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Showing posts with label Jason "mayhem" Miller. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jason "mayhem" Miller. Show all posts
Sunday, December 4, 2011
watch video fight Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller - The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Jason “Mayhem” Miller has signed a new multi-fight deal with the UFC?
Mayhem is coming to the UFC.
One of the most colorful and creative fighters in the sport, Jason “Mayhem” Miller has signed a new multi-fight deal with the UFC.
The news was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Friday by his manager, Dr. Ryan Parsons, who stated Miller had signed a standard multi-fight deal with the promotion. MMAFighting.com initially reported the signing.
Miller signs with the UFC after biding his time on the sidelines in Strikeforce over the last few months. The California based fighter hasn’t fought since defeating iconic Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba last September.
Miller had been rumored to return in March in a rematch with Tim Kennedy, but the fight never came to fruition, and Mayhem continued to wait for a fight.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker spoke to MMAWeekly Radio just last week about Miller, but didn’t have any details about when he might be returning to action. Now that he’s with the UFC, the cat is out of the bag.
Parsons didn’t have any details about Miller’s return to action with the UFC, but did state they are in the process of figuring out when he will make his second appearance in the Octagon.
2007 Topps 52 (1952 Rookie Edition) # 99 Jason Miller (RC - Rookie Card) - Minnesota Twins - MLB Baseball Trading Card - Shipped in a Protective Display Case!
Miller did have one previous fight in the UFC back in 2005, losing a unanimous decision to Georges St-Pierre. Soon after that bout, Miller moved up to middleweight and has competed there ever since.
One of the most colorful and creative fighters in the sport, Jason “Mayhem” Miller has signed a new multi-fight deal with the UFC.
The news was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Friday by his manager, Dr. Ryan Parsons, who stated Miller had signed a standard multi-fight deal with the promotion. MMAFighting.com initially reported the signing.
Miller signs with the UFC after biding his time on the sidelines in Strikeforce over the last few months. The California based fighter hasn’t fought since defeating iconic Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba last September.
Miller had been rumored to return in March in a rematch with Tim Kennedy, but the fight never came to fruition, and Mayhem continued to wait for a fight.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker spoke to MMAWeekly Radio just last week about Miller, but didn’t have any details about when he might be returning to action. Now that he’s with the UFC, the cat is out of the bag.
Parsons didn’t have any details about Miller’s return to action with the UFC, but did state they are in the process of figuring out when he will make his second appearance in the Octagon.
2007 Topps 52 (1952 Rookie Edition) # 99 Jason Miller (RC - Rookie Card) - Minnesota Twins - MLB Baseball Trading Card - Shipped in a Protective Display Case!
Miller did have one previous fight in the UFC back in 2005, losing a unanimous decision to Georges St-Pierre. Soon after that bout, Miller moved up to middleweight and has competed there ever since.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Top Strikeforce fighters join UFC ?
This afternoon, Dana White announced that Zuffa bought its top competitor in the U.S. He made a point of saying, with fighters contracts and a Showtime television deal in place, Strikeforce will operate under a "business as usual" header for the time being. How long that lasts is anyone's guess. UFC is planning on revealing more details to the media during a Monday teleconference.Form Athletics White Jon ''Bones'' Jones Fight Premuim T-shirt (X-Large)
The purchase should certainly excite fight fans. A deeper overall roster should eliminate the possibility of the best in the world being kept out of the same cage because of promotional issues.
Who are you most excited to see in the UFC? Here's a list of the top 15 fighters based on ability, mixed with the existing hurdles that could prevent them for stepping into the Octagon.
1. Nick Diaz, Welterweight (23-7, 5-0 Strikeforce, 6-4 UFC)
Outside the cage, the former UFC fighter is a wild man, but White is the first to admit he's a talented kid. The current Strikeforce welterweight champion hasn't lost since 2007. He's also one of the only welterweights outside of the UFC that fans would love to see take on Georges St. Pierre. In less than a month at Strikeforce's next scheduled event in San Diego on Apr. 9, he defends his title against Paul Daley. His brother Nate is currently fighting at 170 pounds in the UFC.
2. Gilbert Melendez, Lightweight (18-2, 8-1 Strikeforce)
He wasn't the first name on the lips of many MMA fans, but he probably should be. He's the most legitimate threat to any of the UFC title holders. Melendez's mix of wrestling, striking, strategy and stamina puts him immediately in the mix with Gray Maynard and Anthony Pettis to challenge for Frank Edgar's title. Just as important, he wants to fight the best and is an easy guy to manage.
3. Dan Henderson. Light heavyweight (27-8, Strikeforce 2-1, UFC 5-2)
With just one fight left on his deal, Henderson could be the first Strikeforce star to crossover. His 2009 exit from the UFC was more about ancillary concerns than his performance in the cage.
With his win last weekend over Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Rafael Cavalcante, the 40-year-old proved again that he's a top 10 fighter at light heavyweight. He could also go back down to middleweight if he wants to and the UFC thought that was the best spot.
Henderson told MMAWeekly it's a shocking move, but he's open to fighting for anyone.
"I don't know what to feel about it, I don't necessarily think, it might not be the best thing for the sport. But then again you're going to start being able to see all these match-ups that everyone wants to see. Who knows," Henderson said. "I had no plans of leaving, but I don't know what this is going to do those plans, but I have one fight left on my deal and we'll see what happens,"
Henderson is cool with White.
"I've never said anything bad about them. I always appreciated everything they've done for me and for the sport. It's just I was paid more money to go elsewhere, and that's what I did. Dana's the type that needs to talk a little smack if he doesn't get his way, but I've got no hard feelings about anything."
Strikeforce paid Hendo a healthy salary and allowed him to promote his clothing line, Clinch Gear. Hopefully, this time around the Clinch Gear issue can be resolved so we can see Henderson face the likes of Mauricio Rua, Rashad Evans, Quinton Jackson, Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida.
4. Alistair Overeem, Heavyweight (34-11, 3-0 Strikeforce)
If everything is cool on the pre-fight drug testing front, Overeem would be an awesome addition to the UFC heavyweight division. His pure power, look and striking is very promotable. An Overeem fight against Cain Velasquez, Brock Lesnar, Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir or Shane Carwin would be a seat-filler. That said, he'll have to drop the desire to compete in K-1 competitions.
5. Antonio Silva, Heavyweight (16-2, 3-1 Strikeforce)
This seems high, right? That's how good Silva is now and can be down the road. "Big Foot" is one of the biggest heavyweights in the world and is quickly developing one of the more well-rounded games in the division. His size overwhelmed Fedor Emelianenko and now that he's better managing the weight cut, he's got his stamina up to snuff.
6. Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, Light heavyweight (7-1, 2-1 Strikeforce)
From a selling standpoint, King Mo has as much potential as anyone on the Strikeforce roster. His amateur wrestling background makes him competitive with any 205-pounder in the world. Once he cleans up his striking and learns how to manage his gas tank, sky's the limit. His personality and willingness to bond with the fans and haters alike, makes him a promotional dream.
7. Tim Kennedy, Middleweight (13-3, 4-1 Strikeforce)
Strikeforce is onto something here with Kennedy. Think Brian Stann, but a lot better in most facets of the game. The Army Special Forces veteran wants to fight all the time and he's a great role model to push to casual and non-MMA fans. More than any other division, the UFC's middleweight class is in need a new blood. Kennedy is a great pickup.
8. Fedor Emelianenko, Heavyweight (31-3, Strikeforce 1-2)
I'd love to have Fedor on top of this list, but the relationship is so frayed between M-1, his management team and White, it's difficult to imagine seeing him the Octagon anytime soon. He also needs to win some fights to rebuild his brand and reputation.
In his first comments about Fedor, White didn't seem optomistic:
"I don't see any irony in that," White told Yahoo!'s Kevin Iole, chuckling. "Even though Fedor is now under contract with Zuffa, I still have a hard time imagining he'll ever fight in the UFC. We'll see, but that's my bet right now."
"You know me," White said. "I'm as big a fan of this as anybody and I love making the fights that everyone wants to see. At the end of the day, it's all about making great fights and the fights the people want to see. That's what we're doing."
9. Jason Miller, Middleweight (24-7, 1-1 Strikeforce, 0-1 UFC)
Miller is far from the best fighter on this list, but he's the most media savvy. His MTV show "Bully Beatdown" and appearances all over satellite radio give him exposure more MMA fighters can't even sniff. He fought for the UFC back in 2005 against GSP, but simply wasn't ready for that level and was draining himself way down at 170 pounds.
10. Gegard Mousasi, Light heavyweight (30-3, 2-1 Strikeforce)
I'm still a backer of Mousasi. His calculated style and killer instinct makes him an attractive addition. He just needs to strategize a little more against top level fighters and must shore up his takedown defense. Don't sleep on the Armenian's future. UFC may talk to him about going back down to middleweight. An Anderson Silva-Mousasi fight would be dynamite.
11. Fabricio Werdum, Heavyweight (14-4, 3-0 Strikeforce)
We're still not sure what went down when Werdum was sent packing by the UFC back in 2009. His talent is undeniable. Werdum is a huge dude at 6-5, 245 and his jiu-jitsu is some of the best in the world for the weight class. The win over Fedor was no fluke and don't forget he avoided dangerous situations in getting the win over Antonio Silva too. Grappling matchups against Lesnar, Mir, Carwin and even Roy Nelson would be awesome.
12. Paul Daley, Welterweight (27-9, 1-0 Strikeforce, 2-1 UFC)
The villain of all villians. Whether Daley should've been cut from the UFC is still debatable. His questionable attitude is not. We all have bosses and sometimes have to swallow our pride to co-exist. Daley was supposedly posting today on the Underground Forum today that he needs to "think" about fighting for the UFC and making money for White. Frankly, it's not his decision. It's also pretty stupid to push for your options to only include Japan's DREAM, BAMMA, Shark Fights, Titan Fighting, Bellator and MFC.
13. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Middleweight (14-2, 4-0 Strikeforce)
Jacare is very intriguing. His submission game is off the charts and would be a great anti-dote against the UFC's wrestlers/grapplers like Chael Sonnen and Yushin Okami. As the Strikeforce middleweight champ, he controls his own destiny. If he keeps winning under the "business as usual" operation, he'll force the hand of the UFC to put him in the mix with the big company.
14. Rafael Cavalcante, Light heavyweight (10-3, 3-2 Strikeforce)
"Feijao" lost to Henderson, but it's just one fight. The guy comes to bang and has an excellent ground game. The UFC could certainly find a home for another huge, well-rounded light heavyweight.
15. Robbie Lawler, Middleweight (18-7, 2-3 Strikeforce, 4-3 UFC)
It would be shocking to see Lawler on the outside looking in. He's a favorite of White's. His style is exactly what fans and the promotion latch onto. Lawler's one-punch knockout power makes him a more talented version of Chris Lytle and we know he's got a job for life with the promotion as long as he remains around .500.
Others possibly in the mix: Josh Thomson, *Shinya Aoki, *Tatsuya Kawajiri, Shane del Rosario, Daniel Cormier.
*Not under contract with Strikeforce. Co-promotional deals with DREAM.
The purchase should certainly excite fight fans. A deeper overall roster should eliminate the possibility of the best in the world being kept out of the same cage because of promotional issues.
Who are you most excited to see in the UFC? Here's a list of the top 15 fighters based on ability, mixed with the existing hurdles that could prevent them for stepping into the Octagon.
1. Nick Diaz, Welterweight (23-7, 5-0 Strikeforce, 6-4 UFC)
Outside the cage, the former UFC fighter is a wild man, but White is the first to admit he's a talented kid. The current Strikeforce welterweight champion hasn't lost since 2007. He's also one of the only welterweights outside of the UFC that fans would love to see take on Georges St. Pierre. In less than a month at Strikeforce's next scheduled event in San Diego on Apr. 9, he defends his title against Paul Daley. His brother Nate is currently fighting at 170 pounds in the UFC.
2. Gilbert Melendez, Lightweight (18-2, 8-1 Strikeforce)
He wasn't the first name on the lips of many MMA fans, but he probably should be. He's the most legitimate threat to any of the UFC title holders. Melendez's mix of wrestling, striking, strategy and stamina puts him immediately in the mix with Gray Maynard and Anthony Pettis to challenge for Frank Edgar's title. Just as important, he wants to fight the best and is an easy guy to manage.
3. Dan Henderson. Light heavyweight (27-8, Strikeforce 2-1, UFC 5-2)
With just one fight left on his deal, Henderson could be the first Strikeforce star to crossover. His 2009 exit from the UFC was more about ancillary concerns than his performance in the cage.
With his win last weekend over Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Rafael Cavalcante, the 40-year-old proved again that he's a top 10 fighter at light heavyweight. He could also go back down to middleweight if he wants to and the UFC thought that was the best spot.
Henderson told MMAWeekly it's a shocking move, but he's open to fighting for anyone.
"I don't know what to feel about it, I don't necessarily think, it might not be the best thing for the sport. But then again you're going to start being able to see all these match-ups that everyone wants to see. Who knows," Henderson said. "I had no plans of leaving, but I don't know what this is going to do those plans, but I have one fight left on my deal and we'll see what happens,"
Henderson is cool with White.
"I've never said anything bad about them. I always appreciated everything they've done for me and for the sport. It's just I was paid more money to go elsewhere, and that's what I did. Dana's the type that needs to talk a little smack if he doesn't get his way, but I've got no hard feelings about anything."
Strikeforce paid Hendo a healthy salary and allowed him to promote his clothing line, Clinch Gear. Hopefully, this time around the Clinch Gear issue can be resolved so we can see Henderson face the likes of Mauricio Rua, Rashad Evans, Quinton Jackson, Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida.
4. Alistair Overeem, Heavyweight (34-11, 3-0 Strikeforce)
If everything is cool on the pre-fight drug testing front, Overeem would be an awesome addition to the UFC heavyweight division. His pure power, look and striking is very promotable. An Overeem fight against Cain Velasquez, Brock Lesnar, Junior dos Santos, Frank Mir or Shane Carwin would be a seat-filler. That said, he'll have to drop the desire to compete in K-1 competitions.
5. Antonio Silva, Heavyweight (16-2, 3-1 Strikeforce)
This seems high, right? That's how good Silva is now and can be down the road. "Big Foot" is one of the biggest heavyweights in the world and is quickly developing one of the more well-rounded games in the division. His size overwhelmed Fedor Emelianenko and now that he's better managing the weight cut, he's got his stamina up to snuff.
6. Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, Light heavyweight (7-1, 2-1 Strikeforce)
From a selling standpoint, King Mo has as much potential as anyone on the Strikeforce roster. His amateur wrestling background makes him competitive with any 205-pounder in the world. Once he cleans up his striking and learns how to manage his gas tank, sky's the limit. His personality and willingness to bond with the fans and haters alike, makes him a promotional dream.
7. Tim Kennedy, Middleweight (13-3, 4-1 Strikeforce)
Strikeforce is onto something here with Kennedy. Think Brian Stann, but a lot better in most facets of the game. The Army Special Forces veteran wants to fight all the time and he's a great role model to push to casual and non-MMA fans. More than any other division, the UFC's middleweight class is in need a new blood. Kennedy is a great pickup.
8. Fedor Emelianenko, Heavyweight (31-3, Strikeforce 1-2)
I'd love to have Fedor on top of this list, but the relationship is so frayed between M-1, his management team and White, it's difficult to imagine seeing him the Octagon anytime soon. He also needs to win some fights to rebuild his brand and reputation.
In his first comments about Fedor, White didn't seem optomistic:
"I don't see any irony in that," White told Yahoo!'s Kevin Iole, chuckling. "Even though Fedor is now under contract with Zuffa, I still have a hard time imagining he'll ever fight in the UFC. We'll see, but that's my bet right now."
"You know me," White said. "I'm as big a fan of this as anybody and I love making the fights that everyone wants to see. At the end of the day, it's all about making great fights and the fights the people want to see. That's what we're doing."
9. Jason Miller, Middleweight (24-7, 1-1 Strikeforce, 0-1 UFC)
Miller is far from the best fighter on this list, but he's the most media savvy. His MTV show "Bully Beatdown" and appearances all over satellite radio give him exposure more MMA fighters can't even sniff. He fought for the UFC back in 2005 against GSP, but simply wasn't ready for that level and was draining himself way down at 170 pounds.
10. Gegard Mousasi, Light heavyweight (30-3, 2-1 Strikeforce)
I'm still a backer of Mousasi. His calculated style and killer instinct makes him an attractive addition. He just needs to strategize a little more against top level fighters and must shore up his takedown defense. Don't sleep on the Armenian's future. UFC may talk to him about going back down to middleweight. An Anderson Silva-Mousasi fight would be dynamite.
11. Fabricio Werdum, Heavyweight (14-4, 3-0 Strikeforce)
We're still not sure what went down when Werdum was sent packing by the UFC back in 2009. His talent is undeniable. Werdum is a huge dude at 6-5, 245 and his jiu-jitsu is some of the best in the world for the weight class. The win over Fedor was no fluke and don't forget he avoided dangerous situations in getting the win over Antonio Silva too. Grappling matchups against Lesnar, Mir, Carwin and even Roy Nelson would be awesome.
12. Paul Daley, Welterweight (27-9, 1-0 Strikeforce, 2-1 UFC)
The villain of all villians. Whether Daley should've been cut from the UFC is still debatable. His questionable attitude is not. We all have bosses and sometimes have to swallow our pride to co-exist. Daley was supposedly posting today on the Underground Forum today that he needs to "think" about fighting for the UFC and making money for White. Frankly, it's not his decision. It's also pretty stupid to push for your options to only include Japan's DREAM, BAMMA, Shark Fights, Titan Fighting, Bellator and MFC.
13. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Middleweight (14-2, 4-0 Strikeforce)
Jacare is very intriguing. His submission game is off the charts and would be a great anti-dote against the UFC's wrestlers/grapplers like Chael Sonnen and Yushin Okami. As the Strikeforce middleweight champ, he controls his own destiny. If he keeps winning under the "business as usual" operation, he'll force the hand of the UFC to put him in the mix with the big company.
14. Rafael Cavalcante, Light heavyweight (10-3, 3-2 Strikeforce)
"Feijao" lost to Henderson, but it's just one fight. The guy comes to bang and has an excellent ground game. The UFC could certainly find a home for another huge, well-rounded light heavyweight.
15. Robbie Lawler, Middleweight (18-7, 2-3 Strikeforce, 4-3 UFC)
It would be shocking to see Lawler on the outside looking in. He's a favorite of White's. His style is exactly what fans and the promotion latch onto. Lawler's one-punch knockout power makes him a more talented version of Chris Lytle and we know he's got a job for life with the promotion as long as he remains around .500.
Others possibly in the mix: Josh Thomson, *Shinya Aoki, *Tatsuya Kawajiri, Shane del Rosario, Daniel Cormier.
*Not under contract with Strikeforce. Co-promotional deals with DREAM.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Mayhem Miller fight with Nick Diaz will or will not happen ?
Mayhem Miller miffed at being passed over for fight with Nick Diaz
Superfit: Royce Gracie's Ultimate Martial Arts Fitness and Nutrition Guide (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series)
"I figured that maybe if I made enough noise about it, it would come to fruition. I knew that one of two things was going to happen. Either I was going to get the fight with Diaz and expose him, show that he's not some damn unstoppable, pitter-pat punching tank, but just some dude who can get beat up. Or, the other option, I was going to expose him for what he is, which is a guy who picks favorable fights constantly... You jumped me on TV. It's a damn storyline that's real. This isn't manufactured drama. This isn't The Ultimate Fighter TV show. It's real. I'm disappointed the fight didn't happen, but whatever." - Jason "Mayhem" Miller
Jason "Mayhem" Miller expresses his disappointment at being passed over for a fight against heated rival Nick Diaz in favor of Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos.
Diaz and Santos will square off for Diaz's welterweight title at Strikeforces upcoming event on Jan. 29.
Miller and Diaz have been embroiled in a war-of-words stemming from a confrontation which occurred last April following a win by Diaz's teammate Jake Shields. Miller, who had lost previously to Shields, forcefully confronted him about a rematch following his fantastic win over MMA superstar Dan Henderson. Shields' camp took it as a sign of disrespect and Diaz ended up throwing a punch at Miller inciting a now infamous melee.
Both fighters insist that the other is ducking the fight for various reasons, but it appears clear, at least for now, that the two won't be settling their differences inside the cage.
Superfit: Royce Gracie's Ultimate Martial Arts Fitness and Nutrition Guide (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu series)
"I figured that maybe if I made enough noise about it, it would come to fruition. I knew that one of two things was going to happen. Either I was going to get the fight with Diaz and expose him, show that he's not some damn unstoppable, pitter-pat punching tank, but just some dude who can get beat up. Or, the other option, I was going to expose him for what he is, which is a guy who picks favorable fights constantly... You jumped me on TV. It's a damn storyline that's real. This isn't manufactured drama. This isn't The Ultimate Fighter TV show. It's real. I'm disappointed the fight didn't happen, but whatever." - Jason "Mayhem" Miller
Jason "Mayhem" Miller expresses his disappointment at being passed over for a fight against heated rival Nick Diaz in favor of Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos.
Diaz and Santos will square off for Diaz's welterweight title at Strikeforces upcoming event on Jan. 29.
Miller and Diaz have been embroiled in a war-of-words stemming from a confrontation which occurred last April following a win by Diaz's teammate Jake Shields. Miller, who had lost previously to Shields, forcefully confronted him about a rematch following his fantastic win over MMA superstar Dan Henderson. Shields' camp took it as a sign of disrespect and Diaz ended up throwing a punch at Miller inciting a now infamous melee.
Both fighters insist that the other is ducking the fight for various reasons, but it appears clear, at least for now, that the two won't be settling their differences inside the cage.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
No Diaz vs. Miller, now wants Diaz vs. Daley in Strikeforce
Don't tell Cesar Gracie that Nick Diaz is scared, homie.
Well, unless you're Jason "Mayhem" Miller (24-7 MMA, 1-1 SF), who's dedicated a website to the phrase, which is a Diaz (23-7 MMA, 4-0 SF) quip that he's borrowed to express frustration at a stalemate that's arisen in booking a grudge match between them for a Jan. 29 event in San Jose, Calif.
Diaz vs. Miller is a fight Strikeforce seriously has considered since October when the two nearly came to blows backstage at "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons 2." (The rivalry was sparked six months prior when Miller and Diaz brawled on national television at 'Strikeforce: Nashville.')
But getting the camps to agree on terms has been a weighty issue.
Miller, a middleweight, wants to meet at 183 pounds and claims Diaz has already fought at that weight and even expressed interest in fighting at light heavyweight.
Gracie points out that Diaz, the Strikeforce welterweight champion, hasn't fought above a 180-pound catchweight fight he took against former UFC champion Frank Shamrock in April 2009.
"'Mayhem' is now saying he'll only cut down to 183," Gracie told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "Well, with a one-pound allowance, that's 184. He weighed in at 184 for the Jake Shields fight (at 'Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers'). So he's saying he won't cut anything."
Gracie said the heaviest Diaz will fight Miller at is 179 pounds, a mark that could expand to 180 pounds with a one-pound allowance granted to non-title fights.
Miller said it doesn't matter whether he gives a number or not – Diaz won't fight him.
Gracie on Sunday issued an announcement that Miller "opted out" of a proposed meeting in January at a catchweight of 178 pounds.
Miller scoffed at the claim and said he couldn't make that weight.
"It's ridiculous," he said. "Especially not in that timeframe. I would have to go do some homosexual triathlons to get to that weight. I'm not Lance Armstrong."
With a line apparently drawn in the sand, Gracie now said he wants Diaz to defend his title against Paul Daley (26-9-2 MMA, 1-0 SF), who this past Saturday delivered a blistering knockout of Scott Smith at "Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu II" and afterward surprised Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker by calling out K.J. Noons.
"I would take that fight right now for January," Gracie said of Diaz vs. Daley.
Coker said he'd like to revisit Diaz vs. Miller with both sides, but the fight promoter admitted there is only so much he can do.
"I'm not sure if we're going to be able to bridge the gap," he said. "We're going to have more conversations, but at the end of the day, if they don't want to make it happen for whatever reason, it's not going to happen. At some point, we're just going to move on."
As to a bout between Diaz and Daley, Coker likes the idea.
"After Paul's performance, it puts him right in the thick of things," he said. "Daley's name was brought up. I think that would be an amazing fight myself because styles make fights, and those two styles would be explosive. But in saying that, I would like to fully explore the 'Mayhem' situation before we commit to what we're going to do."
For Gracie, it's not an issue of whether Diaz has the desire to fight above his normal weight but what incentive he has to do so.
"Of course he would if it's a belt or fighting someone very significant," Gracie said. "Anderson Silva, for example. If somehow the stars aligned and Nick was offered that fight, Nick would take that fight at 185. But for him to fight at a weight class he's never fought at before against 'Mayhem' Miller – no disrespect to Miller, I think he's a great fighter – unfortunately he doesn't hold any ranking in the MMA community. There's no winning out of it.
"When people are getting paid, it's the fight business, not just fighting. In the fight business, if you call someone out, that means you better be able to move to their weight class or at least meet in the middle. He's refusing to meet in the middle."
Miller, meanwhile, believes there's a golden opportunity to capitalize on their grudge. Forget the weight - that's enough incentive.
"Maybe Nick isn't that bright, but Cesar Gracie seems to be very intelligent," he said. "He wants to protect his fighter. Nick is saying he's not scared, homie. So let's do the fight."
Well, unless you're Jason "Mayhem" Miller (24-7 MMA, 1-1 SF), who's dedicated a website to the phrase, which is a Diaz (23-7 MMA, 4-0 SF) quip that he's borrowed to express frustration at a stalemate that's arisen in booking a grudge match between them for a Jan. 29 event in San Jose, Calif.
Diaz vs. Miller is a fight Strikeforce seriously has considered since October when the two nearly came to blows backstage at "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons 2." (The rivalry was sparked six months prior when Miller and Diaz brawled on national television at 'Strikeforce: Nashville.')
But getting the camps to agree on terms has been a weighty issue.
Miller, a middleweight, wants to meet at 183 pounds and claims Diaz has already fought at that weight and even expressed interest in fighting at light heavyweight.
Gracie points out that Diaz, the Strikeforce welterweight champion, hasn't fought above a 180-pound catchweight fight he took against former UFC champion Frank Shamrock in April 2009.
"'Mayhem' is now saying he'll only cut down to 183," Gracie told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "Well, with a one-pound allowance, that's 184. He weighed in at 184 for the Jake Shields fight (at 'Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers'). So he's saying he won't cut anything."
Gracie said the heaviest Diaz will fight Miller at is 179 pounds, a mark that could expand to 180 pounds with a one-pound allowance granted to non-title fights.
Miller said it doesn't matter whether he gives a number or not – Diaz won't fight him.
Gracie on Sunday issued an announcement that Miller "opted out" of a proposed meeting in January at a catchweight of 178 pounds.
Miller scoffed at the claim and said he couldn't make that weight.
"It's ridiculous," he said. "Especially not in that timeframe. I would have to go do some homosexual triathlons to get to that weight. I'm not Lance Armstrong."
With a line apparently drawn in the sand, Gracie now said he wants Diaz to defend his title against Paul Daley (26-9-2 MMA, 1-0 SF), who this past Saturday delivered a blistering knockout of Scott Smith at "Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu II" and afterward surprised Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker by calling out K.J. Noons.
"I would take that fight right now for January," Gracie said of Diaz vs. Daley.
Coker said he'd like to revisit Diaz vs. Miller with both sides, but the fight promoter admitted there is only so much he can do.
"I'm not sure if we're going to be able to bridge the gap," he said. "We're going to have more conversations, but at the end of the day, if they don't want to make it happen for whatever reason, it's not going to happen. At some point, we're just going to move on."
As to a bout between Diaz and Daley, Coker likes the idea.
"After Paul's performance, it puts him right in the thick of things," he said. "Daley's name was brought up. I think that would be an amazing fight myself because styles make fights, and those two styles would be explosive. But in saying that, I would like to fully explore the 'Mayhem' situation before we commit to what we're going to do."
For Gracie, it's not an issue of whether Diaz has the desire to fight above his normal weight but what incentive he has to do so.
"Of course he would if it's a belt or fighting someone very significant," Gracie said. "Anderson Silva, for example. If somehow the stars aligned and Nick was offered that fight, Nick would take that fight at 185. But for him to fight at a weight class he's never fought at before against 'Mayhem' Miller – no disrespect to Miller, I think he's a great fighter – unfortunately he doesn't hold any ranking in the MMA community. There's no winning out of it.
"When people are getting paid, it's the fight business, not just fighting. In the fight business, if you call someone out, that means you better be able to move to their weight class or at least meet in the middle. He's refusing to meet in the middle."
Miller, meanwhile, believes there's a golden opportunity to capitalize on their grudge. Forget the weight - that's enough incentive.
"Maybe Nick isn't that bright, but Cesar Gracie seems to be very intelligent," he said. "He wants to protect his fighter. Nick is saying he's not scared, homie. So let's do the fight."
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Joe Rogen talk about CBS StrikeForce Brawl !
Strikeforce's April card is pretty much dead and buried. The fighters have been fined and most have served their full suspensions. The main culprit in the explosion, Jason Miller, even swallowed his pride and took the blame.
"Maybe I kind of gave Strikeforce a black eye," Miller told Joe Rogan during the UFC analyst's weekly podcast (1:49 mark).
That's good to hear. After all, it was Miller who found his way into the cage and got in Jake Shields' face as he was on the microphone commenting about his huge win over Dan Henderson. Then Miller, with a smirk on his face, asked for a rematch, and Shields, along with the Diaz Brothers, responded by trying to punch "Mayhem." He was knocked to the ground, kicked and punched in a 7-on-1 situation.
"I brought some attention to us. But I gave Strikeforce a black eye by causing that whole drama," said Miller.
That's when Rogan cut him off.
"The people who should get the blame are the people who let you in. No one should've let you in," said Rogan.
Correct, they deserve a tiny bit of the blame. But how would they know the fighters wouldn't be able to control themselves? Can't you place the blame for any fight on the situation, atmosphere or setting?
"There were too many [expletive] people in the Octagon," said Rogan. "It was you who was an unwanted person in the Octagon and you were interfering with someone who was getting their glory."
Now Rogan is starting to make some sense.
"You get a bunch of [expletive] dogs together," said Rogan. "And dogs start growling and [expletive] happens. You can't get mad at the dogs."
Lovely, now we're comparing MMA fighters to uncontrollable dogs? Can we hold press conferences anymore? Maybe no one should be in the cage following a fight except for Rogan/Gus Johnson and the fighter. All camps need to exit immediately. There's a lot of excuse making here.
Bottomline is that Miller blew it, he knows that. Shields blew it, he knows it. The Diaz Brothers blew it, they'll never get that. But everyone needs to stop making excuses for what happened. Three-month suspensions were handed down. Miller cost himself the first shot at the vacant Strikeforce middleweight title, Nick Diaz cost himself a June fight, and Shields bought himself a ticket out of the promotion and a reduced deal with the UFC.
The sport has a fragile image with most non-fans and has to be careful not to provide any material for opponents of MMA to use in trashing the sport and labeling it barbaric
yahoo.com/ufc
"Maybe I kind of gave Strikeforce a black eye," Miller told Joe Rogan during the UFC analyst's weekly podcast (1:49 mark).
That's good to hear. After all, it was Miller who found his way into the cage and got in Jake Shields' face as he was on the microphone commenting about his huge win over Dan Henderson. Then Miller, with a smirk on his face, asked for a rematch, and Shields, along with the Diaz Brothers, responded by trying to punch "Mayhem." He was knocked to the ground, kicked and punched in a 7-on-1 situation.
"I brought some attention to us. But I gave Strikeforce a black eye by causing that whole drama," said Miller.
That's when Rogan cut him off.
"The people who should get the blame are the people who let you in. No one should've let you in," said Rogan.
Correct, they deserve a tiny bit of the blame. But how would they know the fighters wouldn't be able to control themselves? Can't you place the blame for any fight on the situation, atmosphere or setting?
"There were too many [expletive] people in the Octagon," said Rogan. "It was you who was an unwanted person in the Octagon and you were interfering with someone who was getting their glory."
Now Rogan is starting to make some sense.
"You get a bunch of [expletive] dogs together," said Rogan. "And dogs start growling and [expletive] happens. You can't get mad at the dogs."
Lovely, now we're comparing MMA fighters to uncontrollable dogs? Can we hold press conferences anymore? Maybe no one should be in the cage following a fight except for Rogan/Gus Johnson and the fighter. All camps need to exit immediately. There's a lot of excuse making here.
Bottomline is that Miller blew it, he knows that. Shields blew it, he knows it. The Diaz Brothers blew it, they'll never get that. But everyone needs to stop making excuses for what happened. Three-month suspensions were handed down. Miller cost himself the first shot at the vacant Strikeforce middleweight title, Nick Diaz cost himself a June fight, and Shields bought himself a ticket out of the promotion and a reduced deal with the UFC.
The sport has a fragile image with most non-fans and has to be careful not to provide any material for opponents of MMA to use in trashing the sport and labeling it barbaric
yahoo.com/ufc
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Strikeforce Nashville Brawl Jake Shields vs Jason "Mayhem" Miller / Dan Henderson vs. Jake Shields Highlights - StrikeForce Fight Results and video
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 ?
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