Kalib Starnes explains himself in his own words

**Ke?poFist** · Posted On: 4/28/2008 9:38am

taken from Sherdog
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f2/kal...es-774287.html

Kalib Starnes: I was never on any Montreal radio show. If anyone knows what radio show that I allegedly appeared on, or has any recording of it or any evidence of it whatsoever I would love to know about it. So far I've only heard rumors and allegations. I did not throw the fight, the fight was not a protest against the UFC.

I will say again what I've said before; I had the game plan of circling and moving to stay out of exchanges and to work off of my jab because he hits so hard, to avoid the clinch because he was very strong and I'd taken knees and elbows there in my previous fight, and to throw some kicks as the fight wore on.

I threw 35 punches in the first round and I would have thrown a lot more had I landed any of them, but I found him very difficult to hit and he was counter punching whenever I would step in, with one of those counter punches almost dropping me early. Most of my takedowns come out of the clinch and when I tried to switch it up and get position in the clinch to take him down I couldn't do it because he seemed much stronger than me.

In the second round it was more of the same except that he almost knocked me out again early which made me more hesitant to throw punches so I decided to throw some kicks and at about 2 minutes into round two I threw a low right roundhouse kick that hit his shin awkwardly and I broke my foot, which stopped me from throwing anymore kicks, other than a few tentative kicks with my left leg. **That is not an excuse for losing it is simply something that happened and for me to mention it I think is quite reasonable.

I found myself in a fight where I couldn't stand with the guy, he was awkward and he hit hard having almost knocked me out three times in the fight, I couldn't take him down and work my ground game (I got him down only once and just managed to land a few shots because he got up so fast), and so I felt like I could either keep moving or get knocked out. Then late in the third he started to mock me out of frustration, but really at that point, I was just a solidly beaten fighter who was trying not to get knocked out, and had fallen into a pattern that I couldn't get out of. It was the worst athletic performance of my life.

Afterword his cornerman was swearing at me and calling me names, I responded to him by calling him names and telling him that he should get in there and fight then, meaning fight in the UFC, not fight me. He apologized to me afterword I suppose realizing that he was out of line, and so did Nate and I know that they were both acting out of frustration and so I forgave them and apologized in return for losing my temper. I think it's rediculous that he be made into some kind of hero for mocking a guy that he just beat the crap out of, and I felt forced into retreating because he had such a good offense. I didn't choose to do it as some kind of protest. I did try to win that fight and I did show up to fight, I don't care what Dana White says, I just wasn't good enough on that day to do it. I have no excuses for losing the fight.

If you want a copy of my medical records the guys at Sherdog can contact me, or Primo at ATT and you'll be provided with that. I can't speak for anyone else, but I have never said that the UFC does not cover a fighters medical expenses, I'm dealing with their medical claims department right now regarding my broken foot and other injuries sustained at UFC 83, and up until this point they have honored their obligations.

I have as much right to discuss what fighters are paid as anyone else and I know a lot about the subject having fought for the organization in some capacity seven times. Believe me, you're paid if you win and tossed aside like garbage if you lose. Until these guys learn to market themselves the payouts are going to remain pathetic compared to boxing and the UFC's little traveling circus will roam from town to town with the billionaires raking in the cash while the fighters split up about five percent of the take between them.

What prompted me to discuss it were comments about it being wise to get knocked out as opposed to moving out of the way, apparently from brain injury advocates who've taken their own advice. I'm not retiring and I've already been offered more than I ever made at the UFC, which was $5,000 and $5000, plus $30000 fight of the night (which they gave me because I had no heart), plus an additional $25000 (because I don't belong in the UFC presumably). That's $65,000 you clever little monkeys, but remember that if I'd lost I would have walked away with a sweet $5000 and a kick in the ass, because they only pay the winners. The only problem with that is, somebody loses every time.

Here's a typical article from another website illustrating the type of thing that I get to deal with now. And I'll post some quotes from forums I've looked through after that. Such fine human beings are drawn to this sport. I can't wait to jump back in there and fight for your amusement!

Kalib Starnes: Go **** Yourself

By Michael Rome
Posted on Mon Apr 21, 2008 at 06:07:42 PM EDT
There's a gigantic thread on Sherdog with a report on why Kalib Starnes did what he did. This of course could be be bullshit, but it is from a senior poster there and I believe it, and will of course take this down if it turns out it isn't true. I won't apologize though because no matter what his explanation I still hate him:

Basically he sets the record straight and backs it up with proof. As many of you know this was his last fight of the UFC contract and he has always voiced his dissatisfaction with his salary. Basically after the Kendall Grove fight where his rib was broken, UFC did NOT cover any medical bills even though it happened on the "work site".
He said that he is one of the many fighters who get injured and never compensated by the UFC. He was well aware that he was on the main card because it was Canada, and this being his last fight he decided to protest in the names of all underpaid fighters and screw over the UFC.
This is NO joke because he claimed that the only reason Dana White officially released the fight bonuses was in order to counter-act the public statement that Starnes is about to make or would have made. However, since the 75k fight bonuses were disclosed Kalib's martyr actions may not be as significant.

Nevertheless, expect an official statement later this week as his gym is holding a official press conference on Wednesday. We all know that the "real" Kalib Starnes would have never fought the way he did and luckily there IS an explanation.

I can think of FIFTY BILLION better ways to make this point. What a cocksucker. How about try to win and then get on the microphone and point it out to everyone. I hope this is true because I want to hate him even more. According to SDS on Sherdog, he is retiring, which I guess is decent news.

***Omega Supreme*** · Posted On: 4/28/2008 12:13pm

I would've thrown in the towel. There are honorable ways to give up. I would have respected him that way. This way made him look like an ass. 20/20 hindsight.

**Teh El Macho** · Posted On: 4/28/2008 12:45pm

^^^ Yep. I do feel bad for talking **** about him 20/20 hindsight. I would feel much better for him if he were to admit he should have thrown in the towel.

BTW, if it's true that the UFC did NOT cover any medical bills when he broke his ribs during the show, that's really fucked up.

***Omega Supreme*** · Posted On: 4/28/2008 12:46pm

Talk to his manager. It should be in the contract. And I hate to sound like an ass but isn't Canadian medical bills covered?

**Goju - Joe** · Posted On: 4/28/2008 12:53pm

Yeah

In Canada

So he should have been covered for Montreal.

I am still so so on this although frankly I don't care anymore

**PointyShinyBurn** · Posted On: 4/28/2008 1:25pm

Originally Posted by Teh El Macho

BTW, if it's true that the UFC did NOT cover any medical bills when he broke his ribs during the show, that's really fucked up.

Reading comprehension, he specifically denies this in the OP.

**Teh El Macho** · Posted On: 4/28/2008 1:39pm

me == failz

**It is Fake** · Posted On: 4/28/2008 1:41pm

Originally Posted by PointyShinyBurn

Reading comprehension, he specifically denies this in the OP.

There are multiple thread about this everywhere. Now, we are finding out that maybe some of the stuff he said may not have been his words.

In one of those reports/interviews/whatever the person says the UFC didn't cover the expenses.

**Einstein McFly** · Posted On: 4/28/2008 1:44pm

Well, he comes right out and admits he couldn't deal with Quarry's skills. At least he's honest. This makes a lot more sense than the whole "protest" thing, which I suspect they just layed on him because he's one of those Chomsky "lefty" guys and they assume that it'd be up his alley. It still doesn't make that much sense that he didnt' quit if he was so worried about getting knocked out. I think people were more pissed by having to sit through it and feeling like it was unfair for Quarry not to get some sort of KO and I think he would have come out of this looking better if he'd have gone the whole way and quit.

As others have said, 20/20....