Tag: quick quote

Lightweight Jim Miller Talks About Being Ill Before Ben Henderson Loss

It was shocking to fans and media alike last August who witnessed former WEC champ Ben Henderson virtually manhandling Jim Miller (20-3) at the UFC on Versus 5 event in Milwaukee. Many considered Miller the No. 1 contender for the lightweight strap before the bout, but after the unanimous decision loss to Henderson the New […]

It was shocking to fans and media alike last August who witnessed former WEC champ Ben Henderson virtually manhandling Jim Miller (20-3) at the UFC on Versus 5 event in Milwaukee.

Many considered Miller the No. 1 contender for the lightweight strap before the bout, but after the unanimous decision loss to Henderson the New Jersey based fighter has to rebuild his standing among the worlds top 155-lbs fighters.

Miller is set to headline this Friday’s (Jan. 20, 2012) UFC on FX 1 event against Melvin Guillard at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

In a recent interview with MMAMania.com, Miller discusses his upcoming fight versus Guillard and, not one to make an excuse, reveals just how ill he was against Henderson when asked.

(MMAmania.com): That’s completely understandable, now going back to you, it came out recently that before your fight with Ben Henderson, you were dealing with mononucleosis. You even found out you had a kidney infection. I know you’re not a guy who is all about excuses, otherwise this would have been out there much sooner, but do you feel like if some of those ailments hadn’t been there, the fight could have been completely different?

Jim Miller: I try not to think about it like that. The way I look at it is, I should have adapted to it. I kind of felt something was wrong warming up. I was just getting really gassed out just moving around, warming up for the fight. I didn’t really feel that rush of energy that I normally feel so I kind of knew that I wasn’t 100 percent and I was stubborn and bullheaded and continued to try to fight the same way that I always fight and at first, I was like, “That’s ok, that’s a good thing. That’s who I am and how I fight,” but when I think about it more and more, I should have adapted to it, fought a little more to gain dominant position. I felt like I had a technical advantage over him. I was able to put him in danger quite a bit but not able to put a stamp on it. I feel like I should have adapted to it and changed the strategy of the fight and the style of my fighting accordingly to deal with it.

(MMAmania.com): You had multiple submission attempts in that fight and do you credit the fact that they didn’t get finished to Henderson’s toughness, his ability to not get submitted, or was it more of a lack of energy thing?

Jim Miller: He is a very tough kid to submit. He’s flexible and tough and not getting freaked out from some close calls. The kneebar, I’ve never had one that deep that I didn’t finish and he ended up getting out of it because I couldn’t hold on with my arms anymore but I should have been able to use better technique. It was a whole bunch of things and the way he fought me definitely didn’t help my situation either. He put on a hell of a show and kept the pace up and took advantage of it.

Rashad Evans Happy To Fight Be Fighting On Television At Home In Chicago

Former UFC light heavyweight champion ‘Suga’ Rashad Evans (16-1-1) is set to step into the Octagon in just two short weeks for the first time since his UFC 133 win last August. Evans is set to face Phil Davis in the UFC’s second FOX event and will be fighting for a chance at regaining the […]

Former UFC light heavyweight champion ‘Suga’ Rashad Evans (16-1-1) is set to step into the Octagon in just two short weeks for the first time since his UFC 133 win last August.

Evans is set to face Phil Davis in the UFC’s second FOX event and will be fighting for a chance at regaining the UFC title should he win.

‘Suga’ currently trains with the Blackzilians team in Florida but calls Chicago home. Chicago by the way is set to host the UFC on FOX 2 event on January 28 at the United Center.

In a recent blog for the Chicago SunTimes.com, Evans talked about getting a chance to fight at home and in the headliner of the second FOX event.

If I win the fight, I should get a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title I held once before, but I’m not even thinking about that. For me, this fight in Chicago is the biggest fight of my career. To main event a massive show like this on national television is a huge honor and easily the biggest opportunity of my life.

More than nine million Americans watched the first UFC on FOX fight last November, with tens of millions more watching around the world. I’m so excited to be given the chance to perform on such a gigantic stage. It’s a little crazy, but at the same time because it is happening in Chicago, it’s weirdly familiar too.

I’ve lived in Chicago for over four years, and I’m going to be proud to represent the city when I step inside the Octagon.

I moved to Chicago in 2008 so I could be closer to my family more often. I love it here; and my kids go to school here. Chicago people are very welcoming; this is a big city but it doesn’t have that “Big City” vibe like they have in some places where people walk past you and no-one speaks to you. There’s always plenty to do in Chicago, but the people are real.

Joe Rogan Explains Why He Put Mario Yamasaki On The Spot At UFC 142

During the main card of UFC 142, referee Mario Yamasaki stepped in to end the welterweight bout between Erick Silva and Carlo Prater at 29-seconds of the first round. Despite Silva appearing to have won his second fight in the UFC by KO, Yamasaki had actually stepped in to stop the fight over illegal blows […]

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

During the main card of UFC 142, referee Mario Yamasaki stepped in to end the welterweight bout between Erick Silva and Carlo Prater at 29-seconds of the first round. Despite Silva appearing to have won his second fight in the UFC by KO, Yamasaki had actually stepped in to stop the fight over illegal blows to the back of the head.

The replays showed that for the most part, Silva’s punches were to the side of Prater’s head instead of to the back.

Commentator Joe Rogan put Yamasaki on the spot to ask him why he stopped the fight to which Yamasaki replied that he had to “Decide right there and then (to stop the fight), there’s nothing I can do.”

Certainly it was a mistake by Yamasaki, who was simply looking out for Prater’s safety, but it will be something that he’ll take heavy criticism for some time.

After the event Rogan took to the internet to write a “I love Mario Yamasaki” post on the Underground Forums, praising Yamasaki for his work and offering “no disrespect” for putting him on the spot like that.

Here is what Rogan had to say:

He’s a great guy, and I’m always happy to see him. When I step into the octagon however, I represent the people watching at home that might have obvious questions, and when something is controversial I’m forced to confront it honestly because that’s what I would want to hear from a person in my position if I was a fan watching it at home.

It was obviously a controversial call, and I’m sure some of you agree with it, but I certainly think it’s also possible to argue that it was a bad call. That was my perspective, so I had to express it. I’m not a perfect person, and I fuck up all the time. It’s a part of life.

Great referees have made awful mistakes. Even the consensus nominee for the greatest referee of all time, my personal friend the great Big John McCarthy has made mistakes.

Remember when Bustamante had to tap out Matt Linland twice?

Calling fight as a referee is hard as FUCK. If I was a referee Dana would probably hate me more than he hates Mazagatti. I wouldn’t want that job! That’s a shit load of pressure.

I think Mario Yamasaki is one of the best in the world at refereeing MMA. No doubt about it.

He’s got great insight to the sport, he’s a life long martial artist, and he’s a really smart guy.

What I was acting from, is that I saw an incredible young talent get denied a KO victory for a questionable call. When I entered into the Octagon and was told of the official ruling that Silva was going to be disqualified for illegal blows to the back of the head everyone that I was around who heard the news opened their mouths in shock. Everyone said, “what?”

The people in the truck couldn’t believe it. I had to read it back to them because I thought it was a mistake, and when I leaned over to explain it to Goldie he couldn’t believe it either.

I had to ask Mario about it. I didn’t know how he was going to respond, but I had to ask him.

Erick Silva is a very promising fighter and I felt like I had a responsibility to adress the issue.

No disrespect intended.

Kenny Florian Will Try Rehab For Ailing Back Rather Than Undergoing Surgery

Former UFC lightweight and featherweight contender Kenny Florian may be looking at the end of his career as a fighter due to a previously reported back injury which he suffered following UFC 136. Florian aggravated a back injury while doing some weight training and revealed at the post fight show on FUEL TV for UFC […]

Former UFC lightweight and featherweight contender Kenny Florian may be looking at the end of his career as a fighter due to a previously reported back injury which he suffered following UFC 136.

Florian aggravated a back injury while doing some weight training and revealed at the post fight show on FUEL TV for UFC 142 that he is suffering from a herniated disc, which is causing him pain and numbness down his legs.

Florian is working as an analyst for FUEL TV for such shows as “UFC Tonight” and will likely participate in other pre-fight and post fight shows for the FOX network.

MMAWeekly.com has the quote from Florian on his injury.

“First of all, I’ve had a back injury for a little bit and after the (Jose) Aldo fight I was getting back to training, I was doing some Olympic lifting, hurt my back, of course on the last rep, last set, and I knew it was bad,”

“It was a herniated disc in my back and it’s just been causing a lot of problems. Lower back, and it’s been everything from tingling and numbness in both my legs, so I’m hoping it’s going to heal up and I can get back to the fight game, but we’ll see what happens,” Florian stated

Like fighters such as Tito Ortiz and Shane Carwin, who have both suffered numerous back problems, and both of whom have undergone surgery for their problems, Florian does not want to take that route.

In my opinion, it’s a temporary fix that will keep him fighting in the cage but will only hurt him in the long run. We’ve seen both Ortiz and Carwin go under the knife several times, with neither fighter really reaching their former abilities as a fighter.

Kenny Florian Will Try Rehab For Ailing Back Rather Than Undergoing Surgery

Former UFC lightweight and featherweight contender Kenny Florian may be looking at the end of his career as a fighter due to a previously reported back injury which he suffered following UFC 136. Florian aggravated a back injury while doing some weight training and revealed at the post fight show on FUEL TV for UFC […]

Former UFC lightweight and featherweight contender Kenny Florian may be looking at the end of his career as a fighter due to a previously reported back injury which he suffered following UFC 136.

Florian aggravated a back injury while doing some weight training and revealed at the post fight show on FUEL TV for UFC 142 that he is suffering from a herniated disc, which is causing him pain and numbness down his legs.

Florian is working as an analyst for FUEL TV for such shows as “UFC Tonight” and will likely participate in other pre-fight and post fight shows for the FOX network.

MMAWeekly.com has the quote from Florian on his injury.

“First of all, I’ve had a back injury for a little bit and after the (Jose) Aldo fight I was getting back to training, I was doing some Olympic lifting, hurt my back, of course on the last rep, last set, and I knew it was bad,”

“It was a herniated disc in my back and it’s just been causing a lot of problems. Lower back, and it’s been everything from tingling and numbness in both my legs, so I’m hoping it’s going to heal up and I can get back to the fight game, but we’ll see what happens,” Florian stated

Like fighters such as Tito Ortiz and Shane Carwin, who have both suffered numerous back problems, and both of whom have undergone surgery for their problems, Florian does not want to take that route.

In my opinion, it’s a temporary fix that will keep him fighting in the cage but will only hurt him in the long run. We’ve seen both Ortiz and Carwin go under the knife several times, with neither fighter really reaching their former abilities as a fighter.

Junior Dos Santos “I Believe So Much In My Hands”; Says Overeem Is To Slow

UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos (15-0, 1NC) feels the success of his career is tied directly to his striking feeling very much that he believes “so much in my hands.” Dos Santos was a recent guest on The MMA Hour podcast with host Mauro Ranallo. ‘Cigano’ was asked to talk about his skills as […]

(Photos by Donald Miralle/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC vs Getty Images)

UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos (15-0, 1NC) feels the success of his career is tied directly to his striking feeling very much that he believes “so much in my hands.”

Dos Santos was a recent guest on The MMA Hour podcast with host Mauro Ranallo.

‘Cigano’ was asked to talk about his skills as a striker, having finished ten opponents by (T)KO in his pro career, including his most recent opponent Cain Velasquez, for the UFC championship belt.

“I think because..I train a lot, you know I love boxing, I love to be a fighter. I love what I do and boxing is very natural for me. I can move very fast and I think I hit hard. My coach he used to tell me that, I hit hard and I believe so much in my hands. All the fights I come to knock people out. I really believe I can do that and that’s why I think my development in boxing was better.”

After the fight, it was revealed that Dos Santos had actually suffered a torn meniscus in his knee and was on crutches ten days before the fight. The Brazilian was able to fight despite the injury, scoring a first round KO of Velasquez. Afterwards Dos Santos underweight successful knee surgery and he expects to get back to training normally very soon.

“I’m feeling great about my knee now and in about another ten days I’ll begin training normally. Cause now I am working boxing, training workout but I can’ train in Jiu-Jitsu, but in ten days I’ll be able to train normally again.”

Dos Santos goes on to discuss the UFC 141 bout between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem, giving his thoughts on the matchup between himself versus the former Strikeforce champion.

“It will be a standup war. I believe so much in my boxing, in my standup skills you know. He’s really good too fighting standup, but I think he’s slow. He’s too big and too slow for me. I will use my speed to try to beat him.”

The whole interview with the UFC heavyweight champion kicks off at 45:00 of the podcast with Mauro Ranallo. Other guests include Alistair Overeem, Strikeforce fighter James Terry, and MMA Weekly’s Damon Martin.