Feb 21, 2012 - K.J. Noons is well aware of your expectations. Win or lose, the mixed martial arts industry is fundamentally about entertainment, and few in Strikeforce have entertained as consistently as the polarizing 29-year-old.
So as he prepares to battle former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson in the co-main event of Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey on March 3rd, don't be shocked if Noons channels the spirit of Macho Man Randy Savage to help him get that point across.
"My fight is always the fight of the night," he boasted on Tuesday's Strikeforce conference call. "K.J. Noons is definitely stealing the show. Always. Look at my track record."
Strikeforce doesn't award Fight of Night bonuses, and if they did, Noons' bankroll probably would feel the difference. But by all accounts, this isn't an act. His high-pressure, blitzing style just comes naturally, and he would be doing this even if it wasn't expected of him.
"It's just something that's in your blood," Noons explained.
"I've had almost 45 pro fights in boxing, kickboxing, MMA. Every single fight I've had has always been fight of the night. So I know Josh is ready. This is the most I've ever trained. And it's not whether I'm trying to make it the fight of the night. It's just going to be the fight of the night."
Though don't mistake his confidence for something it's not. The last time Noons was this close to the title picture, he fell victim to MMA's key death knell, calling out Gilbert Melendez before stepping into the cage to take care of prior business in the form of Jorge Masvidal.
Everybody knows the story that came next. A surprisingly game Masvidal pulled the upset in decisive fashion, Strikeforce was left to market a headlining tilt that became the third least-watched Showtime event of last year, and Noons was relegated back to the drawing board. After all that, it's hard to blame the Hawaiian if his talk scaled back for Thomson.
"I kind of put my foot in my mouth," he admitted. "Last time I said I was pushing to get a title shot, I lost. So I'm kind of superstitious.
"I just want to concentrate on the fight ahead of me."
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Would they really give KJ a title shot if he wins this fight?
He looked pretty bad against Jorge and Jorge didn’t do well against Melendez..
But I guess they don’t have a lot of options.
by steven1crocker on Feb 21, 2012 5:32 PM EST reply actions
Yeah, they need to just pull the plug already
The anti-trust action has gone away, so let’s stop playing games and unify the organizations already. They don’t even list this card on the event calender.. not to mention it’s on the same night as UFC on FX 2!! LOL
It’s like Zuffa isn’t even trying..
"Alistair Overeem is a Dutch kickboxer who looks like someone at Marvel comics drew a man genetically engineered to fuck your girlfriend."
Hendo/Bisping:
"He hit him so hard that even gravity got scared. Bisping hung in mid-air for a moment while gravity screamed at inertia, "Did you see that shit!?" Then, after a high five, the two universal forces quit screwing around and yanked Bisping's limp body onto the floor." - quotes by Seanbaby
"You are banned from bloodyelbow because Roth was being too nice and your picture" -Tim Burke
by superfknmario__ on Feb 21, 2012 5:45 PM EST up reply actions
Thompson vs Mendez III
I really like Josh Thompson as a fighter. I don’t think KJ is at his level yet. Josh Thompson vs Mendez III needs to happen. I never saw their first fight, but i remember their 2nd fight was full of fast paced action, and i think they both rocked each other badly several times. Some fighters are just great match ups for each other, and no matter what they will always make exciting close fights For example > Manny Pacquio vs Marquez <.
What you going to do when you know who? How you going to deal with the man of steel? And how will you react to Sonnen's attack?
by Alfxtreams on Feb 21, 2012 6:45 PM EST reply actions
my post below was supposed to be a reply to this
by steven1crocker on Feb 22, 2012 12:59 AM EST up reply actions
I was going to mention this in my post...
The only problem is that Thompson just lost to a guy that Melendez destroyed (Kawajiri) and Thompson would have only won 1 fight in a row against a guy that, if he loses, would have lost 3 of his last 4.
But the fact that he has previously beaten Melendez could be a way to hype the fight. Strikeforce just isn’t deep enough to put on good title fights.
by steven1crocker on Feb 22, 2012 12:58 AM EST reply actions
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