Tag: quick quote

With Curran Injured, Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Wants To Avenge Loss Versus Joe Warren

Brazilian featherweight Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire (17-1) was to have fought for his first world title on August 24, 2012 versus Bellator champ Pat Curran, but an injury has forced Curran to withdraw from their Bellator 73 headlining bout in Tunica, Mississippi. Without a title to fight for, Freire wants to face the only man to […]

Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire (L)

Brazilian featherweight Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire (17-1) was to have fought for his first world title on August 24, 2012 versus Bellator champ Pat Curran, but an injury has forced Curran to withdraw from their Bellator 73 headlining bout in Tunica, Mississippi.

Without a title to fight for, Freire wants to face the only man to defeat him inside the cage in former Bellator champ Joe Warren.

‘Pitbull’ spoke to Tatame.com about who he’d like to face recently with the withdrawal of Curran.

“I was going to train when I got a call and they said Pat had broken a bone on his face and that Bellator would be trying to arrange another match for me”, explained.

Still with no opponent, Patricio revealed having asked the organization to fight the former featherweight champion Joe Warren, only fighter ever to defeat him.

“I asked them for Joe Warren. This is a rematch I’m willing to do because my loss to him was very controversy, but I guess I won. Since there was this problem, it’s a great chance to really find out who the best one is”, said the Brazilian, who holds a professional record with 17 wins and one loss.

Freire earned his title shot by winning the Season 4 featherweight tournament in May of last year. He suffered his only pro-loss to Warren in the Season 2 tournament back in June 2010, losing a split decision. Warren would go on to win the Bellator title, eventually losing it to Curran earlier this year.

Referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy Says Amateur Fighters Need To Be Protected Too

With the recent death of another amateur mixed martial arts fighter this past Saturday in South Carolina, referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy says tragedies like these could be avoided through the use of medicals and blood tests. On Saturday night in an amateur mma bout in Mount Pleasant, SC, Tyone Mimms was competing in the second […]

'Big' John McCarthy

With the recent death of another amateur mixed martial arts fighter this past Saturday in South Carolina, referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy says tragedies like these could be avoided through the use of medicals and blood tests.

On Saturday night in an amateur mma bout in Mount Pleasant, SC, Tyone Mimms was competing in the second bout of the ‘Fight Night at the Point 6′ event, when he collapsed in the locker room following a second round TKO loss to opponent Blake Poore.

Mimms, who was a father of five, was taken to the Medical University Hospital where he died about an hour after passing out.

An autopsy by the Charleston County Coroner Rae Wooten provided “no obvious, glaring cause of death.”

Speaking to color commentator Mauro Ranallo on Monday, during a segment of “The MMA Show with Mauro Rannallo,” explained his stance on protecting fighters professional or amateur.

“The UFC has never had a serious injury and that’s because the UFC makes sure all the fighters pass their medicals and have everything else taken care of before they step into the Octagon. They make sure the medicals are up to date, that MRIs are done — the things everyone complains about because they cost money. This is the kind of stuff that could protect Tyrone because he didn’t have medicals, he didn’t have blood tests, none of that was taken care of as an amateur. Amateurs needs to be protected just as much if not more than professionals. Some say they don’t want to take a medical because they don’t get paid, but that’s what will save your life.”

Also featured on Monday’s podcast were Strikeforce women’s fighter Julie Kedzie, Sherdog.com’s Greg Savage, and boxing expert Steve Farhood.

‘Cyborg’ Santos Wants Ronda Rousey At 140-Lbs

Former Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santos (10-1, 1NC) still has about four months left on her suspension from the California State Athletic Commission, but she already has her sights set on her next opponent. As a guest on “The MMA Hour” on Monday at MMAFighting.com, Santos told host Ariel Helwani that she “really” […]

Cristiane 'Cyborg' Santos

Former Strikeforce women’s featherweight champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santos (10-1, 1NC) still has about four months left on her suspension from the California State Athletic Commission, but she already has her sights set on her next opponent.

As a guest on “The MMA Hour” on Monday at MMAFighting.com, Santos told host Ariel Helwani that she “really” wants to face Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey saying the former Judo Olympian ran down a weight division to avoid facing her.

‘Cyborg’ says she isn’t able to follow Rousey down to 135-lbs because it’s impossible for her to cut the weight. The lowest weight she could make is 140-lbs and challenges ‘Rowdy’ to face her in a catchweight bout.

“I really wanna fight Ronda. I really want to. She says bad things about me. I never say bad things about my opponent. I want to do my best in the octagon, and if she says she wants to fight me, she can come to my weight or at 140.”

“She started at 145,” she said of Rousey’s Strikeforce career. “And she’s running to 135. She’s running to not fight me. And after, she speaks a lot of s— about me. I want to fight her soon. I’m very excited to fight her. And when we’re in the octagon, we’ll see if she says anything. And if she says anything, I can punch her.”

Santos was suspended for a year after testing positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid, following her victory over Hiroko Yamanaka. The TKO win was changed to a “No Contest” ending Santos’ ten fight win streak.

“Anderson (Silva’s) Trying To Duck (Chris Weidman),” Ed Herman

No clear contender has emerged in the UFC’s middleweight division yet with several fighters trying to make their case for a shot at champion Anderson Silva. Several feel that Chris Weidman’s impressive win over Mark Munoz puts him near the top, including fellow middleweight Ed Herman. Herman tells announcer Mauro Ranallo that he thinks Silva […]

Ed Herman

No clear contender has emerged in the UFC’s middleweight division yet with several fighters trying to make their case for a shot at champion Anderson Silva.

Several feel that Chris Weidman’s impressive win over Mark Munoz puts him near the top, including fellow middleweight Ed Herman.

Herman tells announcer Mauro Ranallo that he thinks Silva and his camp are ducking Weidman and are trying to take the route that will pay them the most, a “Super Fight” with UFC welterweight title holder Georges St-Pierre.

Herman was a guest on “The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo” on Tuesday along with UFC featherweights Max Holloway and Nam Phan.

“I read those articles with his manager talking and they’re being smart. Of course getting a piece of the pay-per-view buys, that’s why a Georges St-Pierre fight makes sense for him. He doesn’t have many fights left and it looks like he’s looking to get paid. It’s smart. It’s a business. At the same time I like what Chris Weidman said, he’s pissed off, he wants a shot and thinks he can can beat Anderson. Anderson’s trying to duck him. I think it’s ’cause Weidman can beat him and everyone knows it. It sucks, there’s politics involved, there’s a lot of money on the line, and it’s sad to see the No. 1 contender not get a shot because Anderson’s camp is choosing who he wants to fight.

“I’d like to see Weidman get a shot because I think he can take out Anderson Silva.”

Herman won his third straight last February by submitting Clifford Starks at UFC 143 and will face Jake Shields this Saturday at UFC 150 as the former Strikeforce champ returns to the middleweight division.

UFC Heavyweight Cheick Kongo Still Wants ‘Big Nog’ Fight

French striker Cheick Kongo (18-7-2) had been scheduled to face former UFC champion Antônio Rodrigo ‘Big Nog’ Nogueira (33-7-1, 1NC) last month in Calgary, Alberta at UFC 149, but the big Brazilian was forced to withdraw as he had not fully recovered from a broken arm suffered in his loss to Frank Mir at UFC […]

Cheick Kongo – photo via UFC.com

French striker Cheick Kongo (18-7-2) had been scheduled to face former UFC champion Antônio Rodrigo ‘Big Nog’ Nogueira (33-7-1, 1NC) last month in Calgary, Alberta at UFC 149, but the big Brazilian was forced to withdraw as he had not fully recovered from a broken arm suffered in his loss to Frank Mir at UFC 140 last winter.

Kongo would go on to face Shawn Jordan on the main card of the pay-per-view event, winning a unanimous decision. The victory put Kongo back into the win column after a TKO loss to Mark Hunt last February in Japan, putting the former kick-boxer’s record at 4-1-1 over his last six Octagon appearances.

Speaking to Tatame.com, Kongo tells them that he’s still very interested in competing against ‘Big Nog’ and that he’d even do it this fall in Brazil.

At UFC 149, you were supposed to fight Rodrigo Nogueira, but he had to leave due to an injury. You want him to be your next opponent?
I wish he could be my next opponent. Minotauro is a legend. I wish him a good and fast recovery. I can’t wait to fight against him.

Brazil hosts another edition of the UFC in October. Could this fight against Big Nog happen then? Would you like to fight him in Rio de Janeiro?
I would love to fight Big Nog and It would be a huge honor for me to fight in Brazil! I’ve never been there and I know I’ve got a lot of fans from here. Two of my teachers come from your beautiful country: Mario Sukata and Flavio Peroba .Let make it happen!

Neither fighter currently has an opponent for their next fight, and if re-scheduled against one another, would have just over two months to prepare for the upcoming UFC 153 event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. That card is currently rumored to have twelve bouts on the card already with five main card matchups.

With Noguera’s history in Japan from his Pride days, it may not be a stretch for a rematch to occur in Macau, China as part of the UFC on FUEL TV 6 event.

Drop To Lightweight About Size Advantage For Diego Sanchez

Last week UFC fighter Diego ‘The Dream’ Sanchez (23-5) announced on Twitter (@DiegoSanchezUFC) his return to the lightweight division following a two-and-a-half year run at welterweight where he went 2-2 with three “Fight of the Night” bonuses. On Monday, Sanchez spoke to MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani about his decision to move back to 155-lbs, feeling that […]

Diego Sanchez – Photo via UFC.com

Last week UFC fighter Diego ‘The Dream’ Sanchez (23-5) announced on Twitter (@DiegoSanchezUFC) his return to the lightweight division following a two-and-a-half year run at welterweight where he went 2-2 with three “Fight of the Night” bonuses.

On Monday, Sanchez spoke to MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani about his decision to move back to 155-lbs, feeling that with bigger fighters dropping down to welterweight, that it only makes sense for him to do the same where his larger frame will provide him with more leverage, strength and speed.

“It makes sense,” he said. “I went over it with Greg Jackson and my coaches, and, it just makes sense. Everyone’s dropping weight. When I saw [Nate] Marquardt fight at 170, I was like, this guy’s a monster. He’s huge, he’s strong, he’s in shape. I’m just not that physically big, so I was like, I better do what I have to do, get down to 155, be where I’m going to have the most leverage, strength, speed, the best technique. And also on top of that have less injuries training with smaller guys, less weight, less load on the knees. Its a smarter decision toward the end of my career.”

Asked the obligatory “who do you want to fight” question, Diaz said a bout with Nate Diaz appeals to him for all the right reasons.

“The UFC’s smart,” he said. They’ll capitalize on my entertainment and what I bring to the table and what I bring to the cage, and that’s a raw, exciting warrior mentality. So, matched up with any of those guys [at 155], the guy I want the most is Nate Diaz. If he wants to scrap, I know he’s knocking at the door of a title shot, so, I have all the respect for him in that area. So, you know, if things don’t work out with the timing, he’s the one that I’d like to fight, because I love them Diaz boys. They’re two of my favorite fighters, they come and they bring it and they scrap, and I love it. That’s fighting, to me.”

Sanchez was last in action at 155-lbs back in December 2009 when he lost a title match to former champion BJ Penn at UFC 107.