FLORIAN ON UFC 161: “HENDERSON IS A FIGHTER’S FIGHTER. HE’S ALWAYS UP FOR A WAR.”
 
UFC 161 Analysis, Plus An Exclusive Faber Interview on UFC TONIGHT
                                                           
LOS ANGELES, CA – On this week’s UFC TONIGHT, Chael Sonnen and Kenny Florian break down this weekend’s UFC 161: EVANS VS. HENDERSON. Urijah Faber joins the show to talk about his upcoming fight and more.
 
UFC TONIGHT’s Chael Sonnen on Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson: “We’ve got two future Hall of Famers. Dan Henderson is a two-time Olympian, but he never wrestles in the Octagon. He’s a brawler. As scared as everybody is of him, the real deal on this guy is his iron chin.”
 
UFC TONIGHT’s Kenny Florian on Evans vs. Henderson: “Dan Henderson is a fighter’s fighter. He’s always up for a war. Rashad really needs to forget about his last fight and focus on what he does best: take him down. Rashad has an excellent top game and we’ve seen Dan Henderson struggle when he’s on his back.”
 
UFC TONIGHT Guest Urijah Faber on what type of Rashad we’re going to see this weekend: “The Blackzilians have been on a little bit of a downslide, but I think it’s going to reignite something in them. I’ve experienced it with Team Alpha Male. We’ve lost a couple title shots and that makes you realize you may need to take it more seriously. Hopefully we’ll see an amazing Rashad Evans and an amazing fight.”
                                       
Florian picks Evans over Henderson: “I think Rashad is going to take this one.”
 
Faber picks Henderson over Evans: “I’m going with Dan, he’s the man.”
 
Sonnen chooses a draw in Evans vs. Henderson: “I’m going with a draw.”
 
Sonnen on Roy Nelson vs. Stipe Miocic: “Stipe has a huge opportunity here: he can fast-track himself back in the top 10 of the heavyweight division. This is a short notice fight for both of these guys – it was supposed to be Shogun vs. Little Chicken. Nelson has the power and Stipe has the speed. It’s a lot closer of a fight than people think it is.”
 
Florian on Nelson vs. Miocic: “Stipe Miocic is a guy who I’ve looked out for for a while. He has a ton of potential: he can wrestle, he can box, he’s very athletic, and he’s a big heavyweight. He has to fight smart against Roy Nelson. He has to mix it up very well and utilize that great wrestling.”
 
Faber on Nelson vs. Miocic: “Roy Nelson has generations of hillbilly breeding in his blood. You’ve got to work hard to get that gut, but he’s got those calves and big hands. And he’s dangerous, so I’ve got to give him the edge.”
 
Florian picks Nelson over Miocic: “I think Stipe’s got a ton of potential, but I think facing Roy Nelson is going to be tough. Roy Nelson is going to take this.”
                                            
Sonnen picks Nelson over Miocic: “I think the timing is actually going to favor Stipe, but Roy Nelson gets the win.”
 
Faber picks Nelson over Miocic: “Take away the center piece of Roy Nelson and he’s a very well-rounded, dangerous fighter – I’m going with him.”
 
Florian picks Ryan Jimmo over Igor Pokrajac: “I think Ryan Jimmo is going to come back strong and take this by TKO.”
 
Sonnen chooses Jimmo over Pokrajac: “I think Jimmo needs to show up in a little bit better shape than last time. I think he will and I think he’ll win.”
 
Sonnen on working with Dan Henderson to set up Jon Jones: “All we know for sure is that I lied. I said one thing and then I said the exact opposite. You turned to a liar to tell you the truth? That makes as much sense as going to a Kardashian for marriage advice.”
 
UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani on Jon Jones’ return: “My source told me that Jon was hoping to return around the summer, but his doctor told him to slow his training because his toe wouldn’t be healed. Now he is shooting for a return in October. He wants to fight Alexander Gustafsson and Gustafsson wants to fight him.”
 
Helwani on Georges St-Pierre’s return: “A source close to the champion told me he is hoping to return in October. UFC president Dana White told Sportsnet that he thinks a fight will happen in October.”
 
Johny Hendricks on if he thinks St-Pierre is afraid of fighting him: “It’s looking like it. Just give me a date, time and place – that’s all I care about.”
 
Florian on if he thinks St-Pierre is afraid of Hendricks: “Yes, I do think he’s scared. That’s exactly why Georges St-Pierre performs so well and trains so hard – he’s fueled by his fear. I’m not sure he’s going to fight Johny Hendricks because he’s waiting to see what’s going on with Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva.”
 
Faber on fighting on the first Fox Sports 1 card: “I’ve got mixed feelings. It’s huge to be on the new channel for the first fight, but the opponent is someone nobody really knows about.”
 
Faber on why he took the fight with Yuri Alcantara: “I don’t choose my fights. If someone asks me to fight in the Octagon, I have a hard time turning down fights. Who am I to say he doesn’t deserve it? He’s 27 – 4 and he’s got 24 finishes, 12 TKOs and 12 submissions. The guy has earned what he’s got.”
 
Faber on if there’s pressure to win this fight: “My pressure is bodily harm. I’m stepping into a cage to fight some guy from another country and he wants to beat me up and I’m not going to let that happen, period.”
 
Faber on if he wants to fight for another title: “I would love for that to happen. Do we have a champ who’s sturdy enough to stand up and fight? Right now we don’t. We’ve got Renan Barao and old man Dominick Cruz, who could take a lesson from Yuri on getting some finishes in his career. We’ve got to get these guys healed up and to step in so I can beat them for a belt.”

SONNEN VS. SHOGUN ANNOUNCED MAIN EVENT FOR FOX SPORTS 1 1 ON UFC TONIGHT
 
UFC ON FUEL TV 10 Analysis, Plus Werdum and Tyson Interviews
                                                           
LOS ANGELES, CA – On this week’s UFC TONIGHT, Chael Sonnen announces his next fight against Shogun Rua at FOX Sports 1 1, while he and Kenny Florian break down this weekend’s UFC ON FUEL TV 10: NOGUEIRA VS. WERDUM. Fabricio Werdum talks about his upcoming fight. Plus we’ve got an exclusive Mike Tyson interview and much more.
 
Quote of the Week: UFC TONIGHT’s Chael Sonnen on his next fight against Shogun Rua: “Shogun and I are going to be the main event on FOX Sports 1 on August 17. We were going to fight in Winnipeg, and they pulled it.”
                                                             
Sonnen on what happened to the Wanderlei Silva fight: “I like Shogun. I admire him a lot. I wanted to fight Wanderlei. He’s the worst fighter in the UFC. I couldn’t get him. I figured I’d get the guy who destroyed Wanderlei in the practice room for all these years.”
 
UFC TONIGHT’s Kenny Florian on how these fighters have changed from their first fight: “Werdum is a completely different fighter now. He was strictly a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guy with tremendous credentials and a world champion, but he didn’t have the striking skills. Now he’s putting things together so well. We saw that in his fight against Russow and against Roy Nelson.”
 
Sonnen picks Werdum over Nogueira: “We’ve all been waiting for Big Nog to quit fighting and we need to accept that he’s still got it. This guy can still fight. He’s ranked number eight in the world and that might be a little bit low. He’s going to be tested with Werdum. Werdum needs this a little bit more. Werdum should win this fight. I’m going to take Werdum.”
 
Fabricio Werdum on how this fight will be different from their first seven years ago: “I’m a completely different fighter now. I’ve been training and learning a lot. My setup is very good now, my Muay Thai is better and my wrestling is better. I’m more confident now.”
 
Werdum on what’s next if he beats Minotauro: “If I beat Minotauro, I want the chance for the title shot. I’m just waiting for Cigano [Junior dos Santos] vs. [Cain] Velasquez.”
 
Sonnen picks Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante over Thiago Silva: “These guys love their jobs. Thiago is about as aggressive and mean as anybody to get in the Octagon. Feijao has been off for a while and he’s a former Strikeforce champion. I like Feijao in a dog fight.”
 
Sonnen picks Erick Silva over Jason High: “Erick Silva has to say off the bottom. Jason High is a very easy guy to figure out – it doesn’t mean he’s an easy guy to stop, but I’m taking Erick Silva.”
 
UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani on Dana White’s call for BJ Penn to retirement: “The door is still open for BJ Penn to return to MMA in the future. He’s actually training right now and has to check in with his body and mind in the next few months. If he does come back, it will be at 155 pounds.”
 
Helwani on Michael Bisping’s health: “After the fight against Alan Belcher, Michael Bisping completely lost all peripheral vision in his right eye. He went to see an eye on doctor on Tuesday and he found out that he had a detached retina. On Thursday, he had surgery to fix the detached retina. He’s hoping to return to the UFC in October.”
 
Helwani on who Bisping would fight next: “Luke Rockhold, Costa Philippou, and Cung Le have all called Bisping out. Michael told me the guy who interests him most is Cung Le. He’s not interested in fighting Luke Rockhold and told him to go out and win at least one fight in the UFC before he talks to him.”
 
Helwani on Roy Nelson and Daniel Cormier: “A couple of weeks ago, Daniel Cormier told me he wants to fight the winner of Nogueira vs. Werdum. He also told me to throw Roy Nelson’s name in the mix. On the UFC 161 conference call, Nelson mentioned that Cormier turned down a fight against him for UFC 161. When Daniel heard this, he called me and said ‘Forget about Werdum, forget about Nogueira, I want Roy Nelson.’ He said, ‘I want to kick his ass for Dana White.’ Cormier wants it to be his last fight at heavyweight.”
 
Other upcoming fights announced: Michael McDonald vs. Brad Pickett on FOX Sports 1 1, Sara McMann vs. Sarah Kaufman at FOX Sports 1 2, and Benson Henderson vs. TJ Grant at UFC 164 main event.
 
Mike Tyson on the biggest problem in professional boxing today: “The greatest boxers are afraid to fight each other.”
 
Tyson on who he thinks would win in Dana White vs. Vince McMahon: “That’s a tough one. Vince is pretty big and tough and has the wrestling moves down. I’m going to go with Vince.”
 
Tyson on how did Evander Holyfield’s ear tasted: “His ear tasted like s**t. I’ve discussed that with Evander before. Human flesh is horrible. Evander promotes hot sauce now – I think it would taste better with his hot sauce. My advice: try not to bite any ears.”
 
Tyson on the better trash talker - Muhammad Ali or Chael Sonnen: “Chael Sonnen. Chael talks too much. I think Chael believes what he says – Chael hands down.”
 
UFC President Dana White on Mike Tyson: “For a guy like me, who’s such a huge fight fan, and came from boxing and is such a huge boxing fan, Mike Tyson was one of my all-time heroes like any other man on this earth. He’s like the Justin Bieber for grown men. When Mike Tyson walks in the room, every guy gets giddy, and every fighter goes crazy. It’s an honor for guys in the fight business to have him here and enjoy the fights.”

WERDUM: “MY STRATEGY WAS TO FIGHT WITH FORCE. I HAD MORE POSSIBILITIES ON THE GROUND.”
 
Sonnen and Stann Break Down UFC ON FUEL TV 10 Fights, Plus Werdum and Silva Interviews
 
LOS ANGELES, CA – The following quotes are from tonight’s UFC POSTFIGHT SHOW ON FUEL TV for UFC ON FUEL TV 10: NOGUEIRA VS. WERDUM. The show was hosted by Jay Glazer, with UFC light heavyweight Chael Sonnen and UFC middleweight Brian Stann offering analysis. Karyn Bryant conducted fighter interviews on-site.
 
UFC POSTFIGHT SHOW ON FUEL TV Analyst Chael Sonnen on Fabricio Werdum versus Minotauro Nogueira: “Big Nog was constantly moving forward in the first round. Werdum got him down. Then he saw the way that Big Nog protected himself on the ground and Werdum just moved faster.”
 
UFC POSTFIGHT SHOW ON FUEL TV Analyst Brian Stann on Werdum’s key to victory: “The key was Werdum was more mobile on the top when they were on the ground. He submitted the guy with the most submissions in history in the UFC. I thought Big Nog turned the fight at the end of the first round, but Werdum realized he had a better chance on the ground and took the fight back down. Big Nog’s mobility on the ground wasn’t the same as Werdum’s. Going into the second round, his corner told him to keep moving and said he had an advantage on the ground and take it back down.”
 
Stann on Werdum’s recent rise in the heavyweight division: “He has caught his groove and has the right people around him. He’s enjoying his time and that’s when a fighter is dangerous. He’s going out to put on a performance and that’s when he’ll do his best.”
 
Fabricio Werdum on how he feels after his win: “I feel great. Nogueira is a legend in the sport. He’s my good friend. I’m very happy with the win but he punches very hard. When I saw the opportunity to go on the ground, I got the armbar.”
 
Werdum on his submission: “My strategy was to fight with force. I got him on the ground because I had more possibilities on the ground. When I punched him, he went on his back and I got the armbar.”
 
Werdum on how close he thinks he is to a title shot: “I think if the UFC gave me the opportunity, for sure I’d bring a lot now. I think I’d wait and see who won the fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.”
 
Sonnen on who Werdum should fight next: “I want to see him take on the winner of Frank Mir and Josh Barnett.”
 
Stann on who Werdum should fight next: “I’d like to see the winner of Travis Browne versus Alistair Overeem. That’s an exciting matchup.”
 
Brian Stann on William Patolino vs. Leonardo Santos: “Patolino was showcasing his well-rounded skillset with takedowns and great stand up. He hammered Santos in the first round with some huge punches. In round two, Santos lands a takedown, moves to mount, and starts to hammer away. Patolino starts to get desperate and gets caught in an arm choke. When you get a seven-time world jiu-jitsu champion on top with that technique, there’s only one result.”
 
Sonnen on Santos’ age not being a factor: “We had a 33 year old take out a 21 year old. That’s inspiring, guys. It doesn’t usually go that way in combat sports. Age doesn’t matter. There’s no such thing as an advantage – it’s who wants it more. I thought Santos wore the younger opponent down and got the tap out.”
 
Leonardo Santos on how he feels after his win: “I am extremely happy. I don’t even know what to say. I feel like I’m hallucinating. I don’t even know what to do right now with what happened tonight.”
 
Stann breaks down Thiago Silva’s technique to get the victory: “Silva defended himself by keeping his chin down and hands up and absorbed what Feijao threw at him. Then Thiago backed him up and stood him up against the cage. Thiago threw two big punches and hit him on the back of the head behind the ear, and then connected up the middle to the chin and knocked him out.”
 
Silva on what he did to get the win: “I just followed my instructions from my coaches. They said, be patient and wait for the right moment. I was confident and listened to my coaches. I had a good opportunity to fight a good guy and I think everything is going well and I’m so happy.”
 
Sonnen on who Silva should fight next: “Silva isn’t in top ten, but he should be. Glover Teixeira is in top 10, but he hasn’t fought someone in the top ten. I’d like to see these two fight each other.”
 
Sonnen on Erick Silva defeating Jason High: “The last time an American wrestler came to Brazil against Silva, it was an upset. But Silva was ready for it this time and when this fight went to the ground, he submitted him. It’s a huge sign of character and a huge quality of a champion when they overcome what happened last time with this victory.”
 
Silva on what he learned after losing to Jon Fitch in his last fight: “I had to train for each area. I searched for good teachers good Jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai and trained in every area.”
 
Evans on what he’s been working on for Dan Henderson at UFC 161: “The one thing I’ve been working on more than anything is becoming more confident and implementing what I’m good at. I seem to have a tendency to overthink what I’m doing when I’m out there competing. When you’re out there, the last thing you should be doing is thinking. You should just be reacting.”
 
Evans on staying away from Henderson’s big right punch: “I watch it over and over again. But I can’t be afraid to get hit by it. If you’re afraid of it, you’ll probably get hit by it harder than you think. I’ve fought a lot of guys with big right hands - Rampage, Chuck Liddell, so I know that I can get caught by a big right hand and keep fighting. I’m not going to make his big right hand a big deal. With that being said, I’m not going to circle to the wrong side. I’m going to avoid it as much as possible.”

SILVA ON SONNEN: “I WANT TO SUCK HIS BLOOD. I WANT TO SMELL IT. NOT JUST FIGHT – I WANT TO HURT HIM.”
                                                           
LOS ANGELES, CA – On this week’s UFC TONIGHT, Kenny Florian and Chael Sonnen preview the upcoming UFC ON FX 8: BELFORT VS. ROCKHOLD. Plus, UFC legend Wanderlei Silva offers a response to Sonnen’s recent fight request. Plus, an exclusive interview with UFC Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer. All that and a whole lot more on UFC TONIGHT.
 
Quote of the Week: Wanderlei Silva’s response to Chael Sonnen, reported by UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani: “Wanderlei said that no one’s offered him a fight. But he did want to say that ‘Jon Jones and Anderson Silva have been too nice to Chael. I want to suck his blood. I want to smell it. Not just fight – I want to hurt him. Chael is a joke, man. He’s going to be second forever. He’s never going to be first.’”
 
UFC TONIGHT’s Chael Sonnen’s response to Silva: “I think the real breaking news there is that Wanderlei Silva put together a coherent sentence that somebody understood. But I can assure you, Wanderlei, I will not be signing a contract for you to suck on any part of me. I suggest you go to a bath and find yourself.”
                     
Sonnen on UFC ON FX 8 main event Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold: “First off, you never want to miss Vitor Belfort. He’s one of the most explosive fighters in the UFC. He’s coming off a huge and impressive win against Michael Bisping. Belfort is as skilled and as nasty as anyone in that division and by a lot. With Rockhold – this is a guy who is a Strikeforce world champion, who has been on quite a roll, he’s wanted to get into the UFC, and he’s actually the favorite in Vegas odds. But Rockhold has three big things against him: It’s the main event, it’s in Brazil, and it’s his first time in the UFC. He can do it, but he’s got to overcome some things.”
 
UFC TONIGHT’s Kenny Florian on Belfort vs. Rockhold: “Rockhold is one of the most consistent competitors out there. He comes from very competitive bloodlines: his dad played in the NBA, his brother is a professional surfer, and I’ve never seen Luke shocked by anything out there. He’s been one of the most consistent fighters in the MMA. Vitor Belfort is who I’m concerned with – when he’s on, he’s unbeatable. If he’s off, anybody can beat him. If Rockhold can get Vitor tired and bring him to the later rounds, Vitor really doesn’t have luck with decisions.”
 
Sonnen picks Rockhold to beat Belfort: “Luke Rockhold is going to hold up to the predictions, but it’s going to be tight.”
 
Florian on Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza’s ability against Chris Camozzi: “‘Jacare’ is an absolute beast. I heard about ‘Jacare’ back when I was competing in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Championships in Rio. This kid who was a purple belt at the time was submitting everybody. He’s done that all the way to the black belt level. He’s competed at the world class level for a long time. When he came into the MMA, he was primarily a grappler. I’ve been most impressed since the Rockhold fight with the development of his striking, he has knockout power, and now he’s combining everything together. He’s a beast.”
 
Sonnen chooses Camozzi over ‘Jacare’: “Chris Camozzi is 6-2 in the UFC and everyone has overlooked him, but you will not come Sunday morning.”
 
UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani on who Diego Sanchez wants to fight next: “Diego Sanchez said he wants to fight at UFC 164 in Milwaukee on August 31. He’d like to fight Josh Thomson. If he can’t fight Josh, he wants to fight Nate Diaz at either 155 or 170. If he can’t get that, he wants to fight Gilbert Melendez. The UFC hasn’t offered him a fight yet.”
 
Helwani on if Mark Hunt will fight on UFC 160: “He’s confident that he’ll get his visa. Since the fight is in 11 days, the UFC is looking at backup plans. Those are centered on Roy Nelson. There’s going to be a hearing in Nevada on Friday, and both Nelson and Hunt are on the agenda. The UFC asked for Nelson to apply for a license to fight if he has to.”
 
UFC Announcer Bruce Buffer’s favorite moment in the Octagon: “I’ve probably forgotten more than I can remember because I’ve done more than 2,500 fights over 17 years. I would say it’s UFC 100 when I finally pulled off that 360. That was a very monumental moment in my life.”
 
Buffer on his injury at UFC 129: “About three days before UFC 129, I rolled my ankle at a poker tournament. At UFC 129, I went in and gave a full show. Then I get to Georges St-Pierre and I was like ‘Georges Rush,’ and he lunges at me. And I bunny hop back and blew my knee – I gave him the loudest ‘Pierre’ of his life.”
 
Buffer on fighting Frank Trigg in an elevator: “Frank and I went into an elevator at the Hard Rock Hotel and Dana White happened to be in the elevator. As soon as Dana gets in, Frank was asking Dana to put him in the Octagon. I’m a watch freak. Dana had this great watch and I stepped in front of Frank to look at the watch and suddenly I get a right hand to my throat. I asked Frank why he hit me and he said, ‘What are you going to do about it?’ and my old street kicked in. I punched him twice in the stomach and we had a lot of fun for ten floors.”
 
Buffer on why he chose to write the book: “Many people ask me how I got here. My whole theory of life is that we’re all created equal. I just believe that you choose a path, and you should be the best you can be on that path. I weigh you by how good of a person you are, how good you are to the people around you, and how much you try to be the best you can be at the path you choose.”
 
Florian reports on a change in the FOX UFC Saturday card on July 27 in Seattle: “Jorge Masvidal will fight Michael Chiesa instead of Reza Madadi. Madadi was forced off the card due to a reported visa issue.”
 
Leeann Tweeden reports: “UFC 165 will take place at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on September 21, 2013.”
 
UFC TONIGHT
UFC TONIGHT is the official weekly news and information show of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The show is co-hosted by veteran UFC fighter and multiple title contender Kenny Florian and UFC light heavyweight contender Chael Sonnen. Leeann Tweeden contributes, while three-time World MMA Awards Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani adds insider news.
 
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