Kalib Starnes' Statement

I guess Kalib has released a statement attempting to explain what happened/why he ran around the octagon like a scared child…

http://www.kalibstarnes.net/

I would like to begin by saying that I was very happy to fight in Montreal, and that I trained really hard for my fight. I know that there were many people, including myself, who were disappointed with my performance, and I would like to apologize to my coaches, trainers and the fans for what happened. It was by far the worst fight of my career, much to the credit of my opponent who proved to be a real monster in the ring, I think that they should keep him in a cave somewhere and feed him raw meat!

I regret having to discuss this matter in the press, and would have preferred to discuss it in private. I was not given this opportunity and feel as though I was forced into a position where I had to respond publicly to the pointed and biased case building against me in the press.

Regardless of my dissatisfaction with my contract, I will say that to the best of my knowledge the UFC honoured all agreements made with me while I was under contract with them. I do not blame the UFC in any way for my loss, and I hold no grudges against Nate Quarry or his corner.

This sport is as much about losing as it is about winning. There is a winner and a loser in every fight. I tried to win but on that night I couldn’t do it and I lost. Instead of allowing me to lose with dignity I was booed and called names and ridiculed beyond anything which seems reasonable to me. I tried to box with him and I couldn’t find my range, I tried to kickbox with him and I broke my foot, I tried to take him down and grapple with him but I was unable to, I tried to work in the clinch but that didn’t work either, in short, I failed. No excuses.

During the fight I received a broken bone in my right foot and I find out tomorrow if I need to have surgery and get a pin put through it so that it will heal properly. I also have severe bruising on my left thigh, lumps on my head, a fat black eye, a sprained jaw and damage to the nerves in my molars.

Since the fight, extremely biased articles and commentary have appeared everywhere; articles which were of course reprinted quite extensively by those lacking the imagination to make up their own lies. Accusations flew and continue to fly about every aspect of my life and character. I’ve heard reports that I appeared on a radio show in Montreal attacking the UFC, that I threw the fight in protest, that I’ve been abandoned by my team over my performance, that I escaped from a polygamist colony in Texas as a child, that I was homeless for years surviving on nothing but peyote caps and good intentions, etc, etc.

I’ve been bombarded by questions from every media organization you can imagine. You’d think that I had knocked up Britney Spears, or strangled Paris Hiltons pet Chihuahua. They ask me clever questions like: Why would you want to be released from your UFC contract? Were you injured? What was it like on that reality show? Exactly what is a “hollaback girl”? Do lion-tiger hybrids (ligers) really exist? And finally; Which is better, chocolate, or vanilla?.

I have been asked to appear on Inside MMA Friday to discuss it further. I will make copies of my medical records relating to UFC 83 available upon request.

He’s trying to turn this whole thing around and make it seem like he’s the victim. So you got injured during the fight? Big deal. Throw in the towel if you’re in incomprable pain, which by all acounts he most likely wasn’t because he was able to run around the octagon pretty well with that broken foot and severe thigh bruising.

He’s not a victim, and his performance was disgraceful. I feel no sympathy towards him.

-dizzle

In short…WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!

Note: I’m not talking to you CJK

Dude, everybody knows that in fights there is a winner and a loser. But, this is the only fight I’ve ever seen where the loser literally ran away (and did a pretty good job of it I might add for having a “broken foot”) for most of the fight, and the last minute straight (if not longer). That’s why people are saying what they’re saying. Notice that no one is talking anywhere near as much shit about the other losers (Bocek for example).

Doesn’t it also seem like Starnes is abnormally prone to injury? He “broke” his rib during TUF. Now he “breaks” a bone in his right foot (how I have no idea, he threw like 1 leg kick that whole fight and missed with it no less) in this fight.

Sorry, but either he’s got some seriously weak bones, in which case fighting might not be the best career choice. Or he’s just making up excuses for his lack of heart, in which case I still think fighting is a bad career choice.

I don’t dislike the guy as a person (don’t know him), but like someone else said in another thread, I’ll never pay to watch him fight again.

I have the upmost respect for anyone entering the cage to fight. Its tough to do. I do think Kalib fought a poor fight, which happens. However, one thing I do not like is people who have never fought criticizing a fighter’s heart. Its ok to say the guy isn’t skilled, but don’t criticize a guy’s heart if you have no idea what it takes to get in there.

[quote]danew wrote:
I have the upmost respect for anyone entering the cage to fight. Its tough to do. I do think Kalib fought a poor fight, which happens. However, one thing I do not like is people who have never fought criticizing a fighter’s heart. Its ok to say the guy isn’t skilled, but don’t criticize a guy’s heart if you have no idea what it takes to get in there.[/quote]

The thing is, I don’t think that he isn’t skilled. It’s just pretty obvious that when things aren’t going his way, he looks for the easy way out. That shows a lack of heart. Yes, he’s got guts for getting in there in the first place, no arguing that. But, compared to someone like Mark Bocek who continued fighting hard and pushing the pace, even though he was losing to Danzig, Starnes lacks heart.

I’ve also trained hard, been hit full force, slammed, bit, fish hooked, grappled on pavement, trained in the elements and had my heart tested quite a few times. So I’m not just some keyboard warrior. I have some experience with heart.

[quote]Sentoguy wrote:
danew wrote:
I have the upmost respect for anyone entering the cage to fight. Its tough to do. I do think Kalib fought a poor fight, which happens. However, one thing I do not like is people who have never fought criticizing a fighter’s heart. Its ok to say the guy isn’t skilled, but don’t criticize a guy’s heart if you have no idea what it takes to get in there.

The thing is, I don’t think that he isn’t skilled. It’s just pretty obvious that when things aren’t going his way, he looks for the easy way out. That shows a lack of heart. Yes, he’s got guts for getting in there in the first place, no arguing that. But, compared to someone like Mark Bocek who continued fighting hard and pushing the pace, even though he was losing to Danzig, Starnes lacks heart.

I’ve also trained hard, been hit full force, slammed, bit, fish hooked, grappled on pavement, trained in the elements and had my heart tested quite a few times. So I’m not just some keyboard warrior. I have some experience with heart.[/quote]

I’ve never competed in MMA but that doesn’t mean I can’t comment on his piss-poor performance. It doesn’t matter what sport it is, if the guy lacks heart, then they should be called out on it. I’ve seen plenty of football or basketball player who looked like they weren’t trying. Just because I’ve never played those sports, I can’t call them out on it? Please. Fans of MMA have a right to speak up because we are paying for the fights. I don’t want to spend money to see garbage like that, period.

He was the first guy in UFC history to lose all three rounds 10-8. That says something. Even if you think you’re going to lose, you still gotta try. There’s no honor in running away.

[quote]super saiyan wrote:
Sentoguy wrote:
danew wrote:
I have the upmost respect for anyone entering the cage to fight. Its tough to do. I do think Kalib fought a poor fight, which happens. However, one thing I do not like is people who have never fought criticizing a fighter’s heart. Its ok to say the guy isn’t skilled, but don’t criticize a guy’s heart if you have no idea what it takes to get in there.

The thing is, I don’t think that he isn’t skilled. It’s just pretty obvious that when things aren’t going his way, he looks for the easy way out. That shows a lack of heart. Yes, he’s got guts for getting in there in the first place, no arguing that. But, compared to someone like Mark Bocek who continued fighting hard and pushing the pace, even though he was losing to Danzig, Starnes lacks heart.

I’ve also trained hard, been hit full force, slammed, bit, fish hooked, grappled on pavement, trained in the elements and had my heart tested quite a few times. So I’m not just some keyboard warrior. I have some experience with heart.

I’ve never competed in MMA but that doesn’t mean I can’t comment on his piss-poor performance. It doesn’t matter what sport it is, if the guy lacks heart, then they should be called out on it. I’ve seen plenty of football or basketball player who looked like they weren’t trying. Just because I’ve never played those sports, I can’t call them out on it? Please. Fans of MMA have a right to speak up because we are paying for the fights. I don’t want to spend money to see garbage like that, period.
[/quote]

It’s one thing to say the fight was crap. It was. It’s another to say he has no heart. I dont know whether he does or not, I havent walked a mile in his shoes. I know I have no interest in ever seeing him fight again, but I’ll leave it at that.

You win some, you lose most. I really could care less why he acted the way he did. It’s a very random scenario, a fight that is. I just assumed off the bat that he got hurt. Same as BJ pen that one time when he essentially stopped because of rib injury.

It happens and it’s a risk both fighters and PPV consumers take.

the rest of the card was good and I would have paid for it if i hadn’t gone to the bar to see it. The key is to split the cost with other people and that way it hurts less if the whole card is a bunch of tim sylvia boolsheet.

-chris

He deserves some credit for not limping on a broken foot, that took heart. To take it a step further (no pun intended) he showed mega heart by not just walking but running on said broken foot, and that takes heart. So I guess I’m not sure why everybody thinks he showed no heart…including me. And oh btw, vanilla is far superior to chocolate, that’s not even debateable.

[quote]Mousse wrote:
He deserves some credit for not limping on a broken foot, that took heart. To take it a step further (no pun intended) he showed mega heart by not just walking but running on said broken foot, and that takes heart. So I guess I’m not sure why everybody thinks he showed no heart…including me. And oh btw, vanilla is far superior to chocolate, that’s not even debateable.[/quote]

LOL, well you’re right about the vanilla vs. chocolate thing.

And if he did indeed break his foot, than the fact that he was able to run on it is pretty impressive. But, it still shows a lack of “heart” IMO. Just so that I’m clear, by “heart” I mean the undying will to continue trying (to win) until not physically capable.

Rich Franklin broke his hand during his fight with David Loiseau and still kept fighting and still won that fight. Arturo Gati broke his hand in one of his fights with Mickey Ward (I believe it was #3) and still kept fighting and also wound up winning that fight. Randy broke his hand against Gonzaga, still won. There are lots of examples of guys who still kept fighting despite getting injured.

Injury or not, Starnes ran away, literally ran away, for the last minute or so of that fight. That shows a lack of “heart” IMO. If people disagree, then so be it. I never claimed to be some governing body who’s opinion was the end all be all. It’s just my opinion, nothing more.

You know what? Capt. America broke stuff during his fight…which he WON btw. I dont believe he actually broke anything anyway–Kalib acted disgracefully and wants to get off the hook now.

[quote]Sentoguy wrote:

Rich Franklin broke his hand during his fight with David Loiseau and still kept fighting and still won that fight. [/quote]

Speaking of guys running away … that franklin vs loiseau fight was teh worst example I’ve ever seen of someone doing everything to avoid actually fighting short of physically climbing out of the cage … until this one.

[quote]Sentoguy wrote:
Mousse wrote:
He deserves some credit for not limping on a broken foot, that took heart. To take it a step further (no pun intended) he showed mega heart by not just walking but running on said broken foot, and that takes heart. So I guess I’m not sure why everybody thinks he showed no heart…including me. And oh btw, vanilla is far superior to chocolate, that’s not even debateable.

LOL, well you’re right about the vanilla vs. chocolate thing.

And if he did indeed break his foot, than the fact that he was able to run on it is pretty impressive. But, it still shows a lack of “heart” IMO. Just so that I’m clear, by “heart” I mean the undying will to continue trying (to win) until not physically capable.

Rich Franklin broke his hand during his fight with David Loiseau and still kept fighting and still won that fight. Arturo Gati broke his hand in one of his fights with Mickey Ward (I believe it was #3) and still kept fighting and also wound up winning that fight. Randy broke his hand against Gonzaga, still won. There are lots of examples of guys who still kept fighting despite getting injured.

Injury or not, Starnes ran away, literally ran away, for the last minute or so of that fight. That shows a lack of “heart” IMO. If people disagree, then so be it. I never claimed to be some governing body who’s opinion was the end all be all. It’s just my opinion, nothing more. [/quote]

Hahaha, please don’t misunderstand my attempt at sarcasm, I agree with you - he showed no heart. He did the same thing during his stint on TUF when he feigned a broken rib. I have a tough time with his repeated lack of character. If you’re a premier fighter, you should act like one at all times IMO.

Peace

[quote]Mousse wrote:

Hahaha, please don’t misunderstand my attempt at sarcasm, I agree with you - he showed no heart. He did the same thing during his stint on TUF when he feigned a broken rib. I have a tough time with his repeated lack of character. If you’re a premier fighter, you should act like one at all times IMO.

Peace[/quote]

Don’t worry, I caught it. :wink:

I agree. If people are paying you to be a fighter, then you’d better be willing to fight.