Strikeforce Signs 47-year-old NFL Pro Bowler Herschel Walker

Post #1 » by **Headliner** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:57 pm

http://mmajunkie.com/news/16258/strikef ... walker.mma

Former NCAA and NFL great Herschel Walker has signed a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce.

The signing was first reported by AOL FanHouse, which confirmed the deal with Strikeforce executive Mike Afromowitz.

No debut date has been set for the 47-year-old former Heisman Trophy winner and two-time Pro Bowl running back, who's never competed professionally in mixed martial arts.

Herschel, a longtime martial artist and sixth-degree black belt in tae kwon do, has hinted at a possible move into MMA for the past few years. He's also been spotted at many MMA events and even was announced as part of an EliteXC/Mark Burnett reality show that never got off the ground.

Herschel wouldn't be the first NFL vet to compete in MMA, though the former Dallas Cowboy certainly would be one of the most known (and oldest). Four former NFL players were cast for the current 10th season of "The Ultimate Fighter," and others such as Michael Westbrook, Rex Richards and Herbert "Whisper" Goodman have competed in organizations across the country.

Walker's Strikeforce debut will likely come in 2010, according to the report.

Post #2 » by **CPT** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 11:55 pm

Lame.

Cammo101 · Post #3 » by **Cammo101** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 4:04 am

5th best HW in Strikeforce.

High 5 · Post #4 » by **High 5** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 4:28 am

In his prime he was more a freak of nature than anyone in MMA history other than Brock Lesnar.

I hope for his sake (and as a Georgia fan) he still has some of that insane athleticism.

Cammo101 · Post #5 » by **Cammo101** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 5:31 am

High 5 wrote:In his prime he was more a freak of nature than anyone in MMA history other than Brock Lesnar.

I hope for his sake (and as a Georgia fan) he still has some of that insane athleticism.

In his prime he was a bigger athletic freak than Lesnar, but that ship has sailed.

El Hardee · Post #6 » by **El Hardee** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 6:52 am

I remember when Hershel was in the league he was pretty heavy into Martial Arts, and this was in the 80's, anyone know if he did any wrestling in college, the dude was a athletic freak back in the dya.

Post #7 » by **Charcoal Filtered** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 3:31 pm

At 47, I do not think he is going to be an elite heavyweight. However, I am interested to see him fight.

Post #8 » by **Headliner** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 2:27 am

Think he must need cash or something.
This, and right before it Celebrity apprentice.

Post #9 » by **CPT** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:53 am

Dana White's response. I know I wasn't the only one waiting for this...

http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/09/24/dana ... e/?tid=sbn

UFC President Dana White says he's outraged that Strikeforce has signed former football star Herschel Walker to make his MMA debut at age 47, and he ripped Strikeforce's TV partner, Showtime, for engaging in a gimmick that makes the sport look bad.

"I think it's ridiculous," White told Mike Chiappetta on the Inside The Ultimate Fighter podcast. "People think we're anti-competition? We're anti-dumb competition. Doing stupid things like this, putting a 50-year-old guy in the Octagon for the first time, and then going out there putting out press releases like it's a big deal because you signed a 50-year-old Herschel Walker? Are you serious?"

White suggested that Strikeforce's partnership with Showtime has changed the way it does business, for the worse.

"Strikeforce is a small, little, regional show," White said. "The geniuses over at Showtime, these guys are the most arrogant, cocky, pompous jackasses I've ever met in my whole life."

Noting that Walker has no experience as a fighter, White questioned whether a suitable opponent could be found for him, and he questioned whether the fight would be sanctioned at all.

"Which athletic commission is going to let this guy fight?" White asked. "Who the f**k are they going to find to fight Herschel Walker? A guy in a wheelchair?"

In reality, athletic commissions sanction fighters with no experience all the time: Everyone has to start with an 0-0 record. And while it's true that not many of those fighters are 47 years old, not many of them are world-class athletes, either. If Strikeforce wants to make the Walker fight happen, it can find a sanctioning body and an opponent to make it happen.

But that doesn't mean White has to like it. Said White of Strikeforce's decision to put Walker in the cage, "It's completely disrespectful to the sport."

Bit of an overreaction in some ways (I don't really think it is bad for the sport; it will probably draw some new fans, nor is it disrespectful), though he was probably asked about it and responded.

I do agree with the bolded part though. I understand why they would want to make a big deal about this, but putting out a press release to announce to the world that you've signed 47 year old Herschel Walker is pretty funny.

I do wonder who they will have him fight.

Nemesis21 · Post #10 » by **Nemesis21** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 6:49 am

They said on MMA live on espn.com that he will make his debut on the next CBS card.

Post #11 » by **singh_shady** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:16 am

Strikeforce signed Bobby Lashley as well, that's much bigger news

Posey H8er · Post #12 » by **Posey H8er** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:05 pm

Both guys have little to no MMA experience, but they were signed for their name recognition. Good for SF. And Lashley could actually be a very solid HW.

Post #13 » by **singh_shady** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:43 pm

I haven't watched pro wrestling since early in the 00's so I don't really know anything about Lashley's WWE career. I mean, I'm going to assume he wasn't a mega star or else I would have heard of him before he started MMA but how does his popularity compare to Brocks? Smart move by SF if he's even half as popular as Lesnar.