Should Riggs fight again?

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5776&zoneid=13

This Thursday, Joe "Diesel" Riggs will undergo surgery to repair spinal damage sustained in his fight with Cory Devela at "Strikeforce at the Dome" last Saturday.

Riggs injured his back in the first minute of the fight. Devela threw a kick, which Riggs tried to catch and use for a takedown. Instantly, he knew something was wrong.

"I felt fire shoot down my right leg," Riggs told MMAWeekly.com.

Still, he tried to fight, throwing knees as the two clinched against the cage. Instinctively he drove forward for a takedown, his legs going numb, and walked into a hip toss that Devela executed perfectly.

When he hit the ground, it was no longer a question as to whether he could continue.

"I was like, I'm done. I'm done; I can't do anything," Riggs said. "I thought I was paralyzed."

Doctors will use a procedure called Radiofrequency Denervation to heat the inside of his spinal discs, which will relieve pressure on his sciatic nerve that was aggravated by two previous back injuries.

Last April, Riggs had undergone surgery to repair a herniated disc between his L-4 and L-5 vertebrae. Then, four months ago, he broke a transverse process, a bone that protrudes from the vertebra and attaches to muscles and ligaments.

When Riggs cranked his back for the takedown, his sciatic nerve pinched against his transverse process and the afflicted vertebrae.

As a fighter with a strong sense of pride, the experience has deeply unsettled Riggs. He feels credit is being given where it isn't due, and regrets taking the fight. When he arrived in Washington, his back was already acting up.

"I'm pulling my hair out over this thing, it's embarrassing," Riggs said. "I'm not trying to disrespect the guy, but he had no business beating a guy like me."

On the bright side, the procedure has a short recovery period. Doctors have told Riggs he can get back into the gym a week after the process. Just to be safe, he's taking two.

He also has an immediate rematch clause in his contract, so more than anything, he's looking forward to proving Devela's win was a fluke.

"I vow my career on it; it will be a total, complete ass whooping," Riggs said

More classy words by Riggs - I get sick of hearing this guy run his mouth! Sure, injuries suck, but talking trash about a guy like that shows no class.

Is this a case of a young fighter who has taken to much punishment and
been in to many fights. I think it is a shame that these young guys fight
and fight and do not get the proper rest and healing between fights.

Ya he should fight again, after becoming healty again. I dont see what Riggs said is bad. He should have won that fight.

Feed Sean Salmon to him 2 get him back on track...

He should only come back if he's healthy. Back problems are nothing to take lightly. I hope he comes back and kicks some ass.

Odessa-I can't see Riggs stopping Salmon's takedowns.I could see him winning somehow but I don't think it would be easy.

"He should have won that fight."

Why? I have been hearing for years about his "potential" and have been underwhelmed every fight. He has run through every possible weight class he could squeeze into and has become nothing more then a gatekeeper. I wish him all the luck in the world and hope he's ok, but until he beats a great fighter he should stop carrying himself as one.

Oddessa are you really that much of an a$$hole???

plz get the sand outa the pussy......if suggesting a matchup for  2 guys who's careers could use a current win over a name opponent is being an asshole........ then guilty as charged.....

....should I have  suggested some 1 and 8 farm show green namer..... ?

 

I just thought your wording was interesting and if I am not mistaken, you have taken jabs at Salmon before. I could be wrong though.

well .....I gotta be  totally honest here...Sean Salmon is running a distant 201st in a 200 man middleweight  MMA talent race....

In the past Riggs has talked so much trash about other fighters that I would watch him fight just to see him get his butt kicked. But geez, with so many bad things happening to him I have kinda given him a life long pass on what he say's now.

See that's what I mean Oddessa, why are you so ridiculously critical of probably one of the most fan friendly fighters out there. Never has made an excuse and is truly a good guy. To say he isn't talented or 201st out of 200 is just stupid. Sure, he has his weaknesses like everyone else, but why the hate???

Get off Oddessa's ass, gunsmoke.

I dont hate the guy. He's a wrestler so that makes him ok in my book...but you gotta stop being so defensive.....  ...I call it like I see it....I make my living breaking down  talent .....or lack of in the fight game.

And seriously  ...when your getting smoked .........you gotta be  be fan friendly and humble.... 

lol @ 201 out of 200

How could Riggs possibly beat Salmon? Maybe by touching the very chinny guy on the chin? Salmons been knocked silly more than once. Salmon would be an easy fight for Riggs.

As the story says, Devela did execute that throw very well.

jimmy o'curry

ttt