Joe Riggs Talks Frustration With Strikeforce, Why He Left Arizona Combat Sports and Opponent Louis Taylor

by Nate Wilcox on Aug 13, 2010 5:00 PM EDT in MMA News

Riggs will be headlining tonight's Strikeforce Challengers 10 card against Louis Taylor.

He spoke about his frustrations with Strikeforce to Sherdog Radio, transcribed by MMA Fix:

"I've been training hard, but Strikeforce just didn't give me a fight," said Riggs. "I've been training, been on ‘Bully Beatdown' on MTV and stuff like that, but I haven't been able to fight. Strikeforce has been talking about this card in Phoenix for like five months and kept talking about it and I didn't know it was going to be here for sure until like a month ago. I've been trying to fight, but they didn't give me a fight."

He talked about Arizona Combat Sports to SBN Arizona:

"Trevor (Lally) is a trainer, he's not an agent and he didn't understand that and he wanted 20 percent of our money," he said. "I make more money than those guys and 20 percent's a lot of money in my purse so we offered him 10 percent. Why would we go give 10 percent for another agent. He said, '20 or nothing' and he wasn't going to train anybody that he didn't manage so we had to take a walk. That's how that went."

I'd be very curious to know if Riggs' motivations for leaving Arizona Combat were shared by Ryan Bader, C.B. Dollaway and Aaron Simpson who all moved along not long ago. Carlos Condit also trained there at one time before departing for Greg Jackson's camp in New Mexico.

He also talked about his opponent for tonight to SBN Arizona:

"In all likelihood I walk in there and one punch and the guy goes out and that's it. But you never know. I always train for the worst, expect the worst, but hope for the best. In this sports there's so many ways to lose," Riggs said.

"I think (Taylor's) athletic, he's got heavy hands, he's got a lot of ability but he hasn't had a lot of fights. He's got nothing to lose. I'm the one who's got a lot to lose. I think that's were all the pressure lies, fighting in front of my hometown, in front of all my local fans, friends and family. You don't want to look like a jack-ass out there so yeah, there's always pressure."

More BE coverage of Strikeforce Challengers 10: Riggs vs. Taylor

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I’d be very curious to know if Riggs’ motivations for leaving Arizona Combat were shared by Ryan Bader, C.B. Dollaway and Aaron Simpson who all moved along not long ago. Carlos Condit also trained there at one time before departing for Greg Jackson’s camp in New Mexico.

20 percent is a lot, and he’s basically saying he has to manage you as well? That’s bullshit. I wouldn’t doubt all of those guys left for the same reason.

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by Leland Roling on Aug 13, 2010 5:06 PM EDT reply actions

Buentello left AKA for a similar reason

Bob Cook wanted to be his manager as well, Paul said no and left for Grudge

by MattParker117 on Aug 13, 2010 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

The first thing I'm doing with a degree (gunning for finance/accounting)

Is trying to represent fighters. These fucking carnies that do it now need to go the way of the do-do.

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by Derek Suboticki on Aug 13, 2010 5:33 PM EDT reply actions

I've said it before

Only Frankie Edgar and GSP have decent agents.

by MattParker117 on Aug 13, 2010 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Subo as MMA agent? The world will explode.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Aug 13, 2010 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I write for SBN. I feel we’ve dodged that bullet.

by Derek Suboticki on Aug 13, 2010 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Good luck and God bless. More honest agents are needed.

Unfortunately I think you’ve just committed yourself to a life of poverty by trying to be an honest mma agent.

by John Nash on Aug 13, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Same here. I’m currently getting my MS in Accounting and I am definitely looking to help out some local guys with pro bono work.

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by Applejack McNeil on Aug 13, 2010 7:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Riggs was recently on the MMA Hour with Helwani this Monday and talked about alot of the same stuff.

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by MSEMCEE on Aug 13, 2010 5:52 PM EDT reply actions

interesting that no one is commenting on his frustration with Strikeforce

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by Nate Wilcox on Aug 13, 2010 5:55 PM EDT reply actions

been there, done that. strikeforce sucks for the signed guys who are actually trying to fight, because they’re busy trying to books shows around signed guys who aren’t trying to fight

Even when I'm laying on my back I'm never backing down

by Austin Martin on Aug 13, 2010 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I noticed that too

But I think it’s mostly cause it’s not much of a surprise.

"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe."

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by grizzlyatoms on Aug 13, 2010 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep.

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by Ben Thapa on Aug 13, 2010 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions

this article leaves out the shadiest part. With ariel the other day he mentioned how he only has 1 fight left on his contract, but this isn’t it. This is a special 1 fight deal with him getting money from selling tickets because it’s a challengers card.

I don’t know if that adds up to more money or less money than he usually gets, but I’m sure the usual suspects who think zuffa’s contracts are written by satan will be around shortly to talk about his contract not tolling.

by Phildo on Aug 13, 2010 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions