Cung Le is ready to return to StrikeForce.
Professional fighter-turned-movie star-turned back professional fighter, Cung Le, will be making his first appearance in MMA in over eighteen months on Saturday as part of Strikeforce: Evolution.
Le will face off against 30-year-old Scott Smith as part of the co-main event. Le vacated his middleweight title with Strikeforce in September of this year and has since decided to resume his fighting career.
Just two months after Le relinquished the title, Jake Shields and Jason Miller fought to see who would be the new belt holder; Shields was victorious and is the current title holder.
If Le is successful in beating Smith on Saturday night, he will most likely get the next title show; a chance to gain back the belt he gave up such a short time ago.
While he is looking forward to the challenge, Le knows Smith is no easy fight. With thirteen knockouts under his belt, Smith is one who always looks to finish.
“I’m expecting a very aggressive Scott Smith,” said Le. “He’s going to bring a lot of pressure and it’s going to be an exciting fight…it’s a great match up. Something the fans, and the hardcore fans, would like to see.”
As any professional fighter will explain, ring rust is real. Many have tried to deny the fact and have unfortunately suffered the reality that ring rust does indeed exist. Le has accepted that and has been spending time preparing for fighting and focusing on what he needs to to come out of this fight with a win.
“I’m a very focused person,” explains Le. “If I’m focusing on a movie then I’m focusing on a movie. Right now it’s all about fight time. I’m focused on this fight and just going to try and bring my ‘A’ game…Any time you step into your hometown there is pressure…There’s always nerves for me, I’m human. I do get those jitterbugs…It’s all good though, it works to your benefit, if you channel it right it works to your benefit. ”
Both Le and Smith come from striking backgrounds, leaving many odds makers to predict a dynamite-filled show. However, many fail to realize Le has trained in wrestling as well and is comfortable taking a fight to the ground.
“I think both Scott and I like to entertain the crowd,” acknowledges Le. “I plan to stand, unless Scott starts shooting in. Then it’s going to be about sprawl and brawl…we’ve been getting in some wrestling on Saturday’s just incase Scott Smith decides to take it to the ground.”
Le is prepared to handle virtually anything Smith can bring to the table during Saturday’s event. The native of Vietnam came here with his mother when he was just a child. He has grown up in the San Jose area and is looking forward to performing in front of a hometown crowd. Wether they stand and bang or sprawl and brawl, Le knows Saturday’s fight will be something the fans will walk away and remember.
Really pleased to see that Cung Le will return to action. First impression for me is that Scott Smith is in for a world of hurt, but that’s why they fight the fights…
Not quite sure why I’ve seen several posts over the months that paint Cung Le in a negative light. Perhaps some fans disparage his movie career, feeling like a fighter is all he should be, but I’ve posted many times about watching him on late night cable destroying people in san shou kickboxing, and this guy is the real thing. Yes, he gave up his title, but to me it was an honest and noble move, as he apparently wasn’t sure if and when he could defend it, so he did the honorable thing and released the title so Strikeforce MW could move on.
Also seen many posts denigrating Le’s win over Frank Shamrock, but how many times have you seen bones broken in the ring with the sheer force of a kick? Shamrock may not have been at the peak of his powers at that stage in his career, but the guy has been a pioneer and leading developer of modern MMA, no tomato can by any definition, and was giving Cung Le a good match until his injury. I thought it was a great fight, and now anticipate seeing Le in the MMA ring once again. Jake Shields should start preparing now to defend his belt against Cung Le.
If he was to be a full time MMA fighter…this guy would be trouble for a lot of Middleweights. He would be a very interesting addition to the UFC…I would love to see him vs. Vitor, Anderson and Marquadt…along with a whole host of others. mu shin is right about the sheer force of this cat’s kicks. He kicked Shamrock into submission. Again, I would like to see him in the UFC st some point very soon.
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