Bobby Lashley Open to Fighting Dave Batista for Strikeforce
by Jonathan Snowden on Aug 10, 2010 8:26 PM EDT
in MMA News
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When you bring up the prospect of a Bobby Lashley-Dave Batista fight, most fans have some moderate interest. Eyes don't light up like you're proposing a Chael Sonnen-Anderson Silva rematch, but there is something cool about two giant Brahma bulls colliding in the middle of the cage. But to Strikeforce President Scott Coker, this fight is like his personal Anderson Silva-GSP. It's a fight he wants to make desperately, but two men stand in the way-Bobby Lashley and Dave Batista. MMA Torch Editor Jamie Penick explains:
Lashley is interested in the fight, but he's leaving only a small opening for them to put it together before he'll pass on the fight altogether. He's open to it, but he wants to step up against bigger names sooner rather than later. For Lashley, if Batista wants the fight, than he has "a small window. October not January."
Batista, who has been training with the Cesar Gracie crew in San Jose, isn't opposed to the idea either. But he's an entrepreneur. Unlike others who want to grow as athletes or build a career in the sport, Batista is in it for the money, pure and simple. He knows his career won't last long and he's looking to cash in immediately. Sources close to the negotiations tell the Torch that Batista is asking for upwards of $500,000 for a single high profile fight. Penick thinks the money isn't worth it:
So while Batista tries to squeeze out as much as he can from Strikeforce for as little value as he's bringing to the table, Scott Coker seems to remain the only one who actually wants to see this fight. Lashley really has no reason to take this fight if the sport and the competition are what he's after. And hopefully he'll stick to his guns and demand someone else if Strikeforce doesn't sign Batista before October.
I tend to disagree with Penick here. He's right that athletically, Batista brings very little into the cage. Sure he's got big, veiny, lean muscle. Lots of it. But can he use it effectively? Probably not. Can he use it effectively to move ratings on CBS? Probably so. And with Strikeforce looking to justify future appearances on the Tiffany network, ratings are the name of the game.
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What a dumb fight.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Aug 10, 2010 6:03 PM EDT reply actions
Why?
In a sporting sense, sure. But even at $500,000 Batista comes cheaper than Fedor. It’ll serve the same purpose as putting Herschel on a card. Why not put this fight on the beginning of your middleweight tourney, and give their best division a serious audience?
I throw raps that attack like the Japs on Pearl Harbor/MC's be out like bank robbers/Fleeing the scene, to be a sole survivor/DJ the getaway driver/Tried to dip but he dive, I socialize on vocal vibes/On tracks stabbed up with razor sharp knives
by Anthony Pace on Aug 10, 2010 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions
You think this fight attracts a serious audience? This fight attracts people that tuned in to NBC while “Wipeout” on ABC was on commercial and recognized two pro wrestlers engaging in a “real fight”.
People worry about the word kayfabe being associated with mixed martial arts. How much worse is this? Brock Lesnar had to win an actual fight before he came to the UFC. This is Batista’s MMA debut and it’s on CBS? That is bullshit. You can dice it, slice it, blend it, spread it, make it into a paste. It’s still bullshit.
If this is all about ratings for Strikeforce, I’ve yet to see the argument against Kimbo/guy with an arm growing out of his ass.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Aug 10, 2010 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Anything they can add to the Nashville card is a plus. Come on man, I know you want Strikeforce huddled in the corner, crying and shitting themselves, but how can you begrudge efforts at ratings?
As for Brock Lesnar’s “actual fight”, it was a joke of a fight. Make no bones about it, this is a ratings grab. Lashley/Batista isn’t some grand effort to “advance the sport.” It’s to help with ratings.
Lashley probably pounds out Batista in 3 minutes. But if a few hundred thousand more guys watch Luke Rockhold sub the shit out of a guy, I’m all for it happening.
I throw raps that attack like the Japs on Pearl Harbor/MC's be out like bank robbers/Fleeing the scene, to be a sole survivor/DJ the getaway driver/Tried to dip but he dive, I socialize on vocal vibes/On tracks stabbed up with razor sharp knives
by Anthony Pace on Aug 10, 2010 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Couture vs. Toney is all about ratings, doesn't attract a "serious" audience, and is being billed about a #1 contenders match.
Everybody is doing this in MMA. It’s not a big sport, even by niche sport standards, and still relies on gimmicks for money. Don’t act like this is some atrocity that only Strikeforce could every be guilty of.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Aug 10, 2010 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Yeah but
Toney is a pro boxer and blah blah blah experience fighting blah blah blah.
I agree with you; just wanted to take away that BS argument before someone else pipes in.
BOOSH
That’s because it’s not a BS argument, James Toney is a world champion boxer and Dave Batista wasn’t even a particularly talented professional wrestler and his background before that was body building. He has no sports background to build off of, heck he once injured himself jogging. The Toney fight is a joke but it’s light years beyond Dave Batista in MMA.
(who billed Toney vs Couture as a number one contender’s match?)
by who me on Aug 10, 2010 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Bobby Lashley also isn't Randy Couture
I throw raps that attack like the Japs on Pearl Harbor/MC's be out like bank robbers/Fleeing the scene, to be a sole survivor/DJ the getaway driver/Tried to dip but he dive, I socialize on vocal vibes/On tracks stabbed up with razor sharp knives
by Anthony Pace on Aug 10, 2010 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions
And Strikeforce isn't the UFC
So none of these comparisons are apt.
pretty much
I throw raps that attack like the Japs on Pearl Harbor/MC's be out like bank robbers/Fleeing the scene, to be a sole survivor/DJ the getaway driver/Tried to dip but he dive, I socialize on vocal vibes/On tracks stabbed up with razor sharp knives
by Anthony Pace on Aug 10, 2010 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions
The Answer
Co Promotion between Strikeforce and UFC so they can set up Tony VS Batista
Twitter @i_c_u_hater
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by Thats It For you! on Aug 10, 2010 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions
haha Thats it for you
good one.
If Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, Do you think Greece would help?
you must be canadian, since i see the TPB in your Avatar.
Twitter @i_c_u_hater
http://dreamthemez.wordpress.com
http://dreamthemez.unfilteredmma.com
http://fightlife.unfilteredmma.com
by Thats It For you! on Aug 11, 2010 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions
no I'm not Canadian. Just love the TPB.
If Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, Do you think Greece would help?
*above a number one contenders match.
Sorry about that one, misleading typo. I was addressing subo’s concern that freak shows get billed above legitimate sport. Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard is a solid co-headlining fight and should be co-headlining, but somehow a freakshow got that spot.
And dude, it is a BS argument. Best base for contemporary MMA is wrestling. Batista and Toney each have zero experience with it. In the old days of freak show fighting it was jiujitsu. Neither Toney nor Batista have any experience with that. Next up is muay thai… neither of them has any experience with leg kicks, knees, clinch work, or thai trips. Then finally we get to boxing, which Toney was really good at a decade and a half ago. He’s since become and overweight blob and gotten popped for PEDs twice.
If you want to say that Toney vs. Couture isn’t as bad of a freak show as Batista vs. Lashley, you’re just splitting hairs on which is more egregious. They’re both pretty bad. One has a wildly out of shape guy with experience in something which is at best tangentially related, one has an in shape guy with no experience. Whatever. I’ll watch ’em both.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
It’s not splitting hairs to say one guy is a current world champion is a combat sport and the other guy has no sports background or training in any combat sport. Dave Batista would be the equivalent of James Toney if James Toney had no boxing experience at all. Danny Bonaduce has more combat sport credentials than Dave Batista does(and would draw much better ratings).
Toney has a joke of a title.
There’s a reason that the Bros and David Haye don’t give a shit about him or his belt. This is a man who’s basically been laughed out of his sport and is coming to MMA because it’s his last resort. And if you want a technical breakdown on how badly professional boxing, particularly Toney’s cutie pie style, will translate into MMA on short notice (meaning under two years of dedicated grappling training) we can do that too.
The fact of the matter is that both fights are jokes and both are preempting the sporting element of MMA with their marketing and placement. Personally, I’m not bothered by either. But if you’re going to outraged at one, you gotta be outraged at both. Logic doesn’t follow otherwise.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Aug 10, 2010 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Toney has a joke of a title now, Dave Batista has absolutely no combat sport experience at all. He doesn’t even have a joke of a title, he doesn’t even have a history of fighting anyone in any fighting sport at all. He’s an utter blank slate. both are 41 years old, one of them has an extensive combat sport background and one of them wasn’t even a very skilled professional wrestler. Dave Batista might as well be a guy off the street as far as actual combat sport training and experience goes.
Rest assured I am not happy about either of them, they are both jokes but man it’s a completely different situation between the two. One is a washed up fighter and the other is equally as washed up but he’s NOT A FIGHTER.
by who me on Aug 10, 2010 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
It's a different situation
like getting hit with a key lime pie and getting hit with a french silk pie. Both are pretty insulting, but I’ll still be secretly happy that I got a treat. Sorry, I’m just thinking about pie. But I think we each understand each other at this point.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
I just don’t like people trying to use the Toney fight as a justification for Batista snagging a quick half million off Strikeforce for dicking around. Dave Batista has less combat sport experience and credibility than Jose Conseco.
Neither one justifies the other.
I only bring up Toney because I don’t have access to the “shut the fuck up subo” gif and he was framing the story as a Strikeforce phenomenon. The fact is that both are fun and bad, just, different flavors of each. If I wanted to split hairs I’d venture to say that the UFC doing it is worse, just like it was with Kimbo, because they swear they are the superbowl of MMA. Hypocrisy aside, it really doesn’t matter to me.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
The UFC managed to at least book an actual fighter for their shitfest. If you changed Toney out for them signing Kimbo I would agree with that logic. The fact that the most likely outcome of the Toney fight is that Toney loses and the UFC cuts him and everyone tells him to shut up about boxing vs MMA puts this as a step above doing WWE guy vs WWE guy for a cheap ratings pop.
Once Dana admitted it was a freak show
all that “actual fighter” credibility went out the window. At least in regards to my point about the UFC doing it being worse. Strikeforce is their own little promotion doing their thing and most people don’t care. UFC makes claims to be THE sporting element of MMA and have blurred the line in public consciousness between MMA/UFC. They are one in the same, and them doing a freak show could be argued as being legitimately bad for the sport.
Again, I don’t really believe that. I’ve made it fairly clear that I don’t really care, and am actually pretty happy to watch freak show fights. But it’s a legitimate argument that could be made.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
eh I know what you are talking about, I’m just bored. The crappy UFC show on Syfy comes on in 30 minutes and the Warehouse 13 episode isn’t really holding my attention.
Haha, I'm with ya man.
Killing time and having a beer right now. I miss our old back and forth pseudo-rivalry though. Arguing with you again… it felt right. Don’t leave me again.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
nottheface is going to be sad he missed out on a good internet tussle being as i am supposed to be his arch nemesis or something :D
I was a bit upset when I realized that I enjoyed talking about MMA as much as actually watching it (there is an event every couple of weeks or so but I talk about it on a near daily basis).
I see a way that (a clearly overmatched Toney) could conceivably win his fight with Couture.
Do you believe there is any way in hell that Batista could beat Lashley, who had experience on the international wrestling circuit?
That is why I cast these fights in a different light. One of them is a terrible mismatch, one of them is a (sweet) circus spectacle,
Bobby Lashleys best wins
are Bob Sapp and Wes Sims. He went life and death with Jason Guida. Batista is a big strong guy who has enough strength to knock anybody out.
Randy Couture has more wrestling AND MMA experience than not only Lashley but most men alive. He’s a top 15 competitor in two weight classes. James Toney has wrestled for 3 months.
Pardon me for not seeing a big enough difference to care.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
Batista has enough strength to knock anybody out? Just because he’s got a buff body doesn’t mean he has any skill or ability at striking at all. Normally you could say that at least he was in good shape but then we are talking about a 41 year old who injured himself jogging. He’s an aging pro wrestler with a seriously injury prone body beat up by years of pro wrestling and his big interest isn’t in a MMA career but a Hollywood career. Can he knock someone out? Can he even throw a decent punch? He doesn’t have much of anything at all in his history that points to any real fighting skill or training.
Thank you, Who Me
Im not the biggest fan of James Toney Vs Couture, but, at least there is some credibility there. Sure, the UFC had Kimbo, yes they spoonfed him Houston Alexander and yes he fought in the TUF house and once after that. You notice where Kimbo is now. Bastista is risking his health, Lashley is risking his reputation and Strikeforce are risking there TV contract with CBS. If they feeli this is how to keep CBS happy, fine, but, I have no respect for this.
If Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, Do you think Greece would help?
pdl
UFC are not calling James Toney vs The Natural a #1 contenders match. Where are you reading this? We all know who is line for a title shot. That would be Cain V first, then JDS gets the winner. So, if James Toney wins he gets a title shot. Please, I dont but it. Gimmicks are one thing. Hell a gimmick is the tournament that Strikeforce is using, or Herschal Walker or allowing a brawl in the cage or taking serious phone calls from Jose Conseco.
If Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, Do you think Greece would help?
Misleading typo, corrected above.
It’s being billed ABOVE a number one contender’s bout. It’s diminishing one of the more competitive high level fights the UFC has by billing it below a one-off freak show.
Also a gimmick is UFC vs. Boxing. Or, if you want to go the the ridiculous measures (which you did with the ‘allowing a brawl’ comment) then so is having your number one WW contender get punched after the bell to draw heat. Your comment is patently absurd, and I wouldn’t respond if i didn’t think you were being funny.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
Both fights are on the main card
Lashley/Batista means two actual fighters won’t get that slot.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Aug 10, 2010 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Last I checked, former title contender Demian Maia
is now on an unaired prelim thanks the the UFC’s freak show. Demian is a legit top 5 talent and isn’t getting guaranteed TV time? I call bullshit on that as well, sir. The UFC is leaving out a guy ranked top five in the world as his weight, Strikeforce is leaving out Joe Riggs. Oh no!
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
Has the Maia match been confirmed? It’s not on the UFC website. Was Harris vs Vedepo added to the main card?
I talked with Demian, assumed it was confirmed based on that.
UFC isn’t the quickedst about updates, especially as they work out kinks in their new site.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
No...
He moved from headlining a UFN to a PPV when the opponent on the UFN pulled out.
Oddly it doesn’t look like the official list is up, but I read that fight was going on the PPV, which would make sense since there are only 4 fights on the PPV right now.
And wasn’t the story on Maia getting moved to 118 late because of Belcher getting hurt? Can’t really blame that on James Toney.
It is.
But he’d be a main card fight if the superbowl of MMA legitimate sports league UFC hadn’t booked a freak show.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
If he’s not on the main card it’s because late replacement Gerald Harris vs late replacement Joe Vedepo got the slot not because Randy Couture is fighting a big fat slug on the card (Randy would be fighting someone on the main card if James Toney wasn’t in there).
And doesn't Gerald Harris, with his ten fight and six finish streaks
deserve a main card slot over a freak show? How about Mike Pierce, a top 20 fighter who nearly decapitated #2 WW in the world Jon Fitch? Or should an 0-0 MMA fighter with an 0-0 amateur record be fighting one of the most experienced veterans of the sport on the televised portion instead?
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
Again, James Toney’s resume > David Batista’s resume. It’s not even close. One has over 80 professional boxing matches, and the other has less athletic experience (and more injuries) than Jose Canseco.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Aug 10, 2010 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Batista being bad doesn't make James Toney any better.
That’s a fallacious argument. The UFC, who claims to be the Superbowl of MMA and a legitimate sporting league, is putting a 0-0 guy on the main card over either an ADCC champ and top 5 competitor or a man who has fought tooth and nail to win ten fights in a row, the last three of which were in the UFC. It’s a freak show, and it runs counter to everything you say you love the UFC for.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
It doesn’t matter who Randy Couture is fighting he’s going to be on the main card over all of those guys. It’s not James Toney that is making this a main card fight it’s Randy Couture. No fight with Randy is going to be on an undercard below those guys and it doesn’t matter who he is fighting. You could say that Toney is pushing a Light Heavyweight out of a fight with Randy on the card but Toney’s not the one keeping those guys on the undercard Randy’s presence is.
Compare that to Lashley vs Batista, a fight where neither one of them has earned a main card slot at all, hell neither one of them would be in a major promotion except due to pro wrestling fame. That is a fight that pushes other fights off a main card.
by who me on Aug 10, 2010 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly.
You’re helping a very tired man fend off this defending of the indefensible.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Aug 10, 2010 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s sort of funny because I really do hate Toney being in the UFC, I was happy he was fighting Couture instead of Kimbo because I was figuring that fight has a good shot of shutting him up and putting his ass back on the street. Batista vs Lashley could lead to CBS getting the idea that all freakshow for ratings is the way to go.
As long as you realize it's indefensible
I’m content.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
WE are clearly arguing just to argue
which is the best reason to argue. But I’m rapidly getting drunker and there are people over, so I can’t keep it going right now. T’was fun. Have a good night, sir.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
Fitch was relegated to the prelims after GSP beat his ass
/sarcasm
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 10, 2010 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions
#1 Contender's fight?
Link plz.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Aug 10, 2010 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah
I see that now. But it’s not like anyone won’t see the #1 contender’s fight as a result.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Aug 10, 2010 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't make jokes like that
With Alistair fighting Bigfoot, this could be for Fedor’s next opponent.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Aug 10, 2010 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions
agreed
Plus he is at a legit camp. Maybe he will pick up enough to be dangerous. He knows he will be on his back against a wrestler. Such a great camp to try and counter that the best he can.
He seems like he is taking it seriously. MMA interests him like it does us. So why blame him for wanting to get involved. I think its fun and I know Strikeforce can use the ratings. The other fighters wont mind the extra eyes Dave and Bobby bring. Its one fight. I enjoy seeing athletes cross over into other sports. Pro wrestling is fake but lets not rule out those guys as athletes. They can bring things to the table. He has a lot to overcome, but I’ll keep an open mind. Plus I hope he beat Bobby. He rubs me the wrong way lately.
Look at it this way. At least it isn't Rowdy Roddy Piper having success in the HW division.
Fedor's high price tag allows Batista to make ten times more than what he should be making
"Holy Crap Lashley is one Bi black dude. He just looks so immensely thick in that picture."
-Pain
by Barack Lesnar on Aug 10, 2010 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think Penick’s that off the mark here really. Batista was a popular wrestler for awhile but I never thought he was THAT popular IMO. While undoubtedly there will be some mainstream interest and pro-wrestling crossover for the match-up, I don’t think it’ll be anything that can contribute to the long-term considering Batista due to his age will have a short term career. And he’ll likely be kicking it off with a loss against Lashley.
I really do doubt the draw that Batista would bring, especially for that amount of money. And if he doesn’t pop the rating that they’re expecting than the whole thing blows up in their face even further. That’s a lot of money for a guy who may or may not bring in a couple million more viewers than Jake Shields and Dan Henderson drew. And when it’s also on Strikeforce/CBS/Showtime to sell the fight to viewers, I’m not convinced they can or will do any better than how they’ve sold the past shows on Showtime and CBS. And even then they haven’t been able to get these ratings bumps to carry over to subsequent shows, so I still don’t see the upside to paying him that type of money and giving him that spot.
by Jamie Penick on Aug 10, 2010 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions
It's definitely a risk they're taking...
Coker must think it’s more of a guaranteed draw than it really is IMO. While I’m not particularly opposed to the match-up, I can’t say I think it’s a good idea to expect some great Brock Lesnar-type return on that investment.
Seems like desperation
When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, and he looks you crooked in the eye and he asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail." - Jack Burton
holy shit
bobby lashley is open to fighting a guy with a 0-0 record whos totally unproven in mma and old to top it off?
im stunned
We have a saying back home that if your coming on, COME ON!!!!
my thoughts exactly. I don’t know i think the more “wwe” guys that come in and try MMA and fail the better off it is for the UFC and for Brock Lesnar.
"I’m the UFC heavyweight champion and I will be until the day I decide I don’t want to be. And that isn’t anytime soon." - Brock Lesnar
Yea, but that's a "wwe" fight
When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, and he looks you crooked in the eye and he asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail." - Jack Burton
(yawn)
When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, and he looks you crooked in the eye and he asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail." - Jack Burton
What about sanctioning??
Why should we believe that an undefeated prospect with world class wrestling would be sanctioned to fight a 42 year-old without even an amateur MMA record??
I honestly can’t believe an athletic commission would approve this just because Batista is a “Brahma Bull”….
by flingom on Aug 10, 2010 6:29 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Mr. Snowden
Pretty sure San Jose is AKA territory. Cesar Gracie has spots in Pleasant Hill and Stockton, but I don’t think he is in San Jose.
BOOSH
Was hoping some one caught that. You are right, AKA is here in San Jose, and Cesar Gracie is in pleasant hill or concord. I can’t remember, but it’s not far from The UFC gym.
by havomaster on Aug 10, 2010 8:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Nobody cares about Batista
We wanna see Lashley man up and finally take on TBA.
Lashley vs Batista
I think alot of people are over estimating the drawing power of a Match between these two.I don’t think the ratings or if it’s a PPV the numbers won’t be huge.If Vince McMahon isn’t putting these 2 in the cage/ring forget about it.
by TERRENCEFROMSOUTHEAST on Aug 10, 2010 6:44 PM EDT reply actions
It’ll bomb on PPV
I throw raps that attack like the Japs on Pearl Harbor/MC's be out like bank robbers/Fleeing the scene, to be a sole survivor/DJ the getaway driver/Tried to dip but he dive, I socialize on vocal vibes/On tracks stabbed up with razor sharp knives
by Anthony Pace on Aug 10, 2010 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions
When the WWE can’t even do good ratings on network tv you have to wonder why to former WWE guys would be expected to draw huge without the WWE behind them(not to mention without a UFC style push for the fight). This isn’t at all a guaranteed draw, heck it’s a very risky move.
They still get 3 to 4 million eyes.
/sarcasm
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 10, 2010 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions
— Saturday’s WrestleMania 26 special on NBC posted a terrible 0.65 (0.7) broadcast rating and 1.78 million viewers. The show led NBC draw the lowest ratings on Saturday night among the 4 big television networks (ABC, CBS, FOX & NBC). Ouch! OUCH!
http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2010/0809/530706/index.shtml
Saturday Night’s Main Event (which aired on 3/18 from 8 to 10PM ET) on NBC scored a 3.11 rating or 5.15 million viewers. @ Saturday Night’s Main Event (which aired on 7/15 from 8 to 10PM ET) on NBC scored a 2.6 with a 5.4 share.
http://www.gerweck.net/tv-ratings/2006-ratings/
They did ok ratings in 2006 (well they were considered terrible, particularly the 7/15 show). 5 million viewers would be good for a CBS MMA event but that was with the WWE putting it’s full marketing behind those events and Lashley vs Batista without the WWE pushing it won’t even get those kinds of numbers unless CBS decides to do something they haven’t done before and push the crap out of MMA.
It's a saturday night
Most fans don’t want to watch wrestling. They’re out partying. Especially when it’s shit they already saw. Especially when it’s just highlights set to music.
I’m talking about their RAW numbers and S!D numbers
/sarcasm
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 10, 2010 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Network is different than cable. Yes the WWE does big ratings with Raw on cable but that didn’t really translate to network tv. That’s the reason NBC had the crappy highlight show they are just filling up their obligations to the WWE with crap like that instead of doing more live events. As far as Saturday night goes, CBS events are also on Saturday nights and face the same issues. Of course the lack of overall network viewership for Saturday is why they will accept MMA ratings as anything besides awful.
Are you serious?
If they put it on PPV then they are done for.
Dana White can just say “Hey I’m going to put a free Fight Night on Spike live coast-to-coast” and that will immediately blow their PPV numbers.
Nick Garcia is the Brian Russell of MLS but 10 times worse.
No way this happens. Batista will not make it through a full blown training camp without incurring an injury.
Keep Firing, Assholes!
Truculence, Belligerence, & Pugnacity
Very good point
I’m looking forward to this, but you’re right. If he’s been doing bodybuilding oriented workouts and then switches to more explosive training, that can’t be good for the ole tendons and ligaments at his age/possible chemical history. Never mind the regular grind of the training.
The fastest Grey man alive.
Who says he actually trains?
Show up at Cesar Gracie for some photo ops, go into the ring, get beat like you’re supposed to, cash your $500k check. Ka-ching.
Batista couldn’t make it through a full blown bible camp without incurring an injury.
by ufc4 on Aug 10, 2010 9:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 5 recs
Speaking in tongues looks exhausting
"Holy Crap Lashley is one Bi black dude. He just looks so immensely thick in that picture."
-Pain
by Barack Lesnar on Aug 10, 2010 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions
I down to see Batista try himself against anyone
Even if it has to be Bobby Lashley. I don’t mind watching someone try their hand at this.
Dave in the UFC would be horrifying, but SF’s only goal is to put on whatever fights they can get, and whatever will draw. The realest fighter they have got subbed and won’t fight the champ anyway, the guy who beat him for #1 contender-ship is in limbo and probably still isn’t a big draw, while the belts they can actually get fighters to compete for are on the Showtime card.
I think Dave will be fun and maybe help pay the fighters who toil in the undercard if he can actually draw.
The fastest Grey man alive.
The drawing power is being overrated.
Lesnar wasn’t a draw until he had the UFC hype machine behind him in full force. And a lot of that comes from his polarizing public figure, his matches, and his fights always ending dramatically except for Heath.
Lashley doesn’t have much a personality at all from what we’ve seen, and he’ll be fighting a 0-0 guy with no background.
I don’t see it.
Nah
Lesnar would’ve drawn immensely in Strikeforce. He could’ve popped 300K in Strikeforce. You put Lesnar’s debut, plus Fedor, plus a couple title fights, that’s 300K
/sarcasm
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 10, 2010 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions
K-1 tried it
Didn’t work. Royce Gracie is a bigger name than Fedor will ever be, and with this card they sold something like 14 PPVs (35000 apparently), and papered the event into 1/4 full.
Bernard Ackah Johnnie Morton
Mighty Siliga Ruben "Warpath" Villareal
Yoon Dong-Sik Melvin Manhoef
Hideo Tokoro Brad Pickett
Royce Gracie Kazushi Sakuraba
Brock Lesnar Min Soo Kim
So they take Brock Lesnar and put him on a card with Royce Gracie-Sakuraba (a much more valuable fight than anything Fedor, IMO) plus throw on a few hometown heroes (Morton, Mighty Mo) and still sell something like 3000 tickets and 35000 PPVs?
People completely underestimate the power of the UFC brand in pushing a lot of these fights. If Strikeforce keeps half assing their promotion and banking on these one-time bumps that don’t end up that big, that’ll be it for them.
Which sucks, because I like seeing free fights.
Royce Gracie is not a bigger name than Brock Lesnar in America
I hate to tell you that.
And that wasn’t promoted by Strikeforce which has a solid TV presence.
/sarcasm
by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 10, 2010 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree
That’s why Brock got paid $500K to show and Royce got $300K.
The point I was making was that Royce is a much much much more well known name than Fedor, and pairing Brock with Royce outside of the UFC amounted to jack and shit. Strikeforce may have a TV deal but I wouldn’t call it a TV presence. It’s not like they have a built in fanbase tuning into their TV show every week where they can advertise the PPV.
Let’s pretend they use a CBS card to build up the PPV…who do they put on the CBS card? They really don’t have enough talent on the roster to pull out all the stops for 2 separate cards, and I don’t think they can afford to tank on CBS again (assuming CBS even lets them air again).
If they’re banking on the half a million people who tune in to Strikeforce on Showtime (on a good night) to buy a PPV, well, good luck. I buy everything and I wouldn’t be buying a Strikeforce PPV. UFC loaded up a WEC PPV and pushed it with all their might and it barely did a couple hundred thousand buys. Strikeforce would be lucky to touch Affliction’s numbers.
Hey, try to find a larger picture next time.
by ufc4 on Aug 10, 2010 9:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
DAMMIT! When is TBA going to get his shot at Lashley?
This is bullcrap.
Nick Garcia is the Brian Russell of MLS but 10 times worse.
by SSreporters on Aug 10, 2010 7:11 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
i don’t think it would shock a lot of people. Im not sold on Lashley being a serious prospect. Guida took him the distance. Imagine what any top 20 hw would do
"I’m the UFC heavyweight champion and I will be until the day I decide I don’t want to be. And that isn’t anytime soon." - Brock Lesnar
Any top 20 hw is probably going to maul Lashley at this point in his career but Dave Batista is no top 20 heavyweight MMA fighter, heck he isn’t a MMA fighter at all(he isn’t any kind of trained fighter).
I say first time either man Batista or Lashley fights a true HW talent they get destroyed and swept aside.
"I’m the UFC heavyweight champion and I will be until the day I decide I don’t want to be. And that isn’t anytime soon." - Brock Lesnar
Dave vs Bobby
Sounds like an elementary school scrap
"If I woke up looking like that, I would run towards the nearest living thing and kill it." -Master Shake
I don't even know who these guys are
in terms of their WWE characters, and I haven’t watched pro wrestling in years and years… but I get giddy every time this fight is mentioned. There’s just something really fun about watching two pro wrestlers fight each other for real.
...like young thieves in a glowing orchard, loosely jacketed against the cold and ten thousand worlds for the choosing.
- C. McCarthy
Not at all interested in this fight. Barely interested in watching Lashley as it is with the normal competition they put him against, but this drops it to zero for me. Not saying it won’t sell some (don’t think it will be as big as they think though). But I don’t like putting a guy with zero combat sport experience (no boxing, no wrestling, no other M.A.) in any kind of important match-up. Hopefully they will not let it headline and at least build a great card besides this fight.
No sir
Don’t like it, not one bit.
I’d rather see Pudz and Lashley, that’s how little I want to see this.
The guy Herschel Walker fought has better fighting credentials than Dave Batista
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Aug 10, 2010 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Nagy has actually trained and fought MMA so yea that puts him way above Dave Batista. Of course maybe the couple of months worth of photo op training that Dave has done lately has made up for his 41 years of not doing any combat sports training or competition at all. A clean slate at 20 is one thing a clean slate at 41 with a guy who’s muscles have a bad habit of separating from his bones is very much a different thing.
Well.
The “this fight has to take up a TV spot of a legitimate MMA fighter!” argument in regards to why this fight should not be made is a pretty flawed argument. Without this fight, there would be no TV spot. Period.
And then God created Saturn... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
Twitter me and what not.
seriously
i bet bastista is tougher competition then the can lashley is gunna fight anyways, so why not make this fight?
The Red Wings will come back stronger
RESTORE THE ROAR 2010 Detroit Lions
Green Ranger beats them both imo
"I’m the UFC heavyweight champion and I will be until the day I decide I don’t want to be. And that isn’t anytime soon." - Brock Lesnar
by MMA_PITBULL on Aug 11, 2010 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Yes after his two months of photo op training Dave Batista will really be a tough MMA fighter…….. He’s a 41 year old who has never trained for or competed in professional combat sports in his life, if it wasn’t for his pro wrestling fame he would be lucky to even get booked on a local card. There is absolutly no way to know how he will perform in MMA because he’s never done anything combat sport related at all, heck he wasn’t even that good of a pro wrestler, his gimmick was being big and mean.
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