More Guy Mezger on Fixed Fights in PRIDE
by Kid Nate on Jun 13, 2008 1:16 PM EDT
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Following up on his comments to MMA You that got everybody posting about "works" and "fixes", Guy Mezger clarifies exactly what happened:
I am not claiming that any of MY fights were fixed or “worked”. I fought many hard matches in Pride with full intention of winning. I was stopped twice and the rest were split decisions against me in my losses in Pride (and, of course I disagree with the decisions, but I knew that I should have KOed them anyway). I am stating that I was approached once and only one time about my match with Satake.
I was approached by 2 Japanese guys who were always at the Pride events and were accompanying various Japanese fighters. They wanted to discuss my upcoming bout with Satake. They insisted that I keep it a stand up fight to be a more exciting match for the fans (or maybe because he has no ground game at all.) I told them that I was going to fight like I always do and I do my best to make it as exciting as possible, but I was not going to promise them anything. They came back to me that they were willing to compensate me (that is Japanese term for money) to keep it on the feet. I said no. They then changed the subject and said that they could get me hooked up in Japanese Pro-Wrestling and make more money. I felt this was another attempt to get me to make it a kickboxing match, but then they were discussing the outcome of the match and how it was important for Satake to win because he lost his last match. I stopped them there and told them I knew what was going to be said next and I was not going to do it. (If he had to win then that meant that I had to lose) End of Conversation.
I'd like to thank Mezger for coming forward and clarifying this. It takes guts to speak out and try to tell a complicated story in a world of people who want things to be simple -- did PRIDE do "works" -- not in Mezger's case. Did they try to fix fights? According to Mezger, yes they did at least in this one instance.
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Err
Did they try to fix fights? According to Mezger, yes they did at least in this one instance.
Not according to the quoted text. He says people who he had seen accompanying the fighters. He doesn’t say they were Pride employees. Maybe there people associated with Satake who has shady connections. Of course fighters are approached by those type of people. I’d imagine athletes/referees of all sorts are approached by those people in North American too.
This is just hypothetical, but say the Fertitta’s know some people in the mob. Considering their “business” and their financial dealings with Xyience it’s not a stretch at all. So someone they know approaches a UFC fighter and says, “I think it’s in your best interest to keep this fight standing”, does that mean the UFC fixed the fight?
I appreciate the post and the insight into Pride, and I’m not saying there wasn’t some slippery Japanese shit going on, but I’d imagine such intimations are common place among sports… to the point where NBA referees aren’t even allowed to walk through a Casino of they lose their job. That, I know is a fact. :)
Great point
Anyone with cash can attempt to fix a fight. When the org is controlled by the mob like Pride was then its bound to happen.
But...
Okay, screw the hypothetical, because why talk about things that haven’t happened.
But here’s a better question: do you think that even if PRIDE employees weren’t paying fighters to lose, that fights weren’t rigged by the refs or judges? Because it’s HARD to watch an entire PRIDE event without thinking, “Oh yeah, there’s the gaijin curse.” In just about every event: foreigners lose questionable decisions to Japanese fighters, and Japanese fighters have to endure tremendous punishment before a fight is stopped.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
Is it just me?
Does this:
I am not claiming that any of MY fights were fixed or "worked".
Sound an awful lot like an implication that fights besides his were fixed or worked?
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
CSAC DEMANDS FIXED FIGHTS
Josh Gross even admits the CSAC has approved fixed fights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdw2LMjRmoM
GO FOR THE NOKOUT NOT THE TAPOUT!
that is a major misrepresentation...
...of what is said in the video.
That video talks about how the CSAS was only approving fights (and this was prior to their sanctioning of events) on the basis that they were predetermined…basically they were only approving pro-wrestling. They weren’t requesting that people hold fixed fights…they were NOT SANCTIONING MMA at that point in time.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison
by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 13, 2008 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I was approved for mma in 2000 in California
Wrong I was there. That was me in the video. I also have taped conservations of the Inspector Dean Lohuis the one in the video telling a promoter and head of the MMA advisory committee to do a worked fight if he wants to be licensed. They are out of control. Dean Lohuis is still and inspector. Also Larry Irving another inspector use to collect the money at the fixed fights in California.
GO FOR THE NOKOUT NOT THE TAPOUT!
I'm not buying it...
...I can tell you feel passionately about it…since it is the only thing you’ve mentioned since joining our community. But what is there for the CSAC to gain from demanding worked fights on every show? A small level show isn’t going to provide for much by way of gambling.
I’m still getting the vibe from that video that they were simply saying “No…we’ll sanction fights with predetermined outcomes but not full blown MMA” because they didn’t fully understand the sport and as such weren’t ready to sanction events.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison
by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 13, 2008 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions
California was first with the unified rules.
California was the first with the unified rules. I have all the proof on this. I sent Vegas a tape and the unified rules before Fertitta who was a commissioner at the time for the NSAC. I have that proof also. They gained under the table money and only one inspector had to show up to collect. Once corrupt always corrupt.
GO FOR THE NOKOUT NOT THE TAPOUT!
Wait...
how does being the first with unified rules display some sort of corruption? I’m not following the train of thought here that leads to under the table money and corruption.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
"The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like hard work." -- Thomas Edison
by Brent Brookhouse on Jun 13, 2008 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Its a long story
Watch the tape it proves they were requiring fixed mma fights off indian land. But I also have proof of a fixed boxing match at fantasy springs Indian Casino in Palms Springs where Antonio Barrera fought his sparring partner Ceaser Najera. This was a work. the CSAC even admitted it to me after words.
GO FOR THE NOKOUT NOT THE TAPOUT!
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