Strikeforce Dallas: Heavyweight Grand Prix *6/18*
- Thread starter B-Buzz
- Start date
this is the best thing to ever happen at a presser
DALLAS – Josh Barnett is either bored, having fun, or he's completely lost it. Maybe a combination of the three.
Open workouts are usually the time for fighters to elevate their heart rates and answer questions from the media. Of course, with only two days remaining until fight night, there's not much left to answer, and a lot of the same ground is covered.
Instead of subjecting himself to the usual routine, Barnett chose to cut a promo straight from professional wrestling that was directed at Brett Rogers, whom he meets in the opening round of the heavyweight grand prix at "Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum."
The event takes place Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Its main card airs live on Showtime, and the preliminary card airs on HDNet. A non-title, quarterfinal-tournament fight between Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum headlines.
Barnett, a longtime fan of pro wrestling who's often worked overseas in Japan in worked wrestling matches, used the struggles of his recent career as fodder for the monologue. Still breathing heavy from putting on a "match" moments earlier with professional wrestler Erik Hammer, he pretty quickly quieted the room.
Here it Barnett's speech in its entirety:
"I've been sitting on the sidelines, sitting there watching everybody go out and fight. Hard times have been on Josh Barnett. Dealing with athletic commissions. Everybody saying, 'You did this, and you did that. You're the problem for this.' That's hard times. Hard times for my family. Hard times for my friends. Hard times by me. Hard times not being able to get a fight. Hard times is the company, waking up one day, is saying they've been sold out to your competitor! Not knowing what the hell you're going to do. Where's my contract at? Where's my money? Where's my security? Who says I'm going to get that shot now? Having that on your mind? That's hard times.
"And then you get this big old Brett Rogers in front of you. He thinks he knows what's tough. He thinks he's going to make a name off of my head. So I've got to get up every morning, break of dawn. I've got to get those running shoes on. I've got to hit that concrete; I've got to get those miles under my feet. My knees are aching, my body is sore. I've got guys like 'Hammer' beating on me every single day. I've got body breaking down, my mind getting pushed, feeling the effects of 14 years of fighting – feeling the effects of trying to put yourself in the best condition you can be in. Waking up every day having to deal with that? That's what hard times is about.
"I'm going to tell you what Brett Rogers. Come Saturday, American Airlines Arena? I'm going to give you a lesson in hard times. I'm going to take all that anguish, all that pain, everything that I have been through, everything all my family has been through, everything all my coaches have been through – I'm going to put that on you, Brett Rogers. I'm going to show you exactly what hard times is about. Who wants to see that? Not you, Brett Rogers. You do not want to see that."
After a few beats of stunned silence, there was applause from some of the media.
Then, Mr. Barnett left the building.
DALLAS – Josh Barnett is either bored, having fun, or he's completely lost it. Maybe a combination of the three.
Open workouts are usually the time for fighters to elevate their heart rates and answer questions from the media. Of course, with only two days remaining until fight night, there's not much left to answer, and a lot of the same ground is covered.
Instead of subjecting himself to the usual routine, Barnett chose to cut a promo straight from professional wrestling that was directed at Brett Rogers, whom he meets in the opening round of the heavyweight grand prix at "Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum."
The event takes place Saturday at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Its main card airs live on Showtime, and the preliminary card airs on HDNet. A non-title, quarterfinal-tournament fight between Strikeforce heavyweight champ Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum headlines.
Barnett, a longtime fan of pro wrestling who's often worked overseas in Japan in worked wrestling matches, used the struggles of his recent career as fodder for the monologue. Still breathing heavy from putting on a "match" moments earlier with professional wrestler Erik Hammer, he pretty quickly quieted the room.
Here it Barnett's speech in its entirety:
"I've been sitting on the sidelines, sitting there watching everybody go out and fight. Hard times have been on Josh Barnett. Dealing with athletic commissions. Everybody saying, 'You did this, and you did that. You're the problem for this.' That's hard times. Hard times for my family. Hard times for my friends. Hard times by me. Hard times not being able to get a fight. Hard times is the company, waking up one day, is saying they've been sold out to your competitor! Not knowing what the hell you're going to do. Where's my contract at? Where's my money? Where's my security? Who says I'm going to get that shot now? Having that on your mind? That's hard times.
"And then you get this big old Brett Rogers in front of you. He thinks he knows what's tough. He thinks he's going to make a name off of my head. So I've got to get up every morning, break of dawn. I've got to get those running shoes on. I've got to hit that concrete; I've got to get those miles under my feet. My knees are aching, my body is sore. I've got guys like 'Hammer' beating on me every single day. I've got body breaking down, my mind getting pushed, feeling the effects of 14 years of fighting – feeling the effects of trying to put yourself in the best condition you can be in. Waking up every day having to deal with that? That's what hard times is about.
"I'm going to tell you what Brett Rogers. Come Saturday, American Airlines Arena? I'm going to give you a lesson in hard times. I'm going to take all that anguish, all that pain, everything that I have been through, everything all my family has been through, everything all my coaches have been through – I'm going to put that on you, Brett Rogers. I'm going to show you exactly what hard times is about. Who wants to see that? Not you, Brett Rogers. You do not want to see that."
After a few beats of stunned silence, there was applause from some of the media.
Then, Mr. Barnett left the building.
lmao @ barnett
i think theyre kinda fucking up rogers' career by pushing him in the spotlight against top level fighters too soon. i mean, he's relatively new to the sport, & strikeforce already got him KTFO by fedor, overeem smashed him to pieces, & now he's more than likely gonna lose this fight with barnett.
he should be fighting people like del rosario, lavar johnson, chad griggs, gian villante.. even valentijn overeem, or bobby lashley (if his bitch ass ever comes back to SF).
they should have given Hendo his spot in the grand prix.
i think theyre kinda fucking up rogers' career by pushing him in the spotlight against top level fighters too soon. i mean, he's relatively new to the sport, & strikeforce already got him KTFO by fedor, overeem smashed him to pieces, & now he's more than likely gonna lose this fight with barnett.
he should be fighting people like del rosario, lavar johnson, chad griggs, gian villante.. even valentijn overeem, or bobby lashley (if his bitch ass ever comes back to SF).
they should have given Hendo his spot in the grand prix.
Overeem vs. Werdum Weigh-Ins Official
DALLAS – MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) was on scene and reporting live from today's official "Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum" fighter weigh-ins, where all 20 fighters made weight without issue.
Today's festivities took place at AT&T Plaza outside of American Airlines Center in Dallas.
All main card fighters weighed in without issue. However, preliminary card fighter Brian Melancon weighed in four pounds over the cutoff allowed for non-title welterweight fights (at 175 pounds). Officials from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation told MMAjunkie.com that a meeting is underway to determine the bout's status.
Headliners Overeem and Werdum were in good spirits.
"The difference between five years ago and now is about 40 pounds of whoop-ass," Overeem said.
Werdum, clad in a gi before stripping to his fight shorts, said, "I'm going to put on a big show for everybody."
The conditions for the event were a little less-than-ideal, with the sun pounding down on the concrete during near-100-degree weather. Nevertheless, there were no major issues, save for a wind gust nearly toppling the event's backdrop. Fortunately, special guest Herschel Walker was there to step on the railings and prevent a disaster.
Stay tuned to MMAjunkie.com for a full photo gallery of the weigh-ins.
American Airlines Center hosts Saturday's HDNet and Showtime-televised event.
The full weigh-in results include:
MAIN CARD (Showtime)
Alistair Overeem (256) vs. Fabricio Werdum (246)
Josh Barnett (256) vs. Brett Rogers (258)
Daniel Cormier (239.5) vs. Jeff Monson (234)
Chad Griggs (234) vs. Valentijn Overeem (234.5)
Jorge Masvidal (155) vs. K.J. Noons (156)
PRELIMINARY CARD (HDNet)
Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante (155) vs. Justin Wilcox (156)
Magno Almeida (155) vs. Conor Heun (155)
Nah-Shon Burrell (179) vs. Joe Ray (180)
Mike Bronzoulis (170) vs. Todd Moore (169.5)
Brian Melancon (175) vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (170)
DALLAS – MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) was on scene and reporting live from today's official "Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum" fighter weigh-ins, where all 20 fighters made weight without issue.
Today's festivities took place at AT&T Plaza outside of American Airlines Center in Dallas.
All main card fighters weighed in without issue. However, preliminary card fighter Brian Melancon weighed in four pounds over the cutoff allowed for non-title welterweight fights (at 175 pounds). Officials from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation told MMAjunkie.com that a meeting is underway to determine the bout's status.
Headliners Overeem and Werdum were in good spirits.
"The difference between five years ago and now is about 40 pounds of whoop-ass," Overeem said.
Werdum, clad in a gi before stripping to his fight shorts, said, "I'm going to put on a big show for everybody."
The conditions for the event were a little less-than-ideal, with the sun pounding down on the concrete during near-100-degree weather. Nevertheless, there were no major issues, save for a wind gust nearly toppling the event's backdrop. Fortunately, special guest Herschel Walker was there to step on the railings and prevent a disaster.
Stay tuned to MMAjunkie.com for a full photo gallery of the weigh-ins.
American Airlines Center hosts Saturday's HDNet and Showtime-televised event.
The full weigh-in results include:
MAIN CARD (Showtime)
Alistair Overeem (256) vs. Fabricio Werdum (246)
Josh Barnett (256) vs. Brett Rogers (258)
Daniel Cormier (239.5) vs. Jeff Monson (234)
Chad Griggs (234) vs. Valentijn Overeem (234.5)
Jorge Masvidal (155) vs. K.J. Noons (156)
PRELIMINARY CARD (HDNet)
Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante (155) vs. Justin Wilcox (156)
Magno Almeida (155) vs. Conor Heun (155)
Nah-Shon Burrell (179) vs. Joe Ray (180)
Mike Bronzoulis (170) vs. Todd Moore (169.5)
Brian Melancon (175) vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (170)
I'm really looking forward to this fight. I wish Showtime would have it to where you could order sporting events. They suck for everything but sports and I don't feel like paying the monthly fee. It's crazy how long Overeem has been at this and he's barely 31. After all he's been through it's like watching the second coming.
WAR REEM!!!
WAR REEM!!!
