Tag: Interviews

Hendricks Looking to Steal the Show, Send Message to GSP at UFC 158

The path Johny Hendricks was traveling towards a welterweight title shot took an interesting turn last night.The Team Takedown fighter was in preparation for his upcoming bout with Jake Ellenberger at UFC 158, when news of Rory MacDonald’s injury came …

The path Johny Hendricks was traveling towards a welterweight title shot took an interesting turn last night.

The Team Takedown fighter was in preparation for his upcoming bout with Jake Ellenberger at UFC 158, when news of Rory MacDonald’s injury came across the news wire. The talented young Canadian had suffered a neck injury during training and was forced out of his rematch with Carlos Condit in Montreal. This turn of events left the former interim welterweight champion without an opponent and it was an opportunity the surging welterweight’s camp wasn’t about to pass up.

A phone call was made. A new bout agreement signed. And just like that, the fight between Hendricks and Condit became official.

Now “Bigg Rigg” will look to carry the momentum of a five-fight win streak into the Bell Centre against one of the division’s most dangerous fighters. “The Natural Born Killer” has won five of his last six bouts, with the only loss over that stretch coming to champion Georges St-Pierre in their title unification bout at UFC 154.

Hendricks has made no secret of his hunt for a crack at the UFC welterweight title, and the former two-time NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion believes the road to gold goes through Condit.

“Nothing against Jake Ellenberger, but Carlos Condit just came off a title fight,” Hendricks told Bleacher Report. “This is his first fight back after holding the title for nine months. He was the interim champion and is coming off a fight with Georges St-Pierre. That fight is still fresh in people’s minds and if I can put on a good performance against Condit, that should show everybody I’m ready for that title shot. That’s what I’m looking at. If I can go out there and put on a performance where people say, ‘Wait a minute…that’s not how GSP did it,’ then I know the next step can’t be taken from me.

“Condit did well against GSP. If a couple of things change in that fight, he might have won. That being said, if he went out and put on a great performance against Rory MacDonald and ended up beating him, then they could possibly say that Carlos looked much better and let’s give him another opportunity. Or that gives St-Pierre a chance to say Carlos Condit looked better than Johny and I want a rematch with him. That was my thought process. Now that I get to fight him, all the stipulations go to the end. If I lose…I lose. If I win…the next step is there.”

While Hendricks was originally preparing to face a power-puncher with a strong wrestling base, his new opponent presents a different set of issues to deal with. Condit has one of the division’s most diverse striking skill sets, and when his jiu-jitsu skills are factored in, the former WEC welterweight champion is easily one of the most well-rounded fighters in the 170-pound weight class.

Nevertheless, Condit has shown a weakness against wrestling in the past. But despite having one of the best wresting pedigrees in mixed martial arts, Hendricks is looking to test Condit in all areas of the fight game. The former wrestling standout from Oklahoma State University is looking to prove he deserves a title shot and believes this new matchup with Condit will solidify his place.

“Both Ellenberger and Condit present their problems, but what this fight boils down to is that Condit had the interim belt,” Hendricks said. “Jake Ellenberger was going to be just another fight for me to hold my position. But this fight is different. If I go out there and I win against Carlos, then that is just going to skyrocket me because what he did last year was pretty big.

“He went out there and fought GSP closer than GSP wanted it to happen. If I can go out there and do the same thing, fight to that caliber, then I prove a lot. I think that is what people are trying to use to justify why they think I don’t deserve a title shot. Just because I’ve been going out there and knocking guys out in 12 or 40 seconds, whatever it is, people don’t think that I have an all-around game.

“One thing I’ve realized is that in some fights you don’t need it. Take the Kampmann fight for example. I knew if I wanted to take him down I could, but I also felt I was just as good of a striker as he was. That is a reason people haven’t seen a lot of my game. If you are the best on your feet, well, I want to test myself. If you are going against a solid wrestler like Jon Fitch, I wanted to test my wrestling against him. That’s my goal and how I keep myself driven every day. That’s how I keep the drive to keep getting better and better. Wherever you are the best at, that is where I want to attack you.”

After scoring a first-round knockout over Martin Kampmann at UFC 154, Hendricks appeared to be on the doorstep of his long-awaited title shot. But after champion Georges St-Pierre told UFC President Dana White he wanted to settle his grudge with Nick Diaz, the Oklahoma-native was pushed aside.

Hendricks thought his impressive win on the same card St-Pierre earned a unanimous decision victory over Condit would have sent the message loud and clear. But since it obviously hasn’t been heard, Hendricks has every intention of making another statement at UFC 158

“It’s a pretty sweet set up because I get to do it again in front of him,” Hendricks said about fighting on the same card as GSP. “That is exactly what I want to do. Last time at UFC 154, I felt like I was able to steal the show and that is what I want to do again this time around. I don’t care how it goes. I know Carlos is tough and I respect him. After our fights at UFC 154, we talked a little bit and ate pizza in the locker room. I like Carlos and I know that we are going to put on a very good fight.

“I know he’s coming to fight and that’s the only way to do it. You have to come there saying, ‘Let’s put some leather on each other and see who is still standing.’ There is nothing more exciting in my opinion. For some strange reason, nothing makes me feel more alive than getting hit. I don’t know why, but it’s true. A couple of times in the past I’ve been hit and remember thinking that it felt good. It brings out the inner-animal.”

When the news of the St-Pierre versus Diaz matchup was announced, the typically reserved Hendricks immediately went public with his frustration. Having won five consecutive bouts and knocking off three legit contenders in the process, Hendricks believed it was his time to face the pound-for-pound great. It wasn’t the way Hendricks wanted to go, but with the UFC title as the ultimate goal, the 29-year-old will do whatever it takes to get there.

“I don’t like that having to do that,” Hendricks said about calling out the champion. “I thought my work would speak for itself, but I maybe I did my job a little too well. The striking part of my game does put fear in some people. Knowing that I don’t have to catch you flush or hit you that hard, but if it does hit you are going down makes some people afraid.

“Even if I throw it 80 percent and it doesn’t hit you flush — you still go out. We’ve seen it a couple of times now. That is something right there that puts fear in some people. That’s great because guess what…if they are worried about that then I can get the rest of my game working. My wrestling is my best attribute, and I’m telling you right now, my jiu-jitsu is better than my striking. I just haven’t really had the opportunity to showcase it.”

In less than a month’s time, Hendricks will step into the Octagon at the Belle Centre in Montreal, looking to make the final push towards earning a title shot. Once the cage door closes, all the talk and debating whether or not Hendricks deserves a chance to fight for championship gold will go away and the time to show and prove will come front and center.

Holding a UFC title is the motivation which drives Hendricks forward and he has every intention on making his dream a reality.

“Nothing else matters but that title and my goal is to get that belt,” Hendricks said. “Nothing else matters except for that belt. It doesn’t matter who has it when I step in there, but I need it. I want to be the champion. That is what I want and all I dream about. I want to have it at my house and showcase it to my kids as they grow older.”

 

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Urijah Faber: ‘I’m in This Sport to Be a Champion’

Every fighter who steps into the cage has, at one time or another, been driven by the dreams of being a champion. In the competitive realm of mixed martial arts, that goal is often difficult to obtain, and many competitors never complete the climb to m…

Every fighter who steps into the cage has, at one time or another, been driven by the dreams of being a champion. In the competitive realm of mixed martial arts, that goal is often difficult to obtain, and many competitors never complete the climb to making their championship aspirations a reality.

Urijah Faber is one of the fortunate few who knows what it feels like to wear championship gold and he is determined to battle his way back to the top of the mountain.

“The California Kid” was once the most dominant featherweight fighter on the planet. Over a three-year period spanning from 2005-2008, the Team Alpha Male leader collected an impressive 13-fight win streak which included Faber holding court over the WEC’s 145-pound weight class.

Unfortunately for the Sacramento native, his run would come to an abrupt halt against Mike Brown at WEC 36. The loss of his coveted title was undoubtedly difficult for Faber, but the 33-year-old isn’t the type to wallow in the negative.

After the fall, the journey back is never an easy path to navigate, but Faber is consistently up for the challenge. Despite numerous opportunities to lay claim to a UFC championship, Faber continues to fight towards his ultimate goal, and has proven his ability to bounce back from adversity time and time again.

Faber believes he has what it takes to be a champion and the first step on the road back to title contention will come this weekend against Ivan Menjivar at UFC 157 in Anaheim, Calif.

It is a rematch seven years in the making and Faber is eager to re-ignite his run towards the bantamweight crown.

“I’ve been out for awhile and I’m hungry,” Faber told Bleacher Report. “I want to get in there and have a knock-down, drag-out fight. I want to get the ‘W’ for sure and hopefully a finish. I don’t know how many times Menjivar has been legitimately finished but I’d like to do that with either a knockout or a submission.

You never really know until you are right in front of someone. It has been seven years since I was right in front of Menjivar and I remember the last time we fought, he was very strong in traditional Muay Thai. I think that was the biggest advantage he had against me when we fought the first time. I was a good grappler at the time. My stand-up was decent but he probably had the advantage there.

At this point, I won’t really know until I get right in front of him because we are going to be so different than we were seven years ago. I feel very comfortable everywhere. I feel I can stand with the best guys, go to the ground with the best guys, and I believe I’ll have the advantage in the places in-between as well.

I think it will be a very close fight but I should definitely walk out with the victory.”

The bout between Faber and Menjivar is a part of what will be a historic night for the sport’s biggest promotion. For the first time in the UFC’s nearly 20-year history, two women will compete inside the Octagon. It will be a watershed moment when women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey squares-off with Liz Carmouche in the main event of UFC 157.

Throughout his career, Faber has been involved in several landmark moments and is excited to take part in another monumental moment for the sport.

“It’s neat to be a part of the history,” Faber said. “I’ve been in a lot of monumental fights. Jose Aldo and I were the first pay-per-view fight in the WEC. Dominick Cruz and I were the first title fight in the UFC bantamweight division. I’ve been a real part of the history in this sport and it’s been an honor.

It will be another chapter with the girls coming in and doing their thing. I’m not sure how the pay-per-view is going to do, but it should be interesting. Both Rousey and Carmouche are very impressive. Ronda coming in with her Olympic background is pretty cool because we get to see the continuation of an Olympic athlete in mixed martial arts. It’s cool, man.”

While Faber’s work inside the cage has played a huge part in the quest to establish recognition for the lighter weight classes, the proud Californian’s efforts in the business realm have also helped to move the sport forward. By starting his Torque brand, Faber has put a focus on helping fighters both established and on the rise.

Sponsorships play an important role in a fighter’s financial stability. And with the current unpredictability of the economy, Faber is happy to provide an option for his fellow fighters.

“Torque is doing great, man,” Faber said when asked about his latest endeavor. “It’s been cool to see the brand getting out there and getting behind a lot of great fighters. It seems like we have a couple new fighters competing at every show. It feels great to be someone who provides another stream of revenue and support for up-and-coming fighters as well.

It’s an important time right now for fighters in this sport. People are fighting for sponsors in this economy. With so many brands coming in and falling out of this sport, it’s nice to be someone that is stable and able to get behind guys when they might not have too many options.”

After a decade in the sport and numerous accomplishments under his belt, it would be understandable if Faber’s drive began to fade. Nevertheless, the former No. 1 contender is more motivated than ever before to make another run at UFC gold.

For Faber, perspective and setting goals makes all the difference. During his preparation for the upcoming bout with Menjivar, the former featherweight king put his focus on what originally set him on the course he now travels. The original goal was to become a champion and it’s something he’s never forgotten.

“The reason that 90 percent of mixed martial artists get into this sport is because they love it. You are talking about guys who come from wrestling backgrounds where there is no professional avenue, or Muay Thai where the sport is one of the most taxing things you can put your body through. People come from Judo, boxing and all these sports of passion

That is what you have with fighters and I think the important thing is to remember why you are doing the sport and the reason you chose this path.

I’ve been trying to focus on that a lot lately. You need to make sure you remember the reason you got into this sport in the first place, but the ultimate quest is to be the best in the world.

I’m on that quest. I’m in this sport to be a champion.

I’m fighting the fights I need to and I’m just inches away from getting the belt.”

 

Duane Finley is a feature writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Nick Diaz Missed 3 Interviews Ahead of GSP Fight, Says White

The sight of Nick Diaz at a press conference alongside Georges St-Pierre, promoting their upcoming UFC 158 bout, surprised everyone. Having been unceremoniously booted from his welterweight title fight against the Canadian champion more than a year ago, because he missed two press conferences, last month we saw a much more chastened and professional Diaz […]

The sight of Nick Diaz at a press conference alongside Georges St-Pierre, promoting their upcoming UFC 158 bout, surprised everyone. Having been unceremoniously booted from his welterweight title fight against the Canadian champion more than a year ago, because he missed two press conferences, last month we saw a much more chastened and professional Diaz […]

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Rockhold’s Quest for a UFC Title Starts with Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX 8

Three years ago, Luke Rockhold was one of the most highly touted prospects in mixed martial arts. The AKA-trained fighter was blitzing his way through Strikeforce’s Challengers series and showing a level of skill that put him on the radar as a fighter …

Three years ago, Luke Rockhold was one of the most highly touted prospects in mixed martial arts. The AKA-trained fighter was blitzing his way through Strikeforce’s Challengers series and showing a level of skill that put him on the radar as a fighter to watch.

While potential can be a difficult thing to carry inside the cage, the California native delivered at every turn, eventually parlaying the promise of expectation into championship gold. Rockhold finished his run in Strikeforce as the last man to hold the now-defunct promotion’s middleweight title. With his first bout inside the Octagon now official, a new chapter begins and the former champion has his sights set on a new belt.

The road to a UFC title has proven to be a difficult path to navigate, especially in the middleweight division where Anderson Silva has reigned for the past eight years. Rockhold has embraced the challenge and wants to fight the best of the best. The first step of his new journey comes against former light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort in his native Brazil at UFC on FX 8, and the stage is now set for Rockhold to make a proper introduction.

“I’m excited about it,” Rockhold told Bleacher Report in an exclusive interview. “Vitor is a legend and I want to fight the best guys out there. Vitor seems to be that guy right now. I have a lot to prove and I believe I can do it. Vitor looked good in his last fight but I’ve seen some holes in his game and some things that have beaten him in the past. I am coming in there to get the win and continue to do what I’ve been doing for years.”

“I’m looking for the biggest fights and to get to that belt as fast as I can. I believe I can beat these guys and I’m going to do so. I’m going into enemy territory. I’m going into Brazil and fighting one of the best fighters in the game in his home country. That should show people how serious I am about this. I’m going in there to handle my business and I’m going to bring it home.”

The matchup between Rockhold and Belfort will feature two of the division’s best strikers. While both have impressive skills on their feet, the stylistic differences make the pairing unique. Rockhold‘s length has allowed him to set the range against past opponents and once the distance is established, the former Strikeforce champion has shown the ability to not only close distance quickly, but remain accurate in the process.

As for Belfort, the 35-year-old Brazilian’s power punches have historically been his foundation for success inside the cage. But in recent outings, “The Phenom” has shown patience and a crafty striking game where he’s used feints and footwork to create openings and opportunities. Their respective styles should make for a dynamic clash and Rockhold is excited to test his skills against the MMA legend.

“I think he’s getting a little wiser,” Rockhold said when asked about the recent changes in Belfort‘s approach. “He’s waiting for his opportunities and you could see him baiting for the kick in the Bisping fight. Most of the fight he was looking for it and found that it worked in the first round, then he waited for it in the second and got the knockout.

“Vitor is still one of the best fighters in the game and he’s still sharp. He lost to Jon Jones and Anderson Silva and those are the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Who else has he lost to lately? He’s pretty much destroyed everyone else in his path. I think he’s still sharp. He’s definitely looked explosive and in shape his last fight. He’s constantly in the gym and he’s focused right now.

“I’m coming out there to do my thing. I’m excited about fighting a southpaw and a striker at that. Vitor will be the best striker I’ve faced thus far and it should bring the very best out of me in the striking department. I’m a kickboxer and I’m going to employ my range and distance.

“You might also see some offensive wrestling from me,” Rockhold added. “It’s been a weakness in the past and people don’t think I can wrestle but wrestling and jiu-jitsu are some of my strongest attributes. I’m going to be fighting everywhere, put on a great show and I’ll be in the best shape of my life. I’m excited about the big fight and I’m expecting the best Vitor Belfort to show up.”

While the bout has been rumored since shortly after Belfort defeated Bisping at UFC on FX 7, it did not become official until earlier this week. Over that time, news of Belfort‘s TRT exemption for the fight in Sao Paulo emerged, which immediately became a hot-button issue in the MMA community, with Belfort‘s past steroid issues coming under the microscope.

A prior offense for PED’s would make it very difficult to get an exemption in the United States, but the decision to grant Belfort the recent exemption was made by the newly formed Brazilian athletic commission. Nevertheless, Rockhold was aware of the conditions at hand when he accepted the fight and isn’t concerned with what Belfort does or doesn’t use.

“I think the TRT thing should be out in the open before fights and not after they end,” Rockhold said. “I was also under the belief that if you’ve been caught with performance enhancing drugs in the past, there was no option for TRT…but ultimately it doesn’t matter to me.

“I saw Ben Henderson’s statement about TRT and PED’s being a weakness and I feel the exact same way. I don’t really care. I’m going out there and I’m going to do what I do. I’m going to beat people whether they are on it or they are clean. I’m a clean fighter and I’m going to go out there and I am going to do my job. It doesn’t matter to me. Honestly I get more satisfaction beating people who are on the stuff.”

In the time Rockhold has been a professional mixed martial artist, he’s worn several different labels. The Santa Cruz native has gone from prospect to champion and held himself to the highest standards over his pursuit of becoming one of the sport’s best middleweights.

Shortly after earning the Strikeforce title, Rockhold publicly stated he wanted to face the best fighters in the world and issued a challenge to those competing under the UFC banner. Now Rockhold will see that opportunity realized as he goes from champion to contender, and sets out in pursuit of UFC gold.

“This is the next big chapter for sure,” Rockhold said. “I’m happy about what I accomplished in Strikeforce. It meant a lot to me but this is the next chapter in my life. I’ve always wanted to be the best in the world and now I have my chance to prove that. I’m getting better, learning new things every day and I’m coming into my prime. I still have a lot of good years ahead of me and I feel I have a lot to prove. I’m coming to kick some ass and take my spot.”

 

Duane Finley is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Kenny Florian Breaks Down UFC on Fuel TV 7, Talks Jose Aldo and B.J. Penn

When Renan Barao steps into the cage with Michael McDonald for an interim bantamweight title fight, Kenny Florian will be sitting cageside and offering color commentary on the UFC on Fuel TV 7 broadcast.In advance of Saturday’s event, which will take p…

When Renan Barao steps into the cage with Michael McDonald for an interim bantamweight title fight, Kenny Florian will be sitting cageside and offering color commentary on the UFC on Fuel TV 7 broadcast.

In advance of Saturday’s event, which will take place at Wembley Arena in London, England, Florian took some time to speak with Bleacher Report about the fight card and some other topics near to him.

 

Jose Aldo

Before retiring into a full-time role as a UFC commentator, Florian challenged featherweight champion Jose Aldo for the 145-pound title. Although he came up short on the scorecards in that bout, Florian looked just about as competitive as anyone against the dominant Brazilian titleholder.

In his most recent outing, Aldo defeated former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, looking unstoppable in the opening frames before fading a bit in the championship rounds.

While he believes the best way to dethrone Aldo would be to test his conditioning as much as possible, Florian also feels there is one fighter out there who can challenge the champion in the early stanzas of a fight, and that competitor just so happens to be Aldo’s next scheduled opponent.

“I think there is someone who can test (Aldo) in the opening rounds,” Florian said, “and that’s Anthony Pettis. I think he’s the only guy. Pettis, in my opinion, is the second most dynamic striker in the UFC of course to Anderson Silva. I think he can challenge (Aldo) because he has that explosiveness and he has that technical ability. I think that’s why he can match Aldo early. With that said, I think the best way to beat Aldo is to bring him into the later rounds.”

Despite Aldo’s conditioning issues, Florian does believe the featherweight leader took himself to another level by beating a former UFC champion like Edgar.

As a fighter in one of the UFC’s newer divisions, Aldo hasn’t really gotten his due attention, but he may finally be approaching middleweight champion Anderson Silva and welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre in terms of accomplishments. 

“People saw, as far as technical ability, that (Aldo) was up there with the best,” Florian explained. “But they wanted to see him really tested against top-level competition. I think beating a guy like Edgar certainly puts him in that league. Yeah, I have him right there at No. 3 pound-for-pound.”

 

B.J. Penn

Aldo wasn’t the only champion that Florian challenged during his very respectable UFC career. The TUF runner-up also met B.J. Penn in a lightweight title bout in August 2009.

Penn defeated Florian by submission to further his legacy as one of the greatest lightweights in MMA history. Now that Penn is on a skid of three straight fights without a win, Florian would like to see him move back to 155 pounds and try to finish his career on a high note.

“I’d like to see (Penn) fight a top guy at 155 pounds and fight one more at the weight class where he was his best,” Florian said, “a weight class where I think he should be and go out on a win or start a title run. Because B.J. Penn is a legend and still has the skills to compete with the best in the world.”

 

UFC on Fuel TV 7

Like many overseas fight cards, UFC on Fuel TV 7 features several matchups between fighters between the hosting country and fighters from outside the hosting country. In this case, that means a lot of British competitors will be taking on opponents who have to fly in for the event.

Does this home Octagon advantage really make a measurable difference? 

“I think it does,” Florian said. “Competing in your home country, you have everything there at your disposal, things that you’re used to and foods that you’re used to, as far as diet leading up to the fight and your training camp. The financial part of it as well, as far as flying your coaches, it’s not as much of a burden if it’s in your home country. Of course, the ability to impress the hometown crowd, I’m sure it gets them fired up. So, I definitely see a lot of advantages in fighting in your home country, for sure.”

Although this event has flown under the radar being sandwiched between two huge pay-per-view cards, UFC on Fuel TV 7 features some important fights between up-and-coming competitors looking to break through and become contenders.

Bleacher Report asked Florian, outside of the main event between Barao and McDonald, which fight he was most excited about.

“The Cub Swanson-Dustin Poirier fight is going to be amazing,” Florian said, “but one that a lot of fans are probably are overlooking is the Jorge Santiago against Gunnar Nelson fight. That’s a fight between two phenomenal grapplers and a lot of people believe Nelson may be the next big thing.”

 

Nelson vs. Santiago

Nestled near the middle of the six-fight main card for UFC on Fuel TV 7, a welterweight bout between Nelson and Santiago is one of the fights fans should be paying close attention to. Nelson is coming off of an impressive win in his UFC debut against DaMarques Johnson, while Santiago is a UFC veteran returning to the organization on a winning streak.

Undefeated in 11 fights, Nelson is one of the most promising 170-pound fighters in the world. A fight with a battle-tested opponent like Santiago will give the Iceland native a chance to test himself.

“I think this one against Santiago is really going to show what kind of fighter Nelson is,” Florian said. “Santiago is a true veteran of the sport, been around for a long time, competes at a high level, and is an excellent jiu-jitsu practitioner as well. [Nelson] has all the tools to be a top guy, no doubt, and I think we’re going to find out what kind of fighter he is in this fight against Santiago.” 

Santiago has been in and out of the UFC multiple times in the career, but a move to welterweight could be exactly what he needs to make a permanent home in the world’s top MMA organization. 

Although Florian never had to deal with being cut from the big show, he’s certainly been close to some who have, and he doesn’t believe the result is always negative.

“(Being released) can definitely have an impact on a fighter,” Florian said. “I think as far as a fighter goes and his approach, he’s going to take it as a positive. I gotta go out here, prove myself, prove that I belong to be here and belong to stay here. He’s coming in at 170 pounds, a weight class we haven’t seen him at in a little bit, but I think he’s best suited for that weight class and he’s going to be a tough go for anybody.”

 

Light Heavyweight Bouts

In addition to the bout between Nelson and Santiago, the UFC on Fuel TV 7 main card will feature two intriguing light heavyweight matchups. 

With Quinton Jackson leaving the UFC roster and some other 205-pound greats beginning the fade. The door is opening for light heavyweights like the ones on the UFC on Fuel TV 7 main card to make their mark and become contenders.

James Te-Huna and Ryan Jimmo will open the main card, while Jimi Manuwa and Cyrille Diabate will also compete later on in the Fuel-televised portion of the event. Among these rising 205-pound strikers, there are two in whom Florian sees the most potential. 

“Te Huna, I’ve been very impressed with his athleticism and how quickly he’s picked up this sport,” Florian said. “He hits as hard as any any 205-pound fighter out there. Manuwa‘s a beast with knockout power. His fight against Diabate is going to be real interesting because of the size difference. All those guys are fun to watch and right at that point where they’re on the brink of really breaking into that top-tier of that weight class.”


Cub Swanson vs. Dustin Poirier

A bout between entertaining featherweights Cub Swanson and Dustin Poirier will set the stage for the UFC on Fuel TV 7 main event.

Since losing to Ricardo Lamas in his UFC debut, Swanson has turned it up considerably and finds himself on the verge of earning a rematch with Aldo that previously appeared highly unlikely. 

“It’s part an improvement in (Swanson’s) boxing and his ability to find his range,” Florian said. “I think now it’s his confidence. Fight after fight, you see him get more and more confident, more and more relaxed. I think Swanson was always one of those guys you’d see the way that he moves, the way that he would compete, you could see he was very athletic, one of the most athletic guys in the UFC. But, somehow, he just wouldn’t pull the trigger or he had bad luck and now he’s really putting together and he’s a dangerous package for anybody.”

Likewise, Poirier recently bounced back from a loss to Chan Sung Jung by beating Jonathan Brookins. Although he’ll need a couple more wins to get back into title shot conversation, Poirier has a long and bright career ahead of him and should have plenty of opportunities to earn a shot at UFC gold before all is said and done. 

“Poirier is one of those guys, so much potential and you see his maturity level and the way he competes at such a young age,” Florian said. “He’s got another 10 years to become a champion, so he’s doing everything right and I definitely expect him to, at the very least, be challenging for that title in the next couple years.”

With so much well-rounded talent between them, it’s tough to say where Swanson and Poirier hold advantages over one another. Luckily, as a former fighter, Florian was able to break down the matchup much better than this writer ever could.

“Both of those guys are very dangerous,” Florian said. “I think for Poirier, he wants to keep Swanson on the outside. Swanson really does most of his damage inside with his boxing. It’s going to take a lot of movement from Poirier. He’s going to have to do a lot of circling. He can’t go straight back against Swanson because Swanson’s too fast, too explosive and has too much power.”

“The other thing, Cub Swanson is also a very good counter-puncher as well. We saw that against Ross Pearson, so Poirier definitely has to make sure he keeps him on the outside and is careful when he charges against Swanson. He has to use a lot of feints, and I think Poirier should try to challenge him on the ground as well. I think Poirier can go submission for submission with anyone out there.”

 

Barao vs. McDonald

Since bantamweight Dominick Cruz was not able to heal quickly enough from a knee injury to compete in a title-merging bout with Barao, the 22-year-old McDonald has been given the chance to steal the opportunity to fight Cruz from the Brazilian titleholder.

While McDonald is young and hungry, these might not be the best circumstances for him to receive a fight of this magnitude. The rising bantamweight star has been out of action for nine months due to hand surgery.

Nonetheless, Florian feel McDonald is prepared to bring a tough fight to Barao.

“I absolutely think McDonald is ready,” Florian said. “This is another kid who is so young and competes at such a high level and you can see his joy when he’s out there competing. We’re actually going to see him 100 percent for the first time. He’s coming back from surgery. His knuckle now is fully recovered. So, a guy who was knocking guys out before and now he has that much more confidence and he feels like he’s never felt in awhile, that’s going to be a dangerous guy to deal with.”

As promising as McDonald is, Barao is also still just entering the prime of his career and will be a force to be reckoned with for years. Outside of one of these fighters competing against Cruz, this is the best matchup out there in the 135-pound division, and it’s almost too close to call a winner.

“McDonald’s excellent on the ground,” Florian said, “but I think Barao has the advantage there. I think McDonald has the advantage with the boxing. Barao may have the advantage with the kicking. I think it’s a very even fight.”

Thankfully, we probably won’t have to wait long for one of these young guns to challenge Cruz for the undisputed 135-pound title. It seems likely that the long-reigning titleholder will be next for the winner of the UFC on Fuel TV 7 main event. 

“Both of those guys are very dangerous opponents and have the tools to challenge Cruz,” Florian said. “I’m not sure if they can beat him because Dominick’s style is a difficult matchup for anyone. It’s tough to say at this point, but you get the winner of Barao and McDonald and you have a beast there. I think they have the ability to challenge anyone out there in the weight class. Whether they can beat Cruz, I don’t know, but it’s definitely a fight that I want to see.”

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Josh Koscheck Ready to Prove He’s Still a Top Welterweight at UFC 157

Hard work and determination made Josh Koscheck one of the elite 170-pound fighters on the planet, and he has every intention of reclaiming that status Saturday, Feb. 23 at UFC 157.When “Kos” steps back into the Octagon to face Robbie Lawler in Anaheim …

Hard work and determination made Josh Koscheck one of the elite 170-pound fighters on the planet, and he has every intention of reclaiming that status Saturday, Feb. 23 at UFC 157.

When “Kos” steps back into the Octagon to face Robbie Lawler in Anaheim Calif., it will be the beginning of a new chapter for the former NCAA Division I national champion wrestler—one he is very much looking forward to getting underway.

After a hectic 2012 that saw the former No. 1 contender drop a razor-thin decision to Johny Hendricks and suffer a back injury which sidelined him for the remainder of the year, the 35-year-old is ready to return to his winning ways. In the process of doing so, Koscheck also intends to send a reminder to the MMA world that he’s still a force to be reckoned with in the welterweight division.

“I have to come out and prove I’m still here and I’m still a fighter,” Koscheck told Bleacher Report. “I definitely have to come out and make a statement against Robbie Lawler, that’s for sure. That’s what I plan on doing. It’s been awhile since I’ve had a fight where I can look back and say I had a real fight and that I came out and performed at my best. I need to step up and do that.”

“It seems like I’ve always done well under the pressure of coming off a loss and after my last fight with Hendricks, I have a lot to prove. I feel like, and a lot of people still feel like Hendricks didn’t beat me, but there were three judges who felt he did. That’s just the way it works. I have a lot to prove and I have to come out and perform.”

Another big factor in the changes Koscheck made in 2012 was his relocation from his longtime home at AKA in San Jose to starting up his new gym, the Dethrone Base Camp in Fresno.

The process of transferring training facilities came with an adjustment period, but now, the season one TUF alum believes he has everything in place to make the next great run of his career.

“I feel good and I’ve put together a nice little training camp,” Koscheck said. “I actually had some time to focus on getting some good guys in to train with me. Before my last fight we kind of just put together something really quick and did some training. But for this fight I’ve had plenty of time to get training partners, coaches, get a schedule going and to put good people around me to better myself. I have a good structure and atmosphere to do all my training. It’s been good.”

While Koscheck is looking to get back to handling business inside the Octagon, Lawler is making a return of his own. It has been over eight years since the veteran slugger competed on the sport’s biggest stage, and where Lawler was once one of the UFC’s top welterweight fighters, his career outside the Octagon has experienced varying degrees of success.

Coming into the bout with Koscheck, the former Elite XC champion has hit a rough patch, dropping three of his last four outings. That being said, Koscheck realizes his opponent has a lot on the line and a proven track record of put-away power.

“I think it’s a good fight for him,” Koscheck said. “[Lawler] gets to come in and fight against a guy who has been in the UFC his entire career. He has something to prove and is trying to get his career back on track. He comes in with a lot of power and a lot of knockouts.

“I can tell you this: Hopefully Robbie Lawler worked on his cardio and hes’ ready to go because I’m going to push the pace and be in his face for 15 minutes if I have to. My plan is to break him and I’m coming ready for 15 minutes.”

After nearly a decade in the sport and 21 fights inside the Octagon, Koscheck has learned how to take the rigors of being a dedicated mixed martial artist in stride. Where other fighters have fallen victim to the trappings of success or become overwhelmed by physical demand of the fight business, Koscheck has remained above the fray.

The Pennsylvania native attributes his ability to stay on the grind to his blue-collar roots and recognizing the need to separate fighting and life outside the cage.

“I’m sure it is for some guys,” Koscheck responded when asked about the difficulties balancing life and career in the fight business. “It’s definitely hard because you put so much into this game, or at least I do…I know that. I put so much into it and it can take over your life. It can over things in your life outside fighting.

“I’ve been doing it for a long enough time where I can step away from it for a couple of weeks to do some vacationing. It is still on my mind and I’m still thinking about it, but I can separate it enough where I can relax and have a life outside of the cage.”

“I love to fly and have a couple of hobbies like that. Getting up there and flying is definitely a big part of getting away and it is one of the things that’s important for a guy who trains as hard as I do to have something like that. My days off are training sessions for my mind. I’m trying let my body and mind recover and step away from the every day monotony of training. Flying is definitely one of those things.”

Coming into UFC 157, Koscheck finds himself at an interesting point in his career. The former No. 1 contender to the welterweight crown has plenty of success behind him and the potential for great things on the horizon, but with the 170-pound weight class becoming increasingly competitive, now is the time for the four-time All-American to re-introduce himself to the heated divisional picture.

That being said, whatever steps Koscheck takes in the future will be approached with the same mentality he’s always carried.

Koscheck believes hard work will get the job done and isn’t concerned with how much you like or dislike him. It is all fine by Koscheck because love him or hate him, the only thing that changes for the perennial contender is the opponent standing across the cage.

Ultimately, it falls on his shoulders to accomplish the task at hand. Whether people get behind him or rally for the opposition simply doesn’t matter.

“I’ve always been the type where either you like me or you don’t,” Koscheck said. “That is the attitude I’ve always had and I’m not going to change just because people don’t like me or change if they do. I am who I am and I’ve done what I’ve done in the sport because of the person I am and the work ethic I’ve put into it. I’m not going to change for anybody. I’m going to continue being me and you either like it or you don’t. That’s how it is; plain and simple.”

Duane Finley is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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