Press Release – LOS ANGELES, CA – On this week’s UFC TONIGHT, Chael Sonnen and Kenny Florian discuss the lightweight title-fight situation, discuss Roy Nelson’s future and look ahead to UFC 162, while Ariel Helwani sheds light on the featherweight title-fight controversy and much more.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: UFC TONIGHT’s Chael Sonnen on the Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman bout: “I can’t wait for this fight. Let’s understand, if Anderson Silva wins this fight, the debate ends: He is the best fighter of all time.”
Sonnen on the rumors of the UFC ON FOX SPORTS 1 Boston fight getting canceled: “The fight has never been in jeopardy, and Shogun and I have already been cleared.”
Sonnen on if Anthony Pettis deserves to fight Benson Henderson: “I hate the word deserve. If you’re TJ Grant, you’re still the number-one contender. Will he fight in Milwaukee or will he get an extra few months to train and just take on the winner of Pettis vs. Henderson? That’s the only thing in dispute. Pettis was the number-one contender, he’s the last guy to beat Ben Henderson, and most importantly, from a geographical standpoint, Pettis would fight in his hometown of Milwaukee.”
UFC TONIGHT’s Kenny Florian on if Pettis or TJ Grant deserves to fight Benson Henderson: “On a merit basis, they both deserve it. I’ll be honest. I want to see Anthony Pettis fight. I love TJ Grant and he absolutely deserves a shot at Benson Henderson, but Anthony Pettis deserved this shot a while back.”
Florian on if Roy Nelson will return to the UFC after his loss to Stipe Miocic: “I absolutely want to see him back in the UFC. He ran into a tough matchup against Stipe Miocic. Stipe knew the right hand was coming from Roy and circled away from that, and scored combination after combination. Roy Nelson needs to change his training up. He needs to get something else besides that big right hand going and stay in the UFC. This is where he’s going to make an even bigger name for himself, he’s a big fan favorite, and he knocks people out.”
Sonnen on Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman: “Weidman is absolutely Silva’s toughest opponent. He was an underdog against Mark Munoz, he stepped into those lights, and he performed extremely well. He has a better top game, at least submission-wise, than I do and I had some success for several minutes with Anderson from that position. Weidman’s going to get on top, he needs this – he’s never tasted defeat.”
Florian on Anderson Silva vs Chris Weidman: “A lot of people don’t realize this guy has a legit submission game and he’s got that great wrestling and conditioning. He’s a legitimate threat to Silva.”
Florian on Steve Mazzagatti: “Burkman choked Jon Fitch to sleep, and Steve Mazzagatti took too long to go over to see that Fitch was unconscious. Mazzagatti has been a problem for a very long time. Fitch could’ve been seriously injured.”
UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani on Korean Zombie getting a shot at Jose Aldo: “I spoke to the Korean Zombie over the weekend. He said he feels bad for Ricardo Lamas. He thinks Ricardo should get the title shot first. But he’s not going to give it up now. He feels it was a shot that was promised to him after he beat Dustin Poirier last year. But he got out of the line because of an injury. But the bad news for Lamas is he’s off the UFC 162 card. I spoke to his manager and they’re hoping to fight the winner of The Korean Zombie vs. Jose Aldo.”
Helwani on Georges St-Pierre’s next fight: “It’s been reported that Georges St-Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks will take place November 16 in Las Vegas. This will be the UFC’s 20th anniversary show.”
Helwani on Big Nog’s next fight: “Stefan Struve has called for a fight with Big Nog. Big Nog has made a statement to Struve: ‘The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Let’s get it on.’”
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 Chael Sonnen. Leeann Tweeden contributes, while three-time World MMA Awards Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani adds insider news.
Follow FUEL TV and the talent on Twitter at: @FUELTV; @UFCTonight; @kennyflorian; @arielhelwani; @LeeannTweeden; @Sonnench;