Strikeforce Parts Ways With Joey Villasenor and Joe Riggs
by Anton Tabuena on Dec 9, 2010 12:28 AM EST
in Strikeforce News
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Strikeforce has decided to go separate ways with veterans Joey Villasenor and Joe Riggs. Villasenor was released after losing two straight bouts to Ronaldo Souza and Danillo Villefort, while Riggs' contract will not be renewed despite winning his last two outings. FiveOuncesofPain has it:
Five Ounces of Pain was able to confirm the professional separation with a reliable party close to the situation as well as Strikeforce officials. It is also believed Joe Riggs is currently looking for an match-up in the immediate future.
...
The promotion also recently parted ways professionally with seasoned veteran Joey Villasenor. While no official word on the 185-pounder’s status has been issued as of this report, Five Ounces of Pain was able to confirm the cut with a reliable source possessing intimate knowledge of the situation, as well as Strikeforce officials, and have learned Villasenor is currently seeking a fight.
Joey Villasenor (27-8):
Loss - Danillo Villefort - Decision (Unanimous) - Shark Fights 13: Jardine vs. Prangley
Loss - Ronaldo Souza - Decision (Unanimous) - Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery
Win - Evangelista Santos - Decision (Split) - ShoMMA 2: Villasenor vs. Cyborg
Joe Riggs (34-12-1):
Win - Trent Thorne - TKO (Elbows) - King of the Cage: 48
Win - Louis Taylor - Submission (Punches) - ShoMMA 10: Riggs vs. Taylor
Loss - Jay Hieron - Decision (Unanimous) - Strikeforce: Miami
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When your roster of fighters is so small, are you sure you wanna make it smaller?
by kreally on Dec 9, 2010 12:36 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
True, but I see no reason why they can’t just sign someone that may have some upside. The thing is though, since they don’t air the prelims, we don’t know if someone from these prelims is a legit prospect who is going to be a mainstay in the Strikeforce roster. With Villasenor, he was a perfect gatekeeper/mid-tier for their Middleweight division, and I always felt that Strikeforce lacked mid-tier fighters and gatekeepers especially since all their weight divisions generally consists of top fighters or prospects, but no one in the middle. Cutting Riggs is pretty strange considering that the last time that he appeared on Strikeforce, he was the main event.
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Riggs was the main event on a Challengers card. The fact that he is back on a Challengers card fighting people with no names and not looking great doing it speaks volumes. Besides his main event fight was watched by fewer people than the ladies on the card.
Strikeforce has more fighters in some divisions currently that they can use so they have to trim some dead wood to make room for others. Coker has said he wants to sign Jorge Santiago again but needs to make room for him first.
Makes sense to me. Riggs is a solid fighter, and it is strange that he got cut even though the last time he fought for Strikeforce, he won. I do feel that he did have a place in Strikeforce (in the mid-tier or somewhere), but quite honestly, Strikeforce can find better fighters out there if they really wanted to whether it is a UFC castoff, or maybe they have some prospect in the wings at Welterweight, and we don’t know it especially since they don’t air their prelims.
Check out MMA For You at http://www.youtube.com/user/Gobusiness123 for MMA reviews, predictions, and analysis.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
SN: DV is not funny… except when it is.
The days as champ are done... but the juggernaut known as Brock Lesnar will return.
I like Joey
but that last fight was rough. Hopefully he picks up some wins and can come back to a big show, he is fun to watch.
The Riggs thing is inexplicable to me. He’s been winning and they need depth.
"Don’t quote old fucks to me" – Brent Brookhouse
I agree with you on both matters.
Joey is a fun fighter to watch and in my opinion it’s something Strikeforce needs. Any organization would benefit from having him. He’ll never win a title but he’ll put on great fights. Maybe the ufc will pick him up, I don’t know. I personally think he would be a great fit for Bellator and I can almost guarantee as soon as Rebney hears about this he’ll be trying to get him.
And Riggs has looked decent lately. This cut really doesn’t make sense. I also think he should go with Bellator.
Bellator
Does seem to make sense for both of them. They would make interesting tournament participants.
by IWillPartyHard on Dec 9, 2010 2:24 AM EST up reply actions
Danillo Villefort
If he gets another win, we should see him in the UFC.
"How do you shoot the devil in the back? What if you miss?"
Well its not like they were offering them consistent fights as it is still sucks but meh they will be able to get fights on the regional scene
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Kind of what I was thinking
These guys both have reached a certain pay tier that Strikeforce didn’t feel they were worth. It’s just business. Bring some guys up off the Challengers circuit and give them a shot.
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
ugh, these are the guys they need to put their prospects to the test.
The problem with all of their divisions is that they have no mid tier guys to put the prospects against to get them to the next level. Every division has guys on the challengers cards who can’t get a fight with someone in their division’s upper echelon. Del Rosario can’t get a fight with Arlovski, Rogers or Bigfoot, and Tyron Woodley can’t get a fight against any of the 170 division’s top guys.
by Rob Young on Dec 9, 2010 1:33 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Kind of a slap in the face
to Riggs. What’s the point of fighting to win if there’s no reward in a contract renewal at the very least?
Luke Thomas: If Pro Wrestling had a dick, you'd be the balls!
Kid Nate: ...
Might have something to do with Riggs having little to no upside.
Not to insult Riggs but he doesn’t seem poised to break out of the lower mid-tier hell that he’s occupied for the duration of his career. I don’t applaud this move but it doesn’t really bother me either.
When a ball goes into a net, it only means something because we decide it means something. When somebody punches somebody in the face it always means something.
by lowellthehammer on Dec 9, 2010 2:25 AM EST up reply actions
He should join the UFC
Great contracts there.
Reppin' the NYMMAI.
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by S.C. Michaelson on Dec 9, 2010 10:08 AM EST up reply actions
technically, they just refused to renew Joe Riggs' contract.
by Anton Tabuena on Dec 9, 2010 2:15 AM EST up reply actions
I say bring them both to the UFC, particularly Villasenor, any guy that can go to a decision with Souza is not even close to done.
Throw him up against Sakara.
If Riggs is going to join at 170, Diego Sanchez would be a good rematch.
Villasenor to UFC, Riggs to Bellator. Amen
"But I was like "I don't know how they do things where you guys are from, but I dont think monogamy is legal in this country."
I like Joey
But who is he beating in the UFC?
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on Dec 9, 2010 9:03 AM EST up reply actions
yeah... he just lost in Shark Fights FFS
A guy on a 2 fight losing streak is not heading to the UFC.
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You would think that both of these guys are perfect benchmarks for future prospects.
Weird decision, but not very surprising.
"In this fight, Anderson showed he was human," Nogueira said. "He showed he could be weak. But he showed he is a fighter and he brings something from his heart. It was beautiful."
by Broke Lesnar on Dec 9, 2010 5:28 AM EST reply actions
What is up with a Smith vs Villasenor fight?
Both coming off losses both stand up fighters the type of fight strikeforce usually loves! Smiths recent weight cut doesnt matter too much to these guys.
Riggs isnt a bad fighter to watch either, really strange decisions for me!
Isn’t TUF middleweights next season?
Not that I condone facism or any ism for that matter. Isms are in my opinion, not good. A person shouldn't believe in an ism, he should believe in himself.
I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me". Good point there, after all he was the walrus. I could be the walrus. Wouldn't change the fact I have to bum rides off of people.
So Tim Kennedy wants to fight at 185 but can’t find a fight, and now Strikeforce is cutting people out of the 185 class? Bravo.
…unless these are the two people that turned down a fight with Kennedy…
So odd
Not much you can say I think. I just don’t understand Strikeforce and so many of their business choices. I guess that’s why I don’t do MMA for a living though…
Pretty sure they cut Riggs as his upside vs. the amount of money he made per fight wasn’t worth it. He won his last fights with them, thus he would be in a place to demand the same if not more money from SF.
by disinferno06 on Dec 9, 2010 2:27 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Not too surprised by this
I mean, one guy is coming off back to back losses. The other (Riggs) is getting very close to retirement. I like Riggs, but Sf not resigning him doesn’t bother me that much
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