Morning Report: Joe Rogan says Bellator 'can't keep doing' fights like Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000
You didn't need to watch Joe Rogan's "Fight Companion" podcast Sunday night to figure out his take on the action at Bellator 149.
The UFC commentator wasn't impressed with the event's co-main event between street fighters Kimbo Slice and Dada 5000/ Dhafir Harris, offering that it may have been "the worst fight he'd ever seen."
Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub suggested Sunday night that the bout set the sport back "seven years," but Rogan thinks it really only hurt Bellator.
Giving a nod to the promotion's signings of Phil Davis and Ben Henderson, Rogan agreed that Bellator's direction will end up costing them more marque free agents.
"I think, eventually, they've got to let all that go," Rogan said of Bellator's strategy of booking "fun fights." "They can't keep doing those. They should stop. This is the last one. If they keep doing it they're going to lose credibility. There's a lot of things they need to do."
Rogan isn't quite ready to slam Bellator CEO Scott Coker and Co. for the wacky bout. If you ask him, even Bellator brass probably didn't see that fight unfolding like it did.
"I don't think [Bellator] thought that was going to be as bad as it was," Rogan said of the bout. "I don't think anybody would have anticipated those guys would have gassed like that. That was the worst gassing in the history of gassing. Dada just didn't have enough gas. I kind of get that he wants to fight legitimately and he's got to take that paycheck, but I just wish he had a real strength and conditioning coach or trainer. But we're here talking about him. He got that. He made some money."
After being TKO'd by Slice in the third round, Harris actually suffered cardiac arrest, multiple sources told MMA Fighting on Saturday. He was resuscitated, rushed to a Houston hospital and was in stable condition by morning. Harris' family released a statement Saturday saying Harris had high levels of potassium in his blood, which led to "severe dehydration, fatigue and renal failure."
"Yea, his heart stopped," said Rogan. "It was filled with cheeseburgers and fried chicken and orange soda. He didn't train. There was no way he trained. I mean, he might have trained for a couple of days. You should have lost 40 pounds before. It's not like you didn't know you were going to do this. How about Kimbo? What the f**k was going on with him? That wasn't even amateur hour. Really? If it was an amateur fight you'd be champing at the bit to fight those guys. 'I hope they're in my bracket.'
"All you have to do is dance around for a few minutes and they're toast. How about that one exchange where Dada just lay down and Kimbo just rolled over on top of him. There was no takedown. I wonder if they were talking to each other. 'You want to take this to the ground, homie?'"
5 MUST-READ STORIES
'Oh my God, this thing's going all three rounds.' "Big" John McCarthy reflects on his wild night reffing Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000.
'It did not catch his groin.' Royce Gracie explains his controversial low blow against Ken Shamrock at Bellator 149.
Click Debate. Marc Raimondi asks if Ronda Rousey's suicide comments should raise a red flag.
Full house. Teammates Alistair Overeem and Andrei Arlovski are booked to fight at UFC Fight Night: Rotterdam and both plan to keep their training camp at JacksonWink MMA.
Late beef. Anderson Silva mocks "unskilled" Michael Bisping with Instagram video; 'The Count' fires back.
MEDIA STEW
Octagon interview with Donald Cerrone.
Cowboy says he's back on track thanks to having a real gameplan.
Cody Garbrandt scores a huge KO over Augusto Mendes.
Highlights from RFA 35.
Watch Chris Camozzi vs. Joe Riggs in its entirety.
TTTHS.
Long watches.
Fight Night Pittsburgh: Post-fight Press Conference
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Bellator 149 Post-Fight Press Conference
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TWEETS
Check out pros react to Bellator 149 (here), Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Cowboy (here) and "This Week in Struggle."
Return of the king.
Back to America for the gold and the silk. Draped in the green and the orange. pic.twitter.com/LhMLjhuMFz
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 22, 2016
It's not over.
To my fans: We released an official complaint with the TDLR. My #bellator149 fight should have been a no contest. https://t.co/exrvt98gnC
— KEN SHAMROCK (@ShamrockKen) February 22, 2016
That'll do.
There doesn't seem to be any sign of a 'Gracie Breakdown' for the #KimboVsDada5000 fight. So I decided to make one. pic.twitter.com/jNrDwe5uGV
— Cathal Pendred (@Pendred) February 20, 2016
Beef.
@DerekBrunson let's do this !! @danawhite
— U R I A H H A L L (@UriahHallMMA) February 22, 2016
Robert Whitaker has first the first dance. You're secondary princess. But that's a yes https://t.co/ChnUlxAAMR
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) February 22, 2016
Once I beat the fake Dwight Howard.....ima call out Minakov.
— King Mo (@KingMoFH) February 20, 2016
Posted by Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal on Friday, February 19, 2016
Get well soon.
My bad I didn't know DaDa heart stop after the fight. pic.twitter.com/sTrajGBZDx
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) February 20, 2016
Heard #dada5000 was in critical condition and now resting at hospital. @deswoodruff & I wish you a speedy recovery. God bless
— KEN SHAMROCK (@ShamrockKen) February 21, 2016
Buds.
My new protege justinbieber get ready to put your gloves on and let's do this! ... https://t.co/dKTE121jQx
— Chuck Liddell (@ChuckLiddell) February 19, 2016
Congrats.
Just remembered today I'm officially cleared to train again after my hand surgery in November #hardbeinghard
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) February 22, 2016
Please be careful.
Signing off from #daytona #copilot
Posted by Luke Rockhold on Sunday, February 21, 2016
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (Feb. 19-22 2016)
Phil Davis vs. Muhammed Lawal at Bellator 154
Michael Chandler vs. Josh Thomson at Bellator 154
Andrei Arlovski vs. Alistair Overeem at UFC Fight Night: Arlovski vs. Overeem
Stefan Struve vs. Antonio Silva at UFC Fight Night: Arlovski vs. Overeem
Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.