Cagewriter - UFC

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Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:05 pm EST

Kaplan not accepting anymore freebies to the face

By Steve Cofield

Junie Browning's real UFC debut comes this Saturday. He was accused of quitting in his loss to Efrain Escudero on The Ultimate Fighter 8. Has his time at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas straightened him out mentally? We find out during the finale show against Dave Kaplan. Yahoo! Sports tracked down Kaplan to talk about Junie and the funniest moment of the season on the reality show.

Kaplan's new mentor, Frank Mir, doesn't like Browning. He didn't mince words on that subject in a recent video interview with RawVegas.tv. Kaplan doesn't feel the same way. He really had nothing bad to say about his opponent's behavior during the taping of the show but Kaplan just couldn't figure out why Browning would want to waste the opportunity to work with all the great coaches on the show:

"I think it's difficult with such a great coaching staff on either side to not make the most of that opportunity. But everyone is not at the same level of professionalism."

Kaplan is also the first to say that he deals with mental issues as well. They're not exactly the same but Kaplan says he needs stay composed in the cage. He didn't do so when he allowed Phillippe Nover to "test his chin" at the start of their fight:

"Because I want it to be something that I'd want to watch, I get into trouble. I've given up my back in fights just to make the fight more exciting. What Phillippe did to me was definitely a lesson. I'm not going to let Junie punch me in the face for free."

Make sure you watch around 6:30. Kaplan drops a bombshell about the much-ballyhooed scene (The Soup's Clip of the Week!) where he allowed Tom Lawlor to coldcock him after multiple tequila shots. He also waxes poetic about his idol, pro wrestler Ric Flair, and on the origins of his own nickname, "Diamond" Dave.

NOTE: The MMA Experts Blog is seated cageside and will have live fight-by-fight coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m. ET. Join Maggie Hendricks for a live chat during the televised portion of the show beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.

We'll also have a live post-fight show from Las Vegas. I'll be joined by fighters from the card, Matt Serra, Stephen Bonnar and Frank Trigg. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN.

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17 Comments

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  1. Ican2
    1. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    Kaplan, Good grief..the dude's in the clouds..Saying his fight with Junie is the fight people want to see...I think he ment to say "were the guys people wish would disappear" Ohhh he also says he's a professional fighter???Huh??"asking someone to KO you for fun is professional???? Ok bro whatever dude, and you were never knocked up???
  2. Jimmy D
    2. Posted by Jimmy D Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    funny guy haha
  3. C. Jazz
    3. Posted by C. Jazz Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:10 pm EDT

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    dude forget kaplan, a dirty jersey shirt!? niiice, represent!
  4. Ican2
    4. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    #3
    Yea, he's still a goofball...and can't fight I think my sister..No, I know my sister could whip his aas
  5. chano
    5. Posted by chano Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

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    Oh man, Yeah still believe he was knocked out. And please enough with Junie he's nothing and I really hope he doesnt make his way into the fight card this Satruday!
  6. chano
    6. Posted by chano Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

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    DAMnit he made his way to the fight card I really hope he gets knocked out this time. Plus Dave Kaplan better fight better this time!
  7. Clint
    7. Posted by Clint Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    Kaplan is a very limited fighter. I really dont see him lasting in MMA. I am more upset they are throwing him to Junie. Junie will beat him. I would love to see Junie lose and be out of MMA. I think this fight is just to give Junie a push (More marketing) for more fights in the UFC. I am tired of low lifes like Junie in MMA....Bad name for the sport.
  8. chano
    8. Posted by chano Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:02 pm EDT

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    I agree clint but then again we are always going to see that for shows to come in TUF. The next episode will be the same way just another low life, making a bad name for the sport.
  9. Darkness!
    9. Posted by Darkness! Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    Junie vs. Kaplan= p!ss break for the fans at the event; sex break for couples watching at home (and prob. a few at the event too)...
    : p
  10. vudusup
    10. Posted by vudusup Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 pm EDT

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    Kimbo Slice would dominate this show were ever to stoop low enough to enter it. The training in Mark Hunt's and Kevin Randleman's camp has been paying dividends already. Mr. Slice will go to Japan (beware Fedor lol), dominate there as he did in the MMA "minor leagues" paving the way for an eventual return to the U.S. fighting in the UFC for the HW championship.
  11. Darkness!
    11. Posted by Darkness! Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    vudusup-
    WOW ! just WOW ! There are literally NO intelligent words to describe ur post. This guy is moronically hilarious- like Will Ferrell.
  12. vudusup
    12. Posted by vudusup Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 pm EDT

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    #12 - let me help you.
    prodigious   [pruh-dij-uhs]
    adjective
    1. extraordinary in size, amount, extent, degree, force, etc.: a prodigious research grant.
    2. wonderful or marvelous: a prodigious feat.
    3. abnormal; monstrous.
  13. Clint
    13. Posted by Clint Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    Darkness. Your post (#10) is too funny. I know we were bangin heads on here but who the heck is vudusup??? OMG, get him outta here!
    Vudusup, you forgot... 4. Sucks [su-kz] No skill or talent.
  14. Darkness!
    14. Posted by Darkness! Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    I can't believe vudusup actually responded to someone's commenting of him. I was actually starting to appreciate his sarcastic comedic genious; cuz he'd say something idiotic, then people would rag on him, and we wouldn't hear from him the rest of the day... kinda like comic relief on a blog site that sometimes gets waaay too serious. Then he shows up with a rebuttle, again making me think he's actually for real. This guy is truly an enigma. There's no way that, even a retarded teenager, could possibly still think pro wrestling and Kimbo Slice are for real... is there?
  15. Ican2
    15. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    WHAT??? Are you crazy???Pro wresteling is for REAL...What kind of rock are you living under??? Those guys are real athletes...Good gravy...I bet they would beat any MMA fighter just like lesnar did...
  16. Darkness!
    16. Posted by Darkness! Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    Ican2-
    if only u were as funny as u think u are...
    :p
    Look- I'll be the first to admit that SOME pro wrestlers are incredible athletes- I used to be a big wrestling fan before I got into mma. I've actually met several of the guys (Kevin Nash, Bob Holly, and Chris Benoit- pre psycho murderer- to name a few); and not alot of people could do what they do; travelling and putting their bodies through hell 300 days a year (even though the outcomes, the cheesy storylines and SOME of the moves are fake, some of it is very real as well. for ex: there's no way to "fake" getting hit in the head with a steel chair, or being dropped on ur spine by a 300 lb. bodybuilder. BTW- most wrestling rings are made of spring-loaded plywood, and covered with canvas; the padding on the concrete floor is the about 1" thick- even thinner than the mats at most martial arts schools). Many of today's most successful "pro wrestlers" (such as Kurt Angle, Shelton Benjamin, Elijah Burke, C.M. Punk, Rob Van Dam, and many others) even come from amateur and/or martial arts backgrounds. So I do respect them as the athletes and entertainers that they are; but they're NOT fighters. I let my kids watch wrestling- only cuz they know it's not real. But I won't let them watch mma- until they're at least teenagers. Cuz I don't want them "playing" UFC, like the idiot kids on youtube, and end up looking like Cory Hill before they're 10. So vudusup- if ur one of those idiot kids playing UFC on youtube... let me know when u and ur idiot friends permanantly injure urselves, so I can say I told u so. Idiot.
  17. Ican2
    17. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    I am my own Legand...

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