Is Cung Le telling us, what we want to hear?

[Yung Apprentice]

Im a huge Cung Le fan, but does anyone else get the impression, that he is dangling a carrot in front of our faces? He last fought early 2008. Fine. But I remember he said while filming Fighting and then Tekken he would fight again. Then he was offered Pandorum and I don't blame him for jumping on a major role in a big production. So he said he would fight soon after that, but is currently filming two other movies and then he relinquished his title. He said he would fight at the end of the year, or early next year, but he definately isn't fighting this year, and I heard he is going to be filming possibly another two movies in China. In interviews, it always "I still want to fight, I have the itch" blah blah blah, but Cung is a 37 year old MMA rookie, so how serious can we really take him? He's never going to fight in the UFC and by some slim chance he does, he will be way passed his prime.

So what gives, why not be true to yourself and your fans?

Thoughts?

[Three Harmonies]

He used MMA to bolster his acting career, that is it. Past his prime, and I think he quickly realized that he cannot hang with the true talent pool out there.

Jake

[mawali]

That is the best way to be!
He has proven that he can mix it with anyone but only a few can say that. Most CMA guys are afraid of those venue and tey prefer to be legends in their own mind and that is scary but it's OK. That is where they want to be.
Another fellow who can hang with them all is Tim Cartmell.

I can see where Cung Le is looking beyond the short term goals of MMA!
It is only natural he builds on other talents since he started late but he shows us that it is possible to be on an equal level with MMA guys.
If one is looking at the fighting and invincibility of CMA, then that is indeed a hollow goal. Study, train, learn all aspects of the art be able to show what it is about and that is the ultimate of true study.

Again, most CMA guys are stuck at an infantile level in that they believe learning multiple forms are skill! Learning forms is good for performance and winning trophies but they ignore the martial training, conditioning and other positive traits for a productive life.

May Cung Le enjoy the fruits of his labour!

[couch]

Originally Posted by Yung Apprentice

In interviews, it always "I still want to fight, I have the itch" blah blah blah

So what gives, why not be true to yourself and your fans?

Thoughts?

Maybe he IS telling the truth. Maybe he really still does have the itch to fight - but other things keep coming up.

I used to skateboard sooo much between the ages of 14 and 25. I really miss it. I was bitten by the skate bug and I couldn't shake it...it was just like 'Cung's itch.' People ask me all of the time, because they know me as the skateboard-fanatic, if I will get back to skating. I say yes I will...but right now, I can't afford the time nor the energy. I'm not lying to anyone, I just have some other priorities like kids, etc right now.

Maybe think of what he said like that?

All the best,
CTK

[Lucas]

i think couch is on the right track imo.

hes a fighter, proven by action. no one takes the record he did and doesnt love to fight. people focus on his so far short lived mma career but forget he is an undefeated sanshou champion. you dont forge that record by not loving to fight.

cant blame a guy when a movie career presents itself. hes doing what we call carpe diem. hes grabbing an awesome opportunity and running with it.

like you said, hes 37. his life is near half over, im sure having this movie thing under his belt is going to make his second half much better than his first half.

i am also very dissapointed hes not fighting, hes my fav fighter also. who cares of hes a mma rookie, hed school most anyone in a sanshou ring.

im hoping he fights some day again, but if he doesnt, ill respect that.

[GeneChing]

...we got drunk together in Atlanta and he was really conflicted about his film career versus his fight career. Cung loves to fight. He absolutely loves it. But he's also very serious about his training and knows exactly where he stands in the MMA world, especially in terms of his age. He knows he only has a few years of pro fights left. At the same time, there were all these film offers coming in, and those are opportunities that don't knock twice. Working with Yuen Woo Ping and Donnie Yen? He'd be a fool to miss those chances. Even the top MMA fighters don't get offers like that. They barely get a chance on Dancing with the Stars...

[lkfmdc]

Strikeforce just said he is fighting Dec 19th, so I guess he isn't done fighting

[Cimaroon]

Interesting against SCott Smith....smith loves to bang. Looking foward already to Cung back at it!

[Vankuen]

He's always been a fighter and always will be a fighter, but he shouldn't have to fight pro fights through to age 50 either.

He's doing what's best for him and his family, and that's the most important thing. The smartest financial move Cung can make right now is to pursue the movie career.

Besides, do you think he'd be able to fight the likes of Anderson Silva, Machida, or any of the other high end UFC/MMA fighters? He's never proven himself on the ground in the MMA arena...not fully. I'd like to think he can do it, but the odds at this point are against him.

[goju]

Originally Posted by Three Harmonies

He used MMA to bolster his acting career, that is it. Past his prime, and I think he quickly realized that he cannot hang with the true talent pool out there.

Jake

oh really? lol and who is this talent pool thatw ant to fight him?
how many said they did when he was in k-1 but never stepped up?
hes not past his prime at all

[Frost]

Originally Posted by goju

oh really? lol and who is this talent pool thatw ant to fight him?
how many said they did when he was in k-1 but never stepped up?
hes not past his prime at all

If he faces guys that like to bang and keep it standing he is still a force, however i don't think he can hang with the better groudfighters in the division

[GeneChing]

I just got the press release from Strikeforce.

MMA SUPERSTAR CUNG LE RETURNS TO CAGE DEC. 19 AGAINST HARD-HITTING SCOTT "HANDS OF STEEL'' SMITH;

STRIKEFORCE NEWCOMERS MATT "THE LAW" LINDLAND, "JACARE'' SOUZA, "KING MO'' LAWAL TO DEBUT, "RUTHLESS'' ROBBIE LAWLER ALSO ON SHOWTIME® CARD
__________________________________________________ _______

Tickets For STRIKEFORCE: Evolution On Sale Friday, Nov. 13;

Special Presale Opportunity For "STRIKEFORCE Insiders" Begins Tuesday, Nov. 10

NEW YORK (Nov. 9, 2009) - The stakes will be high when STRIKEFORCE closes out a spectacular 2009 with the return of one of the most prolific and exciting fighters in Mixed Martial Arts - unbeaten former STRIKEFORCE world middleweight champion Cung Le, who will face Scott "Hands of Steel" Smith in the main event of a star-studded lineup at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. on Saturday, Dec. 19, on SHOWTIME®.

Joining Le (6-0) and Smith (16-6) will be three other outstanding and widely recognized 185-pound stalwarts, "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler (16-5), Matt "The Law" Lindland (21-6) and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (10-2) as well as light heavyweight star (205 pounds) Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal (5-0). Lindland will face Souza in what represents both fighters' STRIKEFORCE debuts. Opponents for Lawler and "King Mo,'' whose start will also be his first with STRIKEFORCE, will be announced soon.

A special pre-sale ticket purchase opportunity will take place for "STRIKEFORCE Insider" e-newsletter subscribers (www.strikeforce.com <https://mail.svse.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.strikeforce.com/> ) beginning at 10:00 AM, PT Tuesday, Nov. 10, and ending at 10 PM, PT on Thursday, Nov. 12. "STRIKEFORCE Insiders" will receive a special e-newsletter today with the pre-sale code.

Tickets, priced from $30, go on sale to the general public at 10:00 AM, PT on Friday, Nov. 13 at the HP Pavilion ticket office as well as at all Ticketmaster locations (800-745-3000), Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com <https://mail.svse.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.ticketmaster.com/> ) and STRIKEFORCE'S official website (www.strikeforce.com <https://mail.svse.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.strikeforce.com/> ).

A cross-over star who also has made a name for himself in Hollywood, the popular Le has never lost a fight in his decorated career as a professional. He's perfect in MMA, kickboxing (22-0) and Sanshou (17-0).

Le, who recently relinquished his STRIKEFORCE belt to concentrate on a movie career - his latest flick, Pandorum, was released recently and another movie, Tekken, is due out soon -- will be making his first start since dismantling the renowned Frank Shamrock on March 29, 2008, at HP Pavilion.

In an impressive performance, Le kicked the daylights out of Shamrock, breaking Shamrock's arm in the process of winning by third-round TKO. Shamrock could not come out for the fourth round.

The 5-foot-10, 37-year-old Le was born in Saigon <https://mail.svse.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saigon> , South Vietnam <https://mail.svse.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Vietnam> , and moved to San Jose when he was 10. In 1994, he had his first amateur fight and turned pro in 1998. His main concentrations were in Sanshou and kickboxing until 2005. His MMA debut came in March 2006. Smith, of Sacramento, Calif., has won two of three and registered 13 knockouts in his 16 victories.

A game, exciting Muay Thai specialist and one of the most dangerous strikers in the business, Smith is a KO artist who comes out throwing bombs with an abandon.

A fighter who detests fights that go that distance, Smith has fought the likes of Nick Diaz and Lawler twice but will forever be remembered most for his dramatic, comeback, highlight-reel victory over Pete "Drago'' Sell in one of the most unexpected, shocking endings to a fight in MMA

Souza, a 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix runner-up, is a submission wizard who signed with STRIKEFORCE earlier this year. "Jacare," which is Portuguese for the species of alligator that inhabit Manaus, the town in Brazil where he was born, took up Jiu Jitsu at the age of 17.

The talented, six-foot-tall, 29-year-old Souza held MMA legend Randy "The Natural" Couture to a draw in a grappling contest in 2006 and, shortly thereafter, began training at Xtreme Couture. He has long since returned to training in his homeland.

Souza established his position as a top tier 185-pounder after placing second in the 2008 Dream single elimination tournament in Japan. Souza, who won a decision over "Mayhem'' Miller earlier in the Dream Grand Prix, is coming off a no-contest with "Mayhem'' in his most recent start on May 26, 2009. Souza had won eight in a row before losing to world-class, top-five middleweight, Gegard Mousasi, in his outing before last in the finals of the Dream tourney on Sept. 23, 2008.

Lindland is the 2000 Olympic Games silver medalist who holds wins against Pat Miletich <https://mail.svse.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Pat-Miletich-188> , former UFC welterweight champion Carlos Newton <https://mail.svse.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Carlos-Newton-7> and Jeremy Horn <https://mail.svse.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jeremy-Horn-202> . The comebacking Lindland is one of only two men to submit Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Travis Lutter <https://mail.svse.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Travis-Lutter-4586> .

Lawler, who fights out of Granite City, Ill., is known for utterly destroying opponents with an aggressive, unbashful, swing-for-the-fences, almost, at times, reckless style of fighting. A southpaw who has never turned down a fight, Lawler possesses enormous punching power, usually aimed at an opponent's head.

A fan favorite who matches the strength behind his punches with unexpected flying knee kicks, the 5-foot-11, 27-year-old has long been regarded as one of the world's top middleweights. Since October 2006, EliteXC's last middleweight <https://mail.svse.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middleweight> belt-holder and former two-time ICON Sport <https://mail.svse.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICON_Sport> middleweight titlist is 5-1 with one no-contest.

The charismatic, outspoken "King Mo'' will be making his United States debut after fighting five times in Japan where the 5-foot-11, 28-year-old of Temecula, Calif., by way of Mufiesboro, Tenn., became an instant fan favorite and is extremely popular.

A former three-time U.S. Senior National and NCAA wrestling champion, "King Mo'' turned pro on Sept. 28, 2008.

"King Mo,'' whose public feud with Quinton "Rampage'' Jackson has been well-documented, has won four of his five pro fights by knockout (punches), three in the first round. In his last outing, a member of "Team Thirsty" and "Team GDP" required all of 25 seconds to dispatch of Mark Kerr.

Doors at HP Pavilion will open at 5 p.m. PT for the STRIKEFORCE: "Evolution" event presented by Rockstar Energy Drink and the first preliminary bout will begin at 6:00 PM, PT.

The live SHOWTIME telecast, which will include as many as five bouts, will begin at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).

About STRIKEFORCE
STRIKEFORCE (www.strikeforce.com <https://mail.svse.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.strikeforce.com/> ) is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which, on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its "Shamrock vs. Gracie" event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza, which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose's HP Pavilion, played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995, STRIKEFORCE has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial arts series with "Shamrock vs. Gracie." In May 2008, West Coast Productions, the parent company of STRIKEFORCE, partnered with Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E), an entity created in 2000 to oversee all business operation aspects of the San Jose Sharks and HP Pavilion at San Jose.

What happens to the belt now?

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by GeneChing

I just got the press release from Strikeforce.



What happens to the belt now?

they should just give it to you.

[GeneChing]

Jake Shields won this title, which Cung had vacated last month, live on CBS on Saturday by earning a unanimous decision over Jason "Mayhem" Miller. Cung has to fight his way back to a shot at it.

[goju]

Originally Posted by Frost

If he faces guys that like to bang and keep it standing he is still a force, however i don't think he can hang with the better groudfighters in the division

and why would you assume that just because he hasnt grappled much in his fights doesnt mean he doesnt know what to do he has a wrestling base a blue belt in bjj and a good clinch game from sanshou

if he was easy to take down it would have been done already