Eight-fight UFC veteran Joe Riggs will be fighting for his job as a Zuffa employee against Dan Chambers at Hardcore Championship Fighting: "Unfinished Business" on July 21, according to an article in the Edmonton Sun.
Here's the snip:
"The Riggs-Chambers bout has interesting stipulations that go much further than wins or losses. Riggs ... has been informed by the UFC that if he loses this match to Chambers he will be kicked out of UFC and WEC (World Extreme Combat) for good. If Chambers is victorious the Lethbridge resident will earn a UFC contract."
Riggs was scheduled to return to the Fertitta-owned World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) promotion earlier this year after his loss to Diego Sanchez via first-round knockout (knee) at UFC Miramar in December 2006. However, he underwent back and ankle surgeries and has been out of action ever since.
"Diesel" will be riding an eight-month layoff when he returns against Chambers.
The 24-year-old Arizona native has had an up-and-down tenure with the UFC to say the least. From missing weight for a welterweight title fight with Matt Hughes to his hospital brawl with Nick Diaz, Riggs is not short on headlines.
He's also battled personal issues such as the death of his daughter and an addiction to prescription painkillers.
Riggs has a reputation for not being able to win the big fights. Without question, this will be one of his biggest -- if not the biggest -- fights of his career and it's not even under the bright lights of the Octagon.
Regardless, he seems up for the latest challenge.
Here's a snip from Riggs:
"I have more talent than anyone in this game, much less that guy. I am a pro boxer and an all-America wrestler; I got it all. He is definitely going to pick his poison. All I have thought about lately is getting back in the ring. I just had a baby boy a couple weeks ago and I am fighting to make a living. I doubt this guy does this for a living. This is how I feed my family."
Let's hope for his sake that things work out the way he envisions.
(Note: Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez is also fighting on this card against Ron Waterman).
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