War of Words Continues as Fight Looms
Tom Casino/EliteXC Jun 20, 2007
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 20 -- With doubts lingering around Friday's
co-promoted Strikeforce-EliteXC pay-per-view card, EliteXC
president Gary Shaw cleared the air during a press conference
Wednesday.
A successful promoter of boxing who stepped into mixed martial arts this past February, Shaw confirmed that "rumors ‘Ninja' Rua was not fighting and Baroni was not fighting" are in fact great exaggerated, and that each would step into the cage at the HP Pavilion.
Shaw, wearing a red EliteXC track jacket, then pointed to an
obvious absence.
"[Charles Bennett (Pictures)] is unable to be here today because I couldn't spring him," said the promoter, alluding to Bennett's arrest in Florida on June 15 stemming from a pair of probation violations. "I have until 10:25 tomorrow morning to board him on a plane."
Shaw demonstrated excitement and what he described as "genuine pleasure" in co-producing with Strikeforce. Sven Bean, representing the growing local promotion, said his company is "looking toward expansion and tomorrow is the first step in that direction."
Both the Strikeforce and EliteXC middleweight titles, which will find a home for the first time Friday, were on display.
Strikeforce's title is a carbon copy of the belt owned by Bobby Southworth (Pictures). EliteXC's first belt in its short history, which features the word "ELITE" in the center, represents the 185-pound crown.
The winner between Murilo Rua (Pictures) and Joey Villasenor (Pictures) will call the 15-pound gold strap their own.
"Smokin' Joe" -- not "The Mexican Hitman" or "The Dream Smasher," Villasenor told Sherdog.com after the press conference -- is ready to take the strap back to New Mexico. As the biggest fight of the 32-year-old's career looms, trainer Greg Jackson explained his fighter's position under the Baroni-Shamrock radar.
"We don't ever do this for attention," said Jackson, who also prepares Diego Sanchez (Pictures), Rashad Evans (Pictures), Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) and a host of other top mixed martial artists. "Don't get me wrong, the attention is nice, but we're here for the art."
Things nearly exploded when the press conference shifted its focus to the main event between Phil Baroni (Pictures) and Frank Shamrock (Pictures). Shaw refused to have a face-off between the middleweights because he said he wanted the fight to take place on June 22.
Baroni spoke first.
The "New York Bad Ass," who trained hard for the upcoming tangle according to his training partner Forrest Griffin (Pictures), ripped Shamrock apart during one of his trademark profanity-laced tirades.
Commenting on rising to the next level of fighting after past shortcomings, Baroni said in a monotone voice, "Many times I missed the bouquet but this time I'm catchin' it and knocking him the f--- out."
Baroni obliged an anticipated explosive moment when he thanked his sponsors during closing comments.
"You're lookin' kinda scrawny," he told Shamrock. "You need some Gamma-O, bitch."
The crowd had many laughs during the UFC and PRIDE veteran's speech, but it erupted after that verbal strike.
Shamrock retorted with a brief speech, which did not aim to entertain.
"Welcome to my show," said the former UFC and Pancrase champion based out of San Jose. "This is about fighting. This is about art and I'm proud to be here."
Shaw again took the microphone to offer his take on the current state of combat sports.
"No one owns this sport and no promoter is bigger than the fighters," he said. As supporting evidence that he does not "play favorites," Shaw asked Forrest Griffin (Pictures) to stand-up in the crowd.
The UFC veteran shouted from the back, sandwich in hand. Shaw quipped Griffin was taking advantage of complimentary food "because Dana [White] won't feed him."
The press conference ended with Shaw's predication for the Baroni-Shamrock clash, dubbed "Destiny."
"If they fight like they both talk," he said, "this is going to be the fight of the century."
A successful promoter of boxing who stepped into mixed martial arts this past February, Shaw confirmed that "rumors ‘Ninja' Rua was not fighting and Baroni was not fighting" are in fact great exaggerated, and that each would step into the cage at the HP Pavilion.
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"[Charles Bennett (Pictures)] is unable to be here today because I couldn't spring him," said the promoter, alluding to Bennett's arrest in Florida on June 15 stemming from a pair of probation violations. "I have until 10:25 tomorrow morning to board him on a plane."
If "Krazy Horse" remains locked up and cannot compete, Shaw has
lined up James Edson
Berto (Pictures) to fight Victor Valenzuela
(Pictures), who offered to spring his
imprisoned nemesis himself.
Shaw demonstrated excitement and what he described as "genuine pleasure" in co-producing with Strikeforce. Sven Bean, representing the growing local promotion, said his company is "looking toward expansion and tomorrow is the first step in that direction."
Both the Strikeforce and EliteXC middleweight titles, which will find a home for the first time Friday, were on display.
Strikeforce's title is a carbon copy of the belt owned by Bobby Southworth (Pictures). EliteXC's first belt in its short history, which features the word "ELITE" in the center, represents the 185-pound crown.
The winner between Murilo Rua (Pictures) and Joey Villasenor (Pictures) will call the 15-pound gold strap their own.
"Smokin' Joe" -- not "The Mexican Hitman" or "The Dream Smasher," Villasenor told Sherdog.com after the press conference -- is ready to take the strap back to New Mexico. As the biggest fight of the 32-year-old's career looms, trainer Greg Jackson explained his fighter's position under the Baroni-Shamrock radar.
"We don't ever do this for attention," said Jackson, who also prepares Diego Sanchez (Pictures), Rashad Evans (Pictures), Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) and a host of other top mixed martial artists. "Don't get me wrong, the attention is nice, but we're here for the art."
Things nearly exploded when the press conference shifted its focus to the main event between Phil Baroni (Pictures) and Frank Shamrock (Pictures). Shaw refused to have a face-off between the middleweights because he said he wanted the fight to take place on June 22.
Baroni spoke first.
The "New York Bad Ass," who trained hard for the upcoming tangle according to his training partner Forrest Griffin (Pictures), ripped Shamrock apart during one of his trademark profanity-laced tirades.
Commenting on rising to the next level of fighting after past shortcomings, Baroni said in a monotone voice, "Many times I missed the bouquet but this time I'm catchin' it and knocking him the f--- out."
Baroni obliged an anticipated explosive moment when he thanked his sponsors during closing comments.
"You're lookin' kinda scrawny," he told Shamrock. "You need some Gamma-O, bitch."
The crowd had many laughs during the UFC and PRIDE veteran's speech, but it erupted after that verbal strike.
Shamrock retorted with a brief speech, which did not aim to entertain.
"Welcome to my show," said the former UFC and Pancrase champion based out of San Jose. "This is about fighting. This is about art and I'm proud to be here."
Shaw again took the microphone to offer his take on the current state of combat sports.
"No one owns this sport and no promoter is bigger than the fighters," he said. As supporting evidence that he does not "play favorites," Shaw asked Forrest Griffin (Pictures) to stand-up in the crowd.
The UFC veteran shouted from the back, sandwich in hand. Shaw quipped Griffin was taking advantage of complimentary food "because Dana [White] won't feed him."
The press conference ended with Shaw's predication for the Baroni-Shamrock clash, dubbed "Destiny."
"If they fight like they both talk," he said, "this is going to be the fight of the century."
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