Tag: podcast

Former Strikeforce Champ Gegard Mousasi Wants To Prove He Is A Top Three Fighter This Saturday

With the final Showtime broadcasted Strikeforce event scheduled for this Saturday in Oklahoma City, many of the cards competitors are looking to prove they belong among the elite fighters of the world. The winner is likely to get a UFC contract while the loser gets shown the door. One of the few fighters on the […]

Gegard Mousasi

With the final Showtime broadcasted Strikeforce event scheduled for this Saturday in Oklahoma City, many of the cards competitors are looking to prove they belong among the elite fighters of the world. The winner is likely to get a UFC contract while the loser gets shown the door.

One of the few fighters on the card who will likely get a UFC contract regardless of the outcome on January 12, is former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi, who takes on Mike Kyle on the main card.

Mousasi is 19-1-1 in his last twenty-one bouts and is currently on a five fight undefeated streak, but the Iranian born fighter feels he has something to prove by winning at the final Strikeforce event. ‘The Dreamcatcher’ wants to prove that he is one of the “top three” fighters in the world and deserving of a chance to compete against some of the UFC’s best.

Mousasi was a guest on MMAWeekly Radio earlier this week to speak about his bout with Kyle as well as the likely move to the UFC.

“I’m glad the fans are excited about the fights, especially stand-up fighters like Shogun (Rua), (Lyoto) Machida, or (Alexander) Gustafsson, I think those are fights that are going to be exciting,” Mousasi stated.

…

“That’s my goal to show that I am in the top five or the top three (in the world),” Mousasi stated.

“I feel like I have the potential and with the right training and the right mentality I can do it, and I feel that way right now. January 12 is the date I will show it.”

Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine is scheduled to take place on Jan. 12 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The main card will air on Showtime, while part of the prelim card is set to air on Showtime Extreme.

“It’s Nice To Be Redeemed And Be The Main Event,” Benson Henderson On Main Event Status For UFC on FOX 5

Almost one year ago, the Ultimate Fighting Championship was set to make it’s debut on FOX television with the UFC on FOX 1 event. There was plenty of hype around the event with heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez defending his title versus Junior dos Santos and for the co-main event lightweights in Benson Henderson versus Clay […]

Ben Henderson

Almost one year ago, the Ultimate Fighting Championship was set to make it’s debut on FOX television with the UFC on FOX 1 event.

There was plenty of hype around the event with heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez defending his title versus Junior dos Santos and for the co-main event lightweights in Benson Henderson versus Clay Guida.

Fans got to watch all sixty-four seconds of the Dos Santos victory but many did not get to see the exciting Henderson vs. Guida battle.

It was a disappointing situation for Henderson but he moved on and has become the 155-lbs champion for the UFC and is not set to headline his own FOX event versus Nate Diaz.

Speaking to MMAWeekly Radio, Henderson said he feels “redeemed” to be the main event of the UFC on FOX 5 event.

“It’s definitely cool. I like that we are the main event and that especially from the first Fox card, I was very sad about that. I didn’t complain; I didn’t say anything. I was like cool, I’m not going to be shown on Fox; alright, sounds good. I’m not going to throw a hissy fit; it is what it is. I’m a company guy and if that’s what it is, that’s what it is,” said Henderson.

“Now it’s nice to be redeemed and be the main event.”

UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz is expected to take place on December 8, 2012 at KeyArena in Seattle, Washington.

“I Want A Fast Pace Fight, I Want A ‘Fight Of The Night,’” Phil Davis On Facing Forrest Griffin

UFC light heavyweight Phil ‘Mr. Wonderful’ Davis (10-1, 1NC) earned an impressive victory over Wagner Prado earlier this month in Brazil at UFC 153. Davis utilized an anaconda choke to force the tap at 4:29 of the second round of the Rio de Janeiro event. Following his win, Davis had been looking to take some […]

Phil 'Mr. Wonderful' Davis

UFC light heavyweight Phil ‘Mr. Wonderful’ Davis (10-1, 1NC) earned an impressive victory over Wagner Prado earlier this month in Brazil at UFC 153. Davis utilized an anaconda choke to force the tap at 4:29 of the second round of the Rio de Janeiro event.

Following his win, Davis had been looking to take some time off so he could get “fat” but instead took a fight with former UFC light heavyweight champ Forrest Griffin. ‘Mr. Wonderful’ stepped in as a replacement for Chael Sonnen who steps up to coach opposite division champ Jon Jones in the new year.

Davis called in to the Sportsnet ’590 The Fan’ during the UFC Central program this past Thursday, to talk about his recent win versus Prado in Brazil as well as his thoughts on his upcoming fight with Griffin.

“They contacted me about fighting Forrest (Griffin). Actually when I got off the plane from Brazil. I stayed in Brazil a couple of extra days. As soon as I got off the plane from Brazil, turned on my phone for the first time in two weeks…I get a ton of text messages. I’m going through my text messages and whenever you get sixty messages at once you have to go through the important ones first. I went to family. Typed all the ones to my management.”

“As soon as I got text messaged back from my management, I’m like ‘Oh crap, I have a fight in two months. I have to get back in shape.’ Not that I’m not in good shape but I have to stay in shape. I can’t get fat. I’m looking forward to getting fat, you know what I’m saying?”

“….Yeah, as soon as I got off the plane I got the text message to fight Forrest. Obviously he is a former champion. Well known inside the sport and out. It’s just an honor to fight him. I said ‘absolutely.’”

When one talks about Forrest Griffin, one is certain to think of Stephan Bonnar after both men’s epic battle in the final of the first ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’

Both fighters possess similar styles, and Davis was asked his thoughts on battling someone with their mentality.

“I’d rather not go three rounds with a guy like that. He just keeps going you know. Exactly, exactly. He is just like a Stephan Bonnar. Those guys, they get bloodied up and ‘alright I’m ready to do this thing.’ I don’t really get it but that’s how they roll. You know, I like that know that a guys not going to be scared of you but he’s going to pressure you. That to me, that brings out the best of me. That brings out the fight in my game.”

“Sometimes when you face a guy who just wants to pick you apart with one strike here and there, it slows down the pace a lot. I want a fast paced fight. I want a ‘Fight of the Night’ you know.”

“I look forward to it, it should be awesome.”

Davis is 1-1 (1NC) in his last three fights, having beaten Prado in their rematch following a “No Contest” result after an accidental eye-poke at UFC on FOX 4 in August, and losing for the first time in his career to Rashad Evans by decision at UFC on FOX 2.

Daniel Cormier Is Looking Forward To Joining The UFC, But Is Willing To Wait Patiently For Last Bout

Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament victor Daniel Cormier (10-0) had been scheduled to face Frank Mir next month on November 3, 2012 but after the former UFC champ withdrew due to injury, the undefeated Cormier is left to wait for his next fight so he can complete his contract. Once that last fight is out […]

Daniel Cormier (R) lands a big right hand

Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament victor Daniel Cormier (10-0) had been scheduled to face Frank Mir next month on November 3, 2012 but after the former UFC champ withdrew due to injury, the undefeated Cormier is left to wait for his next fight so he can complete his contract.

Once that last fight is out of the way, the door is now open for Cormier to move over to the UFC as one of the last heavyweights to do so.

For the former Olympian, it is certainly something that he wants to get done so he can move on with the next part of his career, but it’s something that he is willing to wait for.

Cormier was a guest on MMAWeekly Radio recently, telling the media outlet about his last contractual fight for Strikeforce.

“I keep getting asked if I’m going to say enough is enough and I’m going to the UFC? No, and I always go back to when I was at Oklahoma State, I had some opportunities to go coach other places, but John Smith and the staff at Oklahoma State, they allowed me to an education, so my commitment was to them, and it’s like that with Strikeforce,” said Cormier.

“If that one last fight after everything else is one thing I can give back. I’m fine with that, but let’s just kind of get it done.”

Cormier still wants that fight with Mir and is hoping the former UFC champ is healthy enough to face him this January at Strikeforce’s next scheduled event.

Also featured on the podcast was former MMA star, and current “Here Comes the Boom” actor Bas Rutten.

Heavyweight Daniel Cormier Ready To Move To The UFC

Undefeated Strikeforce heavyweight Daniel Cormier (10-0) is ready to complete the last bout on his contract in order to move over to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Cormier was to have had that fight next month in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma versus former UFC champ Frank Mir but an injury forced Mir off the card. No new […]

Daniel Cormier with the Strikeforce Grand Prix title – Photo via Strikeforce.com

Undefeated Strikeforce heavyweight Daniel Cormier (10-0) is ready to complete the last bout on his contract in order to move over to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Cormier was to have had that fight next month in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma versus former UFC champ Frank Mir but an injury forced Mir off the card.

No new opponent was named, and the Nov. 3 Strikeforce suffered a few more injuries causing the entire event to be cancelled.

Cormier talked about the eventual move and his expected final fight in January.

“I think it’s time. Like I said, I love Strikeforce and everything they’ve done for me. That extra fight for Strikeforce, I never looked at it as a negative. It’s a chance to cap my career there. But after this fight, it’s time for me to fight in the UFC. I get to fight in the biggest organization in the world where the lights are brighter and there’s more fans. I’m ready for the UFC, but now I get to fight the beginning of the year in January for Strikeforce, and hopefully jump right back in there in the UFC.”

Cormier was a guest on “The MMA Hour with Mauro Ranallo” on Monday, along with female fighter Felice Herrig and blog writer Spencer Kyte.