Strikeforce announces release of Phil Baroni with talk of possible UFC return
by MMAmania.com on Aug 13, 2009 6:28 PM EDT
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Strikeforce today announced that it was parting ways with Phil Baroni, coming on the heels of a Sherdog.com report that "The New York Badass" was likely headed back to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Here's a snip from Strikeforce Founder and CEO, Scott Coker:
"We wish Phil the best of luck and hope he can revive his career. If he can, maybe one day, he can return and fight for us."
Baroni has competed twice for Strikeforce in his 24-fight career that dates back to 2000.
He was submitted by long-time rival, Frank Shamrock, in an event co-promoted with Elite XC in 2007 and was most recently on the wrong end of a lopsided unanimous decision to Joe Riggs at "Lawler vs. Shields" this past June.
The performance against "Diesel" marked his first defeat in four fights since rebounding from a three fight losing skid, as well as his first loss at 170 pounds.
The former heavy-handed middleweight seemed revitalized welterweight, closing out 2008 with three straight wins over Scott Jansen (KO), Ron Verdadero (TKO), and Olaf Alfonso (decision) after dropping down to compete as a welterweight in the 170 pound division.
The 33-year-old Pride FC, Elite XC and Strikeforce veteran, reportedly, has now verbally agreed to return to where his career essentially began with the UFC. No contract details were revealed at press time; however, it seems plausible based on his good relationship with company president, Dana White, and his colorful ability to promote fights.
Baroni competed eight times inside the Octagon between 2001 and 2005, compiling a lackluster record (3-5) during that span. He fought Evan Tanner and Matt Lindland twice (four total fights) and lost all of those middleweight matches. Baroni is perhaps best known for being upset by up-and-comer Pete Sell thanks to a guillotine choke that put the Long Island, N.Y., native to sleep.
He'll need to certainly step up his game if he is indeed UFC bound because the promotion boasts the most talent-rich 170-pound division on the planet.
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Aside from re-signing Coleman, and extending Alexander after he lost 2 in a row, this would be the most retarded re-signing in the history of the UFC.
by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Aug 13, 2009 8:34 PM EDT reply actions
I’d like to see him in the WW division in the UFC… he won’t ever be relevant, but he sure is exciting!!
by ---Caesar--- on Aug 13, 2009 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Uh… you mean un-exciting right?
by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Aug 13, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions
no, Baroni is exciting and he brings some well needed personality to the UFC’s WW division!.. I throw up over guys like Jon Fitch, I wan’t him to lose and disappear, he can’t fight and he’s the most boring guy ever!
by RoBerto on Aug 13, 2009 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions
After reading some of the lower post I’m thinking bringing personality to TUF & a veteran fighter?
by Beaver on Aug 13, 2009 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe they don’t want former UFC fighters to be associated with Strikeforce?! We will see if they try to resign Scott smith or riggs, then we’ll know for sure coz they already have serious interest in diaz and robbie.
by NameNotRequired on Aug 13, 2009 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Who knows for sure the TUF rumor sounds entertaining to me but who knows for sure? If the UFC signed a TV deal and they may be putting on more shows and need more fighters, or maybe this rumor is false, or………
With the Tito signing maybe your right?
by Beaver on Aug 13, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
NY will is close to being legal. He will be a big draw at the M. S. Gardens
by ehoglund on Aug 13, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I can’t think of anyone of consequence that he could beat in the WW division. Hire and fire him after his his first fight (which he will lose). Those damn Rick Flair robes :/
by DSmith on Aug 14, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Baroni is a can. You’re not much of a draw when everyone knows you can’t beat anyone on the roster. If the UFC wants to lay claim to being the promotion that only brings in the best fighters they would be taking a big step back here. I can’t handle watching this idiot talk about how awesome he is for an hour of pre-fight hype before he gasses in 30 seconds.
by Jeremyjackson on Aug 14, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I’ve talked about it for years and now it’s coming to fruition finally, the Phil Baroni/Dana White fight commentary team is now possible again. Never will anyone have heard so many f bombs dropped in their entire life time during one ppv broadcast. Can’t wait for this!
by O damn he got caught on Aug 14, 2009 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I’d like to hear a Rampage Jackson/Don Frye/Bas Rutten commentary; gold. I know Page and Frye commentated a fight/event in pride and it was hilarious. Don wasn’t even talkin about the fight, just talkin about drinkin beer and how if he was in there fighting he’d beat both their @ss’s. It was awesome.
by O damn he got caught on Aug 14, 2009 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Who knew that the UFC would be signing Strikeforce rejects?
by Diceman on Aug 14, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Actually now that I think about it; signing Phil Baroni makes perfect sense, now they have half of their next main event for the next UK card.
by O damn he got caught on Aug 14, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Baroni > 170
Cote > 185
Cote would put him in a coma.
by DJ on Aug 13, 2009 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I think you mean
Baroni <= 170
Cote <= 185
by GSP4Prez on Aug 14, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions
What I meant was Phil fights at 170; Cote fights at 185. The symbols weren’t used in their true mathematical context.
by DJ on Aug 14, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
please sign Phil! he is one of my faves, so fresh so italian!
by RoBerto on Aug 13, 2009 8:36 PM EDT reply actions
you forgot so retarded.
by El Mexicutioner, formerly The Mexicutioner on Aug 13, 2009 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions
sorry, but it goes the other way. the scrubs go from ufc to strikeforce. im sure dana is chomping at the bit to bring this guy in.
by J-J-is-God (formerly day1er) on Aug 13, 2009 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions
makes no sense. its like being cut from the highschool football practice squad and then signing to a starting position in the NFL.
by Egads on Aug 13, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions
He just came off a loss to Joe Riggs. So are we to assume Diesel is on his way back as well?
by DJ on Aug 13, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Is the UFC hurting for ratings so badly that they need to bring in a 3rd-rate one-dimensional guy who’s barely .500 for his career? I think not.
by PW on Aug 13, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I was thinking what the F but someone stated below maybe the UFC is bringing him in for next years TUF? That would be a good fit for him and his personality = ratings + being a veteran fighter the UFC knows lets the UFC fans judge the TUF fighters talents easier not to mention he would bring the ratings up?
by Beaver on Aug 13, 2009 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions
He has sucked for SO LONG! Does he really bring in rating significant enough to warrant resigning?
by DSmith on Aug 14, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions
he could make some good fights with the right matchups or could be thrown to the wolves of fitch, koscheck, alves etc
by sac165 on Aug 13, 2009 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I can’t imagine Phil Baroni coming back to the UFC, after getting dumped by Strikeforc he’s not good enough… I was surprised Coleman came back but he’s a UFC Hall of Famer, and much to my surprise he’s done well! I hate Baroni and don’t think this guy has anything to offer the UFC.
by THORAZINE (Formally Dave A, formally Thorazine now back to Thorazine, thanks for the advice Kevin) on Aug 13, 2009 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions
(FORMALLY DAVE A, ORIGINALLY THORAZINE)… I hate Phil Baroni, he’s Randy “THE RAM” Robinson of MMA! Mania should have put Baroni and Shaq on the same Thread to save time n’ space… I hate them both! Baroni is not good enough to go with the UFC, hell’’’.. Strikeforce cut him for Godsake! Just keep the guy off the tube and let him fight in the smaller shows…
by THORAZINE on Aug 13, 2009 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Baroni is an absolute can, but I like to listen to his pre-fight hype…. Hopefully we’ll see him back in the Octagon soon
by ScissorSweep on Aug 13, 2009 8:38 PM EDT reply actions
I would like to see phil in the ufc. He would never contend for the title, but i do see him putting on some exciting fights and i could see him as a gatekeeper for guys coming off the tuf series. He loves to slug and is always in exciting fights. He also loves to hype up fights and gets fans interested. Here are some match ups i think would be guaranteed fireworks:
Phil Baroni vs. Matt Brown
Phil Baroni vs. Chris Lytle
Phill Baroni vs. Pete Sell II
by matt on Aug 13, 2009 8:39 PM EDT reply actions
any of those guys would completely destroy Baloni
by Nor Cal Mexican (formely Philicutioner) on Aug 13, 2009 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions
i didnt say baroni would win i just think those fights are guaranteed fireworks plus i think baroni has a chance against all of them except lytle.
by matt on Aug 13, 2009 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Phil Baroni has lost 4 of his last 7 fighs! Why in the Hell would the UFC bring him in???? He needs to jump ship to wrestling or Japan!! Besides the UFC all has a gate keeper AKA Karo Parisyan!!
by Andy on Aug 13, 2009 8:50 PM EDT reply actions
Phil is awesome. He always tries to make exciting fights
Phil Baroni Against Chris Lytle would be AWESOME!
by RobWhiskey on Aug 13, 2009 8:57 PM EDT reply actions
???maybe they want him for other reasons than fighting possible commentator, some kind of spokesman,……or maybe he will be on next years TUF? He would be worth paying to be on TUF he’s a character that’s for sure???
by Puck Head on Aug 13, 2009 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions
i like that idea of seeing him on a TUF show. Would be price less
by Plum crazy on Aug 13, 2009 9:57 PM EDT reply actions
I could see him being on TUF for sure him and the UFC know he wouldn’t have much of a chance against the fighters in the UFC at least I hope and guy’s like browning add viewers for other reasons than fighting a veteran with a loud and unique personality = ratings + a test for the younger fighters you can’t beat Baroni your not going to be in the UFC.
by Beaver on Aug 13, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions
This is a stupid signing. Baroni’s career is and has been done for awhile. He is undefeated though at pre-fight hype.
by Bob on Aug 13, 2009 11:19 PM EDT reply actions
baroni would be a good gatekeeper for the TUF guys, give him at least two if he gets past two then maybe take him serious
by dahmer on Aug 13, 2009 11:35 PM EDT reply actions
i believe baroni is on the verge of a huge comeback and will take the ufc by storm…. :s
by bigjman on Aug 14, 2009 12:30 AM EDT reply actions
Baroni in TUF would be great! Not sure if I could watch it though.
Heavy hands are not enough for todays mma
by Lappish Shaman on Aug 14, 2009 1:31 AM EDT reply actions
I would like the ufc 2 do another oranisation cus they must have about 300 fighters on the roster. i dont like to see fighters fight once maybe twice a year. baronis a funny guy who would bring ratings but his skills suck. whys hallman back is it just so he can rematch hughes and maybe trigg
by kie on Aug 14, 2009 11:58 AM EDT reply actions
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