Frank Shamrock

"Phil, what you don't know is you are the hand-picked opponent and that's why you're here.  This is my town.  This is my arena, this is my sport and welcome to my world, baby." — Shamrock, to Baroni

Who: Shamrock, Baroni, Ninja, Joey
What: Final Press Conference Quotes
Where: The Grill at HP Pavilion; San Jose, CA
When: June 20, 2007

The Fight
June 22, 2007 
Live On Showtime PPV
Watch The Undercard Free On ProElite.com at 7:30 ET (4:30 pm PT)

Despite rumors concerning the eligibility of both "The New York Badass" Phil Baroni and Murilo "Ninja" Rua to compete on Friday's "Shamrock vs. Baroni" world championship mixed martial arts fight card, it was confirmed, two days beforehand, that both will suit up and enter the cage for their respective matchups.  Former UFC middleweight champion and King of Pancrase, Frank Shamrock, will square off  Baroni, a UFC and Pride Fighting Championship veteran, for the vacant Strikeforce world middleweight (185 lb. limit) title while former Pride stars, Joey "The Dream Smasher" Villasenor and Rua will battle for the vacant EliteXC world middleweight (185 lb. limit) crown.

As many as five additional bouts will be broadcast during the live Showtime Pay Per View event at HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA.  Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at the HP Pavilion box office (408-287-7070); by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com, or at any TicketMaster outlet. The event is being co-produced by Strikeforce and EliteXC.

Complete "Shamrock vs. Baroni" Fight Card
Main Event – Strikeforce World Middleweight (185 lb. limit) Championship Bout:
Frank Shamrock vs. "The New York Badass" Phil Baroni – 5 x 5 Rounds

EliteXC World Middleweight (185 lb.) Championship Bout:
Joey "The Dream Smasher" Villasenor vs. Murilo "Ninja" Rua - 5 x 5 Rounds

Additional Pay Per View Bouts:
Cung Le vs. Tony "The Freak" Fryklund – 185 lbs. – 3 x 5 Rounds

Carter "The Beast" Williams vs. Paul Buentello – heavyweight – 3 x 5 Rounds

Victor "Joe Boxer" Valenzuela vs. Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett – 155 lbs. – 3 x 5 Rounds

Pay Per View "Swing" Bouts:
Josh "The Punk" Thomson vs. Nick "The Ghost" Gonzalez  - 155 lbs. – 3 x 5 Rounds

Duane "Bang" Ludwig vs. Paul "Semtex" Daley – 170 lbs. – 3 x 5 Rounds

Preliminary Card – Live Broadcast on ProElite.com:
Rex Richards vs. Steve Jester – superheavyweight (+ 265 lbs.) – 3 x 5 Rounds

Seth Kleinbeck vs. Sam Spengler – 185 lbs. – 3 x 5 Rounds

Anthony Figueroa vs. Chris Cariaso – 135 lbs. – 3 x 3 Rounds

Jason "Live Wire" Von Flue vs. Luke Stewart – 175 lbs. – 3 x 5 Rounds

Aaron Wetherspoon vs. Mike "Quicksand" Pyle  - 170 lbs. – 3 x 5 Rounds

QUOTES
Phil Baroni
"He's done a lot of talking and, now, I think he's wrote some checks that I don't think his ass will be able to cash."

"This ain't a joke.  This ain't about fighting in my hometown and fighting hand-picked opponents."

"This is a big opportunity.  I've been through a lot of ups and downs in my career and my life, but so has everybody.  I just don't cry about it like this guy."

On being granted a license by the California Athletic Commission after additional medical exams:  "People say I should be thankful.  What the f**k am I thanking them for?  They're puttin' me in a fuc**n' cage and telling me to fight……. But, they stepped up this time and they took my back.  They did the right thing….I guess I'm not that fuc**n' crazy."

"I'm gonna fight like a rockstar…..(Speaking To Shamrock) You're looking kind of scrawny.  You should get some Gamma-O, bitch."

Frank Shamrock
"You think (this fight) is about you.  That's why you're underneath the name ‘Shamrock.'  So, welcome to my show.  I like your glasses.  Your tan is better than me.  You're ripped more than me.  You've got a better beard and I can't really grow one.  All I wanna see is – if you beat me, God bless you.  If you don't, we just move on from here.  This is about fighting.  I've said all I need to say.  You've said more than you need to say."

"All you fighters, fight your heart out.  We're an independent show, making huge waves.  We're gonna change MMA – help make it right.  This is about fighting, about art."

Murilo "Ninja" Rua
"Thank you very much.  This fight should be the best fight of the night because of what we have on the line.  We're going to put on a great show for MMA fans."

"I'm going to win this (fight) and dedicate this (title) belt to Gary Shaw."

Joey "The Dream Smasher" Villasenor
On Rua's comments about dedication of the fight:  "Then, we're in a tough spot because I'm dedicating this win to my mom cause it's her birthday."

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