Strikeforce's Jake Shields: Post-fight scrum no surprise with "disrespectful" Jason Miller
by Dann Stupp on Apr 18, 2010 at 3:10 am ET
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Following Saturday's "Strikeforce: Nashville" event and his title defense over UFC import Dan Henderson, middleweight champion Jake Shields was quick to apologize for a post-fight scuffle that marred the organization's return to CBS airwaves.
And while both Shields and teammate and fellow main-card title-defender Gilbert Melendez both apologized for their actions, neither said he was entirely to blame.
Enter preliminary-card fighter Jason "Mayhem" Miller, whose post-fight confrontation was the latest in a series of "disrespectful" actions, according to Shields.
Soon after Shields survived a near-knockout in the first round and later took control for a lopsided unanimous-decision win over Henderson, Shields spoke to broadcaster Gus Johnson for a customary post-fight interview. Miller, though, who defeated Tim Stout with a quick first-round victory earlier in the night, soon interrupted the proceedings to campaign for a rematch. (Shields defeated Miller for the vacant belt during Strikeforce's CBS debut in November.)
Fans exiting Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., soon stopped in their tracks.
With his spotlight stolen, Shields admitted he gave Miller a shove. All hell then broke loose as Shields and Melendez's teammates – including Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz and brother/UFC fighter Nate Diaz – wrestled Miller to the mat and unloaded punches and kicks while security and athletic-commission tried to stop the fracas.
"He got in my face," Shields said. "My emotions were high. I felt disrespected, so I pushed him. I shouldn't have, but I feel like he shouldn't have got in my face like that right after a fight. A little rumble broke out, I guess, between my team and him. I was getting held back, so at that point, I just calmed down and stayed out of it."
In one of the year's deepest cards and a televised championship triple-header that had garnered the organization unparalleled exposure, much of the focus unfortunately has turned to the post-fight melee.
MMAjunkie.com (
www.mmajunkie.com) was one of the first to arrive at the night's post-fight press conference, where Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker had already been ushered to meet with the media. Reports of the scuffle then trickled in, and Coker started hearing the details.
He was understandably shocked, and though Coker usually holds his cards close to his chest, it was obvious the executive was bothered by the reports of what had transpired. Strikeforce photographer Esther Lin, for example, admitted to getting caught in the scrum. Lin wouldn't break the 100-pound barrier even if soaking wet.
Coker immediately condemned the actions and said penalties for those involved aren't out of the question. First, though, he said he needs to review the tapes to see who instigated what and get a better idea of exactly what happened.
For their part, Shields and Melendez both acknowledged their involvement and apologized. Shields, though, suggested Miller is at least partially to blame.
"I expected him to be disrespectful," Shields said. "Isn't he always disrespectful to everyone? Isn't that kind of a known thing? It's his personality.
"I think it was just really disrespectful the way he got in my face like that."
Miller wasn't made available after the show. Coker said Strikeforce officials had no plans for him to enter the cage after Shields' fight and that as far as he knows none of it was planned or choreographed.
Melendez, who topped Japanese star Shinya Aoki in the night's co-headliner, said he and Shields' teammates were simply reacting to a situation that Miller created.
"I have nothing against [Miller], but it's Jake's moment," he said. "If he hadn't stolen the mic from him, there wouldn't have been a problem.
"But that's Mayhem for you."
For complete coverage of "Strikeforce: Nashville," check out the MMA Events section of MMAjunkie.com.
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