Props: MMA Fighting
Quoteworthy:
"First off, I really want to fight. [UFC 118 is] a big show -- first one in Boston. It would have been great. The card is huge, and maybe I could have a good fight and get on TV. Get some exposure. I need it now badly. I'm left out of a lot of sh** nowadays. I'm forgotten at the expos and appearances. Just everything with the UFC. I wanted to win a big fight, look impressive and get considered again. I wanted to say, 'Hey Dana, I'm still f**king here. I still can fight.' I wanted to say it to everyone: the fans, the media. I'm still Phil f**king Baroni. That used to mean something. I want it to mean something again. I want to say, 'Hey Strikeforce, you made a big mistake letting me go. You f**ked up. You blew it. I'm still somebody, and I still bring things to the table that not many fighters do.' I just want to be a contender. I want respect from my peers, the fans, media and the promotions. I wanted to say, 'I'm still here, don't f**king forget about me. I'm not dead yet. I want to be a contender -- I want to matter again. I want to be the biggest comeback story ever -- a Cinderella Man."
Longtime mixed martial arts veteran Phil Baroni doesn't want to fade away after being forced to withdraw from his upcoming UFC 118: "Edgar vs. Penn 2" fight against John Salter on Aug. 28 in Boston, Mass., after suffering a minor injury to his collarbone. The artist formerly known as "The Best Eva" is facing an uphill battle against today's newer generation of well rounded fighters. Baroni is trying to keep up with the times and get back into contendership -- but is it too little, too late? Can the "New York Bad Ass" make one last run before hanging up the gloves?