Email This Article - Printer-Friendly Pages - Contact Us

---

FACEBOOK TWITTER RSS APP PODCAST

Feb 1, 2010 - 7:50:49 PM

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"There's just a difference on how the fighters are treated. When we walked in the hotel there were a couple of people from Strikeforce in the lobby. By gosh, I don't fight for Strikeforce so don't worry about me [but] you would've thought they would've stood up and shook Robbie's hand but nobody did. It's little things like that where you just don't feel at home. The UFC wouldn't do that... [Jay Hieron and Joe Riggs are] back in the lockerroom and it's been three hours since they fought. And they're still waiting for someone to come and stitch them up. It's the little things that are going to drive fighters away."

-Matt Hughes talks to Steve Cofield at Yahoo! Sports' Cagewriter about this last weekend's Strikeforce: Miami event and his H.I.T. Squad fighter Robbie Lawler's treatment by the organization. The video interview is below (App users video available at MMATorch.com):





Penick's Analysis: This isn't the first time Hughes has talked about his feelings towards Strikeforce in regards to Lawler's treatment, as he sounded off on them on his own website last month when Lawler's December 19th fight was canceled at the last minute.

Of course, these experiences are not indicative to what all of Strikeforce's fighters are subject to, but it's likely situations like what Hughes discusses that could end up with Lawler heading back to the UFC instead of sticking around with Strikeforce.

Also, with what Hieron continues to battle with Strikeforce both with promises not being kept and with this three hour wait to be stitched up following his fight on Saturday, it would not be the least bit surprising if he did not re-sign with Strikeforce. He may not have the leverage to get back to the UFC, considering he's signed on to be a part of the EA Sports MMA videogame, but he may have another option with Bellator Fighting Championships.

For now, I'd expect Lawler to be on his way out of Strikeforce with one of his coaches openly spouting off about the way things are handled by the organization, and considering he's had success in the Octagon in the past he's very likely to want another crack at the organization now that it's a much bigger event than when he was a part of the organization.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE UFC NEWS AND MMATORCH EXCLUSIVE FEATURES

Help support MMATorch by answering a brief anonymous demographic survey: CLICK HERE

Comment on this article below ad...

CLICK TO RETURN TO MAIN LISTING
OR CHOOSE SPECIFIC CATEGORY LISTING FROM DROP MENU

UFC QUOTABLES: Mike Swick goes back on previous comments, says Dan Hardy does deserve Title shot against GSP

STRIKEFORCE NEWS: Cung Le says "I'm ready to go next month", wants Scott Smith rematch

UFC QUOTABLES: James Toney says he's going to be a two sport athlete, says he's not worried about takedowns from MMA opponents

STRIKEFORCE QUOTABLES: Jake Shields - "I don't want to knock Cesar's decision to train Jose Canseco, but I certainly wouldn't let him in my gym"

UFC QUOTABLES: James Toney ready to fight Randy Couture, expecting a June or July debut

STRIKEFORCE QUOTABLES: Shinya Aoki coming to Strikeforce to prove DREAM superiority

UFC QUOTABLES: Georges St. Pierre - "I want to take Dan Hardy out as fast as I can and go home"

WEC QUOTABLES: Jens Pulver - "Everyone always thought Pat Miletich had a magical touch and was teaching us all these magical things. No he wasn't. No. Never. Never ever."

WEC QUOTABLES: Jamie Varner says Ben Henderson fought scared, gets lucky in fights

UFC QUOTABLES: Brock Lesnar says Frank Mir should focus on Carwin, hopes Mir wins to set up a rematch

UFC QUOTABLES: Quniton Jackson doesn't love fighting, says Dana White lied to him

INTERVIEW: Former IFL and UFC fighter Mike Ciesnolevicz pondering retirement, hoping for exciting fight opportunity

UFC QUOTABLES: Shane Carwin - "Whatever my opponent needs to do to get themselves ready to fight me is fine"

STRIKEFORCE QUOTABLES: Gegard Mousasi - "I'm more motivated to beat King Mo because he likes himself so much"

WEC NEWS: Courtney Buck says "The WEC doesn't deal with losers, I'm making sure I come home with a 'W'" against Fredson Paixao at WEC 47

UFC QUOTABLES: Dana White talks Strikeforce, Herschel Walker, and ESPN coverage

UFC QUOTABLES: Frankie Edgar - "I will present a challenge for B.J... I just have to be well versed in everything"

UFC QUOTABLES: Ed Soares discusses "old school striker vs. grappler" bout between Anderson Silva and Demian Maia at UFC 112

INTERVIEW: Building Dynasties: Penick's Q&A with Matt Pena, longtime trainer of Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler and more

UFC QUOTABLES: Rampage Jackson - "Rashad's got no chin. A guy with a big mouth like that, and he ain’t got a chin. Its ironic."