Herschel: He’s only a (MMA) freshman! (watch the video)
That's Herschel Walker on top and Greg Nagy pleading for help.
Last week, I blogged about the fact that the difference between Herschel Walker (MMA) at 47 and Evander Holyfield (boxing) at 47 is Walker wasn’t embarrassing himself by still trying to compete in his career sport (football).
Now, I’m starting to wonder if mixed martial arts can be a new career venture for Walker.
Did you see the video of his bout last night against Greg Nagy? Now, I don’t know a lot about MMA, other than this: 1.) Personally, I’d rather not try it. I need to protect these typing fingers; 2) Nagy is not one of the sport’s biggest stars. But how impressive is it that Walker, a novice, just destroyed him? If Walker chose to, he can make a lot of money in MMA and further grow the sport — dropping boxing further into the abyss.
I’ve posted two videos below. One is a short highlight clip, the other is the entire first round. A few things stand out. Walker, outside of still being in incredible shape, remains as competitive as ever. This venture clearly wasn’t a joke to him. When the match is over, you’ll see him flash one of those not-in-my-house(!) looks and give a domination flex.
Whether you’re a fan of MMA or not, this was sport at its purest and rawest form. And it was kind of cool to see.
Just one question: Seeing as how Herschel still has a year of eligibility left, is there any chance he could make it back for another season?
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103 comments Add your comment
Ole Yeller Dawg
January 31st, 2010
1:49 pm
One of the best Braves plays that comes to my mind is Sid Bream running from second on a Francisco Cabrera single, sliding under the tag of the Pirates Mike LaValliere, sending the Braves to the 1992 World Series!
I am not sure, but Sid had to be the slowest Brave runner on the roster that year!
This was the beginning of the the end of a once great Pirate baseball team.
schultz for brains
January 31st, 2010
1:55 pm
looks like he could complete that last year of eligib. But then TT would have never reached his record.
GADAWG
January 31st, 2010
1:55 pm
OK–now—- Tebow VS. Herschel–to settle things—Who’s best?
BravesFan79
January 31st, 2010
2:16 pm
Congrats to Hershal, but the AJC should really cover Fedor Emelienko more. His knockout of Brett Rodgers was the baddest sporting even ive seen in years!! Fedor is the MAN! the LEGEND!!
And would handle a rook like Hershal with one arm tied behind his back. Manchida is also another amazing fighter to watch. Hmmm… ever wondered what a match between the greatest fighter on the planet matched against a much biggest NFL player would look like?? something like this…
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8687255343464345443#
Preston
January 31st, 2010
2:17 pm
zzggyy, Get real. Tebow is a big boy, but he’s not a 5th degree black belt. Walker looks like he’s 27 instead of 47. He’d destroy Tebow in the octagon.
Sonny Clusters
January 31st, 2010
2:18 pm
Rocker was pitching and Eddie Perez put the tag on Caminiti coming to the plate, that’s the way we remember it.
We was thinking we haven’t seen anybody take a beating to the face like Nagy since Paula Deen took that ham to the face at Thanksgiving.
Ole Yeller Dawg
January 31st, 2010
2:20 pm
GADAWG:
Do we all really want to see Tebow crying again?
Preston
January 31st, 2010
2:20 pm
BravesFan, that’s a bad dude.
ASHEVILLE DAWG
January 31st, 2010
2:33 pm
Walker showed he is still in great shape. Have never watched MMA before but five minute rounds are brutal.Interesting. Anyway, in the fight game, you bring along a guy slowly, hopefully against someone you can beat.Each match against somewhat better competition til you reach your level of comptience.
Rogeriter
January 31st, 2010
2:40 pm
OK! So maybe Herschel is too old!…Maybe!!! But, it least, if he fails, he will fail while daring greatly–so that he will never be like so many losers who sit around and talk about real athletes as if the know better than the athletes and coaches. Especially being most of them have never even learned how to clean up their rooms, much less accomplished anything noteworthy in their lives.
dan
January 31st, 2010
3:24 pm
Herschel is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and he trains at American Kickboxing Academy, where Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, and Mike Swick( all of whom are good fighters in the UFC): so his training is legit. Add to it that he is a stud athlete and is chiseled like a Greek God, and the results aren’t too surprising. No disrespect to Tim Tebow; he might have broken Walker’s TD record, but in NO WAY is he even in the same vicinity as Herschel or Bo Jackson as athletes.
Reid Adair
January 31st, 2010
3:29 pm
I was happy for Herschel Walker. He won one for the “old guys” last night, with his 47-year-old self beating the heck out of that 26-year-old.
MLH
January 31st, 2010
3:54 pm
To the poster who wrote he hoped Herschel wasn’t doing it for the money. Don’t worry. All the money he made for this fight went to charity. Herschel definetly doesn’t need the money. He does very well for himself in his chicken business.
the Sports Buffet
January 31st, 2010
4:06 pm
Article on Walker from MMA Junkie: http://mmajunkie.com/news/17749/following-debut-mma-win-nfl-great-herschel-walker-not-a-lock-for-a-second-fight.mma
Burdell
January 31st, 2010
4:22 pm
Great fight last night…Herschel was a force. My wife and I (both Tech alumni) were cheering for our childhood hero. Both of us being in middle school in the early 80s in GA…of course we were Herschel fans! After the first minute of Round 1 I was glad that he didn’t embarrass himself and at the end of Round 1 I realized he could win the thing. Surprised to hear him say that if MMA was around back then he wouldn’t have played football….the horror!!
heywood...
January 31st, 2010
5:15 pm
i doubt there’s anything herschel can’t do that he
puts his mind to.
TheAntiMe
January 31st, 2010
5:44 pm
You’ve got to give Herschel Walker the ball. Give Herschel Walker the ball.
HONK IF YOU BEEN OFFER UGA DC JOB
January 31st, 2010
6:09 pm
Up next for Herschel is the WWE?
jesse james
January 31st, 2010
6:35 pm
Don’t even compare Tebow to Herschel Walker. Probably the only other college football player in Herschel’s category was Bo Jackson. I get so tired of Tebow being compared. Tebow had a great career and was a great leader, but he was no Herschel.
Hmmm
January 31st, 2010
6:43 pm
Here’s another view:
http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/12865614/robotic-victory-over-nobody-wont-make-walker-somebody-in-mma
With all due respect to Hershel, and he’s due a lot, the result of this fight was pre-determined when they selected his opponent. Nagy threw ONE punch. That’s it! He’s a club fighter with a 1-2 record and less than 2 years in the sport. I saw no indication that he was doing anything other than trying to defend himself. He simply did not attack! Good luck to Hershel, hope he does well but this one was for show.
Herschel Cheated
January 31st, 2010
6:50 pm
Of course Herschel won the fight he had a 16 personality advantage over his opponent.
Ted Striker
January 31st, 2010
7:02 pm
Herschel Walker may have his peanut-gallery detractors but it’s not like he actually cares.
count_schemula
January 31st, 2010
7:23 pm
I watched it last night. He did not get hit. He also did not do a lot of hitting. He was comfortable on the ground, and he is a force on the ground. His cardio and just pure strength was evident last night. He’s is not gym strong, he is straight strong. I also did not see much ability to finish. Yeah, his opponent more or less clammed up, but he really won that fight via the other guy not much fighting back. Herschel dominated him, but did not really beat him up. I’d like to see him give it another go. It was not a fraudulent effort by any means, but he’d have some holes against a better opponent.
Pete
January 31st, 2010
7:56 pm
For all those mentioning he is a 5th degree black belt in taekwondo, that means nothing. Taekwondo and other traditional martial arts are garbage when it comes to real fighting. I loved watching Herschel fight but this needs to be his only fight. He would not do well against legit fighters
Saint Clarkston
January 31st, 2010
8:04 pm
This stuff is beneath you Hershel. MMA is one half step
below professional wrestling.
Pete
January 31st, 2010
8:22 pm
I am a professional fighter and it is safe to say I have a higher education than you do Saint Clakston. If you did a little research you would realize more mma fighters have degrees than any other sport.
JSS
January 31st, 2010
8:55 pm
So which one of his personalities was this? Now that he’s beaten the MMA equivalent of Hawaii, does he have the guts to take on the big ugly monster of Wrightsville, his sister Veronica?
Najeh Davenpoop
January 31st, 2010
9:58 pm
Walker’s performance was very impressive for anyone, but for a 48 year old going up against a guy who’s young enough to be his son, it’s simply amazing.
Matt the Brave
January 31st, 2010
10:21 pm
Here’s my two comments: 1) down in South GA where Walker’s from, that’s called beatin’ the tar out of him. 2) he still looks like he could run over the best defensive players in the country. Just sayin’….
Matt the Brave
January 31st, 2010
10:23 pm
Pete, are you retarded? Taekwondo is a real fighting sport. I’m sure you’re redneck 20th degree red neck wouldn’t stand a chance against Walker. I bet you believe that wrestling’s real.
woodie
January 31st, 2010
10:54 pm
Simply a joke Herschel.
JSS
February 1st, 2010
1:02 am
South Georgia? Since when has Johnson County been in South Georgia? East Central Georgia… 49th in the nation!
FLDAWG
February 1st, 2010
8:30 am
Say what you will about HW, but to be 47 and be in the shape he is is crazy!!! Thats an acomlishment in itself and shows that HW is on of the best atheletes of all time. Looking at him I would guess he is still a 20-25 carry a game back. Congrats to him!!
The Dogfighter Returns
February 1st, 2010
9:40 am
For a 47 year old he is in amazing shape. Shame on the rest of you for consuming more than what you need to survive.
Granitedawg
February 1st, 2010
11:06 am
Being Herschel left UGA a year early, could we get him back for ONE MORE YEAR?
Pete
February 1st, 2010
11:23 am
Matt the Brave are you kidding me? I am Herschel’s biggest fan, but Taekwondo is not a real fighting sport. Please tell me the last time a champion in ANY mma organization was a taekwondo blackbelt? NEVER. Also. I have had more pro fights than Herschel and I am also undefeated. I also teach brazilian jiu jitsu and train with UFC fighters everyday. Pretty sure I know more on the subject than you do
Pete
February 1st, 2010
11:27 am
If taekwondo was a real fighting sport why did he have to go train at American Kickboxing Academy before they would let him fight. It seems a 6th degree BB in taekwondo would not need to go train at an American Kickboxing gym if taekwondo was a legit standup fighting style for mma
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
February 1st, 2010
11:38 am
Walker could still play in the NFL maybe fullback on the goal line or something that would be cool . heck he could probably rush the passer better than the bust the falcons drafted .
awsome to see him compete again though
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!
southgadawg
February 1st, 2010
1:46 pm
ponder that dawg !!!!!!!!!!
Yellow Fuzz
February 1st, 2010
2:33 pm
It’s great that Jeff Whitaker just chose Auburn over the dogs. Rumour has it that Outback Steakhouse gave him a lot of gift certificates to chose them. And lastly, and almost as funny, is that Miami was actually his second choice ahead of his home state school. Told you everyone is SICK of the obnoxiuos dog fans. Nobody wants to be playing and see half of the stadium get up and leave in the 4th qtr when your down by six points! Hahhahahahahaha
HungryDawg
February 1st, 2010
3:32 pm
Somebody above already stole my thunder. I was worried as well that Herschel was just too nice of a guy to get involved in something like this, aside from being nearly 50. Once again Herschel exceeds all expectations. What a freak!!!!
Paul Johnson
February 1st, 2010
3:37 pm
I command all my legions of Tech fans to punch this Herschel Walker guy in the face!!!! Do it for your fearless leader, Coach Paul “my jugs are bigger than your wife’s” Johnson!!!
corners
February 1st, 2010
3:39 pm
Pete is right. You can’t be some dumb, street fighting thug and get in an MMA fight and expect to win. You would more than likely be done within a minute. It’s more about intelligence, technique and stamina.
Dumb tool fans
February 1st, 2010
3:41 pm
Yellow Fuzz,
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t GT also his “home state school?” I realize with all the foreigners and non-English speaking students that pollute the campus it’s easy to forget, but last I checked Yech is still in the slums of Atlanta, and not in Baghdad where it really belongs.
Karl
February 1st, 2010
6:31 pm
It seems to me that walker needs to come out of the closet. The boy has some tendencies that appear to be questionable. Dumb tool, I guess fuga does not have any non english speaking students. You are correct. You are dumb.
sidslid
February 1st, 2010
6:47 pm
Given Parnell Roberts’ death this week, I bring you the three worst career moves:
Parnell Roberts going part time and then quitting Bonanza
Gavin McCloud quitting MASH for a Variety Show
Hershel to Donald Trump land
UGA- Simply the Best Baby!
February 2nd, 2010
1:24 am
1- #4 recruting class by espn.com (right behind National Champs Bama)
2- #4 number of top 100 recruits by scout.com
3- #9 ranking by rivals.com
Yeah baby.
Run You Herschel Walker!
Tweets that mention Herschel: He's only a (MMA) freshman! (watch the video) | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
February 2nd, 2010
10:35 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Patrick Ochs and Ellis Hull, Jeff Schultz. Jeff Schultz said: Herschel, Herschel, Herschel! (creative Tweet, don't you think?) http://bit.ly/bYvGt9 [...]
DirtyDawg
February 2nd, 2010
11:02 am
I still say that Herschel – or somebody on his behalf – should petition the NCAA to allow athletes, once they reach a certain age – say 47 – that still have college eligibility remaining, and regardless if they played professionally, to return to complete said eligibility. Can you imagine this man back on the field – adding one more year of record-breaking rushing to his already impressive number? It would be a record that won’t ever be broken. I mean if Herschel is looking for some way to cash in on all those sit ups and push ups he keeps doing, why not run the ball for Georgia? Of course, if he should decide to come back – and they let him – but figures he’d rather do it for Clemson or somebody, then to hell with it.
Karl
February 3rd, 2010
9:49 am
uga simply the best with nothing to show.