Trending: UFC 161
Following Jake Shields’ dominant unanimous decision over Dan Henderson in the main event of “Strikeforce: Nashville”, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, who scored a first-round TKO earlier in the night, made his way into the cage and interrupted Shields’ post-fight interview to request a rematch of their November meeting, but the confrontation quickly devolved into a nationally-televised brawl that also involved Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, Gilbert Melendez, and others.
MORE: “Strikeforce: Nashville” Results: Shields, Melendez, and Lawal Earn Dominant Victories
RECOMMENDED
64 COMMENTS
LEAVE A COMMENT!
Latest
the announcers didn’t help by saying “this sort of thing sometimes happens in mma.” just turn the cameras on the announcers and let them talk like nothing is happening in the cage.
EXACTLY what I was thinking man. But, that’s STRIKE FORCE for you. Their announcers don’t know their ass from a a hole in the ground.
Funny stuff though…
Seriously CBS you can’t keep waterboys from loosing their cool and attacking pros, REALLLY, REALLY. Congrats though on ruining all the progress that the sport has made and showing everyone on national television that we are human cockfighting. Y’all make me sick, I love this sport and you made us out to look like neanderthals. **** you CBS and the horse you rode in on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Couldn’t agree with you more Bighurt! What a joke!
This is why UFC is the best and will continue to pound the rest… and what a joke… Henderson is done…
yea totally you can just see the difference in how UFC conducts their business, its on a totally different level. Its like the NFL vs Arena Football
you mean XFL
i like hendo but it is good to see the younger generation start to take over, good win for shields.
Surprise surprise both diaz brothers are in the mix, you see nate diaz kicking and nick on the ground in the mix, yes Miller was at fault, that was bad timing, but the diaz thugs didnt need to add fuel to the fire, but thats what they do
As, I said in an earlier discussion, Mayhem could of pervented this by simpily going in front of Shield to let him see he was coming or could of stood there until the interview was over or about over to hype a possible rematch. So Mayhem allowed this to happen…
However its to bad Shields give a little push which was no big deal and it didntl look like Mayhem was really offened or anything then “Team Gracie” come jumping in. Gilbert was the main starter of the fight imo, the the Diaz Bros do what they do and blow up the situation.
Also, MMA will get some bad Publicity for this but every sport has time when it does not look its best. I agree with craig about the announcers that was stupid to say that. This is a $h**storm that will be over in a couple days.
That’s so over the top, I didn’t see anything wrong with what Miller did. Whoever else started to throw punches was completely at fault.
After seeing it again there was a weird edit before punches flew, so idk what to think. Also, look at Shields back up then throw a punch when Miller is being held. Wow.
On the broadcast they showed what happened in the edited gap, which was Shields pushing Miller, Miller coming back, then Melendez jumping in, then it came back to what’s in the above video.
Im glad it happened… just makes the UFC look so much better… all these other BS leagues trying to “out do” the UFC…
You could tell that Hendo felt like he was playing minor league baseball…
Strikeforce go ahead and fold up like ELITE-XC
“Gentleman where on national television. Gentleman where on national television.” Not anymore. I would like to add that you see stupid fights in every team sports. It happens everywhere. I guess the only difference is this happened after the competition.
The sport is going to be just fine.
Strikeforce’s relationship with CBS, on the other hand, maybe not so much…
I agree, this won’t have any long term effects for MMA. It will pass over quickly.
Something I was wondering though, what could the chances be that CBS actually didn’t mind this. After a night of fights what most “meathead” fans would of called boring, a brawl breaks out and gives people something else to talk about.
If they are seriously worried about Strikeforce and maybe don’t want to “look bad” then I can see them being upset. To explain, I got a text from my father who was pi$$ed the news wasn’t on. But he knew I would be watching the fights and he wanted to know what happened, he thought CBS should be ashamed for letting that happen on national TV. So the opionions of people who think MMA is just violence might influence CBS.
But from the ratings point of view, and just the internet and word of mouth, this draws attention to CBS. So, i guess we will find out if bad publicity is still publicity, or if they want nothing to do with it. Either way, it will be interesting.
I think the announcers handled this incorrectly, especially saying “sometimes this just happens in MMA.” It down plays it as something that’s not as bad as it is. They should have been more vocal and saying “This doesn’t usually happen, this is just unacceptable,” then it’s the fighters involved that are the bad guys, not the sport in which “sometimes this just happens.”
It seems like most of the announcing “damage” was done by Gus Johnson, who is not an MMA guy, but rather a CBS contract sports announcer, and really had no stake in trying to put the best face possible on this…
hahaha dumb sh*t i think thats set up wat about kj and diaz the last time
Wow really? Danas going to love this. What a joke strikeforce is to the sport. Millers an idiot and needs to stick to being a dumbass on MTV’s bully beatdown. Shields needs to control himself because it was not that big a deal. Disz bros… Well Nate needs to get off CBS’ nuts unless he wants to get cut from the UFC especally after this. This is a big joke and that is why these guys don’t belong in the UFC. No class or respect at all. Thank you CBS and strikeforce, thank you for the bad name you’ve given the sport.
Very entertaining night. Congrats to Strikeforce and CBS for putting on another good and free card. If they had a quarter of the UFC talent pool they could take over the MMA world. I’m sure everyone seen bench clearing brawls in the NHL, NBA, and even MLB. MMA is a fighting sport so why would all you jackasses make such a time over people that fight for a living fighting. The NBA had players attacking fans FFS and I bet hardly anyone can remember who they were(this is where you google to look smart).
So look bad maybe, but everyone be over it in a few weeks.
The last few Strikeforce events rocked compared to the lackluster performances of the UFC.
Actually it was Ron Artest when he was with the Pacers against the entire arena in Detroit of all places, I can’t name everyone else but I was watching the game that night. Plus Artest nearly recieved a lifelong ban for the incident, and in that case it was almost warranted. It also didn’t help the NBA at all as they then started dress codes and other things to combat their image issues and even more disturbing is the fact that many NBA teams are in the red right now. Looking like the NBA as a whole isn’t something I’d want to aspire to right now. Only a few franchises are doing well.
The difference is that this was a showcase event on a network channel. Meaning that people with out cable could see this too. I’ll agree that Strikeforce has put on some good cards but be real when you say that all the recent UFC cards haven’t been good.
I’m from Indiana and a big fan of the Pacers and the Colts. I too was watching that game live between the Pacers and the Pistons. What started that brawl in Auburn Hills that night was a stupid, drunk fan throwing a cup of beer at Artest while he was laying on the announcers table, that hit him in the face. Most of us would react the same way. Jump up and stomp that dude out. Unfortunately Artest didn’t see who through it, but just the direction it came from. And we all know what happened next…Artest ended up with pretty much a year long suspension. My Pacers haven’t been the same after that and Reggie’s retirement.
@JonesZ. I too am a die hard Pacer fan and things surely have not been the same since that event took place. :(
I’m happy you’re a fan of the Pacers being from So, Cal. I’m actually a big Lakers fan aswell. Maybe the Pacers can get lucky and win the draft lottery and select someone like John Wall… :)
First of all, if Strikeforce had “a quarter of the UFC talent pool” they wouldn’t be putting ob free cards because people would actually pay to watch it. Second, during the Pacers/Pistons brawl, the announcers weren’t downplaying the fight as something that normally happens in the NBA. Third, just because fighters fight for a living doesn’t mean it’s okay to brawl during an interview. That’s like saying football players tackle each other for a living so they should be able to ram into each other whenever and wherever they please ESPECIALLY during post game interviews.
Holy Sh*t, what a disgrace. The Diaz brothers are out of control, they showed their true colors and acted like the thugs that they are. Mayhem is not the first person in mma to ever get in the cage and ask for a match/rematch. For the Diaz brothers and company to gang jump him like that on national TV was a total disgrace to the sport. Rampage/Evans didn’t even go that far, and GSP and Hughes have more respect for eachother and the sport. No wonder Dana White sent Nick Diaz packing, he ought to do the same thing to Nate. To see Nate through several kicks to a downed man while all of his gang members are punching on him. They should all be fined, suspended or banned from the sport. This Is professional MMA not South Central/Compton gang fighting.
from the replay the audio and video cut out at the prime moment… so does anyone have a theory of how it went from “how about my rematch, buddy” to a rodney king re-enactment? asking for a rematch isnt that insulting, IMO
actually rewatch the video, they come back to that later in the video and show what happens
I think its funny how guys like Rashad and Rampage can get in each others faces like that and not start a brawl, yet you make a remark in front of the Diaz bros, and suddenly a royal rumble breaks out.
I don’t think Mayhem did anything to warrant a fight, UFC brings fighters in the cage after a match for comment all the time, and everyone conducts themselves like PORFESSIONALS, whether the comments are appropriate or not.
Mayhem may have spoke out of line, but he didn’t anything that should have gotten him jumped in the ring by team Gracie…..Wonder what Dana thinks of all this and if he’ll have anything to say about Nate Diaz.
Don’t place this solely on the Diaz Brothers, they jumped in after it had already started.
That was better then Anderson Silva’s mental breakdown last week. What fools, its a wrap for StrikeForce and Hendo.
Yeah, but it was between Jake and Mayhem as far as I’m concerned. He wasn’t even involved in the brawl beyond the shove. Yet from the top view, you can clearly see the bros jumping in like a gang fight. Melendez isn’t innocent either.
As an added note, I rememebered a reason why there was a cut in the footage for a second. In all live network events if someone who isn’t supposed to be on screen intervenes in the broadcast(i.e. fans on the field) then the guys in the truck are always instructed to cut the feed. Which is why in many sporting events you only hear the announcers talking about incidents with fans and do not see them until later. It started a few years ago and I think that’s why there was a cut. You’ll notice the cut happens before the confrontation even escalates.
However, once they realized it was Mayhem (or a guy who was a fighter) they cut back to the event. I think this kinda dispproves any of the “Coker planned this” belief because if he had the TV crews wouldn’t have cut away.
look at the video closely. Mayhem is in the Cage the whole time.. Look over shields left shoulder at the very beginning, Miller is already in the cage standing next to shields.
he’s part of Hendo’s team
What the fuck was Nate Diaz even doing there? Isn’t he under contract with the UFC? Yeah, these guys appear in non-fightiong roles at other promotins’ event, but what the fuck was he doing getting mixed in this type of crap? I mean he was more or less representing the UFC there and I doubt Dana’s gonna keep him around if that’s the way he represents his company.
He was there because he is a member of team Caesar Gracie.
I still say that no matter what, if he’s under contract with the UFC he should represent the UFC by keeping out of shit like this.
I’m not arguing that he shouldn’t represent the UFC better, just saying why he was there.
As purists and fans of the sport, the people on the website, myself included are upset at this conduct. But I wouldn’t be surprised if CBS is excited by it. This actually helps build their brand as “anything can happen” so you better tune in. Ratings are the biggest deal for CBS. Plus, this really helps build a rematch for Miller that not a ton of people were interested in seeing. I am now.
Again, I’m not condoning the conduct, but it actually made me excited as a viewer. Not an MMA purist.
Ide like to see Nate and Nick have some charges against them.
It looked like a “work” to me . A little something extra so we all talk about it for a week . Didnt look like it was all that bad , shoving and movie punches …….
good night of fights ….. mousasi will get a rematch after the DREAM tourney and pound lawal out .
one way to deal with this is to fine everyone that was involved.
big deal. i went to a fight and a fight brokeout. happens in professional sports all the time. batters charging the pitchers with the dugouts getting cleared for a brawl, wild haymakers by shaq, soccer battles, i only watch hockey in hopes of a fight, happened in boxing all the time. distasteful yes but get over it. im not gonna stop watching strikeforce fights because a fight broke out.
i see what you are saying but the other sports are already accepted on tv. this is the only exposure to the sport for the up tight people who run the mainstream tv media and view mma as human cock fighting. fans of mma wont stop watching, but cbs might stop producing.
with all the BS that has happened latley and how DW’s pissed over the silva thing… i have a feeling hes gonna cut nate…
its one of those ” so you want to fight for us or SF? cause by the looks of things you want to fight for them so im releasing you so you can… have a good career with your pot head brother in some other joke of a promo”
I can’t believe that anyone could be shocked at a Diaz or two behaving badly.
These guys have created a rep for living the thug life, with all their “Stockton represent” douchebaggery, so what did you expect when a brawl broke out, that they would respond with harsh language?
While its admirable that Cesar Gracie takes students into his school “from the wrong side of the tracks” as they used to say, it would be a lot more admirable if he could tach them not only BJJ/MMA, but a thing or two about acting first like a MAN, and then like a sportsMAN…
nail on the head. the thing that surprises me is this is the 2nd time nates done this. i thought for sure he wouldve learned the 1st time afta he got sucked up in the scuffle he had wit kjs pops. im pretty sure he got a wag of the finger from dana for that one. also suprised dana hasnt said anything yet whether it b a cuttin or reprimanding of nate, bashin SF, or how cbs is a joke for the way they(and i mostly mean gus johnson) handled this. i mean yea i wanted to see the brawl but i doubt showin the replay that u cut away from was a wise choice. also y did shields have a 10 person corner? i mean really did he need all of stockton in his corner?
Why does everybody hate Nate Diaz? I was born and raised in East LA where gang violence occurs on a daily basis. Growing up in a city plagued by poverty, Violence, Drugs, and Gangs can really mess a person up. Obviously nobody on this site knows what it’s like to be raised in such circumstances, because if you did you would be a little bit more understanding. This doesn’t excuse his actions, but come on, if your raised in the neighborhood, your always going to have those instincts that helped you survive growing up. I think Dana should lay down the law and release Nate if he will not be able to grow up and control his actions. It has everything to do with him being immature, nothing to do with being a “Thug”.
The announcer really messed up and made the sport look bad, it had everything to do with those involved, nothing to do with MMA.
i guarantee to you the diaz bros instigates 95% if not all to the “thug” stuff going on out in cali.. yeah they might have had a tough life but so what? when you go to someone’s house do you act like ignorant person or do you show them respect? do whatever the hell you want to do in the privacy of your own home, but when the cameras are on and your representing an org. be a mature man.. i know its hard for nate and diaz to do but they need to work on it if they want success in their careers
nate and nick*
i wish miller would beat the F’ing sh!t out of those garbage diaz brothers.. i’m not the person to hate someone without actually getting to know them first, but i’ve seen them do this street crap too many times.. somebody needs to spit in their face to show how no one respects them in the mma world. delete this comment if you must just needed to get that off my chest :)
I dont see why everyone is being so critical on MMA. Personally, I dont see what the difference is in this fight in the Celtics fight last night. I dont like how MMA is going to be criticized, yet the NBA isnt.
Nothing wrong with Mayhem trying to hype a rematch. He knows about ‘selling’ fights and it could have been a good thing for both CBS and SF. Clearly he chose poorly on the timing. If you watch the tape, his reaction to being shoved is not angry, his agenda was promotion. You can also see when he finally gets up that he is confused why he got beat on like he did.
Diaz bros really over-reacted – although I like them – they are generally always “world is against us” and took this way too far.
SF is responsible for the folks who are permitted into the cage.
Gus Johnson did the best he could under the circumstances. His “let’s move on” approach in his second post fight interview of Sheilds was professional, as was Frank (who I’m not a big fan of). Mauro came off as childish, and I’d be surprised if it doesn’t cost him his SF gig.
Mauro Renallo should have had the experience to handle himself better than he did.
Aside from nattering on about the PRIDE days, the man almost seems…out of touch with whats going on in MMA in 2010.
At least in North America.
Maybe Mauro just had an off night, maybe he was caught verbally flatfooted when Stockton’s Men of the Year threw down, or maybe the constant badgering by our bsbiz to “shut up, Mauro Renallo!” is finally getting to him…
;-)
Correct me if I’m wrong, but weren’t the Diaz bros involved in another after-fight-brawl, when Nate Diaz confronted K.J. Noons after a match in an Elite XC event?? Anyone else see a pattern here??
The whole “Strikeforce is done now” is already overplayed. Really, you’ve never seen this before in boxing. Oh I forgot, ice hockey has never had fights break out before during AND after a game.
No one, at least that I’ve read, is saying that Strikeforce, an org older than the UFC, is done as an MMA promotion.
They are, however, most likely done airing their product on CBS, or do you really think a network airing stuff like the Ghost Whisperer and the Mentalist will be cool with the SF post-event flashmob throwdown?
I seriously doubt this brawl, as “catastrophic as it is to the MMA community” will be the end of Strikeforce or the last time we see MMA on CBS. It was stupid and uncalled for, but it is what it is.
Not as if a female fighter revealed their breast on a prime time, family-oriented televised event or anything…
Thank you Jason, my point exactly.
Ok, so the brawl was bad for the sport, and potentially the SF/CBS relationship.. What it may have been good for causing people to quickly move on and to forget, if they took notice,the bizarre commentating taking place throughout the evening and especially during the main event. I know these guys are not referees, but do they not owe the viewer at least a little objectivity? I can’t believe the way they (especially Frank Shamrock) were discrediting Jake Shields (the champion) nearly the entire time. Look to when Shields first gains the mount position on Hendo. You’d think (after them giving Shields no chance to win) that they would be commenting on how well he was doing and what a dominant position he had Hendo in, but no… Frank was talking about how much damage Hendo’s elbows (from the bottom mount) would be doing to Shield’s leg (top mount). …Just one of about 100 examples I could rail on about.. WTF? Horrible commentating guys.
Why the hell r there so many people in the ring after strikeforce fights … R they filming another rocky movie ? Watch ufc fights … Very few people in the ring … Dana would shelf any fighter pulling that crap ….