Herschel Walker’s first MMA bout set for Jan. 30
Does this man ever sleep? Here was Herschel Walker before he appeared on "Celebrity Apprentice" in April.
For those Georgia fans who might be down about the season or the passing of Uga VII, well, look at the bright side: Your most famous football player is about to jump into an MMA ring.
OK, so maybe that wasn’t quite the pick-me-up you were looking for.
Two months ago, we told you that Herschel Walker had signed with Strikeforce, a California-based promotional company that stages mixed martial arts bouts. The news was surprising, given that, while Walker is a sixth-degree black belt, he’s also 47 years old. But he’s apparently serious. Strikeforce announced Walker’s first bout will be held Jan. 30 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla.
Smart promoter. The Super Bowl is in south Florida the following week. That’s worth a few thousand fans right there. No opponent has been announced. It probably would be worth a few more tickets if they can find a former Gator in MMA.
The website MMAJunkie.com (I’m getting too old for this) reported that Walker will train at California’s American Kick Boxing Academy. When he first signed with Strikeforce, the former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL running back said: “I’ve been training for several years. I would play college football games on Saturday and then compete in martial arts tournaments on Sunday after church. I’m now looking forward to opening up another chapter in my life and to competing in MMA.”
By the way: Special thanks to reader Rich Tate of GeorgiaWrestlingHistory.com for tipping me off to this story.
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173 comments Add your comment
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
12:52 pm
“ Wes Bunting of NationalFootballPost.com lists Dwyer, a junior, as the best running back on the board and the No. 8 overall NFL prospect. Bunting called Dwyer “a violent runner who exhibits good vision between the tackles and has the initial burst to separate from defenders at the second level.”
There must be some mistake. Dwyer plays in that “gimmick”, “high school”, “triple option” system that no blue chip recruit with aspirations of playing in the NFL would ever consider………………Hahahaha. Some dog nation bloggers on here are wrong about absolutely everything. See you azzholes on the 28th and bring all those top 5 recruiting classes with you! LOL.
45-42
PTC DAWG
November 20th, 2009
12:52 pm
I was in school at UGA during the HW era….for the life of me, I can’t see this being a good idea.
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
12:53 pm
2nd
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
12:54 pm
Hershel Walker would have been a better back in Tech’s current scheme.
Jamaaliver
November 20th, 2009
12:55 pm
So sad, on alot of levels. It’s like these guys just have nothing better to do with their time.
I hope he doesn’t need the money. There’s a good chance he’s going to hurt himself. Badly.
Sonny Clusters
November 20th, 2009
1:06 pm
We was always wrestling when we was in school. Coach said wrestling makes you want to stop and do something else. We wrestled just enough to keep Coach happy. We was always wanting to play baseball.
Gen Neyland
November 20th, 2009
1:08 pm
I recall Maynard Jackson going into the ring with Muhammad Ali. Poor Ali. The guy had to take a dive in order to get out of Atlanta alive. I also remember one Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura doing a little wraslin’ before his political career took off. This one, well, I jus’ gotta ask, “Which Herschel got this idea..?”
Josh Fowler
November 20th, 2009
1:15 pm
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
12:52 pm
“ Wes Bunting of NationalFootballPost.com lists Dwyer, a junior, as the best running back on the board and the No. 8 overall NFL prospect. Bunting called Dwyer “a violent runner who exhibits good vision between the tackles and has the initial burst to separate from defenders at the second level.”
There must be some mistake. Dwyer plays in that “gimmick”, “high school”, “triple option” system that no blue chip recruit with aspirations of playing in the NFL would ever consider………………Hahahaha. Some dog nation bloggers on here are wrong about absolutely everything. See you azzholes on the 28th and bring all those top 5 recruiting classes with you! LOL.
45-42
What the hell does this have to do witrh anything?
Bryan G.
November 20th, 2009
1:16 pm
I hope Herschel’s pi$$ed off personality shows up for the fight.
you big dummy
November 20th, 2009
1:17 pm
Wow yellow fuzz ya’ll actually have a pro prospect at running back. We are used to having them at UGA. We dont have to get on blog and tell everyone how good our running backs have been. And yes that is the most boring football team in america to watch. Thats why no big time recruits are interested.
Dawg Pound
November 20th, 2009
1:20 pm
Now thats when you know you have a mediocre team when fans start posting pro scouting reports on their players on the blog! Poor guy wants so bad for his team to get some respect! bahahahahahahah
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 20th, 2009
1:23 pm
The other fighter will be out numbered. Hershel, get back on the porch.
This Just in!
November 20th, 2009
1:24 pm
Yellow fuzz (snow) and Saint Simons (unchristened) will be Mr. Walkers opponents.
Jeez,
These two have to be embarrassing to techies even.
dap01
November 20th, 2009
1:25 pm
Yellow Fuzz: No one likes you!
d
November 20th, 2009
1:26 pm
yo sonny u crazy fool
Let's get it on!
November 20th, 2009
1:28 pm
Go for it Herschel!
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 20th, 2009
1:31 pm
Hey dawgs, give us some more “HISTORY” lessons, because you pups have NO future. HAHAHAHAHA!!!! THWG!!!!
AJC
November 20th, 2009
1:34 pm
Dawg fans make themselves at home on Nov.28 and trash the city of Atlanta. Real class act.
buzz is wiser
November 20th, 2009
1:48 pm
This is really sad, why would a man at his age being doing something like this, is he in desperate need for the money, I sure hope not. I’m too young to have seen Walker at UGA but he seems to be the standard barer at the school. The only way I would even consider watching this was if Tebow was fighting…Now that’s a warrior.
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
1:50 pm
you big dummy:
“We dont get on blog and tell everyone how good our running backs are”
lol.
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
2:00 pm
“And yes that is the most boring football team in america to watch.”
Did you you poll the Tech opponents for this gem of analysis?
GWH Rich
November 20th, 2009
2:01 pm
you big dummy:
Seems to me that Tech has shown they don’t need the “big time recruits” to win with this “boring offense”.
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
2:03 pm
Enter your comments here
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
2:03 pm
My cat did that.
Sonny Clusters
November 20th, 2009
2:03 pm
We was always respectful of our elders. Herschel is pretty old like Jeff but has a 6th degree black belt. When somebody jumps on us we chop a couple times and kick once and they get off us in a hurry. Nobody ever stuck around long enough for a 3rd chop or a 2nd kick. Eye-gouging is out, though. Clusters don’t eye-gouge.
Who let the retards in here?
November 20th, 2009
2:08 pm
I think the comments made by these Techie trolls in here should be required reading for the entire UGA team, including the coaching staff. I can’t wait to see UGA roll into Grant (high school) Field next Saturday and shut these losers up for another year.
PS. We all know that you Techie posters are virgins. Bwahahahaahahaha! Suckers.
E
November 20th, 2009
2:12 pm
Hershel is a genetic freak. He will whoop mucho asso!!!
Mike
November 20th, 2009
2:16 pm
Hershel is yet another in the very long line of georgia graduates who are resorting to gimicks to buy them a few more seconds of fame. It never ends. The two trailer parks in our county are full of them. Some can still play.
Old timer
November 20th, 2009
2:20 pm
I hope Hershel gets his ass handed to him Like Penn State did in the 83 Sugar.
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
2:21 pm
“And yes that is the most boring football team in america to watch.”
I think he had his eyes shut during the 2nd half last year.
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
2:24 pm
“I can’t wait to see UGA roll into Grant (high school) Field next Saturday”
Think he’s peeing in his pants thinking about it? Hope he remember the game against UK tomorrow.
Dooley's Cardiologist
November 20th, 2009
2:24 pm
This oughta be funny. It all depends on which personality shows up to the fight. I bet it’s the one from the Zaxbys commercials. Herschel is gonna get worked like Uga’s heart on a 2 mile walk.
matt
November 20th, 2009
2:28 pm
Mike- who else is in this line you speak of?????
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
2:32 pm
matt – In fact, some are real heroes. Herschel mentioned one at the 1980 championship reunion.
bobby dead dodd
November 20th, 2009
2:33 pm
Yellow Fuzz that’s what i saw from your wife.
LES
November 20th, 2009
2:35 pm
Who cares.
bobby dead dodd
November 20th, 2009
2:35 pm
at least he didn’t get a dui on campus like Joey Hamilton or busted for cocaine like eddie lee did, or lie on his resume like coach O’ Leary.
UPSDawg
November 20th, 2009
2:37 pm
It’s sad to realize that it’s been that long since our last MNC. We miss you Herschel! I wish you the best no matter what you do. You’ll always be our favorite Dawg! And we miss UGA VII too!
Bow Wow
November 20th, 2009
2:37 pm
Say it ain’t so. This is like Jim Thorpe joining the circus.
JB
November 20th, 2009
2:39 pm
Who cares is right! Is this all the AJC can come up with the day before a game with Kentucky?
Hello Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
2:40 pm
Cant wait until next weekend when we have more fans on your pitiful campus, just got to watch out so we dont get robbed at gunpoint. Great campus atmosphere.
Loser
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
2:40 pm
Check out UGA’s famous athlete Andre Agassi’s biography. He admitted to drug use and lying about it when he failed the test. It’s not limited to one team or one school that you can pick on.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 20th, 2009
2:42 pm
Jeff, thanks for plug for Rich’s website, home of the “Chef”.
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
2:42 pm
“pitiful campus, just got to watch out so we dont get robbed at gunpoint”
Have you been to the Tech campus, or do you just regurgitate the drivel you read on the blogs?
EW
November 20th, 2009
2:46 pm
MMA is definitely not one of those “crossover” sports that pro athletes think they can play just bc they’re in great shape. Let alone a retired NFL running back. There are some bad motherf”"ers in MMA, HW will soon learn that. But either way this ends bad: he either fights a noname and wins and ppl make fun of the crappy, set-up opponent. OR he fights a real MMA dude and gets KO’ed first round…Love ya HW but this is just stupid.
JacketRacket
November 20th, 2009
2:46 pm
I’m a Tech fan and sad to say, YellowFuzz, M, and Saint Simons embarrass me. Pay attention to the last three letters in that word guys and stop jinxing my team.
EW
November 20th, 2009
2:47 pm
Delbert..it ain’t just in the blogs, it’s all over the news man.
JSS
November 20th, 2009
2:47 pm
Is there a Champions Tour in the MMA?
dean
November 20th, 2009
2:48 pm
EW, I’m afraid you highly underestimate HW. While I would advise him against doing this. I have little doubt that given some time at it he will do just fine for himself.
dean
November 20th, 2009
2:51 pm
I would adivse all Dawg fans to watch each others backs and make sure the thugs around the Tech campus don’t have a chance to rob either Tech or Dawg fans.
bobby dead dodd
November 20th, 2009
2:51 pm
when did Andre Agassi go to Georgia?
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
2:52 pm
EW – Yeah, I understand that, but that’s the way things are these days. 10th Street in Atlanta, or Cumberland Ave. in Knoxville. I’m sure there are places in Gainesville I wouldn’t want to go.
dean
November 20th, 2009
2:55 pm
The way things are! That’s a good attitude to combat crime in your area against students of the school you root for. If they could clean up New York City then there is no reason that the area surrounding Tech can’t be cleaned up. With all those engineers you’d think a safe campus could be designed.
EW
November 20th, 2009
2:56 pm
dean, maybe maybe not…but tell me this, when you say “given some time” do you mean training or getting a couple fights under his belt? BC while I agree that training will help him hold his own, he won’t be able to master the techniques. And if he tries to get on the job training in the ring, he’s in trouble. I can guarantee you HW ain’t a 6th blackbelt in Brasilian Jujitsu, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, or any type of fighting he’s gonna see. And most of these guys are submission experts anyway so any power advantage he would have is going to be nullified by the ground and pound tactics.
BravesFan79
November 20th, 2009
3:00 pm
The best sporting event of the year was not the World Series, it damn sure wasnt some college football game in yet another meaningless season without a true champ (even tho im a big GT / UGA 2nd fan).
The best was watching the historic Russian… Fedor, with his nose broke and blood gushing down his face, knock out undefeated 270 pound Chicago hoodrat Brett Rodgers with ONE punch in the 2nd round!
Fedor is a bad bad man…. the best fighter ever! And yes that includes all the boxers that ever lived.
As for Hershel in the ring… i guess he has a chance in the standup game, but just like Kimbo… when taken to the ground hes toast. Hershals mma days will be very short lived.
bobby dead dodd
November 20th, 2009
3:03 pm
Delbert D. when did Agassi go to UGA?
charlotte_dawg
November 20th, 2009
3:11 pm
You losers ever heard of Randy Couture? He’s 46 and he’s at the top of UFC. I think HW will be fine. All y’all mamas’ boys should stop worryin bout lil Herschel gettin hurt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Couture
AJC
November 20th, 2009
3:19 pm
Hershel vs uga7. At least a dog will win.
StuDawg
November 20th, 2009
3:20 pm
I love it! Do it Herschel! Dont mind the haters!!!!
Spurrier
November 20th, 2009
3:21 pm
Ya’ll go ahead and BLACK OUT Kentucky. You guys are just DUMB. BOW WOW.
dozer
November 20th, 2009
3:21 pm
Is Buck gonna hand off the spit pail & mouthpiece to Herschel???
Spurrier
November 20th, 2009
3:22 pm
I wish we could play ya’ll again now that your mutt is dead.
BravesFan79
November 20th, 2009
3:24 pm
dean: theve been working on cleaning up the area around GT since the late 90’s when they started closing down the projects and shipping the blacks to Clayton and Decatur. Needless to say, Clayton/ Decatur have gotten steadily worse over the years. If you think the area around GT is bad now… you should of seen it when Techwood / University homes was around! I know, i did cable tv there around 10 years ago for AT&T.
Just like the GT students, i was looked at as a target because i was white. I was rarely viewd as a easy target tho because………..Unlike the GT students, i stayed strapped, didnt dress like a frat fck, and had the streetsmarts to know which hoodrats i could trust, and the smarts to know what situations to avoid. I also knew not to wear anything flashy… and sure as hell never carried around anything worth more then $50 bucks like a Laptop…. even tho i hid hundreds in cash in my shoes that i collected from customers. The trick is to leave about $15 in your pocket incase some crazy sht goes down. And trust me, if you stay in the city long enough… you WILL see some crazy sht go down.
Urban
November 20th, 2009
3:24 pm
Enough about Hershel. Tim would kick his a$$.
AJC
November 20th, 2009
3:28 pm
Panhandlers reported being mugged Saturday night after game. Witnesses were able to get UGA jersey numbers.
misterwax
November 20th, 2009
3:30 pm
If Herschel gets the imagery just right……his opponent in the ring will be wearing Orange & White and will have an uncanny resemblance to Bill Bates in a football helmet at about the 6 yard line…..then it will be a piece of cake!
BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!
misterwax
November 20th, 2009
3:31 pm
just imagine Bill Bates at the 6 YL and Hershel will have an easy time of it….oiece of cake.
Rex
November 20th, 2009
3:35 pm
“See you azzholes on the 28th and bring all those top 5 recruiting classes with you!” Yellow Fuzz
Hey Jeff, I thought you didn’t tolerate cussing on your blog.
rocket
November 20th, 2009
3:36 pm
If Herschel just imagines his opponent in Orange & White bearing an uncanny resemblance to Bill Bates at the 6 YL, then he should be fine.
Bushwacker
November 20th, 2009
3:36 pm
People don’t remember but way back in the day Mike Tyson was telling everyone how he was the GREATEST ATHLETE IN THE WORLD.
Herschel did not quite agree and said he thouyght about taking six months to training and challenging Tyson to a fight.
Remember at the time, all the boxers except Holyfield were scared of Tyson.
I just happened to meet one of Herschel’s O lineman not long after that, I admit cannot remember his name, but he said not only was Herschel not afraid of Tyson but HE WOULD HAVE KICKED TYSON ASS!!!
Do not under estimate this man!!
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
3:40 pm
bobby dead dodd – I think I made a major mistake there. I remember that Andre Agassi “played at Georgia”, but I didn’t go back and check the details. I saw him in the US Clay Courts Championship at Wild Dunes, SC when he was a young pro. It must have been in a toournament at Georgia. I have to say that I wrongfully tarnished UGA on that one.
HAHAHAHA
November 20th, 2009
3:45 pm
Herschel better hope his opponet is Bill Bates.
Now that UGA VII died, I hear Georgia will replace him with a female. Might as well…most of the team and coaches already squat to take a leak.
bobby dead dodd
November 20th, 2009
3:47 pm
Delbert D. fair enough.
Fear The Nerd
November 20th, 2009
3:51 pm
I like to hide in the friendly confines of Clarke County to feel safe.
Midtown Atlanta is just so scary.
See everyone Saturday. My seats are in Section 8 (like most County residents).
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
3:51 pm
Don’t worry about getting mugged unless you leave your tailgate trash on the grounds. And I’m pretty sure we have not had any of OUR professors shooting up the town 2 blocks from OUR concrete jungle stadium.
Dooley's Cardiologist
November 20th, 2009
3:54 pm
charlotte_dawg ,
Randy Couture has been fighting for 20 years. The only fighting Hethal been doing is with the voices in his head. NO comparison here. What a DA.
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
3:54 pm
I only wish the dogs were ranked higher than 4th like Virginia Tech was when we took the wind out of their sails. Bring all those top 5 recruiting classes with you. Hahahahahaha
EW
November 20th, 2009
3:56 pm
Charlotte Dawg…you are a moron…Couture has been fighting/wrestling all his life. And that’s a far cry from HW doing Sunday karate tournaments after church and playing football. Nobody said it’s just his age..it’s age combined with lack of experience.
AJC
November 20th, 2009
3:57 pm
UFC says Hershel to fight Gina. HAHAHAHAHA!!! Hershel will run like a girl.
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
3:58 pm
Is Harry Munson going to announce Hershal’s match? Will Moon Pie Wilson and Lindale Scott be his corner men? LOLOLOL.
EW
November 20th, 2009
3:58 pm
Yellow Fuzz. I’ve seen GT tailgaters…and the few of them that care enough to actually show up early (which is only a small % of the few that actually show up for the game) tailgate in PARKING DECKS. If you guys had any tradition of tailgating you might have the trash problem too.
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
3:59 pm
November 28th = POUND THE HOUND
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 20th, 2009
3:59 pm
Jeff, people are saying mean things on your blog. Can’t you stop them?
Delbert D.
November 20th, 2009
4:00 pm
bobby dead dodd – Okay, and I appreciate your comment, “Fair enough”. That lack of proof is in the statement I made is certainly beneath my personal standards..
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
4:00 pm
EW,
His that the noise you make when the farmer grabs your ear?
Here’s some tradition for you. 45-42!
AJC
November 20th, 2009
4:02 pm
Randy will fight every Hershel. Randy wins 8 or 9 Belts.
Bob
November 20th, 2009
4:04 pm
It doesn’t matter what the article is about, if it mentions UGA, the NATS dorks are all over it. GT will always be that other school in the state of Georgia. The one thing that UGA and GT fans have in common is that they’re both obsessed with UGA. IF GT can beat UGA 12 out of 14 years, then they’ll have claim to some legitimacy. Until then, go back to the library or your parent’s basement. I’m sure your calculus book misses you.
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
4:04 pm
What’s the difference between Outback and Papa Johns? You will find out on Novemeber 28th!
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 20th, 2009
4:05 pm
Only a UGA fan would be proud that they leave more trash after the game than any one else.
pensacola dawg
November 20th, 2009
4:07 pm
Believe me Hershall does not need the money! He will REPRESENT!
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 20th, 2009
4:08 pm
Bob, you must be a HISTORY teacher. What else do you have?
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
4:10 pm
Bob
Time for some new material dude. That “other team in the state of Georgia”
1. Is the defending state Champion (45-42)
2. Spotted you 16 at the half last year and torched your hairy azzes 26-0 in the 3rd qtr.
3. Is currently ranked 7th in the nation (40 spots ahead of you).
4. Is playing in THEIR conferences championship game.
5. I hope you can hear me
pensacola dawg
November 20th, 2009
4:12 pm
Yellow Fuzz you will be mugged next saturday at getto u…….hope they steal your calculator!
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
4:13 pm
My question is how many different excuses will the dog nation list if they lose to us (twice in a row)
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
4:15 pm
pensacola dawg
OK, I’ll be a faithfull dog nation member and believe it just becasue you wrote it. That’s enough for me. You said it so it’s now reality.
War Jacket
November 20th, 2009
4:19 pm
What cares? Walker wasn’t even the best back of his era. Bo Jackson was better, by far.
Maxx
November 20th, 2009
4:20 pm
Herschel is 47, but the guy is a specimen. He’s a highly trained martial artist, and everyone knows he’s crazy. They’re obviously gonna put some scrub in the ring with him and he will annhilate them for his first bout. Don’t be suprised if Herschel has success in MMA
Bo knows
November 20th, 2009
4:20 pm
War Jacket- Tell ‘em all about it! I was the shiznit!
Old devil
November 20th, 2009
4:21 pm
I believe Herschel can do anything. After seeing him pancake Bill Bates as a freshman, yes, he can do anything. You go Big Dawg!
Yellow Fuzz
November 20th, 2009
4:21 pm
I heard Bo Jackson wanted to go to Tech but had to go to Auburn instead because he couldn’t spell his first name.
Bob