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View Full Version : Samenvatting opmerkingen Scott Coker bij MMA Hour



Harrie Nak
10-01-2011, 21:15
The HWT Grand Prix announcement being confirmed so soon before SF debuting in the NY market was just a matter of timing between Fedor / M-1, Alistair and everything being worked out. M-1 and Alistair are in the mix.
This tournament was the "phase two" Coker teased during an interview with Ariel in December 2010. Ariel is in the mix. Sort of.
Dealing with 8 different egos, fighters, camps, etc. was a challenge of course... but at the end of the day, all of the fighters wanted to compete in the tournament. Fighters are in the mix.
This is a "throwback event" to the days of the epic Grand Prix tournaments PRIDE FC used to hold. Participating fighters and fans were drawn to that. The memory of PRIDE is in the mix.
Strikeforce were thinking internally of Overeem potentially not being in the tournament, but Overeem himself really pushed to be in and to fight Werdum (rematch) in the first round. The Reem is in the mix.
A conference call on Thursday will be held and SF will confirm the title bouts / round situations, rules etc. for the tournament. Nothing has been 100% confirmed yet. Ideally, Coker wants all tournament bouts to be 5 rounds. All fighters are cool with potential 5 round bouts. Conference calls are in the mix.
The seeding / brackets were a result of timing (Werdum's injury and Fedor wanting to fight ASAP) and Alistair's personal request (Werdum rematch). Tournaments rarely work out where the top 2 seeds meet in the finals, so Coker's mindset is let's just get the big blockbuster fights going down ASAP. Brackets are in the mix.
If Overeem vs. Fedor goes down in the semifinals, PPV is very possible for this showdown. Coker feels SF is ready for PPV. The potential format would be two fights on Showtime, then the rest of the card on PPV. PPV is in the mix.
Showtime provided input / insight about the tournament format through their experience with boxing tournaments. They are a great way to introduce guys like Sergei to newer fans. Showtime is in the mix.
Coker brushes haters off his shoulder. He feels fans should sit back, be fans and enjoy, rather than criticizing so much. Haters aren't in the mix.
CBS is possible for a future tournament airing, but nothing has been discussed. CBS isn't in the mix.
No future date or venue has been confirmed for the Werdum vs. Overeem and Rogers vs. Barnett tournament bracket yet. The rumored April 9 date in San Jose isn't in the mix.
The Arnold Fitness Weekend people approached SF about working an event during the convention. It's a great opportunity for SF and Arnold's reps are in the mix.
Multiple athletic commissions have told SF and Coker if Barnett can piss clean for them, he'll get licensed. Barnett has also pissed clean for the CSAC since failing last summer. The CSAC is not in the mix.
Feb. 12 is an all-HWT main card. Valentijn vs. Sefo and Del Rosario vs. Johnson are both formally confirmed as main card bouts, and alternate bouts. All heavyweight cards are in the mix.
1st alternate: Del Rosario vs. Johnson; 2nd alternate: **SECRET FOR NOW** but does not involve Cormier; 3rd alternate: Sefo vs. Valentjin. Secrets are in the mix.
A date for Tate vs. Coenen is not confirmed yet, but is in the mix.
The weight class issue really prevented the Miller vs. Diaz fight from happening, which upset Coker. Nick's camp requested a 181-182 lbs catchweight, and Mayhem didn't want to cut past 183 lbs. Nick Diaz personally called SF and told them he'd be willing to fight at a heavier weight later this year if he has more time to gain weight. Nick was walking around at 173 lbs. Catchweights aren't in the mix.
Cyborg vs. Diaz fight will be "off the hook". Cyborgs are in the mix.
Herschel Walker's buzz is still strong and he is a national hero. Every major media outlet wants to cover a Herschel fight. While Herschel vs. more "name" fighters is possible in the future, his camp (AKA) wants more time for him to develop. The Don and Mark Coleman were both proposed to Herschel by SF. Mr. Walker are Don's mustache are definitely in the mix.
Bautista is not signed to SF and he's currently filming a movie with Cung Le. Bautista in a SF cage in 2011 depends on his schedule. Lashley is not a complete free agent. WWE is (sort of) in the mix.
Coker is not that eager to sign up all the recent UFC roster cuts. Some guys may get looked at, but SF is happy with developing the roster they have signed. There are great fighters out there who weren't cut from the UFC. Roster cuts aren't in the mix.
Paul Heyman in the future of SF is almost inevitable, and he's in the mix.
WHEN, not IF, the HWT GP is a success, tournaments for other divisions is definitely possible and in the mix.
No chance the tournament goes into 2012. September / October is the projected end-date for the tournament. SF will do the best to accommodate all fighters, but they won't postpone it for major injury. Injuries aren't in the mix.
Gina is doing more movies and there has been some talks about her coming back, but nothing is confirmed. Coker is confident she will come back to the SF cage in 2011. Conviction is in the mix.
Melendez will be back in the SF cage around March / April, potentially in a rematch vs. Kawajiri. Gilbert is in the mix.
Scott is very proud of how Punk did vs. Kawajiri. The fight was around just 4-5 weeks notice, Punk wasn't training at the time and he did very well all things considered. Aoki was the original opponent; Kawajiri was a late replacement. Punk is in the mix.
SF has been talking to Melvin Manhoef's people for the past few weeks. He will definitely return to SF this year. Mini Mike Tyson is in the mix.

Fyodor
10-01-2011, 22:05
Tnx voor 't posten. Mooi dat Melvin Manhoef wel weer voor SF gaat vechten!