Vitor Belfort (L) avoids a front kick from Jon Jones (R) at UFC 152 – Photo by Nathan Nenette for The Canadian Press
Press Release – LOS ANGELES, CA – The following are quotes from the “UFC Postfight Show on FUEL TV” following UFC 152: JONES VS. BELFORT. Karyn Bryant hosted the show, with analysis from UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and UFC Vet Kenny Florian. Insider Ariel Helwani conducted exclusive postfight interviews backstage. Here’s some of what was said:
“UFC Postfight Show on FUEL TV” Analyst Kenny Florian on Jon Jones’ performance: “What makes Jon Jones so great, forget about his technique, his athleticism. It’s his mind. His ability to deal with all the adversity leading up to the fight and during the fight. He was so dominant. The fight was really his.”
“UFC Postfight Show on FUEL TV” Guest Analyst Dominick Cruz on Jon Jones’ performance: “I was impressed with how composed he stayed. The 151, all the hate people had towards him, it didn’t even affect him. He was calm in there, and this is the first we have really seen Jon Jones in any real danger and tough through it. His arm was not right and that was apparent, but he went out there and toughed it out like a champ and showed us what he is made of.”
Cruz on Jones: “Anywhere you put this guy, he does damage. Jon Jones is a complete champion and a complete fighter and he has proven that over and over again. He used the fight to his full ability. Jon Jones is still green and that is what is crazy about this. He is still new to this sport and he is out there killing it.”
Florian on Vitor Belfort’s performance: “We have to criticize Vitor a little bit. He wasn’t doing exactly what he should have been. Maybe that is because of Jon Jones reach and all that, but you have to go forward against Jones. You can go backwards and that is what Vitor started doing and that is what got him in trouble. And what was even more frustrating is when Vitor was jumping guard. He should have stayed on his feet, be more aggressive and try to get on the inside.”
Cruz on Jones skills: “I believe the biggest strength of Jon Jones is the ability to make his opponents guess. He keeps you guessing. That is the key to Jon Jones. He mixes up mixed martial arts. He is the definition of what you want to do in a fight in the sense of mixing it up.”
Exclusive interview backstage with Jones: “I thought my top game was terrible, but outside of that, I was pretty happy with everything else. I need to work on my boxing in the pocket and my top game in Jiu-Jitsu, but other than that I can’t complain. Vitor is a tough, tough guy.”
Jones on his mindset: “It affected me a lot. I made up my mind to clear out all adversities and just to keep my eye on the prize and always remember why I am here. I am here to win. I am here to be a great champion. Trials and tribulations, they are there for a reason. So, as long as things are not life or death, I have to be grateful for it. It was a lot, but we made it through and I honestly feel more of a man and stronger of an individual.”
Jones on his game plan: “The game plan was to fear no fire. To not respect him in any aspect, you respect him, but not fear him in any aspect. Whether it’s boxing or kicking, wrestling or Jiu-Jitsu, our plan was to fight him everywhere. Use power for wresting, put him on his back at times, out strike him on the feet. Mainly to gas him.”
Jones on his push kicks: “That push kick is almost like a jab. It wasn’t necessarily the game plan, but a technique we know would be successful in this fight.”
Jones on his relationship with Dana White: “I think me and Dana are forever going to be a lot closer. We got to talk to each other on a level of grown men, not boss or athlete. It was more about two adults, talking like adults. I got to express to him how I felt about what he said. He put me in his shoes and where he was at as the president of an organization and explained to me the loss that he suffered. Neither one of us was necessarily apologetic, but we came to agree and to an understanding. I think we left with a mutual respect for each other and we will now have a stronger relationship.”
Jones on Belfort’s arm bar: “It was extremely tight. He definitely had it. Maybe he was surprised I didn’t tap. I felt it pop and honestly when I went back to my seat, I thanked God for that situation and that I can actually move my arm. It gave me even more to fight through.”
Jones on who he wants to fight next: “I think I have some unfinished business to do with Dan Henderson. When he heals up, I would love to pick up where we left off.”
Florian on how Jones looks post-fight: “He looks relaxed and like a guy that is happy with his performance overall. He is also critical and humble, he told us what he thinks he needs to work on. You look at guy like Jon Jones, who had to come back from that arm lock, and came back with pure dominance.”
Cruz on Alexander Gustafsson fighting Jones: “He has a very distinct feeling of range, just like Jon jones does. He understands the striking, where he needs to be, where he doesn’t need to be. Foot placement, foot work. The power in his punches, bar none, he is the best in the division. The question is, can he mix it up in the grappling with Jon Jones? Because Jon Jones mixes takedowns with the kicks and punches, we have to see if Gustafsson can stand up to the wrestling base of Jon Jones.”
Florian on Gustafsson fighting Jones: “I agree with Dominick. You are as good as your ability to stay standing. Gustafsson really needs to improve his wresting to make his stand up that much better. His style and the way that he strikes and moves is very similar to Jon Jones. But he has to improve his wrestling.”
Belfort on the arm bar and his performance: “When I heard his arm pop, I let go a little and that is where he escaped. I made a mistake. He is a great fighter and I lost the opportunity. Sorry to my fans and my family.”
Cruz on Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious Johnson: “This fight was unreal. The way the fans were giving it a tough time was unfair. These guys threw down, they were non-stop. How about DJ, his foot work was impeccable. Benavidez did get a few takedowns, but he just couldn’t hold down Mighty Mouse.”
Florian on Johnson: “He was in, he was out. He looked phenomenal. That was a very close fight, a great fight and a good debut for the flyweights. He is just so fast. Where he got it done wasn’t just with his speed, but his feints. When you faint a guy, they don’t see you coming, they don’t know if you are going. That is were Johnson took over and it confused Benavidez.”
Cruz on Johnson: “I agree 100% with Kenny. That is what Johnson does, he feints and then right when you think you are going to throw that power punch, he is gone because it was just a feint. That is the key, it makes you second guess the shots you are going to land and Demetrious kept him guessing and pulled out the ‘W’ and deserves every ounce of it.”
Exclusive backstage interview with Johnson: “It feels good. I started this sport as a hobby and I worked my butt off. Hard work pays off, it’s all about hard work.”
Johnson on being the first flyweight champion: “I am happy that I am a champion. This is just the very beginning for me. I am going to go back to the gym to work harder. That is what it’s about, always working harder and shooting for more.”
Cruz on Benavidez’ takedowns: “I thought he would attempt more, but I also didn’t think Johnson would get that many. Johnson is hard to take down, I think he underrated his wrestling to be honest and that’s why maybe he got takedown more that he should have.’
Florian on Johnson’s takedowns: “It’s not necessarily that he is the better wrestler, it’s his ability to mix it up better. It was his foot work and mixed bag of mixed martial arts that was opening up those takedowns.”
Exclusive backstage interview Benavidez on his loss: “This just feels fake right now. The fight just ended, so I don’t really know what to think. I can’t believe it at the moment right now. It didn’t go how I visualized, so what can I do. I thought I was going to win. I train to win. I train to be the best. He was tougher than I thought.”
Florian on Michael Bisping vs. Brian Stann: “Bisping talks a lot of trash, he is a charismatic guy and that get a lot of attention, as far as Bisping goes. But you have to give him credit, this is a guy who is very technical, very, very smart and everything he says is very calculated. He got Brian Stann very emotional in this fight and I think that worked in his advantage.”
Cruz on the takedowns in Bisping vs. Stann: “What he did was make Stann second guess if he wants to sit on his punches or not. The feints and keeping Stann guessing, was exactly what Bisping needed to do. He stuck to the game plan, picked him apart and ended up winning that fight.”
Exclusive backstage interview with Bisping on his win: “I was really happy with it. Brian is a tough guy and he proved that tonight. I obviously wanted to finish the fight, but other than that it went the way I thought it would. I thought I would be faster to the punch, I thought I was a better technical fighter and I proved that. He hit me with a couple good shots. As I predicted, I was the better, more rounded fighter.”
Bisping on having a shot for the middleweight title: “I want to fight for the title. I have been here for a long time. I continue to win fights and do it impressively. I am a draw and I have been eyeing it for a long time. That is the fight I want.”
Exclusive backstage interview with Brian Stann: “Disappointed obviously. Dana came back after the fight and told me he thought I won the fight. Of course I am going to be bias, I was in there and I thought I won. I have to take an analytical view. I knew it was going to be close, but I thought I won the fight.”
Stann on what is next for him: “I think I could still fight the good contenders, I don’t think I go back to fighting the up and comers. I think if I get two big wins in a row, I can get right back to a fight that means something. There are a lot of us to who have gotten there, fall down and then come back. That is what I have to do.”
Florian on Matt Hamill vs. Roger Hollett: “Both these guys, obviously not so experienced with striking, but really where Hamill got it done was with his wrestling, that has always been his bread and butter throughout his career. He had some good ground and pound to get the win.”
Cruz on Hamill’s performance: “It’s always good to see a guy like that get a win. The things he has done in this sport, prior to this fight, he has done great things. He grinded this guy out, he did not want to be in there with him anymore. He was practically begging the ref.”
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