Hayato Sakurai Likely to Get First Crack at Nick Diaz' Strikeforce Welterweight Title, Jay Hieron Out of Luck Again
by Kid Nate on Jan 31, 2010 12:02 PM EST
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Despite Jay Hieron's unanimous decision win over Joe Riggs on the undercard of last night's Strikeforce: Miami show, it appears he's no closer to a title shot, per Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. From MMA Fighting:
Most people thought Jay Hieron earned a shot at the welterweight title by defeating Joe Riggs, but Coker said it's more likely that Sakurai will be the challenger in Diaz's first title defense. Sakurai fights for Dream, and Coker said Strikeforce's co-promotional arrangement with Dream ensures that "I could get it done." Hieron's win over Riggs was the last fight on his Strikeforce contract, and it's not clear whether Hieron will return to the promotion.
Nick Diaz talked to Sherdog and apparently he isn't impressed by any of the potential challengers for his title, (see the video in the full entry). He did say he was willing to fight Hieron now that Hieron has beaten Joe Riggs.
Dave Meltzer commented on Diaz' impressive performance:
Diaz survived an early knockdown but used his reach and hand speed to overwhelm his Lithuanian-born opponent and become Strikeforce’s first welterweight champion.
Diaz connected on 49 of his 70 punches and 46 of 47 kicks in a fight that only went 4:38 before Diaz’s barrage of head and body punches put Zaromskis down and out.
For my part, I'd much rather see Hieron against Diaz than Sakurai. Once upon a time, "Mach" Sakurai was one of the top fighters in the weight division. That time has long since passed. Even at his peak, Sakurai's style would likely have played into Diaz' hands. The same can't be said of Hieron, a powerful wrestler who could capitalize on Diaz' poor takedown defense.
In fact, I wonder if that's not the reason Hieron isn't getting a shot at the very marketable Diaz.
For his part Jay Hieron had this to say to MMA Weekly about Diaz:
"I think I match up great with Diaz. I think he has holes in his game, and I think I’m the man to exploit it," said the Strikeforce welterweight top contender.
"It’s all timing. Hopefully we’ll sit down with Strikeforce and move forward in that direction, but right now I’m just going to enjoy this victory, get back home, heal up. Hopefully that’s next."
Hieron's not a fighter with a lot of leverage if the UFC remains true to their word about not signing fighters who have signed their video game rights over to EA Sports. Hopefully Hieron will be treated right by Strikeforce. He's a top caliber fighter.
Ariel Helwani's interview with Hieron is in the full entry as well.
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I heard jokes that Heiron “pulled a Maynard” his way to a win last night, and getting past over for a title shot makes it all too true.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Jan 31, 2010 12:04 PM EST reply actions
I keep hearing that but the Play by Play at Sherdog didn't sound bad...
I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.
Diaz went as close as he could without saying that Strikeforce’s WW division has no contenders compared to the UFC.
twitter.com/thisredengine
The difference would be that...
that the UFC’s WW division looks that way because its champion is just beyond human, where as Strikeforce simply has no Welterweight division.
Heiron must be really pissed now.
Keep firing Assholes!
Mind numbing, tedious and ultimately self defeating.
Yep
I bet he really regrets signing that EA deal right about now. It has completely destroyed his negotiating position.
Zuffa will still sign him, kill the competition by limiting challengers.
twitter.com/thisredengine
by Matthew Roth on Jan 31, 2010 12:33 PM EST up reply actions
Zuffa withdrew their last offer to him after discovering he was in the EA game.
What makes you think this time will be any different?
What makes you think this time will be any different?
Thanks to booking he’s a constantly-increasing amount of bad press for Strikeforce and a depressing champion even if he fights and beats Diaz since he won’t draw what Diaz does. Little personality and fights that can’t compare to Diaz’ Fistacular Puchfests.
So now he’s even less valuable to Zuffa than the first time they rejected him!
Hieron must do something.
His treatment by Strikeforce to date has been shameful, however now that he has the chance to walk away he should or else be prepared to be shit on forever.
If the UFC isn’t an option, then for the sake of self respect he needs to take a hard look at Japan or Bellator.
Shameful?
I dunno. They’re in a tough spot since they need to keep up ratings and Hieron isn’t even a hardcore draw. He’s currently most famous for being skipped-over in lieu of more entertaining fighters, an opponent who’s completely addicted to MJ, and GSP’s highlight reel.
They need to maximize their title fight’s/main event’s drawing power and Hieron isn’t likely to do it against anyone except Joe Rogan or the reincarnated MJ riding a unicorn.
i feel bad for the guy, but SF is not a good place to be if you’re trying to climb the ladder without spectacular rings skills, a gimmick., or being previously promoted by Dana.
I’m looking at this from a business perspective. Zuffa kills Strikeforce’s WW division by the sheer fact that there are no challengers. Hell Diaz himself just said there aren’t challengers.
twitter.com/thisredengine
by Matthew Roth on Jan 31, 2010 12:46 PM EST up reply actions
They even grabbed Baroni, why not Heiron.
Keep firing Assholes!
Mind numbing, tedious and ultimately self defeating.
Exactly, at this point I don’t think they even care about the EA game. They just want to crush Strikeforce. How embarrassing is it to have a new belt that can only be defended once?
twitter.com/thisredengine
by Matthew Roth on Jan 31, 2010 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
Zuffa already had the chance to sign him once, made him an offer, and then pulled it off the table when they found out he was signed with EA.
What makes you think things have changed?
The fact that Diaz completely outclassed Zaromskis? Strikeforce has some great WW prospects like Galvao and Woodly but unless they fast track them to a title shot, you don’t have anyone else besides Sakurai. Hornbuckle is with Bellator til atleast September and after that he’ll probably go to the UFC. If I’m a business owner, I’d do everything I can to illegitimize (sp?) their belt.
twitter.com/thisredengine
by Matthew Roth on Jan 31, 2010 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
and who just recently beat Mach by brutal head kick?
Exactly why has Diaz failed to fight Hieron? I wish Dana would just forget the EA nonsense and sign this guy. Diaz seems content to be a big fish in a small pond. How could the UFC trust him after his recent shenanigans? Diaz is a great fighter but he’s wasting his time in SF.
Did you watch the Diaz interview? He’s not happy being the big fish in a small pond. And since Hieron is a free agent, as I said I wouldn’t doubt if the UFC signs him just to fuck over Strikeforce.
twitter.com/thisredengine
by Matthew Roth on Jan 31, 2010 7:17 PM EST up reply actions
The only plausible explanation for this that I see is that Hieron is on his way out and Strikeforce knows it.
by JRN on Jan 31, 2010 12:41 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
My guess is that they are currently in negotiation for an extension on his contract and the two sides are far enough apart that a title shot seems premature. Otherwise why give a fighter on his way out a chance to derail a very marketable fight in Riggs/Hieron 2? They could have booked Riggs against Jesse Taylor.
Hier
by John Nash on Jan 31, 2010 1:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
My guess is that they are currently in negotiation for an extension on his contract and the two sides are far enough apart that a title shot seems premature. Otherwise why give a fighter on his way out a chance to derail a very marketable fight in Riggs/Hieron 2? They could have booked Riggs against Jesse Taylor.
Hier
by John Nash on Jan 31, 2010 1:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I feel for Hieron, as it seems to be getting screwed again. StrikeForce has taken a page from the UFC playbook. You promise a fighter a title shot, than renege and dangle said title-shot as part of new contract negotiations (See Henderson, Dan for an example of how that played out).
As for contenders for Diaz, simple solution – Karo Parisyan. Now you have two contenders in Hieron and Karo. By the time Diaz has defended against them Tyron Woodley or Andre Galvao might be ready for a shot. You could also look at bringing in the Bellator champ. Diaz/Hornbuckle interest anyone?
by John Nash on Jan 31, 2010 12:49 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I'd love to see Karo vs Diaz 2
but only if Karo can get cleaned up. It’s too bad he never got the surgery he needed when he trashed his hamstring. Seems like he’s permanently lamed up now.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
I wouldn’t hold my breath on Karo getting cleaned up. He’s a narcissist and his power of denial is second to none.
Sure glad Lesnar got his shit straightened out.
by judonerd on Jan 31, 2010 1:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Don’t you know who he is?
Keep firing Assholes!
Mind numbing, tedious and ultimately self defeating.
by Ubernoober on Jan 31, 2010 1:17 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If theres enough room in the UFC for
baroni, trigg, sodallah, goulet, volkmann, markham, etc… then theres enough room for a guy like Hieron… SF has basically brushed him aside twice now, and he is one of the better fighters they have. Messed up.
I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.
Also add that to the fact that the rest of his team is in the UFC and you have quite the reason to jump ship.
twitter.com/thisredengine
by Matthew Roth on Jan 31, 2010 1:11 PM EST up reply actions
Very True...
I wonder if SF starts to Alienate the Fighters that don’t have as much control or leverage as other fighters/camps like Cesar Gracie’s Team (who has LW, WW, and MW champs) M1 (who have Fedor and Gegard who have to fight on the same card) and Alistair Overeem, who can fight who he wants when he wants, period
I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.
Ed Soares should move his fighters to StrikeForce.
by John Nash on Jan 31, 2010 1:29 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Strikeforce has Feijo…good enough.
twitter.com/thisredengine
by Matthew Roth on Jan 31, 2010 1:32 PM EST up reply actions
More proof...
that STRIKEFORCE’s matchmaking consists of just going, “Hey, who is available?”
by William Wilson on Jan 31, 2010 1:26 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Plus getting permission from Showtime, CBS, M1, Dream, etc...
before they can book a match. No wonder its a cluster fuck over there.
So Diaz TKOs the guy that KOd Sakurai, and suddenly this fight makes sense? Hieron/Diaz is the perfect fight to test Diaz and see if he still has the same incredible weakness to wrestlers that he’s displayed in the past. Seems to me that Strikeforce is trying to protect their assets, or they’re way too caught up in the whole “HEY LOOK WE CAN GET FIGHTERS FROM JAPAN LOL COPROMOTION RULES” to see the matchup that’s right in front of their faces.
Without pain, without sacrifice, we would have nothing.
by lowellthehammer on Jan 31, 2010 1:34 PM EST reply actions
Wouldn’t they wait to give him a title shot until they actually had the dude under contract? It’d be pretty embarrassing to talk about how Heiron is the #1 contender just to have him stolen by the UFC.
"an excellent example of why most MMA "journalism" is a joke. Pseudonyms like "toxic" and shitty writing like that dopey article"--- Joe Rogan.
That’s a cop out. They’re a growing promotion that has crested into mainstream recognition but they’re still screwing over Hieron… again. Anyway you slice it Hieron is in the top 3 for their welterweight division but he gets put on a EA Sports website broadcast that doesn’t even work!? Shame on Coker and Co.
They were limited on time. Its a Showtime issue not a Strikeforce issue. Im sure scott Coker would have loved to show Hieron vs Riggs
When you climb into bed with another company and start letting them call the shots and do your production then it’s still going to fall on your head. Saying that “it’s Showtime’s fault” is a cop out, if they are letting Showtime have that kind of power to decide which fights get televised and who fights who then that’s on Strikeforce.
And Strikeforce has been a "growing promotion" for a very, very long time.
If I’m not mistaken, they have been putting on one type of fighting show or another for longer than Dana and the boys have been running the UFC.
Just thought of something
Before, when Coker talked about a Mach/Diaz fight it was always in the context of a Dream/Strikeforce co-event because Dream has seemed hesitant about sharing their Japanese stars. In addition, is there any appeal for Mach in the US? So if it happens I would think it would be on a Dream card. Does this mean we’ll be getting the Aoki/Melendez fight as well? Or Sakuraba-Shamrock? And come to think of it, Dream did announce they were going to crown a MW champ with a single fight. Maybe Mayhem/Jacare Is finally going to happen.
by John Nash on Jan 31, 2010 1:46 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I consider Showtime basically free. Were you guys bitching about paying 50 bucks for 108 even though there was no main event
i was
which was why i didn’t pay for that event
http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/
by Cory Braiterman on Jan 31, 2010 1:55 PM EST up reply actions
yeah I was bitching about that one
so much so that I got labeled “anti-UFC”
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
Hater hater.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Feb 1, 2010 6:03 AM EST up reply actions
Just because you consider it free doesn’t mean that my cable company does.
by who me on Jan 31, 2010 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
How do you consider something free when you have to pay extra for it?
"The greatest enemy will hide in the last place you would ever look." - Revolver
by flyingkneetoface on Jan 31, 2010 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Free should be defined as a card that airs on cable or network TV.
When it’s on HBO or Showtime, which you have to subscribe to in addition to cable, then to me it isn’t free.
Brian Russell would bite on play-action despite the QB being in an empty backfield.
why? there has been non stop complaining before and now after this card. MMA fans are turning in to prima donnas, where nothing is good enough for their precious sport.
There is non stop complaining after every event from every company, that’s what the internet has always done, not sure why that surprises you or why you would think that this has anything to do with it being Strikeforce.
it doesnt surprise me nor did i say this has anything to do with SF, i just think its sad that people complain all the way up to a fight, and then watch it looking for things to complain about. there’s always something to complain about if that’s what they are looking for. I guess i think i’m just a little more realistic in my view that there’s room for both serious hardcore fighting and entertainment value as well. Sometimes i want to watch a beatdown, and sometimes i want to watch a giant Korean smash Jose Canseco.
they put on a card
featuring two squash matches with over-hyped prospect — Lashley & Walker; and two very uneven championship matches. Lawler vs Manhoelf was the only really evenly matched fight.
People are going to pipe up when they’re disappointed.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
If people want to complain about the announcing, that’s fair.
If people want to complain about the production, that’s fair.
If people want to complain about some of the matchups, well that’s really fair.
But I think a lot of people just want to complain that StrikeForce isn’t the UFC. And that isn’t fair.
by John Nash on Jan 31, 2010 2:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
So you mean all the people complaining about the announcing and the production and the match ups are ok, then who are these people who are unfairly complaining and what are they complaining about? You just covered pretty much every complaint that people are talking about and said they were fair.
by who me on Jan 31, 2010 2:35 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I guess I am just being sensitive because I've gotten so tired of the whole"UFC is better/evil" thing.
Actually the comments for this post aren’t that outrageous. But if you look at a lot of the comments from other members in other posts, there seems to be a common theme: that StrikeForce’s is second rate to the UFC. Either their belts are pointless because they couldn’t beat the UFC champs, or that all their fighters are overhyped, or that every UFC show is bigger and/or better. My answer to them is “duh”.
Bias always plays into posting on the internet about MMA. Just start a fan post saying you think Brock Lesnar is a legitimate athlete or that UFC 108 was a really good card and see how much hate will pop up in the comments section. Never take the internet seriously and just don’t talk to the people who are blatantly trolling or just hating for the sake of hating.
There were a lot of problems with this card, that’s not being anti-strikeforce it’s just how it is. Same thing happens here after every UFC card. You just shouldn’t let your own opinions and bias blind you to others who are logically talking about their opinions.
by who me on Jan 31, 2010 5:35 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
So your point is that all the stuff people are actually complaining about is fair but the stuff they aren’t complaining about is just them complaining about Strikeforce not being the UFC? Can you even follow your own logic here?
LMAO
No… but if you can’t see why people are complaining about THIS card then there’s no point in continuing to respond, because its pretty obvious why there are people complaining about it.
I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.
anything anyone does results in bitching, and there really hasn’t been much bitching here. Legit complaints about the treatment of heiron, matchmaking, and what seems to be the direction of some of these divisions.
by Phildo on Jan 31, 2010 2:53 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
exactly what I was thinking
"The greatest enemy will hide in the last place you would ever look." - Revolver
by flyingkneetoface on Jan 31, 2010 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
I'm with you.
I defend a lot of nonsense about Strikeforce. Here are the things that people should NOT be complaining about.
- Manhoef vs. Lawler was a sick fight. There’s nothing wrong with that.
- It was a foregone conclusion, but they did the best they could getting a good fight for Cyborg beyond signing Toughill. Which they now need to do. Anybody else is too small and inexperienced. Unless they do a 145 tourney no credible challenger will emerge, and even they may not be credible.
- Diaz vs. Zaromskis was a compelling matchup. Lots of people here predicted Zaromskis would win. It was good matchmaking, a result of what seems to be good co-promotion, and Diaz showed that he’s a force at welterweight.
The announcing, production, post-fight interviews, Lashley’s squash match fiasco, featuring Herschel on the main card (understandable but can’t totally write it off), the high school talent show pyrotechnics, another prelim getting bumped because of time constraints… those are all things that can and should be mentioned and critiqued.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
So does anything the UFC does or the WEC does or Dream does too. Heck it wasn’t too long ago that people were saying Kid Nate was anti-UFC because he wrote a couple of articles about them. It sounds like you are the one who can’t see beyond their own personal bias here.
by who me on Jan 31, 2010 4:59 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Good card.
I can’t wait to see Manhoef’s comeback. Prior to the kayo, he was simply dominating Lawler to no end. His Scott Smith-esque win was impressive but doesn’t mean he’s some force to be reckoned with. I will still put Manhoef in there against Lawler’s next opponent. Even though Lawler managed to walk out of the cage, barely, last night before Manhoef. If they fought again, I would choose Manhoef to win by KO.
Diaz vs Sakurai? Tch. Anyways, moving on…
I was impressed with Lashley and Herschel last night. However, I do agree that Lashley’s next opponent should be someone of a higher grade. Perhaps not Brett Rogers, but someone under him — hell, put Lashley in there against Randleman or Antonio Silva. Shane Del Rosario can be his graduation present.
"I do no speak of the future. Your demise is already an inescapable fact of the past. " - Aizen
Truth
I can see where you’re coming from.
"I do no speak of the future. Your demise is already an inescapable fact of the past. " - Aizen
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fan since 7/12/97 -- 40-0-0 (25 KOs)
Should be Gono instead of Mach. He has a recent win over Mach, brings the entertainment factor, and is very tough to finish. And he’s much closer to Diaz in size. Way better matchup.
http://www.twitter.com/TB_Money
Only problem is that they don’t have a co-promotional deal with WVR. Bellator signed a ton of WW talent so their options are fast tracking woodley/galvoa or bringing Sakurai or Jason High. Or you could do the right thing and give Hieron his title shot.
twitter.com/thisredengine
by Matthew Roth on Jan 31, 2010 6:05 PM EST up reply actions
I didn’t realize WVR had anyone under contract anymore, after the whole co-promotion thing and the Yoshida Dojo walking away. But that makes sense.
http://www.twitter.com/TB_Money
To be honest I’m not too sure what’s going on with WVR. I know they are planning events for 2010 but with their WW champion now in Bellator and the split with the Yoshida dojo, it seems that they are falling apart.
twitter.com/thisredengine
by Matthew Roth on Jan 31, 2010 6:25 PM EST up reply actions
I think Diaz is so good because he is haunted by a ghost that keeps him on edge all the time.
He keeps looking behind him in EVERY interview while he talks.
At certain points I could say, “Oh, well, this is outside, there could be people walking around off camera”, but there is nothing but a wall behind him this time.
I think Diaz is so good because he is haunted by a ghost that keeps him on edge all the time.
He keeps looking behind him in EVERY interview while he talks.
At certain points I could say, "Oh, well, this is outside, there could be people walking around off camera", but there is nothing but a wall behind him this time.
I will always be a Nick Diaz fan — have been since his UFC debut, it has come to a point where I know Nick will win his next fight and I will only look forward to his post fight interview.
"I do no speak of the future. Your demise is already an inescapable fact of the past. " - Aizen
Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fan since 7/12/97 -- 40-0-0 (25 KOs)
I can understand them passing up Hieron...
but let’s not make Diaz defend against ‘Mach’ who is coming off of two losses, both finishes. What I’d suggest is…
Nick Diaz vs. Dan Hornbuckle
Jay Hieron vs. Akihiro Gono
If they can get some sort of deal with SRC. If not Chonan signed with DREAM, and Karo is a free agent, both of which are better candidates than ‘Mach’ for a shot at Diaz.
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