Tag: quick quote

Women Strikeforce Fighters Miesha Tate & Ronda Rousey Trade Verbal Jabs Over No. 1 Contender Spot

Tweet On Monday, Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight champ Miesha ‘Takedown’ Tate (12-2), and current undefeated women’s featherweight fighter Ronday ‘Rowdy’ Rousey (4-0), were both guests on The MMA Hour to talk about the women’s division, and most importantly the next No. 1 contender. Rousey is quickly rising in popularity among fans, having finished all four of […]

On Monday, Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight champ Miesha ‘Takedown’ Tate (12-2), and current undefeated women’s featherweight fighter Ronday ‘Rowdy’ Rousey (4-0), were both guests on The MMA Hour to talk about the women’s division, and most importantly the next No. 1 contender.

Rousey is quickly rising in popularity among fans, having finished all four of her pro-bouts by armbar submission in the first minute of each fight. After her recent win, ‘Rowdy’ has come out asking for a title shot against Tate despite having never fought at 135 lbs.

She tells The MMA Hour that it’s the fight that will sell tickets and doesn’t necessarily have to make sense in the rankings.

“I really feel 100 percent that a fight between her and me needs to happen,” Rousey said. “It’ll be great for women’s MMA. It’ll be the first highly anticipated fight in women’s MMA for a long time … We need to capitalize on the opportunity while we still have it. I don’t want to risk her losing the title and us not being able to fight each other for the title.”

Meanwhile Tate feels quite differently about the matchup, saying Rousey has to pay her dues first before she should be given a shot at her title. ‘Takedown’ has already been promised another opponent, former champ Sarah Kaufman who defeated Tate by decision back in May 2009.

“What happens when she gets a failed arm bar and someone ends up on top pounding her face in?” she said. “Is she going to tap out or quit? We don’t know. We haven’t seen that yet. I think it’s kind of silly to put her in with me because that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to take it to her. A lot of people are underestimating me. That’s fine. That always seems to be the case. Make no mistake, if Ronda is my next fight, I’m going to come in with a vengeance you’ve never seen before, because to be quite honest, it’s probably going to piss me off…”

“It would be way smarter for the longevity of the division to work her way up,” she said. “If she runs through people — which I don’t think she will — then I’ll be happy to beat her face in. She wants to be pretty? She won’t be as pretty after our fight.”

Do check out the entire article from the live interview with both women on the set. I’ll try to post the video once it becomes available. When these two meet, this is going to be one hell of a cat fight.

Polish KSW Promotion Overturns Loss For James Thompson To “No Contest” Against Mariusz Pudzianowski

Tweet This past weekend saw Polish strong man Mariusz Pudzianowski (3-2, 1NC) earn a controversial unanimous decision victory over British heavyweight James ‘The Colossus’ Thompson (16-14, 1NC) in a rematch from their previous meeting earlier in the year. On Monday, KSW officials announced that an error on the judges score card led to an incorrect […]

This past weekend saw Polish strong man Mariusz Pudzianowski (3-2, 1NC) earn a controversial unanimous decision victory over British heavyweight James ‘The Colossus’ Thompson (16-14, 1NC) in a rematch from their previous meeting earlier in the year.

On Monday, KSW officials announced that an error on the judges score card led to an incorrect announcement on Saturday night, awarding the bout to Pudzianowski. The promotion stated that they would have the result changed to a “No Contest”. Judge Piotr Baginski had in fact scored both rounds for Thompson but due to an error in the scoring procedure, the scores were awarded to the wrong fighter.

The Polish based Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW) promotion runs their fights with two rounds, followed by a third “overtime” round if the match is scored a draw at that point. With the bout having only gone two rounds, the promotion was left with no other choice than to declare it a “No Contest”.

After the bout on Saturday, Thompson launched a verbal assault at the promotion and it’s owner ranting “F**king joke. Give Mariusz a big round of applause. Come on. What a f***ing joke. I thought KSW was really trying to be serious. If you can watch that back and call that serious, then (looking at the promoter) you’re f***ed, and KSW is going down the f***ing toilet.”

On Monday, Thompson apologized for his comments, but declined to commit to a third fight against the Polish strong man.

“I appreciate KSW acknowledging the issues with the judging and taking quick steps to remedy the situation,” Thompson wrote today in an exclusive statement to MMAjunkie.com.

“As for whether I will fight Mariusz again, the no-contest goes some way in the right direction to address the issues I have with KSW in this fight, but there are things I need to sort out with them,” he wrote. “If talks work out well, then I am sure possibilities of another fight with [Mariusz] will be discussed, but if not, then I will look to take other fights and continue on with my career elsewhere.”

“The support for me about this whole situation has been amazing, from fans – especially the Polish ones – (and) other fighters, even people who aren’t fans but simply love MMA and don’t want the sport to go down the same route as boxing did,” he stated. “It’s all been a bit overwhelming, but is very much appreciated.”

Kenny Florian Says That Against Jose Aldo, Weight Cut “Took All My Strength And Engergy”

Tweet Fans of former UFC contender Kenny Florian (14-6) were hoping their fighter would finally capture a title after dropping down to the featherweight division. Despite putting in a strong showing in his debut at 145-pounds, he came up short against the divisions champion Jose Aldo last October, losing by unanimous decision at UFC 136. […]

Photo via UFC.com

Fans of former UFC contender Kenny Florian (14-6) were hoping their fighter would finally capture a title after dropping down to the featherweight division.

Despite putting in a strong showing in his debut at 145-pounds, he came up short against the divisions champion Jose Aldo last October, losing by unanimous decision at UFC 136.

Florian originally debuted with the UFC as a middleweight back in 2005 on the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and it’s been quite a journey for the Massachusetts fighter going from 185-pounds down to 145-pounds.

Speaking to Heavy.com, Florian admits that the weight-cut was “the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” and that the cut “took away my strength and energy” against Aldo last month.

“The hardest thing I’ve ever done, probably, is get down to 145. It was really brutal, and it took its toll on my body.”

“It definitely had an effect on my body, and I felt it a little bit in the Nunes fight,” Florian said. “But I felt it a tremendous amount in the Aldo fight. I just felt it took away my strength and my energy, and that’s not a good feeling to have going into a fight.”

“Despite it affecting my health a little bit, I would do it again,” Florian said. “I didn’t regret it. It was a great experience, and that’s exactly why I did it.

“Everything you do has consequences, and you have to be ready for those things. I was very thankful for the experience. I see it as a learning experience. I always try to take a positive from it.”

UFC Lightweight Contender Ben Henderson Would Like To Challenge Himself At Welterweight

Tweet Former World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion, and current Ultimate Fighting Championship 155-pound contender, Ben ‘Smooth’ Henderson (15-2) says that as he gets older, that cutting weight is much harder for him to do. So eventually, he’d like to challenge himself by fighting at welterweight. Much like UFC light heavyweight contender Dan Henderson, who didn’t […]

Former World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion, and current Ultimate Fighting Championship 155-pound contender, Ben ‘Smooth’ Henderson (15-2) says that as he gets older, that cutting weight is much harder for him to do. So eventually, he’d like to challenge himself by fighting at welterweight.

Much like UFC light heavyweight contender Dan Henderson, who didn’t cut any weight for his sensational “Fight of the Year” candidate match versus Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua last weekend, ‘Smooth’ feels that he can do the same thing one day. Without having to deal with a tough weight-cut, combined with his improving skill base, Ben feels he’ll be more than able to compete with the heavier fighters.

“I’m getting a little bit older now and cutting weight sucks.”

“There’s a few guys who’ve said things pretty similar as far as cutting weight when you get older, how hard it is. Dan (Henderson) is a perfect example. He’s wrestled forever. I wrestled and cut weight six months, seven months out of the year since I was 12 years old. It’s kind of getting old. I don’t like it so much anymore,” Henderson commented.

“Hopefully, eventually my technique catches up where I can hang with guys that are freaking 20 pounds heavier than me, and use more of my speed when they’re bigger and slower, and my technique makes up for them being stronger than me,” Henderson stated.

Read more comments from ‘Smooth’ over at MMAWeekly.com

Bellator Finalist Thiago Santos Wants Tonight’s Bout “To Be The Best Heavyweight Fight Of The Year

Tweet Brazilian heavyweight Thiago ‘Big Monster’ Santos (10-1) is looking to put his stamp on the mixed martial arts world by beating fellow Bellator Season Five Tournament finalist Eric Prindle in “the best heavyweight fight of the year.” The six-foot-three, two-hundred-and-sixty-five pound Brazilian is set to main event tonight’s, Nov. 26, 2011 Bellator 59 event […]

Brazilian heavyweight Thiago ‘Big Monster’ Santos (10-1) is looking to put his stamp on the mixed martial arts world by beating fellow Bellator Season Five Tournament finalist Eric Prindle in “the best heavyweight fight of the year.”

The six-foot-three, two-hundred-and-sixty-five pound Brazilian is set to main event tonight’s, Nov. 26, 2011 Bellator 59 event at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Speaking to Sherdog.com, ‘Big Monster’ says he’ll be looking to finish Prindle with a memorable finish.

“I want this fight to be the best heavyweight fight of the year,” Santos said. “I fight for the fans, and I want them to remember this fight for many years to come…”

“Every time I step inside that cage my goal is to finish my fights as soon as possible,” he added. “The fans want to see a fight with action, and I fight for my fans.”

“Eric looks really strong, and he’s a very good boxer with a lot of punching power. There’s no doubt about it; he really is a very dangerous opponent for me,” Santos said. “I don’t think a lot of people gave Eric the credit he deserved going into this tournament. I don’t think many thought he was going to make it to the finals, but I always knew he was a dangerous fighter.

“I’m ready for anything in this fight,” he added. “If I finish Eric in the first minute of the first round, that’s great, but I’ve prepared myself for a three-round war.”

Bellator Finalist Eric Prindle Calls Deatch Clutch Gym “Best Heavyweight Camp” He’s Ever Attended

Tweet Bellator Season Five Heavyweight Tournament finalist Eric ‘The American Soldier’ Prindle (9-1) is ready to give it his all tonight when he faces fellow finalist, Thiago Santos in the main event of Bellator 59. Prindle is a former member of the Army, with an accomplished boxing record while in service to his country, going […]

Bellator Season Five Heavyweight Tournament finalist Eric ‘The American Soldier’ Prindle (9-1) is ready to give it his all tonight when he faces fellow finalist, Thiago Santos in the main event of Bellator 59.

Prindle is a former member of the Army, with an accomplished boxing record while in service to his country, going so far as competing in the world military games.

‘The American Soldier’ trains out of various camps, which can be difficult when it comes to finding fighters your size and skill. One camp in particular stands out in Prindle’s mind as the “best heavyweight camp” available to fighters, and that is the Death Clutch gym. The Death Clutch gym, loacated in Alexandria, Minnesota is the home of former UFC champion Brock Lesnar, and current Bellator heavyweight champ, Cole Konrad.

Prindle tells MMAMania.com what it was like to train there, and his thoughts on possibly facing his former training partner, Konrad, for the Bellator title.

(MMAmania.com): So that Erik Paulson, is that the same Paulson that works at Death Clutch with Brock Lesnar?

Eric Prindle: I train with Brock Lesnar, Cole Konrad. I was in their camp for a while. The last time when he went and fought Cain Velasquez, I actually got called to go back to Iraq so I couldn’t go to their camp but I’ve trained with all the guys from there. I think they’re a bunch of great, awesome guys and if they want me back, I’ll definitely come. I think, in my opinion, that’s the best heavyweight camp you can get. All those guys are walking around 300 pounds and they’re definitely gonna make my wrestling better. That’s basically what I look for, who the training partners are gonna be and who the coaches are gonna be. I think if you do that, you’re gonna be very prepared for your fight.

(MMAmania.com): What are your thoughts on potentially fighting a guy in Cole Konrad that you’ve worked with and trained with? Does it give you any hesitation moving forward?

Eric Prindle: No, I fought Josh Burns and he was a really good friend of mine. For me, it’s not anything mean or anything. I know Cole is one of the best MMA heavyweights in the world so I want to fight him and I want to try to beat him. It doesn’t matter. I want to beat the best Cole Konrad I can and it’s like I would be doing him a dishonor if I didn’t come 100 percent and try to beat him. I think, for me, it’s not anything about aggression or any of that. It’s kinda like a chess match and we’re doing our job and trying to win and make money and keep going forward.