Former Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker has signed an agreement with Strikeforce:
"The former NFL running back will immediately enter an 8-to-12 week training camp with the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif."
"Strikeforce director of communications Mike Afromowitz said it's too early to speculate when the 47-year-old will make his debut with the organization but it will probably be sometime in 2010."
HT: MMA.Fanhouse.com
over 2 years ago
Anton Tabuena
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yeah, i can’t see him fighting anyone other than the early ufc guys who are still floating around. certainly doesn’t mean i have any interest in seeing it though. i hope they don’t have intentions of putting his fight on cbs.
Did you even click the link?
Strikeforce said, “this isn’t a publicity stunt or a gimmick,” serious discussion only please.
Sorry officer, but I find it hard to discuss a 47 year old getting into MMA for the first time seriously.
by mythbuster on Sep 21, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Sure seems like one.
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Sep 21, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I have a bad feeling about this.
Miguel Torres- "I'm gonna give him a taste of the East Chicago Waterfall."
Rashad Evans- "That sounds disgusting."
I’m glad the UFC has shied away from freak show fights*
*mostly… and I only speak of Dana era UFC
by TheConcreteKid on Sep 21, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
LOL
Why? He actually has more credibility than Kimbo…LOL.
No one is even sure how they will use Herschel. Ono of the most gifted athletes of our time should at least get the benefit of the doubt until we see what happens.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Kimbo has 4 MMA fights..and is more than a decade younger than this guy.. Why does he have more credibility again?
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 21, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Because he actually has a martial arts background and has competed in top level athletics (football, olympics) his entire life.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Because he actually has a point-fighting background
Fixed it for you. Full-Contact Fighting > Point-Fighting
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Sep 21, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I am pretty sure he is used to physical contact.
=)
So, now we are bashing Martial Art disciplines? People also used to say that Karate was useless in MMA.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions
TKD has always been a whipping boy in the martial arts. If you’re talking about the actual Korean art, sure, that’s great. However, watch pro TKD tourneys and compare them to MMA – it in no way prepares you for full-force blows he’ll find in Strikeforce. I hope he knows what he’s doing…
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Sep 21, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Why? He actually has more credibility than Kimbo…LOL
Not that I want to be put in a position to defend Kimbo’s fighting skills, but how does a 47 year old ex-football player just now getting into MMA have more credibility than Kimbo?
Easy question. Are you 100% confident that Kimbo would beat Walker?
=)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
why is that funny?
How many people are 100% confident about the outcome of any mma match?
besides that, “who can win in a fight” is not the only factor in determining someone’s credibility.
If that was the case, SF would have very little credibility, with the high percentage of UFC washouts filling up their roster.
My point was that discrediting someone without even seeing them fight is a bit silly. Obviously, Strikeforce was very impressed with the skills he showed and he will be training at AKA. I am holding my bashing until I actually see him fight.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Just like his '82 Camaro
All show, no go.
"Mindwarp earthlings seek to change our path" - Nick Blinko
I’ve never seen Herschel get punched in the face, or defend a single leg, or slap a guillotine on a former gold medalist, or make a cauliflower ear explode. I have seen Kimbo do all of those things.
Kimbo might suck, but Kimbo >>>>>>>>> Herschel (in combat sports terms)
by Steve4192 on Sep 21, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
herschel eats grown men for a light snack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nc2XsimM90
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Anthony Pace on Sep 21, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
After watching that video...
I think his best defense of a double leg might be to pretend that there is an end zone behind his opponent and run right through him.
Thing 2
i was born on 87, on a country that isn’t really interested in “football”..
Aside from what i read on that article, I actually have no idea who that guy is..
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 21, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions
American football is a sport for people too wimpy to play either real football (soccer) or rugby. Pads FTL.
(Unless risk of death or critical injury is too great, like lacrosse or hockey – then pads are good)
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Sep 21, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions
How is soccer less “wimpy” than football?
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Sep 21, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s rough out there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUsqUyCHYcA&feature=player_embedded
1) No pads, for one thing. Every hit they take is concentrated instead of dispersed & hurts like bitch.
2) I’ve never seen a fat guy play at the highest levels of soccer, but that seems to be half an NFL team.
3) Fewer stoppages of play & longer games require more stamina & heart.
4) Larger playing field being sprinted across (105m x 68m vs. 110m x 49m)
5) I’ve never seen a football player take a flying kick to the head (I got KOd by one during a soccer game)
(For the record, this is mostly tongue-in-cheek; While I can’t stand football, I do know it does take toughness)
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Sep 21, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
and Americans need to learn that real sports utilize flopping as a strategy.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace
"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 22, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Who am I to say he shouldn’t fight.
He has a HUGE following what with NFL and his recent stints on the Apprentice (he went near to the end on the last series).
I don’t think he’ll much much of an impact but I’ll never understand the hate for letting someone who has a great athletic pedigree and competent training try their hands at it.
Exactly!
I am excited to see how he does. He is one of those guys that succeeds in whatever he does and is one of the most gifted athletes (along with Bo Jackson and Dion Sanders) that we have seen in our life time.
He isn’t going to be fighting the cream of the crop, but wow, he will definitely get people to watch and show that 47 year olds (Randy is 46) can still display martial arts skills and be competitive.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Randy, 46, is a veteran of mixed martial arts. This guy is a rookie who will have to learn the different facets of MMA at 47 years of age.
Also, Canseco was a gifted baseball player in his prime too.. Just saying..
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 21, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
And Randy comes from a wrestling background, not football. No offense to football, but it’s not currently considered one of the martial arts.
well in fairness he is a 6th degree Taekwondo blackbelt..
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 21, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah i know, it really isn’t that good a base for MMA.. I just pointed out that his background is gonna be TKD not Football.
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 21, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
At least his background involved a martial art and not NFL or Street Fighting.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Herschel is a 47 year old with no combat sports experience (TKD demonstrations do not count as combat).
by Steve4192 on Sep 21, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
i didn't think anything on BE would ever force me to reveal my only mancrush...
I wasn’t around for the glory years when he was the best CFB player of all time, but we still worship Herschel in Georgia. Hell, I named my own damned dog Herschel…
Saw him recently because he still floats around Athens sometimes, and man, he still has the physique of a Greek God. He’s a multiple-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do (i know it’s not that functional in MMA, but c’mon) and was a frikkin Olympic bobsledder.
Once, a guy asked him if he got tired carrying the ball so much, he replied “No sir, the ball ain’t heavy.”
WAR NUMBER 34
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Anthony Pace on Sep 21, 2009 1:47 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
awesome in college, maybe the best ever at his position( i actually watched his bowl game against pitt, yes i’m that old) but he was a bit of a bust in the nfl, although you can contribute the cowboys early success in the 90’s to herschel, due to that outrageous trade to the vikings.
The only reason people were disappointed in his pro career is because they had unrealistic expectations.
He was an absolute beast in the USFL and ranged from good to great in the NFL He led the league in yards from scrimmage in 1987 and followed up with 2000+ yards/scrimmage in 1988. Add in his prowess as a kick returner and Herschel is one of the top 10 guys in total yards in NFL history. Add in his USFL numbers and his career compares favorably to anyone who has ever played the game.
unrealistic expectations
is true. same as reggie bush, rocket ishmail and ricky williams, all fall into that category as well. he didn’t suck as a pro, but it paled im comparison to his college career. there have been bigger busts than herschel, but he was one of the 1rst higher profile guys to not live up to high expectations.
good points
while his college career is what ppl will always remember, and rightfully so, he spent a few of his prime years in the USFL, where he was basically the keystone for the whole league. I think his pro career would be viewed in a much different light had he gone straight to the NFL, where even in a shortened tenure he still had a solid career (a couple pro bowls).
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Anthony Pace on Sep 21, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Anyone want to take a guess at a weightclass? He was a little bit before my time so im not incredibly famaliar with him. Knowing that he s a running back from the NFL would make me think that hes a LHW thats a little on the shorter side. But hes been out of the league for a while and might have restructured his body to a different shape. Any thoughts?
They’re saying he’ll fight at heavyweight in several reports.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
Well yeah, they need another opponent for Fedor after Rogers.
...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
HELL YEAH
WALKER vs. FEDOR!
Scott Coker: MAKE THAT FIGHT!
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
It will sell tickets, and MMA is a business. Right? Right?
(cuz if it was the UFC doing it, that’s what people would be saying :)
Not me.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
LOL
Its funny how many people are saying this.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
i remember reading in SI that he doesn’t even lift weights, but will do like a 1000 push-ups and 1000 sit-ups…in sets. has he ver had any kind of mma fight at all? even just an amatuer one or a smoker. they must have seen something in his training or sparring to sign him. that or they are just getting him for his name value, maybe b/c the ufc is geting some forme nfl players on tuf. who knows?
just got part of my question answered. fight opinion said that espn already brought it up this morning.
This will absolutely get them viewers and pub.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions
So would Jon Gosselin fighting Emanuelle Lewis
You can bet somewhere in exile, Ken Shamrock just thought to himself, “There’s still hope!”
http://www.vancouversun.com/mma
Yes. A fine line we walk between Pub and freak.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
not so sure
walker got a mention on PTI, but not strikeforce. they just mentioned at the very end that he signed to fight mma.
I'm sorry but this has bad idea written all over it.
Herschel Walker wrote an autobiography that came out last year. In it he talked about suffering from dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder. He talked about it almost driving him to suicide. His wife or ex-wife did an interview talking about him putting a gun to her head at one point.
I hate to deny a person the right to pursue their interests but I’m sorry I don’t think letting a man that suffers from the kind of disorder he suffered from needs to be licensed to fight at the age of 47.
Just BE.
You know what's been missing from MMA?
Aging, smallish, amateur heavyweights.
With all these big, young, pros running around, it’ll be refreshing to have somebody WAY past his prime taking center stage on network TV in his first fight. AWESOME.
GOD BLESS YOU SCOTT COKER!
(Now can we stop pretending that Strikeforce is a legit promotion?)
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
by jemaleddin on Sep 21, 2009 4:43 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
LOL
Yes, signing Herschel Walker = not a legit promotion anymore.
Makes perfect sense…LOL.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Add:
- Dealing with M-1
- Promoting Fedor vs. Rogers as legit
- et cetera, et cetera, et cetera….
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
Also...
Who said this was going to be on Network TV, because, its not.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Since you seem to know about this what is Strikeforce’s position on his past mental disorder and how that will effect him getting a license?
Just BE.
IDK. You think there aren’t any fighters in general that don’t have some sort of mental disorder?
=)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think this is a joking matter either. Letting fighters fight with mental disorders shouldn’t be taken lightly and joked about in my opinion.
Just BE.
Well, they obviously have to be cleared in order to fight right? An Athletic Commission and a doctor would have to okay this.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions
So why would an Athletic Commission even license a 47 year old man with a very serious past mental disorder?
Just BE.
Exactly...
If he has that many problems, then he won’t get licensed. Plain and simple.
Though, here is a question for you. Would Mike Tyson get approved to fight with all his problems and his age right now? (the answer is probably yes)
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Herschel Walker’s admitted past mental disorder is far worse that what Mike Tyson’s is or was to my knowledge.
So here is a question for you. In your opinion should Hershel Walker who has admitted to suffering from multiple personality disorder and says he can’t remember the year he won the Heisman because of it be granted a license to get hit in the head in a professional fight?
Just BE.
I think if he is okay’ed by a doctor and athletic commission on a small show (like Challengers show against someone with similar skill levels and experience) sure.
If he will be fighting Tank on CBS, then HELL NO!
by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 21, 2009 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions
MPD really changes things
…like when they ask, “Which Herschel Walker will we see tonight,” they REALLY mean it!
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
by jemaleddin on Sep 22, 2009 8:54 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Thanks for talking out your ass.
In the next installment of MMASuPreMaCy talks out his ass, smell what he had for lunch!
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
SPARTACUS!!!!!
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
MMA is back atop the Google search topics, though it has nothing to do with UFC 103. In the wake of the announcement that Strikeforce has signed the former University of Georgia/Dallas Cowboys beast of a running back to a contract to fight, Herschel Walker is the #5 Google search term at the moment. We saw Walker at a Strikeforce card a few months back, and I commented that he looked like he could still play on Sundays
.
Walker will train with the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, and insists that he’s serious about a MMA career. Walker has always been one of the most insanely conditioned athletes in pro football and while he’s not quite as huge as Lashley or Lesnar at 6′1″ 225 he’s still an impressive physical specimen.
Wait, what if ther personality that signed the contract
….isn’t the Herschel that shows up to fight? Or what if the Herschel that trains at AKA isn’t the one in the cage? That could get confusing.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
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