Tag: quick quote

Frank Mir Wants Brazilian Fans To Know He’s Not Arrogant, Just “Self-Confident”

Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir (16-5) is set to do battle versus a second straight opponent from Brazil later this month in the main event of UFC 146. Mir takes on Junior dos Santos for the UFC title at the Las Vegas event, facing a man who also happens to be a student and […]

Frank Mir at UFC 140 – Photo by Nick Laham/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir (16-5) is set to do battle versus a second straight opponent from Brazil later this month in the main event of UFC 146.

Mir takes on Junior dos Santos for the UFC title at the Las Vegas event, facing a man who also happens to be a student and friend of Mir’s last opponent, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Last December, Mir became the first fighter to finish Nogueira by submission breaking ‘Big Nog’s’ arm in the process, as well as already being the first fighter to stop Nogueira by knockout after their first meeting back in December 2008.

Mir was quick to mention both of those facts during his post-fight interview, something that has apparently not sat well with some Brazilian fans.

Speaking to Tatame.com, Mir gives his reaction to being called “arrogant” by those same Brazilian fans.

Many fans say you seem arrogant, mainly Brazilians. What do you think about that?
I guess they say it because I’m so self-confident. Sometimes I think people rather see a fighter saying ‘oh Jesus, I’m so glad, I can’t believe I won, I’ve never been that good, I’m not that good’. I never had that kinda thought, especially because I was always so focused in getting into the octagon and compete. I fought many guys who think like that and due to my self-confidence I get to their nerves. But those who are arrogant can’t understand themselves, they think their qualities are bigger than they really are. I, on the other hand, am only confident about what I know I can really do.

Have you been to Brazil? What are your thoughts?
Yes. It’s very beautiful over there. I loved the weather, the humidity, people were friendly, nice and it seemed like a family giving their welcome to me. I loved the country and even told my wife we could take the kids there someday.

UFC 146 takes place on May 26, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

‘Shogun’ Rua Say’s Someone Is Getting Their Ass Kicked When He Faces Thiago Silva

Just last month, news broke that former UFC champ Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua (20-6) and fellow Brazilian striker Thiago Silva (14-3, 1NC) were to meet later this summer at UFC 149. It was a bit of a surprise for Rua who had expected to face Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson or Dan Henderson instead. Now that he’ll face […]

Just last month, news broke that former UFC champ Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua (20-6) and fellow Brazilian striker Thiago Silva (14-3, 1NC) were to meet later this summer at UFC 149.

It was a bit of a surprise for Rua who had expected to face Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson or Dan Henderson instead.

Now that he’ll face Silva, a former Chute Boxe training partner, ‘Shogun’ knows that fighting is his job and he’ll look for an exciting fight in Canada noting that someone is getting their ass kicked on July 21st.

(Tatame.com) Why it took them so long to match you up?
Rampage would be my next opponent but then he got injured. They wondered about a rematch against Dan Henderson, but he’s fighting for the title, so they have this dilemma for a while, waiting for a guy and now they got it. They offered me Thiago Silva and it was a surprise to me.

You trained with Thiago Silva at Chute Boxe. How does it feel fighting him?
Actually I’ve always said I don’t like fighting other Brazilians, especially a guy I know like Thiago. I really like him, but we’re professionals and that’s what we do for a living.

What are the expectations for this fight? You have similar styles…
I guess it’s going to be an interesting fight because Thiago likes striking and so do I. It’s gonna be ass kicking. I respect Thiago as an athlete and as a person, I know he’s very good and complete, but I’ll get there prepared.

UFC 149 is expected to take place on July 21, 2012 at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

“Right Now I’m The Bellator Champion,” Michael Chandler

Bellator Fighting Champion lightweight title holder Michael Chandler (9-0) will take to the cage tonight for a “Super-Fight” against PRIDE, UFC, and DREAM veteran Akihiro Gono (32-17-7). The two headline today’s (May 4, 2012) Bellator 67 event which goes down at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada. This will be Chandler’s first fight since earning […]

Michael Chandler

Bellator Fighting Champion lightweight title holder Michael Chandler (9-0) will take to the cage tonight for a “Super-Fight” against PRIDE, UFC, and DREAM veteran Akihiro Gono (32-17-7).

The two headline today’s (May 4, 2012) Bellator 67 event which goes down at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.

This will be Chandler’s first fight since earning the title last November against Bellator poster-boy Eddie Alvarez.

The win helped to make Chandler’s name one that mixed martial arts fans easily recognize, and has helped to affirm the champ’s confidence in himself that he’s doing everything right.

Chandler spoke to MMAMania.com recently about how his life has changed since winning the title and his fight versus Gono.

Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You were confident heading into that bout against Alvarez which is a great sign, showing no fear. Now that you’re the champ, you’ve beaten him, what’s your confidence level like now? Did it soar even higher or have you tried to stay level?

Michael Chandler: My confidence is always very, very high. I wake up every morning knowing God put me on this Earth for this reason. When you wake up and you know you’re fulfilling your purpose in life and you’re working towards the goals that you know you believe in and you know you were put on this Earth to accomplish, it takes on new meaning. For me, I wake up every single morning knowing I was put in this sport to be dominant and be a champion.

Right now I’m the Bellator champion. I want to get to number one in the world. I want to be known as the best lightweight in the world and I’m not that yet so I have a ton of work left to do but I have a ton of confidence that I’m gonna get there because I know I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. It’s a lot of hard work. My confidence comes from my hard work and the great coaches and training partners I have around me.

It’s not, “I can jump higher or run faster or punch harder than that other guy” but I know I worked harder than him. I know I worked with better quality training partners and I worked with better quality coaches than him and if you truly believe in that, if you sell out and buy into that notion that you are training harder than anyone else in the world, you feel like you can’t lose.

Watch Chandler take on Gono tonight on MTV2, with the main card of Bellator 67 beginning at 8pm EST (5pm PST).

Bellator’s Bjorn Rebney Would Let Eddie Alvarez Face Michael Chandler In Non-Title Bout

But that is as far as the Bellator Fighting Championships CEO is willing to let things go. Ever since the promotions former lightweight champion lost his title to Michael Chandler last November at Bellator 58, Alvarez has been campaigning for a title rematch against the current undefeated champion. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has stuck to […]

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney

But that is as far as the Bellator Fighting Championships CEO is willing to let things go.

Ever since the promotions former lightweight champion lost his title to Michael Chandler last November at Bellator 58, Alvarez has been campaigning for a title rematch against the current undefeated champion.

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has stuck to his guns by saying that if Alvarez wants another shot at the title, he’ll have to enter the lightweight tournament and win his way into a title fight.

Speaking as a guest on “The MMA Show with Mauro Ranallo” podcast, Rebney has softened his stance but only slightly. Saying that he would allow the two fighters to meet again, but only in a non-title bout. If he lets that happen, he knows there will be a ton of controversy from fans because the rematch isn’t for the 155-lbs title.

“I think that from a format perspective it’d be tough for us to throw caution to the wind and go, ‘You know what, I know Candler won, I know he won convincingly, I know he submitted Alvarez and won the belt, but we’ll change everything for Eddie and give him a rematch for the title.’ Would we allow them to fight in a three-round non-title superfight? Yes, but you hear me say that and I can hear a little bit of air go out of the balloon because if you see them fight again, you’d want it to be for five rounds with the gold on the line. If Ed wants that though, he needs to beat three guys in a tournament first.”

Other guests on Wednesday’s podcast include Bellator champ Michael Chandler and FRO scores Brent Gambrel.

Ahead Of Bellator Debut, Welterweight Ryan Ford Ready For “Most Important Fight” Of His Career

Canadian welterweight Ryan ‘The Real Deal’ Ford (17-4) is set to make his long awaited Bellator Fighting Championship debut this Friday on the main card of Bellator 67. Ford, who has made quite the career for himself fighting on Canadian cards having fought twice for the Maximum Fighting Championship title, will look to make a […]

Ryan Ford

Canadian welterweight Ryan ‘The Real Deal’ Ford (17-4) is set to make his long awaited Bellator Fighting Championship debut this Friday on the main card of Bellator 67.

Ford, who has made quite the career for himself fighting on Canadian cards having fought twice for the Maximum Fighting Championship title, will look to make a big splash on May 4th in Rama, Ontario when he faces Bellator Season Five welterweight semi-finalist Luis ‘Sapo’ Santos (50-7-1).

Speaking to Sherdog.com, Ford talked about his opponent, and his impressive record, as well as debuting with Bellator in the “most important fight in my career.”

“Santos has a very respectable record. He has beaten 50 guys, so I know he is no joke,” Ford said. “I have been motivated
to beat him ever since I signed this contract. Camp has been fantastic and I am ready to get in there and get the win….”

“He might think that my jiu-jitsu is suspect because most of my losses have been due to submission, but I have really spent a lot of time focusing on that, and I have tightened up that part of my game tremendously,” Ford said. “I know he is a good standup fighter, but I feel I am a good standup fighter as well. I also have really good wrestling. I am looking to get in there and throw that heavy leather, and I am definitely looking to get that win, without a doubt.”

“This is the most important fight in my career,” said Ford. “I believe I can knock out anybody if I land the right punch. I have very fast, heavy hands, and I am very explosive. I definitely think I can knock anybody out at any given moment, and that includes Luis Santos.”

Bellator Champ Eduardo Dantas Says Promotion Coming To Brazil In 2013

Brazilian bantamweight Eduardo Dantas (14-2) realized a dream last month by capturing his first major title by choking out Zach Makovsky to win the Bellator 135-lbs title in Atlantic City. Since then Dantas has seen his life change significantly, from being recognized on the streets, to English classes in order to connect better with fans […]

Bellator bantamweight champ Eduard Dantas – Photo via Bellator.com

Brazilian bantamweight Eduardo Dantas (14-2) realized a dream last month by capturing his first major title by choking out Zach Makovsky to win the Bellator 135-lbs title in Atlantic City.

Since then Dantas has seen his life change significantly, from being recognized on the streets, to English classes in order to connect better with fans in North America.

Talking to Tatame.com, Dantas plans on keeping that title for awhile and would love to defend it in front of his countrymen when Bellator goes to Brazil in 2013.

How does it feel when your dreams come true?
It was really good. Since the first time I fought I had the dream of becoming a champion and raising the belt up high. Thank God I did it step by step. When I earned the title I couldn’t believe it. It was the happiest day ever, especially on an international event. Since I was the first Brazilian to do it, I was even happier. Now I’m training to keep this title for as long as I can, until I reach my ultimate goal, which is to become the best fighter of the world in my division.

Bellator plans a Brazilian edition of the show. Did they tell you anything about it?
Yeah. Bjorn (Redney), the event owner, said that in 2013 they’ll come to Brazil.

Do you want to be in this card?
Absolutely. If they really come to Brazil I’ll be there. In 2013 Bellator is signing a deal with Spike TV and it’s going to be even better. I’m sure the event will come to Brazil early in 2013.

Bellator Fighting Championships already has put together a broadcast deal with Esporte Interativo recently, which will put the promotions live events into 20 million homes in Brazil.

With the success that the UFC has had in Brazil, it’s only natural that the #2 promotion take a trip south of the equator.