Around MMA: Almeida Retires, Kyle Out-New Opponent Named Tomorrow, Diaz Won’t Fight A Teammate

Added on Mar 31, 2011 by John Petit in

UFC & MMA

Ricard Almeida Retires

Ricardo “Big Dog” Almeida is hanging up the gloves, and retiring from fighting MMA. In a post made on his facebook page, “After much deliberation since my fight at UFC 128 I have decided to step away from the sport as a fighter. I will continue to fully support the UFC as a coach and of course as a big fan. I would like to thank Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White for their leadership and vision which brought the sport to new heights. I would also like to thank Joe Silva for giving me the opportunity to compete among the best martial artists in the world.”

Almeida lost a unanimous decision to Mike Pyle at UFC 128, and said he was having a hard time concentrating on fighting and staying healthy. He said “Back in 2008 I decided to return to MMA. Since then I have had the privilege of fighting eight times in the UFC. As a competitor I can think of no bigger thrill than to stand in the center of the octagon with my hands raised. During these almost four years it has been a personal struggle to find balance between my fighting career, caring for my son who was diagnosed with autism soon after I signed a six-fight deal with the UFC, teaching at my growing Jiu-Jitsu Academy and the family duties we all have.”

Almeida concluded “MMA is a great sport but also physically and mentally unforgiving. It is a dangerous task to step in the octagon, especially if your focus is not at 100 percent.” Ricardo Almeida is a Renzo Gracie protege, and has fought all over the world in MMA and BJJ tournaments. He leaves the UFC going 5-3, and he has 13 career wins overall. Its good to hear he isn’t giving up on the sport, as I think he will continue to play a big part in it.

Mike Kyle Out, Gegard Mousasi Gets New Opponent

It has been rough stretch for American Kick Boxing Academy, and the new victim is Mike Kyle who was scheduled to fight Gregard Mousasi on April 9. Kyle has pulled out of the fight with a hand injury, and a replacement will likely be named tomorrow. Many speculated that Cheik Kongo might be the replacement because of a post he put up on his facebook page, but Strikeforce President Scott Coker laughed that off on Tapout Radio tonight. Coker said Mousasi will get a new opponent, and it WILL be a Strikeforce fighter and NOT a UFC fighter. Coker didn’t talk much about the merger, but he did say that the thought of doing fights with the UFC later down the line really excited him, because there were great fight fights to make.

Nick Diaz “Fighting your teammate is disgusting.”

Durring the Strikeforce conference call, the always animated Nick Diaz was asked about fighting one of his teammates, and he said he wouldn’t even do it for a million dollars. He stated “I got training partners and I got what works that got me there. That’s my team. That’s a disgusting thought to have to fight my brother. I don’t even appreciate being asked about that.”

When asked about the situation with Rashad Evans and Jon Jones Diaz said its a totally different case at Ceasar Gracie’s. He said “Jones and Evans are not real training partners though. You don’t understand, they’re like 10 years apart for one, or something like that. They didn’t grow up training together and Jones is brand new to the sport. He’s just doing whatever, they got him so busy making photo shoots and press conferences and conference calls and all that. I’m missing practice right now being on this. I missing a very serious practice. I got a lot of people right in front of me on the mat right now training and I need my practice. I’m over here on this call and it’s simple, stuff like this, that’s what they got them doing and they’re not focused on who’s important to them in life.” Diaz concluded “And they don’t even pay me close to enough money to think about that sort of thing. They pay me way too much money but not enough as far as I’m concerned.”