Cung Le: Interim belt will happen soon

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During Cagewriter's chat with Cung Le, he said that due to his movie career, Strikeforce will soon introduce an interim belt at middleweight. Le has one movie, Pandorum, debuting in September, and is working on a few more film projects.

"I talked to Scott and he said he is going to do an interim belt very soon. I talked to him last week and it is going to happen after this fight."

Le last fought in March of 2008, beating Frank Shamrock for the Strikeforce belt. Le broke Shamrock's arm in the fight. Since then, he has focused on a burgeoning film career. In addition to Pandorum, including a starring role in Fighting, a movie about -- no surprise here -- mixed martial arts.

The movie Fighting actually sponsored some UFC events, so Le appeared on camera to promote the movie. That fueled speculation that Le might jump to the UFC, but he ended that today.

"I would love to fight for UFC but I got a contract with Strike Force and Scott Coker has taken good care of me so I just take it one day at a time."

This will open up some interesting possibilities for Strikeforce. Will Robbie Lawler, who is fighting Jake Shields at a catchweight, earn that belt? Who will he fight? We expect to find out more this weekend at Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields.

« Prev Cagewriter chat with Cung Le
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1. Posted by koolpaw Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:59 pm EDT
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i have been wondering about this
http://www.adcombat.com/Article.asp?Article_ID=18472
Tim Kennedy vs. Nick Thompson
Another important fight of 185er vs. 170er at next ShoMMA
but its almost ignored on any sites other than adcombat.com
Its not official, or was just a rumor?
Even though Interim belt for absent of Le for his movie career sounds ridiculous,
Interim midle weight title match between the 2 winners, "Lawler vs. Shields" and "Kennedy vs. Thompson" makes sence to me. i also think Villasenor should be counted as top contender for Interim belt.
2. Posted by phil Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:37 pm EDT
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"i would love to fight for the UFC but i have a contract" does not end speculation that he may want to go to the ufc. that basically says:"as soon as i legally can, i will"
3. Posted by TheBrit Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:39 pm EDT
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I am sorry but this is a farce.
Le should have been stripped of his belt a long time ago. we are going on 1 year 3 months now. That title should not have been held up, it should have been defended 2 or 3 times by now.
That shouldn't have been a title fight between Le and shamrock. It isn't like those movie's just popped up and he was suddenly unable to defend the title. By rights, Diaz should be the title holder right now after destroying shamrock.
4. Posted by tall john Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:55 pm EDT
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I agree with The Brit. Like true champions say... "Not a champ til u defend it". Strip Le of the belt...
5. Posted by bullyblues33 Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:56 pm EDT
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thebrit i completely agree with you its not right to hold up the rest of the division for you to pursue your other dreams. vacate the title then do what you want but as long as your a champion you should have to act like one and defend your belt until you can no longer do so
6. Posted by flash Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:35 pm EDT
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i really really agree with The Brit. that belt should be striped fast!!
7. Posted by Angelica R Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:57 pm EDT
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It's not just that Cung Le does'nt want to fight or his film career .. It's that before the aquisition of Elitexc there was'nt much top competition
8. Posted by JohnC Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:16 pm EDT
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Everybody was kung foo fighting,it was done with expert timing, it was a little bit frightening, oh oh oh oooohh. there was little tommy chung etc etc etc!
9. Posted by MMAFREAK Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:22 pm EDT
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Strip him of the belt. He wants to make movies not fight. Nothing wrong with that but he doesn't need to be a champion. Nick Diaz should fight the winner of Lawler/Shields for the belt. Frank Shamrock should referee!
10. Posted by Khai T Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:55 pm EDT
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why should this overrated maron!!!!!! get to keep this belt for over a year not fight anyone for that long. he's not as good as people make him to be. he get to go on a vacation, whlie other fighter alot strong and better has to bust there ass and didn't even has a change to challange him for the belt!!! whose protection him ---i wonder??? by the way he suck ass and grow a little taller so i can get a good look at him when he get his ass beat so bad that he'll realie he just so don't desever to be a champ but a chump.!!!!!!
11. Posted by anonymous Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:13 pm EDT
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NOVEMBER 2007.....the last time there was Strikeforce heavyweight title fight. People think Cung is a long time......It will be close to 2 years betweemn heavyweight title defenses.
SAD. Just pothetic. I wish I had a job where I could dictate to my boss WHAT I will do and WHEN I may do it. I wish I could tell him, "hey I am going to make money elsewhere till I decide to come back"
SAD
12. Posted by Shaun Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:37 pm EDT
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Responding to post 2 by Phil.He has to fight to be in the UFC not make movies.Yeah i'd like to see him fight in the UFC but he's an actor now everyone needs to get over it lol!!!!!!
13. Posted by Dubya b Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:43 pm EDT
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Exactly what film career does he have? A few scenes in low budget movies? He's acting like he has Jackie Chan or Jet Li roles.
14. Posted by mc2006@... Fri Jun 05, 2009 10:06 pm EDT
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Kha, stop yapping and come home boy! Supper is ready.
15. Posted by Jimmy S Sat Jun 06, 2009 12:33 am EDT
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HATERSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's doing it right, it's about making a living and feeding your family. Makig a movies makes more than fighting or making a record. Even with smallerroles he still making millions DUMP ASS!!!
16. Posted by Dubya b Sat Jun 06, 2009 12:39 am EDT
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Jimmy. What millions? huh? Where are your sources?
17. Posted by KfitzG Sat Jun 06, 2009 12:54 am EDT
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The problem i have with Cung in these movies is that he is banking off of the backs of the all the MMA fighters who have made these movies even possible to make some money. Why should a guy who has had 6 MMA fights make millions off of MMA movies while guys who have had dozens of fights still fight a few times a year. I understand this guy is doing what is best for his family. I have no problem with that. But show some respect for the sport and all the fighters who have paved the way for these movies to even hit the screen. What a joke this is. If i were Matt Hughes or Chuck Liddell or Randy Couture i would have a major problem with this guy. He hasn't even beat anybody worth a $hit and he's a movie star?? And shame on the UFC for putting him on camera to promote himself.
18. Posted by Boss Playa Sat Jun 06, 2009 1:35 am EDT
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Don't forget that this guy already had a full career of fighting before MMA, I'm just surprised he doesn't give it up all together. Anyways, I like Cung but if he ain't gonna fight then move on.
19. Posted by johnnyfromda805 Sat Jun 06, 2009 2:30 am EDT
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I agree with all of you. Cung Le can kiss my azz. Has he fight one single solid wrestler/grappler yet in his glorious 6-0 mma career? How much did they pay frank to keep the fight standing? He should be stripped of his belt so he can go make appearances in movies. If they put him in there with Nick Diaz, Nick will just take him down and submit cung.
20. Posted by MoyJonesJr Sat Jun 06, 2009 2:36 am EDT
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If everybody wants to know who's protecting him. It's his promoter. Scott Coker. If you look back into all his MMA fights and his kickboxing fights.....they were ALL under Scott Coker's promotion. Cung Le is Scott Coker's business partner. He will never go into the UFC, cause there's an absolute possibility of him losing. And he will not fight anywhere else unless it's in San Jose. He had an opportunity to fight at the Playboy Mansion, and I personally heard him turn it down. WHY WOULD A TRUE CHAMPION TURN DOWN A FIGHT THAT PROMOTES HIS NAME EVEN MORE!?!?
BTW....when he was fighting kickboxing it said he had an undefeated record which is 100% NOT TRUE! I've seen videos of him losing in fights in China. And his old televised fights have said he has losses on his record. But all of a sudden.....those losses disappeared. This guy is scared to fight tough competition as far back to him fighting his kickboxing bouts. He's going no where in his MMA Career....which in most people's eyes did not even take off from the first place. But he knows how to whore himself out and give himself a name where people actually believe he's a champion fighter.
NO DEFENDING OF A CHAMPIONSHIP BELT TO A REAL CHALLENGER = NOT A TRUE CHAMPION
21. Posted by mike s Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:11 am EDT
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Quit hating, cung lee is a destroyer....diaz can't and will not handle the kick and strikes. diaz gets caught by a spinning back fist and it's nighty nite........cung lee is the man period!!!!!!
22. Posted by D rok Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:01 am EDT
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I hope all of you that are demanding that Cung Le MUST defend his belt are the same people that are just as pissed that Fedor won't go to the UFC because he wants to do this EXACT thing if he won the belt...Fedor refuses to enter into a "win the belt and fight til you lose" contract, and this is what happens when you don't have that clause in the contract.
Cung Le SHOULD be stripped of his title. Its ridiculous that he can win the belt and then run off to hollywood without any ramifications. It's unfair to people who are actually willing to fight for the belt. I just hate it. It's all good if you want to make money for your kids and try something new, then by all means, do it. But don't try to pretend that you're a fighter if dont fight. and don't even try to pretend you're a champion. Sorry, not a Cung Le fan.
23. Posted by Kevin Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:19 am EDT
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Not fighting due to making a movie?
Either its a conflict of interest or HE has lost the will to defend the title.
Imagine if all champions stop fighting due to other interest. How fair would that be for their fans?
As long as someone is a champion, he should honor the title defense that is put in place and not get special treatment. The fans are the big losers here and Mr. Le at the end will lose respect. It also hurts the organization.
24. Posted by Jerry N Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:15 am EDT
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I think if Robbie wins, he will take on the winner of Nick and Smith, I mean really, who else is there to stop Nick or Lawler? (A fight that should hopefully happen!) Interm better mean he will return before this year is up! He will lose alot of respect if not. Too bad because he was looking like the next Silva just over half a year ago.
25. Posted by didhusband Sat Jun 06, 2009 6:51 am EDT
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It has to make you wonder about the contract that Cung Le has. We are simply fight fans who love the sport and would like to see matchups. Strikeforce doesn't have the balls or the power to either force him to fight or give up the belt?! Really? So either Strikeforce doesn't give acrap about their business and the fact that no one has defended the belt in over a year or they don't have the power to make him fight. It's reallly no wonder that the UFC is THE top group. I don't care who puts it up as long as it's a good fight but this is business 101. They put him in a contract where they have no control. He's not carrying the company or anything. As someone pointed out Diaz should have the belt or at least be a top contender. Both of those brothers are great fighters and would draw people from out of the ring and from fighting. Strikeforce needs a new lawyer to draw up their contracts.