Cagewriter - UFC

As the old adage goes, "Don't talk the talk if you can't walk the walk." Phil Baroni could not, in fact, walk the walk in his 30-27 unanimous decision loss to Joe "Diesel" Riggs at Strikeforce on Saturday night.

Riggs' strategy early seemed to be to outwrestle Baroni. He took him down early, and tried for a rear naked choke, but could not sink it in. Baroni managed a mount near the end of the first round, but didn't inflict much damage.

In the second, Riggs used Baroni's purported strategy of "punching him in the [expletive] face as many times as possible" to outfight Baroni. Near the end of the first round, Riggs tried a triangle choke that probably would have worked if he would have just held on. Instead, he punched Baroni on the top of the head, helping the "New York Badass" escape.

Baroni, who before the fight was saying how much his cardio had improved, was clearly exhausted. As he tried to standup with Riggs, he couldn't manage much. Riggs taunted Baroni, telling him to come at him, and then followed each taunt with a knee and cross combination.

After the fight, Riggs thanked his opponent, and said he'd be back. What will be interesting to see is if Baroni is humbled. 

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13 Comments

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  1. Craig
    1. Posted by Craig Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:21 pm EDT

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    the ny bad ass needs a new nickname now!
  2. Mr.Brooks
    2. Posted by Mr.Brooks Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:31 pm EDT

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    The new york tired ass
  3. OUTLAW
    3. Posted by OUTLAW Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:36 pm EDT

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    Riggs is a badass compared to Baroni the phony
  4. a@#hole
    4. Posted by a@#hole Sat Jun 06, 2009 11:39 pm EDT

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    "Smells like NY bad ass"
  5. BallsMickCarthy
    5. Posted by BallsMickCarthy Sun Jun 07, 2009 12:42 am EDT

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    Still fighting? why not just become a New Yawk Cabbie? How bout Crab Ass?
  6. Loyalty Prevails
    6. Posted by Loyalty Prevails Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:17 pm EDT

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    Baroni The Jabroni........
  7. Mark
    7. Posted by Mark Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:48 pm EDT

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    Phil the PHONY Baroni...........whattadork............
  8. oldmikey
    8. Posted by oldmikey Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:48 pm EDT

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    sad ass
  9. tattoo_on_u
    9. Posted by tattoo_on_u Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:49 pm EDT

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    baroni couldnt walk the talk against shamrock either. i agree needs to change his name.
  10. icantmakeyouthink
    10. Posted by icantmakeyouthink Sun Jun 07, 2009 2:49 pm EDT

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    Riggs stated he broke both hands (again) in the fight, if so, he is close to the end of his career. If you can't throw an average amount of blows in a fight without breaking your hands, then time to hang it up. Maybe that was why he threw elbows from the outside? That leaves your midsection open to a good boxer/puncher.....
  11. Brent T
    11. Posted by Brent T Sun Jun 07, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

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    baroni has never been top tier anything in mma...but like he has said it's better than "working". Kinda of says it all there doesn't he....he was out of shop and not working, which has been his way since he got a break.
  12. peteyweestro
    12. Posted by peteyweestro Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:10 pm EDT

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    Baroni the New York Sad Ass is a freaking tool, the biggest highlight reel of his career should be when Frank Shamrock made the sleeping motion with his hands in the middle of their fight and then laid one on phoni's chin that did put him to sleep for a second or two,roflmao
  13. JerBear50
    13. Posted by JerBear50 Tue Jun 09, 2009 6:22 am EDT

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    I like how he claimed he's a top contender "again." When was he a top contender the first time?

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