Tag: quick quote

Jim Miller Was On “Autopilot” After Getting Hit By Melvin Guillard Friday Night

UFC lightweight Jim Miller (21-3) put himself back into striking distance of the UFC 155-lbs title last Friday night by stopping opponent Melvin Guillard with a first round rear-naked choke submission. The two headlined the first UFC on FX event from Nashville, Tennessee which saw Guillard appearing close to finishing the fight in the opening […]

(Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

UFC lightweight Jim Miller (21-3) put himself back into striking distance of the UFC 155-lbs title last Friday night by stopping opponent Melvin Guillard with a first round rear-naked choke submission.

The two headlined the first UFC on FX event from Nashville, Tennessee which saw Guillard appearing close to finishing the fight in the opening minute after landing some solid punches to Miller’s chin.

Miller admits in a recent interview with Sherdog Radio (@ 1:59:45), that he was on “autopilot” and even after the fight was done, had a hard time recalling how he managed to take Guillard’s back to finish the fight.

“This was a fight where he hit that button and it knocked me down, and really from that point on, it was kind of just autopilot,” Miller said. “You just go into that mode where, ‘All right, now I have to do what I’m good at and what I have to do to win the fight.’ Enough playing around, type of deal. Honestly, after the fight, I was like, ‘How did I even get his back?’ Then I watched the fight and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I took him down. Now I remember.’”

Miller took down Guillard when he tried a flying knee. On the ground, the finish came quickly.

“I have a black belt for a reason,” Miller said. “I was able to pass pretty easily to side. He exploded up into me and I tend to kind of bait guys into that. If somebody’s going to give me their back, I’m going to let them do what they’re doing, allow them to do that and then capitalize, like I did. When he exploded up, it was kind of like, ‘OK, get back to your feet, but I’m going to make you pay for it.’”

Quote via Sherdog.com

M-1 Global Says No Opponent Confirmed Yet For Fedor’s Next Fight

A recent interview with former pro-wrestling star Bobby Lashley stated that the fighter was on a “short list” of names as a possible opponent for Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko (33-4, 1NC). On Wednesday, M-1 Global’s director of operations Evgeni Kogan squashed the rumor saying his promotion is not in solid talks with anyone at this […]

Photo via MixFight.ru

A recent interview with former pro-wrestling star Bobby Lashley stated that the fighter was on a “short list” of names as a possible opponent for Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko (33-4, 1NC).

On Wednesday, M-1 Global’s director of operations Evgeni Kogan squashed the rumor saying his promotion is not in solid talks with anyone at this time.

“There are currently no concrete conversations about Bobby being the next opponent for Fedor,” Kogan wrote, adding that Emelianenko probably will fight two or three times this year.

He did add though, that Fedor hopes to fight two or three times in 2012, which may include bouts in Monaco and Russia.

Fedor has won back-to-back fights since losing three straight under the Strikeforce banner. Most recently, he stopped Japanese Judo Olympian Satoshi Ishii via knockout at New Year Eve’s Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011 event.

Jacare Souza Wants Back In The Cage Soon, Eyes Eventual Rematch Versus Luke Rockhold

Former Strikeforce middleweight champ Ronaldo ‘Jacaré’ Souza (14-3, 1NC) is itching to make his way back into the cage since losing his title to Luke Rockhold last September. Souza has been inactive as an mma fighter but did participate in last Septembers ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship event in Nottingham, England in a Superfight versus […]

Former Strikeforce middleweight champ Ronaldo ‘Jacaré’ Souza (14-3, 1NC) is itching to make his way back into the cage since losing his title to Luke Rockhold last September.

Souza has been inactive as an mma fighter but did participate in last Septembers ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship event in Nottingham, England in a Superfight versus Braulio Esitama, losing via points (3-0).

‘Jacare’ is hoping that he’ll return at the upcoming Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey event on March 3rd, but doesn’t know who he might face at the Columbus, Ohio event.

He recently spoke to Tatame.com about his hopeful return, explaining to them that he feels he deserves a rematch versus Rockhold.

In a thin division, a win over ‘Jacare’ could get him that fight.

Here’s what he had to say in the interview.

When will you fight again?
I’m waiting for a definition of the event to see when I’m fighting next. I’m confident it’ll be on this card (March 3), even because it’s not completed yet. I believe I can fight in this event.

You had a five-round bout in Strikeforce and then fought ADCC. Was it your call to take this time off? If it depended on you, would you have fought in 2012 already?
No… I took some time off because of these fights, even because I had no bout schedules, but I’ve returned to the trainings two weeks ago.

Are your expectations to win one fight and then have a rematch with Luke Rockhold?
Of course, that’s what I want. I want another fight with Rockhold. He’s the champion, he defended his title against Keith Jardine. This was a tough fight and controversy, so I deserve a rematch.

Do you believe you got to do one fight before that one?
I would fight him now, but he’s injured. I asked Strikeforce a fight as soon as possible, it doesn’t matter the opponent. I’m waiting.

Mark Munoz Says He And Champ Anderson Silva Are Still Friends

Last fall following UFC middleweight Mark ‘The Filipino Wrecking Machine’ Muñoz (12-2) victory over Chris Leben at UFC 138, in a post-fight interview Muñoz said that despite being friends with division champ Anderson Silva, that he wants his chance to “be a world champion” (starting at 2:35 of the video). Silva has been known to […]

Last fall following UFC middleweight Mark ‘The Filipino Wrecking Machine’ Muñoz (12-2) victory over Chris Leben at UFC 138, in a post-fight interview Muñoz said that despite being friends with division champ Anderson Silva, that he wants his chance to “be a world champion” (starting at 2:35 of the video).

Silva has been known to cut his ties with those fighters who he perceives as calling him out.

So in this interview on Tuesday with the SiriusXM Fight Club, Muñoz was asked about his status with the Blackhouse gym, Silva’s team, and his friendship with the middleweight champion.

I’ve talked with a lot of those guys from Black House, but I haven’t trained with those guys. I still have a good relationship with a lot of the guys. When I saw Junior dos Santos, although he isn’t with Black House anymore, when he beat Cain Velasquez I was in the back celebrating with him. When I was in the back Anderson (Silva) motioned to do a double leg on me when I wasn’t looking. He had a double leg and locked a bear hug on me. I was like ‘Man who is this?’ I look up and it was Anderson. I was like ‘Hey Anderson, what’s going on brotha? I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a long time and talk about everything that’s gone on.’ He was like ‘No Mark, I understand. No problem. I stay here for a long time, we train.’

Check out more clips of Munoz from the interview.

– UFC Middleweight Mark Munoz gives the SiriusXM Fight Club a time table of when he will return to the octatgon and what to expect from his replacement to fight Michael Bisping, Chael Sonnen.

– UFC Middleweight Mark Munoz joined Ricky Bones and RJ Clifford on SiriusXM Fight Club and disclosed what exactly happened to him that he had to back out of the upcoming UFC on FOX 2 Card.

Former Strikeforce Heavyweight Lavar Johnson Prepared To Leave It All On The Line Against ‘The Mexecutioner’ This Weekend

Former Strikeforce fighter Lavar ‘Big’ Johnson (15-5) makes his UFC debut this Saturday night, making his way to the Octagon as part of Zuffa’s plan to amalgamate the two promotions heavyweights under one umbrella. Unfortunately for Johnson, he makes his UFC debut on a two fight losing streak and is in a “must-win” situation when […]

Photo by Esther Lin for Strikeforce

Former Strikeforce fighter Lavar ‘Big’ Johnson (15-5) makes his UFC debut this Saturday night, making his way to the Octagon as part of Zuffa’s plan to amalgamate the two promotions heavyweights under one umbrella.

Unfortunately for Johnson, he makes his UFC debut on a two fight losing streak and is in a “must-win” situation when he steps into the cage in Chicago to face Joey ‘The Mexecutioner’ Beltran on the preliminary card of the UFC on FOX 2 show.

Talking to Heavy.com, this is what ‘Big’ Johnson had to say about his fight.

“I think fighting in the UFC is awesome,” Johnson told HeavyMMA. “I’ve been in the game for a long time and fought in a lot of different organizations. It feels good to finally get my shot to fight on the big show. If I want to keep fighting, it’s very important for me to make a big statement.

“I’ve fought my ass off to get here. Unfortunately, I’ve lost my last two fights – but now I’m in a must-win situation. In all honesty, I’m not even looking at that because win, lose or draw, I’m going to leave it all out there in the cage because I made it to the UFC and I’m not going to have any regrets.”

before the previous two losses, Johnson had won seven straight bouts including three under the Strikeforce banner. His most recent loss took place last September at a Challengers event, losing via submission to Shawn Jordan at the Las Vegas event. Previous to that he was also submitted by Shane del Rosario at the Fedor vs. Silva event in a reserve bout for the Heavyweight Grand Prix.

Chris Weidman Cutting Down From 217-Lbs To Fight Demian Maia This Saturday

With the recent failed weight cut of Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson fresh on everyone’s minds, it was a bit of a startling revelation when undefeated UFC middleweight Chris Weidman (7-0) talked about weighing 216.8-lbs when he received the call to face Demian Maia this Saturday at UFC on FOX 2. Weidman is stepping in as a […]

Chris Weidman

With the recent failed weight cut of Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson fresh on everyone’s minds, it was a bit of a startling revelation when undefeated UFC middleweight Chris Weidman (7-0) talked about weighing 216.8-lbs when he received the call to face Demian Maia this Saturday at UFC on FOX 2.

Weidman is stepping in as a late replacement for Michael Bisping at the upcoming Chicago card as ‘The Count’ moves up to face Chael Sonnen in a number one contender bout after Mark Munoz withdrew from the card due to injury.

Weidman received the news just last week, having been announced as Maia’s new opponent on January 17 leaving the New York fighter just eleven days to prepare.

So, as stated, it was quite a shock when Weidman told “The MMA Show with Mauro Renallo” that he was coming in at 216.8 lbs, which is heavier than he usually weighs.

“I was 216.8 when I got the call. Usually I’m around 210ish, 208. I was a little heavier than normal since it’s short notice. I don’t prefer to cut this much weight but given the opportunity I’ve done worse. I’m not worried about making the weight. I will make the weight. It’s part of the sport. I welcome the test, the grind of making the weight. It’s going to make me a tougher person, not just for this fight but just in general. Just experiences with taking fights on short notice and overcoming the odds and difficulties of doing it is just good for a fighter to have under his belt.”

If Weidman can make this weight cut, it will be interesting to see the type of effect it has on his body, and whether or not he can actually make the 185-lbs limit on Friday. I’m not sure what Dana White would do if he missed weight badly, since we’ve already seen what happened to Johnson.

Check out the rest of the podcast by hitting play above, which also includes interviews with the head trainer of Roufusport, Duke Roufus, UFC bantamweight Michael McDonald, and Gil Martinez who was the former boxing coach Xtreme Couture.
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