Really?
More money? Really?
It seems like reality television, or the appeal of reality television, has struck the participants at Roughhouse Friday’s in Marlintini’s Lounge harder than an Al “Mean Machine” Valentine roundhouse.
The day of the Southeast Showdown Championship fights, of which I had bragged about in writing, one of the chief battlers in the MMA lightweight championship shows up and demands more money or he is not fighting.
Henry Dehling, I feel for you.
I wouldn’t want to get hit, tackled, or choke-holed by anybody, at any price... let alone by Craig Reishus, arguably the best MMA pound-for-pounder in the state.
You might have waited until those Discovery Channel producers had started filming. It makes for good TV.
Now that there is a deal in place and a television reality drama coming they will need heroes, the downtrodden, the unlucky and, well...
I am not going to use the chicken label.
I claim the chicken label for myself... bawk, bawk, bawk... nope, you will never catch me in the ring with anybody - male, female, or chicken for that matter.
I don’t like pain and I cannot fight.
I run well.
My body likes to attempt sports that involve my appendages undulating in a trajectory that takes me up a mountain or through the muskeg.
That said, I don’t show up at the Frank Maier Marathon and demand my entrance fee paid. Or talk my Hoonah Masters teammates into pulling out of the Gold Medal Tournament unless we are given Gatorade. Or drag my wiener dog Koenig out of the kennel show because he is going up against the alpha-freaking-Dachshund-of-the-world. No matter how many of my beer-swilling friends usually come along to watch me participate in these events.
Really?
You fight in a bar, in Alaska... or a ring in an event center that sells liquor about 60-feet away...
Now if Al “Mean Machine” Valentine would have held out for more dough... I could respect that.
Al has fought professionally in places that wouldn’t even wash your protector cup. Al has battled under lights brighter than the ones you first saw at birth young man.
Al comes out of retirement to train when he sees punks acting like fools in the ring and disrespecting the sport and opponents.
Kind of what you did, in a way.
The fight world is a cruel dance partner my friend.
Maybe you should explain backing out of a fight to Richie “Hellboy” Whitson. Whitson is a fighter that paid his dues and is paying his dues. He and Al are a few of the reasons there is room at Centennial Hall and Marlintini’s Lounge for newbie’s, wannabe’s and sportie’s like you to fight.
Better yet, challenge Hellboy and then back out. See how that improves your reputation in the fight world.
Oh wait, Whitson is fighting professionally out of L.A. for Team Quest.
Okay, disrespect James “The Beast” Roberts or Aaron Tucker (that last fight was a fluke) or Lincoln Maka (yikes).
You might cause Al “Mean Machine” Valentine to come out of retirement once again.. and take up mixed martial arts... and be in that opposite corner...
Now that would be a fight I would pay to watch... at any price.
Comments (4)
Add comment"more money"!!
I heard that Marlintini was only offering $250 to the winner, and $100 to the looser of the fight. Ridiculous! If anyone in this story should be ashamed it is Marlintini's. $250?!! Seriously?! That's not even enought to cover the medical cost of a broken arm, or broken nose. Maybe a few stitches? Come on Marlintini's, you are making THOUSANDS of dollars off these fights, and you are expecting the fighters who train for hours and hours and hours to show up for at best $250?!!
The author of this article calls a local MMA fighter a "chicken" . That gave me an idea- Marlintini's should just do cockfighting from now on- they would save an amazing $350 per fight because then they wouldn't have to compensate the participants ANYTHING- heck they could just cook them up in a stew after the fight.
Pay up Bob
I heard that Henry only wanted a bit more - enough to cover a possible injury - not going to bankrupt you if you value your fighters as people!
On the other hand, fighters should negotiate their purse WAY ahead of time so as to not have this situation....it makes them look bad - lesson learned Henry!
Klas makes a good point tho - this isn't the UFC. The biggest payout I ever heard of in Juneau was back in the day when they did the $1000 to win a two day tournament. Fighters have to pay their dues in small events and hone their skills.....but there should be an amount that at least covers possible injuries. I hear the Beat down pays more but i don't know for sure.
Henry is a good guy Klas....what are your sources for info on this piece? If it was Bob Haag then that info is worth about nothing.
Thank you Klas
for reminding me why I won't go watch Bob's shows. Every one of the ring girls are looking for a ride home, he can't remember the name of the singer that sings the National Anthem, his fighters usually don't know who they are fighting until the last minute, the match-ups are ridiculous, 270 plus pound against a 165 pounder, his referee, if that's what he is called doesn't know a thing about fighting, and you spend more time trying to get a drink than watching actual fights.
Thank you for reminding me that I would pay twice the amount to go watch fights at the AK Beatdown where I know Russ treats not only his fighters, but ring girls, singers, and fans with more respect than Bob would ever give.
To call one of our very few professional fighters in Juneau a newbie, a wannabe, and a sportie shows your lack of knowledge, research and respect for someone that has worked and trained to be the professional MMA fighter that he is.....Yes, I did say professional because that is what he is. To say that his fight against Aaron Tucker was a fluke, also shows your lack of knowledge of the sport. Tucker didn't stand a chance, no disrepect, I have watched Tucker for years.
Quite frankly the only person showing disrespect for this sport is Bob, the man that wants to make some money, but doesn't want to pay the people that should get paid.
Luckily, Russ understands and respects the sport and the work that goes into being the best. He pays his fighters what they are worth and will continue to let Bob destroy his own show all on his own lack of merit.
Good on you Henry and Craig for asking what you both deserve. Can't wait to hear when AK Beatdown pairs you two up, it will be a great fight and all of your beer swilling friends will be there to cheer you both on.
Klas, can't wait to see your face when the newbie, wannabee, sportie goes up against someone closer to his caliber and according to you "arguably the best MMA pound-for-pounder in the state" and shows you what he is made of!!
They have the right
Asking for more money while fighting for Bob Haag is the right thing to do. That man is one big piece of...... I know Henry and he is a stand up guy, while Bod is not, never has been nor will he ever be. Writing this article and making out like Al has had some great boxing life is a joke... Henry has more pro MMA fights then Al does boxing.. Maybe do some research before you print something... Oh, this is written by a writer that probably doesn't even know what MMA stands for...
"Al has fought professionally in places that wouldn’t even wash your protector cup. Al has battled under lights brighter than the ones you first saw at birth young man.
Al comes out of retirement to train when he sees punks acting like fools in the ring and disrespecting the sport and opponents."
Really and where has he fought that was so great? And comes out of retirement? Now that is a joke.... This article is a joke, you sir are a joke.. Please do MMA a big favor and never, ever write about it or the people that practice it again... You have know idea what you are talking about, and publicly disrespecting a person.. Henry should have you fired..