THE TORCH: THE #1 WORLDWIDE BRAND IN COMBAT ENTERTAINMENT COVERAGE - OVER 250 MILLION VIEWS & LISTENS PER YEAR REREACHING MORE FANS EVERY WEEK THAN ANY OTHER INDEPENDENT SOURCE • VIA THE WEB, MOBILE, PRINT NEWSLETTER, AND ITUNES
"I know I’m the underdog as far as who’s got the bigger name. Everyone knows who he is. But when it comes to experience in the fight world, I don’t think I’m the underdog at all. I’ve got more experience. I don’t know when he’s ever been hit in a fight, really...
Sure, it’ll be a factor. It has been awhile. But it’s not like I’ve been in a hole somewhere. I’ve been training, I’ve been cornering fighters. Fights have been offered that have fallen through. I’m sure everyone’s had that happen to them, but the right opportunity just hasn’t come in yet. This is a big opportunity for me. It’s the right fight, the right time, and the right place...
This one’s not going to be like some of my fights where I know I can go in there and be super-aggressive and smash my opponent down. I know I’ll have to be patient. He’s going to be very explosive and strong. Patience will be the key. Waiting for that combo on the feet, or that hold or submission on the mat, not blowing everything all at once... just knowing when it’s time to go for the win is going to be very important. He’s going to come in and go hard and strong, so I just got to be patient, take what I can, make him keep working, and wait for him to make a mistake. It’ll come."
-Chad Griggs talks to Strikeforce.com ahead of his fight with Bobby Lashley this Saturday at Strikeforce: Houston on Showtime.
Penick's Analysis: The fact that he hasn't fought much over the last few years is definitely a knock on Griggs coming into this one, but like he said he's stayed active in training and expects to be fully prepared for this fight. Lashley is also coming off of injury and a long layoff of his own, so it's not as if he's necessarily going to be the fresher of the two. I still think Lashley will win this fight, and he'll be expected to, but Griggs has a chance, as does everyone who steps in the cage. Hopefully he's able to provide at least more of a challenge than Lashley's had to face thus far in his career.
ALERT: Every Tuesday night, listen to the MMATorch Livecast from 9-10:30 p.m. ET or listen now to the most recent shows by clicking here. Listen live this coming Tuesday as Jamie Penick, Rich Hansen, and Matt Pelkey discuss the latest MMA happenings. Online listen at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mmatorch or call into the show at 646-716-8090 to either just listen or participate.
"There's still a large contingent of people, that they just want to see these guys almost die, or the other guy almost die and come back, and sometimes fights are like that. Certainly they are. But sometimes you get technical masterpieces too, and to hate a beautiful, technical fight - you're not really a fight fan...
Diaz has a granite chin, possesses perhaps the best recovery in the sport, his pace and conditioning are second to none and he sets records with the volume of his punches almost every time he steps into the cage. Nick Diaz is simply designed to fight the way he fights, and not many other fighters are...
"There was a lot of poison going on around there and I'm really disappointed because we had a good thing going. It was a good thing and I think people's egos got in the way. Well, not people just Javier, his ego got in the way, and too many cameras in the gym and him trying to build himself up and his brand, his AKA brand...
PART OF THE USA TODAY UFC GROUP