MMA News Forums » MMA Forums » General MMA Forum

[kickass32]

Dave Bautista Says Strikeforce Deal Is Close, Hopes to Debut in March -- MMA Fighting

Dave Bautista Says Strikeforce Deal Is Close, Hopes to Debut in March

10/18/2010 10:19 AM ET By Mike Chiappetta

Mike Chiappetta
MMA Writer
The long-rumored deal between former professional wrestler Dave Bautista and MMA promoter Strikeforce appears to be moving closer to completion.

According to Bautista -- who went by "Batista" during his World Wrestling Entertainment days -- at least one key point has been agreed upon, and while there are still other details needed to be worked out, he hopes to debut in the early spring of 2011.

"We're real close. We actually agreed on a number last week and we're sorting stuff out," Bautista told DC 101 in a Monday morning radio interview. "We should have a deal real soon. Hopefully I'll be fighting in March."

In a short interview, Bautista explained that he had trained in the Filipino martial art Kali for some time before eventually trying out Muay Thai and the ground game. After several issues with the WWE caused him to walk away from the company, the 41-year-old said MMA became a logical move.

"The grind of professional wrestling, there is nothing is more brutal," he said. "I told my mom I wanted to get into fighting. She was scared to death. I said, 'Mom, the last few years I was an inch away from breaking my neck every night and now you're worried abut me being punched in the face?'"

Bautista said he and Strikeforce had talked about him possibly making his debut in Washington DC. The promotion has yet to run an event in the northeast United States.

A company spokesperson did not immediately return a message for comment on Bautista's future in the organization, though CEO Scott Coker has publicly voiced an interest in Bautista and the two privately met during the recent Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Noons event in San Jose, California.

[Update: A Strikeforce spokesperson later confirmed that there has been ongoing dialogue between sides but that Bautista remains unsigned.]

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Dave Batista has freakshow, Japanese MMA written all over him and no matter what, this is going to be bowlingshoe ugly.

I still think this is all a ploy to get a bigger contract with Vince(who does NOT want to lose another bigname to MMA no matter who it is) or at least, keep his face in the public eye while he gets his direct-to-video career in place.

IF, and that's a BIG if, Batista fights, it's gonna be ugly as sin.

[TheDoucheyWun]

I just dont care, and wont when he's fighting Lashley either.

[ckauffman28]

hell put him against fedor... let fedor kill him, it will do amazing numbers

[Chute_Boxe44]

This guy fighting really just seems weird to me haha. I just have nooo interresting in seeing him get a contract

[Tallulah Belle]

Gotta love Batista, he couldnt wrestle in WWE, nearly broke a few peoples necks and now decides that this is what he wants to do at 41 years old. I would watch it, just to see him try some mauy thai! Hes so musclebound it would be a miracle that he could get his knee above his waist

[One-Way]

MEH