Gary Goodridge not interested in 'hanging on to a couple of extra brain cells'
by Jesse Holland on May 4, 2011 12:48 PM EDT
in DREAM / K-1 News & Results
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Former PRIDE FC and K-1 star Gary Goodridge may no longer be competing in mixed martial arts, but that doesn't mean the 45-year-old bruiser isn't still fighting on a daily basis. His new opponents?
Slurred speech and prescription pain killers.
"Big Daddy" is perhaps best known to casual MMA fans for his unintentional snuff film against Paul Herrera at UFC 8: "David vs. Goliath." Goodridge secured his helpless foe in a crucifix and proceeded to rain down elbows until the referee intervened -- even after Herrera lost consciousness.
He recovered shortly thereafter, but highlights of the drubbing are frequently used in the anti-MMA crusade.
Between MMA and kickboxing, Goodridge has amassed a staggering 80+ fights to his name since 1996. Unfortunately his career ended in a serious decline, as the Canadian was forced into retirement following seven consecutive losses dating back to March 2007.
The Toronto Star's Morgan Campbell has more:
To navigate life after fighting, the 45-year-old depends on medication.
Levoxyl for his thyroid.
Cipralex for depression.
Aricept for memory.
Still quick with a joke, Goodridge can recall his fights in painstaking detail. But he sometimes stumbles over words, and often repeats himself because he simply forgets what he’s just said.
His drug regimen is suited to an Alzheimer’s patient, and that’s no accident. After 85 combined kickboxing and MMA bouts, many of them poorly regulated, Goodridge at times feels much older than 45.
"My brain," he says, "doesn’t remember much these days."
Goodridge, regrettably, may not have found himself in a unique situation.
Brain injuries stemming from repeated head trauma have been receiving more attention as the sport of MMA continues its global expansion, even prompting some fans to disassociate themselves with the sport.
Because MMA is evolving so rapidly and fans (and the medical community) are still running to catch up, it may take several years for damage incurred today to show its lasting effects and long-term consequences.
Does anyone else notice a difference in behavior/speech pattern in Chuck Liddell, Phil Baroni and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira?
And do we have a responsibility to act on it?
“Why retire?” Goodridge asked Campbell. “To hang on to a couple of extra brain cells? All the old people die and all the young people live. We’re just getting ready for the bone yard.”
There are no clear-cut answers, but as Goodridge has shown, it may get worse before it gets better.
Thoughts?
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Great post Holland. I really hope to see more of the MMA industry and community take a bigger interest in protecting today's fighters so we don't see this again...
There are probably thousands of examples of names never mentioned, might have beens. This problem is deeper than just former champs.
Please don’t let Sakuraba fight again. I don’t want to see it.
The only thing worse than being Canadian is being a dumb Canadian. I have proven that that’s what I am with my inconceivably poor ability to pick MMA fights, especially ones involving other dumb Canadian fighters. I am officially the lowest of the low, and admit to that fact from this day forward. May God Bless America, Land that I Love…
Just put this post under the category of "Things that are sad and things we should learn from."
Shogun Rua, still only 1 quality win in the UFC and I don't want to hear any garbage excuses about his knee. That is all.
by Edgecrusher71 on May 4, 2011 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice Article on this serious matter in comabat sports..
I remember in when he fought Gilbert Ivel in pride.. and he got head kicked.. out cold. I thought to myself .. karma. Because in PR in that fight with a guy MUCH smaller than him.. he didn’t need a ref to stop it.. he knew the guy was out.. and continued to drop elbows.. I hope MMA in general. .fighters/organizations.. fans.. can present a much better image of the sport. It needs it.
I think the KO that really did him in was when the hurricane kicked his head off!
I heard big daddy was charging for autographs @ the expo any know if that’s true? I remeber I saw him @ the 1st expo in Vegas it looked like he didn’t want 2 take pics with anybody.
that's when I step back some to contemplate what few know
sat down wrestle with my thoughts like a sumo
ain't no one player that could beat this lunancy
ain't no hustler on the street could do a whole community
this is how deep shit can get
it reads macaroni on my birth certificate
poontang is my middle name but I can't hang
I'm getting hustled only knowing half the game
by d*locc on May 4, 2011 1:08 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Wouldnt be surprised. He's broke as shit.
BIG NOG for Life
One Step closer to Gleison Tibau @ 145
If the round is too close, it's 10-10, NOT flip a coin 10-9 or late takedown FTW.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on May 4, 2011 1:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Does anyone know if this actually works?
Aricept for memory.
I’ve been thinking about looking into something…
I’ve probably only seen about 10 Shields fights. And I would have no problem sparring with him. At all.
For all of you dummies who can’t add- If GSP and I were to spar, I would make him look worse then he does in my pic.
does what work?
Sometimes I am God, if I say a man dies, he dies that same day.
Circa Regna Tonat
by sir.tickleberry on May 4, 2011 1:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Aricept for memory.
I have an awful memory and it really gets annoying.
I’ve probably only seen about 10 Shields fights. And I would have no problem sparring with him. At all.
For all of you dummies who can’t add- If GSP and I were to spar, I would make him look worse then he does in my pic.
Laying off the weed might help big dawg.
The character of a man is always proven after faillure - not after success.
Not an option.
What else you got?
I’ve probably only seen about 10 Shields fights. And I would have no problem sparring with him. At all.
For all of you dummies who can’t add- If GSP and I were to spar, I would make him look worse then he does in my pic.
tattoo everything onto you memento style
Sometimes I am God, if I say a man dies, he dies that same day.
Circa Regna Tonat
by sir.tickleberry on May 4, 2011 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
haha
I’d just forget to check the tats.
I’ve probably only seen about 10 Shields fights. And I would have no problem sparring with him. At all.
For all of you dummies who can’t add- If GSP and I were to spar, I would make him look worse then he does in my pic.
or forget what you were supposed to get tattooed and come back covered in dolphins, kanji, tribal flash and taz's
Sometimes I am God, if I say a man dies, he dies that same day.
Circa Regna Tonat
by sir.tickleberry on May 4, 2011 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions
professor yaffles brain trainer or whatever it's called?
my bain has crapped out too. years of taking ecstacy when i was younger. i don’t know how brains are supposed to work as i’ve only ever had my own. but i have no real awareness of time, reading and speaking are a problem (i mix up words unless i concentrate or lose track of what i’m saying/reading) and my memory…i only dream about people i knew up until i started binge taking drugs, and my short term is a little shakey.
i’ve grown to embrace it though and use it as an excuse to get out of things, also the awareness of time is good if i have to wait, am doing something boring or watching something my girlfriend wants to watch as it seems to fly by
Sometimes I am God, if I say a man dies, he dies that same day.
Circa Regna Tonat
by sir.tickleberry on May 4, 2011 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions
LMAO
I know what you’re going through. I thought the time thing was just because I’m older.
I’ve probably only seen about 10 Shields fights. And I would have no problem sparring with him. At all.
For all of you dummies who can’t add- If GSP and I were to spar, I would make him look worse then he does in my pic.
well it does speed up as you get older. something like 10% for each year you age
but i talked to a friend in TO who took a lot of e’s and said he was going through the same thing.
brains are stupid
Sometimes I am God, if I say a man dies, he dies that same day.
Circa Regna Tonat
by sir.tickleberry on May 4, 2011 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't have an E problem
But I did do way too much acid. I haven’t had flashbacks or anything like was advertised when I was doing them as a youngster.
I’ve probably only seen about 10 Shields fights. And I would have no problem sparring with him. At all.
For all of you dummies who can’t add- If GSP and I were to spar, I would make him look worse then he does in my pic.
i've never had flashbacks from acid either. i think that's a myth created by poor comedy writers
i should imagine all drugs do a similar thing to brain function in varying degrees, alcohol, acid, e’s. just blame it on that, not old age. it makes you sound cooler
Sometimes I am God, if I say a man dies, he dies that same day.
Circa Regna Tonat
by sir.tickleberry on May 4, 2011 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Did you end up with any back problems from E?
I always heard it drained the fluids or something…I know my back was always fucked the day after taking it, but that could be from the hours of dancing (which I don’t do otherwise).
Or was that another myth?
I’ve probably only seen about 10 Shields fights. And I would have no problem sparring with him. At all.
For all of you dummies who can’t add- If GSP and I were to spar, I would make him look worse then he does in my pic.
Eminem said so, so can't be a myth...
Speakin of peanuts, you know what else is bad for squirrels?
Ecstasy is the worst drug in the world
If someone ever offers it to you, don’t do it
Kids two hits’ll probably drain all your spinal fluid
and spinal fluid is final, you won’t get it back
So don’t get attached, it’ll attack every bone in your back
Fedor.
i have back problems yeah
but i was a mechnical engineer for 4 years(lugging steel round all day) and have worked about 6 years in warehouses, so i put it down to wear and tear
never heard the bad back thing, there could be truth to it or not…i dunno
Sometimes I am God, if I say a man dies, he dies that same day.
Circa Regna Tonat
by sir.tickleberry on May 4, 2011 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
best part:
his back starts to look like the McDonald’s arches
he’s on Donald’s carpet layin horizontal barfin
I tried it once, but I can’t remember whether it worked.
"Give a man a match, and he'll be warm for a minute, but set him on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
Fan of: Cole Miller, Amir Sadollah, Alan Belcher, Bones Jones, Frank Mir
i was prescribed it, but i kept fogetting to take it
Sometimes I am God, if I say a man dies, he dies that same day.
Circa Regna Tonat
by sir.tickleberry on May 4, 2011 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
haha
Couple of comedians up in here.
I’ve probably only seen about 10 Shields fights. And I would have no problem sparring with him. At all.
For all of you dummies who can’t add- If GSP and I were to spar, I would make him look worse then he does in my pic.
i got a bottle yesterday
just can’t put my finger on where i put the bottle
Sometimes I am God, if I say a man dies, he dies that same day.
Circa Regna Tonat
by sir.tickleberry on May 4, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
a bottle of what?
What are we discussing?
I’ve probably only seen about 10 Shields fights. And I would have no problem sparring with him. At all.
For all of you dummies who can’t add- If GSP and I were to spar, I would make him look worse then he does in my pic.
aricept
see how long we can get a"aricept, what’s that? pills for your memory. what is? aricept? what’s that?" schtick going for
who says vaudville is dead?
Sometimes I am God, if I say a man dies, he dies that same day.
Circa Regna Tonat
by sir.tickleberry on May 4, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't follow his career to be honest
But Remy Bonjasky ko’d him pretty nastily in K1 years back (06 maybe). There’s been worse ko’s but it wasn’t nice. He got flying kneed earlier in the fight also.
Man unless he really needs the money from fighting, look after your health man. I’d hate to think of people like Chuck, Shamrock, Goodridge etc addicted to fighting to the point where they’re having a crap quality of life after they’ve been forceably retired
he is 0-22 mma and kickboxing combined.
Not all have been brutal KOs but brutal beatings where he’s so slow moving with 0 reflexes only toughness that it looks like guys getting workout in on a punching bag. And he desperately needs the money so what can anyone say? No you’re not allowed to make a living? People think Jens’ case is sad which it is but Goodrige really puts it into perspective.
BIG NOG for Life
One Step closer to Gleison Tibau @ 145
If the round is too close, it's 10-10, NOT flip a coin 10-9 or late takedown FTW.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on May 4, 2011 1:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
0 - 22
Oh no, that makes me feel really sad because honestly I don’t believe he’s that bad of a fighter.
Not true
His record is shit, but he has wins. Knocked Don Frye out.
I don't always rage, but when I do, I prefer doing it over Bellator judging. Stay angry, my friends.
by Johnny WF on May 4, 2011 2:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I should have specified in his last 22 combat bouts
BIG NOG for Life
One Step closer to Gleison Tibau @ 145
If the round is too close, it's 10-10, NOT flip a coin 10-9 or late takedown FTW.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on May 4, 2011 4:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Sad to seee one of the pioneers of the sport like this.shouldn’t be taking depression pills no one should they make you worst
by 209stk on May 4, 2011 1:21 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I was trying to eat my lunch without that image in my head.
I’ve probably only seen about 10 Shields fights. And I would have no problem sparring with him. At all.
For all of you dummies who can’t add- If GSP and I were to spar, I would make him look worse then he does in my pic.
Look at his legs
It looks like he’s just bouncing them around in some sort of dance.
I’ve probably only seen about 10 Shields fights. And I would have no problem sparring with him. At all.
For all of you dummies who can’t add- If GSP and I were to spar, I would make him look worse then he does in my pic.
Exactly
Leg lifts rotating slightly to the right. haha
I’ve probably only seen about 10 Shields fights. And I would have no problem sparring with him. At all.
For all of you dummies who can’t add- If GSP and I were to spar, I would make him look worse then he does in my pic.
Its the Goodridge Shuffle!
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The only MMAmania Fantasy Football CHAMPION!
The Season 3 MMAmania cash pick em pool CHAMPION!
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i saw that fight and he over did it. i can't feel so sorry for him that much.
the first fight i saw fedor in was vs this guy. i laughed b/c i saw the size difference and muscular body type goodridge had. fedor just beat him down bad.
Jon " Bones " Jones new UFC light heavyweight champion. Even if Jones got struck flush in the face he would recover and defeat whoever is in front of him. I told everyone the fight would be easy. Anderson Silva would never fight "Bones". He is too scared to fight the real P4P champion. Nick Diaz, the man who will prove to the MMA world that he is the best WW in the world.
by wolfmanshowlforever on May 4, 2011 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
$$$
He’s trying everything right now, he was starting a gym a few months back, now he’s booking and promoting, and he’s paid to answer fans q’s over on cagepotatoe.
If you spell Ndamukong Suh in Scrabble, you win. Forever...
by DetroitDrew1980 on May 4, 2011 1:53 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
When anyone bitches when fans/managers/promoters try to convince a past it fighter to retire link them to this page
This is what happens when you carry on fighting for too long, now he’s incapable of working a normal job because of his brain damage so he has to carry on fighting for money because it’s the only thing he can do, which has caused further health problems for him. Shame on anyone who booked Gary to fight over the last few years and shame on anyone who agreed to fight him when he had nothing left.
Still undefeated in pic/sig bets in 2011
Still the leader of Mac's Mania Pool
by David W-S on May 4, 2011 2:11 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Slow brain
Its funny I met Gary outside of the rogers center saturday night before the event, and I thought at the time he seemed kind of different. Almost like he had a hard time talking. This article explains that. Poor bugger
I saw him saturday as well
At the expo. Couldn’t get to him though because there was a million people in that building.
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