Riggs Released from Contract, Signs With Strikeforce
UFC veteran Joe Riggs has been released from his UFC/WEC contract and has signed a more lucrative contract with Strikeforce according to The Fight Network:
The seven-time UFC veteran says he recently asked promoters Zuffa LLC. to release him from a four-fight co-promotional contract with its sister organization World Extreme Cagefighting to pursue more lucrative offers that would entail less fights.
Subsequently, Riggs has signed a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce and will make his debut for the San Jose, Calif. promotion’s Sept. 29 “Strikeforce Hits the Playboy Mansion� event at the famous Los Angeles hotspot. The 24-year-old wrestler will challenge striker Eugene Jackson for his Strikeforce U.S. Middleweight Championship title.
His opponent in the September 29th bout will be fellow UFC-veteran Eugene Jackson. Jackson competed in the organization between 1999 and 2002. In 7 fights Jackson earned victories over Royce Alger, Keiichiro Yamamiya, and Keith Rockel while losing to Sanae Kikuta, Jeremy Horn, Ricardo Almeida and Mark Weir. In his last 3 bouts, all with Strikeforce, Jackson has earned wins over Jorge Ortiz, Mike Seal, and Ronald Jhun.
Riggs has a 26-9 MMA record across the heavyweight, light heavyweight, middleweight, and welterweight classes. He currently fights as a middleweight. Although not seen in a Zuffa-owned cage this year Riggs has one of the more extensive UFC records out there. Riggs defeated Joe Doerksen in his UFC debut, lost to Ivan Salaverry, and then defeated Chris Lytle to earn a welterweight title shot against Matt Hughes at UFC 56. Hughes defeated Riggs by first round submission.Following the loss Riggs alternated wins and losses defeating Nick Diaz and Jason Von Flue and losses to Mike Swick and Diego Sanchez.
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Its too bad, I liked Joe Riggs. Im curious to see how he does.
Hey Kris, have you heard anything on Manny Gambuuryan (sp)?
No I haven't really heard much about him. If I remember right I heard about something a while back nut nothing significant. I don't think his shoulder required surgery so my guess is he might fight at UFC Fight Night 12 which will likely happen before years end.
I should add that this is an interesting move and this card could turn out to be pretty good (if having it at the playboy mansion wasn't enough).
I liked Riggs, too. The guy is still young and talented. He is in his twenties, so he still has the potential to live up to his talent. Hopefully we see him back in the UFC. I would have loved to have seen him fight Luke Cummo.
One of my favorite storys about Riggs came frome FIGHT! magazine. It was an artical on Nick Diaz. Apparently after one of their BATTLES, they both were takin to a nearby hospitol. They began kicking the hell out of eachother i the hospitol. It took security threatening to TAZE them to get them to break it up. I guess Riggs still had an IV in and it got pulled out spaying blood everywhere. Nick is a madman, but I would like to see him)and DESIL RIGGS) back in the UFC soon.