Pat Healy: Strikeforce destroyed me financially
When Pat Bam Bam Healy became the first man to defeat Strikeforce lightweight Lyle Beerbohm in February, he scored a…
When Pat Bam Bam Healy became the first man to defeat Strikeforce lightweight Lyle Beerbohm in February, he scored a victory over one of the promotion’s heralded contenders. Then the promotion decided to match Healy up against Strikeforce newcomer and 17-3 prospect Eric Wisely, at the upcoming Challengers event on August 12th.
I was definitely a little bit surprised, said Healy, when asked for his reaction upon finding out he would face Wisely. I thought that when they announced Jorge Gurgel on that card, I thought for sure, that was my fight you know? I’m pretty surprised they went the way they did. I think me and Gurgel, Joe Duarte and Eric Wisely would have been a little bit more appropriate of a fight.
I’m happy to have this fight actually. I feel like I’m not the underdog for once. I feel like every time I fight I have to convince people that I have a chance to win. I think this time I’ll be the favorite.
I always joke with my friends that I really think I’m the Rodney Dangerfield of MMA; I can’t get no respect man. I finally saw a positive article about me in Fight Magazine; everything else in my career it seems like they call me a journeyman, or whatever, they don’t realize that I took a lot of my fights when I was 21, 22; fought really tough guys…Like I said, can’t get no respect.
I’m going to be right on Sean Shelby (Strikeforce matchmaker) after this one to get another one lined up. It’s been really rough being with Strikeforce so far to be honest. It’s crippled me financially. I was in a good place financially, and when I signed with Strikeforce I thought it would be better, but it’s totally destroyed me. I really want to get on them; two fights in 13 months is a frickin joke for a 28 year old.
I think now that Zuffa is behind them the fights will come more frequently. Before Strikeforce seemed really disorganized about who you were fighting and when; it seemed like they just slapped the cards together a few weeks out…It seems like Zuffa is way more on top of it. When their guys took over we were in contact with Shelby right away, we’ve had contact with them the whole way.
