10 Struggling MMA Fighters That Will Bounce Back

EA MMA Game Helps Send Hieron to Strikeforce, Will Fight Diaz For The Title


(‘Have you ever wanted to own a championship belt made of genuine snakeskin or whatever the hell this is? Hi, I’m Jay Hieron, and I’m offering you the opportunity of a lifetime…’)

Guess the UFC is more serious about drawing a line in the sand over the EA Sports MMA game than Jay Hieron previously thought.  Though the fighter told us he was all for signing on to the game and didn’t think it would keep him out of the Octagon, it appears to be a major factor in sending him to Strikeforce rather than the UFC.  The former IFL welterweight champ has now officially signed on to face Nick Diaz for the Strikeforce welterweight title on August 15, and he had to turn down an improved offer from the UFC, partly because of his commitment to EA and partly because of the allure of a championship belt:

"I couldn’t turn down an opportunity to fight for a title shot," Hieron told FanHouse. "I had other offers on the table and with the UFC. I just signed a video game deal that I was obligated to [and] I couldn’t get out of it. … UFC stepped up the offer for me. It was a great offer, but again, I signed a deal with EA Sports. I was definitely surprised and I was ready to go back to the UFC. I got a great opportunity with Strikeforce, though, and I’m excited to fight for a title."


Take note, other non-UFC fighters.  Unless your name rhymes with Tandy Schmouture, the UFC is not willing to look the other way on this video game thing.  You can’t fault Hieron for his decision, though.  This way he (presumably) makes a little scratch off the video game, whereas UFC fighters get nothing but continued employment for signing away their likeness in perpetuity, and he gets to immediately fight for a title against a highly regarded welterweight in Diaz.

All things considered, he made out well in this Affliction debacle.  Kind of like the anti-Josh Barnett.

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Jay Smith- July 30, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Armfarmer, I've agreed with you on a lot of issues, but I'm gonna have to dangle shitbags testes in the ol mouthpiece on this one.
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Old_Bald_and_Irish- July 30, 2009 at 8:52 am
I wonder if Barnett will be in that game? Then I can have Jay knock the hell outta Josh!
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shitbag- July 30, 2009 at 8:20 am
@ArmFarmer

Scott Smith is mediocre?? You go fight him you ignorant moron and find out. Diaz may not beat GSP - but he would be his greatest threat and has a better chance to beat GSP than any other welterweight on earth. Jesus, get Dana's cock out of your mouth.
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ArmFarmer- July 30, 2009 at 7:40 am
Why? Because he beat down an over the hill shamrock and a mediocre Scott Smith? Diaz is the man but there are a good number of ufc welterweights that would probably beat him.
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shitbag- July 30, 2009 at 7:23 am
Hieron totally made the right decision. He will actually make money off his video game deal - while NO FIGHTERS IN THE UFC MAKE A DIME OFF THEIR VIDEO GAME - and he will fight a WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better welterweight than he would in the UFC. Who would he fight in the UFC? Kapmann? Srsly? Nick Diaz is by far the best welterweight in the world not named GSP. Go Hieron.
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ArmFarmer- July 30, 2009 at 4:22 am
"Especially stupid when it's over about a fucking video game; and a retarded, turbo-button spoiled, shit game at that."

I thought this game hadn't even been made yet, or is that just speculation? Or do you have it confused with undisputed?

Also, this isn't as much about ufc trying to control their fighters as it is trying to stick it to EA for disrespecting and refusing to work with ufc in the past and saying that it "isn't even a real sport". Honestly that kinda pisses me off too if it's true cause it basically means they don't take the sport seriously but eventually realized there's money to be made off of it so they jump on board.
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ZombieRock- July 30, 2009 at 1:04 am
I still think that the UFC is trying to exert too much leverage over it's fighters. Especially stupid when it's over about a fucking video game; and a retarded, turbo-button spoiled, shit game at that. Clearly, making money means more to Zuffa than the sport or making great fights. All the UFC is doing is empowering other promotions by providing them with quality/intelligent fighters that want control over their name and likeness. Bad business plan.
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Dana White- July 29, 2009 at 10:49 pm
mmaflunkie get off the UFC nuts sack go back to watching WWE and NASCAR. Lesnar bringing all his shitty wwe fans ........Strikeforce has had better fights this year then UFC and Dream. UFC 100 was garbage.
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Endocat- July 29, 2009 at 9:13 pm
free ppvs, thats what im talkin about
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Bob Reilly- July 29, 2009 at 7:11 pm
I'll be watchin strikeforce ppvs free on the internets too.
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KarmaAteMyCat- July 29, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Look the fact stand, in the WW division Diaz is the man. In retrospect you can all say whatever you want because you don't really matter or understand the Ideology behind being a champion and fighting one of the BEST WW in the world. I love hearing this bullshit blah blah blah blah Wank wank wank. Such a bunch of Bias Douche bags eh? as for Barnett he didn't fuck up that PPV Tom Atencio did by not setting up the event the way it should have been, You know with Replacement fighters in the event that something like a terrible Car accident happened or someone got caught doping you know maybe someone with a History of doping? Maybe someone who lost his UFC championship for doping.. Oh well it's here nor there anymore. Good job go get your ass beat by Diaz make some money and go home a winner in someones book.
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Cuntalope- July 29, 2009 at 6:43 pm
"How soon would he get a title shot in the UFC? A couple years maybe? Now he gets an instant shot at a belt and some EA money. Way to go Jay!"

Well if the goals just to get any belt regardless why does he even bother fighting, why doesn't he just stay at home go into his closet and put on a normal belt to hold up his pants. The Strikeforce welterweight title is worthless, their welterweight division of 5 people is laughable. Id think id rather spend a few years and earn a crack at a legit belt and prove I'm the best in the world rather than being in strikeforce fighting ufc wash outs lol. But this guy obviously knows he's not good enough to cut it in the ufc, way to go indeed.
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T BONE- July 29, 2009 at 5:44 pm
i agree with cheeto.

fuck josh barnett.
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ReDx- July 29, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Jay needs to get the matching shoes, hat and luggage for that belt.
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djavulkai- July 29, 2009 at 5:31 pm
You have either really misworded your actual point or you are being intentionally very misleading....

The UFC thing had nothing to do with this particular story. He said that "UFC stepped up the offer for me. It was a great offer", but also says "I couldn't turn down an opportunity to fight for a title shot" and "I just signed a video game deal that I was obligated to [and] I couldn't get out of it"...

Basically, the UFC offered to have this guy fight for them, but because he wanted to fight for a title shot and because he didn't want to change his agreement with EA (whatever that was - he doesn't specify), Jay Hieron CHOSE not to go back to the UFC.

Sounds like UFC bent a lot to try to get this guy to fight for them and he decided not to... the exact opposite of what you are trying to spin this into...
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ReDx- July 29, 2009 at 5:29 pm
If anybody is trying to get a cheap Affliction shirt, they are selling the Fedor vs Barnett and Trilogy shirts for $10. I'm not saying I'd buy it but its almost comical to have the shirt for the event that killed Affliction.
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Junk Puncher- July 29, 2009 at 5:24 pm
How soon would he get a title shot in the UFC? A couple years maybe? Now he gets an instant shot at a belt and some EA money. Way to go Jay!
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JiMMA- July 29, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Good for him, He would have gone no where in the UFC WW devision.

He now has a shot at another high profile org. title and actually have a good chance of winning it!
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mmaflunkie- July 29, 2009 at 4:47 pm
UFC fighters make up the difference with larger contracts and locker room bonuses. Plus, would you rather tell chicks you fight in the UFC, or fight for Strikeforce or M-1 Global??? I'm guessing the UFC adds a bit more street cred to the general public. NFL or CFL? You tell me.

I bet Hieron made $15K tops for signing with EA. Chump change!!!

Plus...no way are any of these fighters getting points for being in the game. They're still getting screwed one way or another.
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FreddyFangers- July 29, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Diaz still wins. Definitely great addition though. Looks like a few more big fighters and Strikeforce will start putting on PPV cards and let ShowTime strictly have SHOMMA Challengers series. Fuckin' Hooray.
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clutchy hopkins- July 29, 2009 at 4:33 pm
sweet, this fight should be great.
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MyFightWiffaCheeto- July 29, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Good for Jay. Strikeforce Card after falling off a bit has redeemed itself greatly.

Fuck Josh Barnett.
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Goat- July 29, 2009 at 4:28 pm
The only feel good story to come out of this cluster fuck of events.
0 0 Reply

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