Jake Shields after the altercation. Photo: Esther Lin
Cesar Gracie coaches two of the fighters who successfully defended their Strikeforce belts this Saturday in Nashville: Gilbert Melendez, who overcame Shinya Aoki, and Jake Shields, winner of the main event against Dan Henderson.
However, when it should have been time to celebrate, there was something bugging Cesar: “My biggest problem with what happened was attention being steered from the fights. Two of my best athletes had masterful performances and all anyone’s talking about is the post-fight fight,” Cesar told MMAJunkie, referring to an altercation that began after Jason Miller invaded the ring (watch here).
Nevertheless, Cesar plays down the occurrence. He brings up how there was a recent hockey game where three fights broke out between players and how, although he doesn’t approve of what transpired, it can happen in any sport.
“Now it’s time to let the dust settle. These things happen. Let’s learn from it and not let it happen again.”
The confusion was not received well by the Tennessee Athletic Commission. And an investigation led by Jeffrey Mullen will take place, and may punish those involved. Besides Shields and Miller, also in the cage were Nick Diaz, Gilbert Melendez and UFC fighter Nate Diaz.