it doesn’t always stack up that way when you get in the cage.”
Even though he has the experience advantage, Henderson said he is not taking Shields lightly.
“Jake has been on a big winning streak and he’s very dangerous in certain aspects of the game,” Henderson said. “I’m sure he plans on taking me down and using some of his submissions. There are definitely things I need to watch out for and be careful for. I think it’s got the potential to be a really exciting fight.”
For Shields, 10 of his 24 victories have come by submission, a fact that “Hendo” doesn’t seem too impressed with.
“I feel like over the years I’ve fought guys as good or better than Jake on the ground that are great at submissions,” Henderson said. “I’m not too bad there myself, so I’m not really too concerned too much about it. But I am also aware that that’s probably the biggest danger for me when fighting Jake Shields, but I’m going to be very comfortable there.”
Henderson, 39, was a decorated high school wrestling champion in California. He wrestled at Cal State University, Fullerton and Arizona State University, where he competed in the 1993 NCAA championships. He also competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games in Greco-Roman Wrestling.
The younger Shields, 31, wrestled at San Francisco State University, where he was a two-time All-American, and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The two fighters’ styles could make for a classic fight.
“Of course the two things I want to do are win, of course, but I also want to put on an exciting fight,” Shields said. “I know Henderson is a tough fight. But, the other thing is stylistically it will probably be an exciting fight. I want to go out there and use heavy striking and try to put him away with submissions or ground and pound, whatever. I’m definitely trying to end this fight.”
Henderson has not fought since July of 2009, when he knocked out Michael Bisping, earning him Knockout of the Night honors at UFC 100. He said he’s looking forward to getting back into the cage after the nine-month layoff.
“I’m very excited and hungry to just get out there and fight and fight well,” Henderson said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been out there and I definitely want to be impressive with my first fight in STRIKEFORCE. There is a belt on the line, so I’m very excited about that.”
Also on the card, Melendez will defend his crown against DREAM champion Shinya Aoki.
Aoki is a master submission wrestler with an edge. He broke his opponent’s arm in his last fight. To add insult to injury, he flipped the middle finger at his opponent after he won.
Melendez said he was not too concerned about Aoki’s antics after his last win. He’s focused on the Japanese fighter’s ring ability.
“A perfect fight would be we never hit the ground and I sprawl and brawl this guy,” Melendez said. “But, you got to be prepared for every scenario in this fight and I believe I am. I have to be able to defend all his submissions, I have to be able to be confident on the ground, and, like I said, best case scenario I never touch the ground and I knock him out. “
In the third world title fight, Gegard Mousasi of Armenia will defend his STRIKEFORCE Light Heavyweight (205 pounds) crown against unbeaten “King Mo” Lawal (6-0), a two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestling champion and Big 12 champion who will be fighting in his home state of Tennessee.
STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker said he expects millions of people across the nation to tune in into the April 17 fight.
“These are matchups that are going to be amazing and it took us a long time to put these fights together,” Coker said. “Every one of these fights could be a main event, so we’ll have a triple main event next Saturday on CBS. We’re hoping to have a great rating, that’s definitely one of our goals and we’re working hard to achieve that.”
legend and two-time United States Olympic wrestling competitor Dan Henderson (25-7) will challenge STRIKEFORCE World Middleweight (185 pounds) Champion Jake Shields (24-4-1) in the main event of a highly anticipated STRIKEFORCE fight card at Bridgestone Arena (formerly known as Sommet Center) in Nashville on Saturday, April 17.
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