Tag: quick quote

Gilbert Melendez Feels He’s The “No. 1 Contender” For The UFC Lightweight Title

Tweet With a lot of the focus on UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar’s definitive victory over Gray Maynard in their back-to-back title rematch this past weekend, the question of who’s next for the 155 lb champion is certainly one that fans would like to have answered. Someone else who would like to find that answer […]

With a lot of the focus on UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar’s definitive victory over Gray Maynard in their back-to-back title rematch this past weekend, the question of who’s next for the 155 lb champion is certainly one that fans would like to have answered.

Someone else who would like to find that answer is Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert ‘El Niño’ Melendez (19-2), who has recently been in talks with the UFC about moving between the Zuffa promotions.

For Melendez, the answer to “who’s next?” is a simple one, it’s him.

Speaking as a guest on The MMA Hour on Monday, Gilbert discussed Edgar’s performance and his thoughts on why he should be the No. 1 contender.

“The UFC title is the best belt,” he said. “I want that belt and I want it as soon as possible.”

“I’m definitely impressed by Frankie. He’s an amazing fighter. He’s great,” Melendez said. “I honestly feel like I’m the No. 1 contender and I feel like I’m ready for the title shot now.”

Despite wanting a shot at the UFC belt, Melendez may have to defend his own title first.

With several Strikeforce champions having already made the move from Strikeforce to the UFC, Melendez is not in that situation just yet as he will likely face Jorge Masvidal on December 17.

‘El Niño’ had this to say about that fight.

“I’ve been focusing on Jorge Masvidal,” Melendez said. “He’s the first guy in line. I think he’s the No. 1 contender, as of now, in Strikeforce, and as of now I have to focus on that guy. He’s real tough. But it’s hard not to get excited when you hear all these rumors.”

“Nobody Is Invincible,” Lyoto Machida On Jon Jones

Tweet Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto ‘The Dragon’ Machida (17-2) has earned another shot at UFC gold and will do so on December 10 in Canada when he meets Jon Jones in the main event. The bout is expected to be made official by the promotion later this week at a press conference in […]

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto ‘The Dragon’ Machida (17-2) has earned another shot at UFC gold and will do so on December 10 in Canada when he meets Jon Jones in the main event.

The bout is expected to be made official by the promotion later this week at a press conference in Toronto, Ontario, the same city which is expected to host UFC 140 with the venue being the Air Canada Centre.

Machida spoke to Tatame.com recently about being offered the fight, something he accepted without hesitation, and offered his thoughts on Jones as an opponent, saying that “nobody is invincible.”

Many fans always said, and you once said yourself, you saw your game as a good match-up to Jon Jones’. What would you do against him?
It’s hard, he’s is much versatile and knows a lot of techniques, but we play a similar game. He kicks, I kick, he punches and goes to the ground, I can defend myself and take him down too. Stamina and game plan are things that could define this bout’s outcome. Nobody is invincible. We’re training for the best, looking for enlarging our body and mind and that’s what I’m gonna do.

What lessons did you learn from his three bouts this year, submitting Bader, beating Shogun and dominating Rampage?
Of course we read his game, we know he always bring some news, but I want to bring him some news too. It’s hard to say. I study his game, but I’ve never seen him with a problem my problem even because so far he wasn’t my opponent. Now he’s my opponent, it’s set in stone. From this moment on the study will reinforced, and the dedication too. I used to look at his qualities, analyzed them, but I was always focused in my fights, which was a duel with Couture, Rampage. He’s a lot versatile, but I believe a lot in my work and my style. I was practically born training, since I was four years old.

Despite Smaller Size, Frankie Edgar Says That Working On His Strengths Helps Lead Him To Victory

Tweet UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar showed that despite his smaller size, he’s more than capable of fighting bigger opponents at 155 lbs. On Saturday night, Edgar proved it again by earning a big win over Gray Maynard in their trilogy match. Having lost their first fight in 2008, and then fighting to a draw […]

UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar showed that despite his smaller size, he’s more than capable of fighting bigger opponents at 155 lbs.

On Saturday night, Edgar proved it again by earning a big win over Gray Maynard in their trilogy match.

Having lost their first fight in 2008, and then fighting to a draw in January of this year, Edgar put a big exclamation point on this meeting by stopping ‘The Bully’ by fourth round TKO.

Maynard had the champ in trouble in the first again, looking as if he could finish the fight early, but Edgar was able to tough it out and survive. That seemed to breath life into Edgar once more, as he outstruck Maynard over the next three rounds, finally wobbling Maynard with an uppercut in the fourth.

In Edgar’s words, he “smelled blood” and went in for the finish, ending Maynard’s undefeated streak and improving his own record to 14-1-1.

After the fight, Edgar spoke about the win to UFC.com.

“I came to much quicker this time around but I was like, ‘man.’ We bounced back last time and I don’t think it was as bad as the last first round so I figured I could close the gap a little sooner. …I’m nothing without my team, I couldn’t do any of this. I’m high energy, I’m fast paced. I’m probably smaller than Gray, I’m smaller than a lot of 155ers out there but I know I just gotta keep moving and keep working to my strengths. I think it was on a transition. I caught him with a nice right and I seem him stumble and it was like, I smell blood, man, let’s take him out.”

It’s unclear who may be next for the UFC champ, with talk of bringing Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez over, and Joe Lauzon’s stunning win over Melvin Guillard on the same UFC 136 card. UFC President Dana White even mentioned at the post-fight press conference that he would like to see Edgar step into the Octagon against featherweight champ Jose Aldo, so I guess we’ll just have to enjoy this moment before we get to dream about the next fight.

Chael Sonnen Makes A Successful Return To The Octagon, Challenges Anderson Silva To A Rematch

Tweet After a fourteen month absence from the Octagon, former UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen (26-11-1) showed Saturday night, that he is still the No. 1 fighter to challenge for the 185 lb title. Sonnen faced Brian Stann on the main card of UFC 136 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Sonnen wasted little […]

After a fourteen month absence from the Octagon, former UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen (26-11-1) showed Saturday night, that he is still the No. 1 fighter to challenge for the 185 lb title.

Sonnen faced Brian Stann on the main card of UFC 136 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

Sonnen wasted little time in taking the fight too the ground and began imposing his will on the former Marine right from the onset. Stann was able to survive the first round, but found himself on the wrong side of an arm-triangle choke submission halfway through the second and was unable to find a way out. Stann was forced to tap ending the bout at 3:51.

UFC color commentator Joe Rogan was eager to speak to Sonnen, expecting some entertaining speech from the winner, especially with Anderson Silva in the audience. Sonnen did not disappoint.

“Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck! Super Bowl weekend will be the biggest rematch in the history of this business. I’m calling you out, but we’re upping the stakes: I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, I will leave the UFC … forever.”

With that, Sonnen walked out of the Octagon. The cameras panned over to Silva who simply smiled and put his hand over his mouth to mock a snicker.

I guess fans will have to wait and see what UFC President Dana White has to say about this one.

Jose Aldo Says Kenny Florian Won’t “Risk” Standing With Him This Saturday

Tweet On October 8th, UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo (19-1) will defend his UFC title once again, this time against former lightweight contender Kenny Florian. The two are scheduled to meet in the co-main event of UFC 136 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas and share the evening with UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar […]

On October 8th, UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo (19-1) will defend his UFC title once again, this time against former lightweight contender Kenny Florian.

The two are scheduled to meet in the co-main event of UFC 136 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas and share the evening with UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar who takes on Gray Maynard in a title rematch from last January.

In a recent interview with Tatame.com, the Brazilian website talked to Aldo about his preparations and what he can expect from someone like Florian. The champ responded by noting that his opponent is not a risk taker and will look to take the fight to the ground any chance he gets. Once there, the real danger for himself will be Florian’s elbows, something he showed in his last win over fellow Brazilian Diego Nunes last June.

Where do you think he’s dangerous at?
He has a big experience and I can’t underestimate his elbows, because it’s something he uses a lot and he’s good at it, besides kicking hard, he owns a powerful high kick. I gotta stay tuned to these tricks, but I’m sure I’ll block them.

Do you think he’ll try to stand and bang against you?
All fights start with both athletes standing, but honestly I don’t believe he’ll want to bang with me, he won’t risk it. He’s a guy who doesn’t take risks, you can notice it on his fights and you’ll realize he didn’t start trading punches with anyone from the beginning, he always tries to get away from it with a jab or a punch and then grab you and take you into his game.

Dominick Cruz Fought With A Broken Hand In Win Over Demetrious Johnson

Tweet UFC President Dana White gave props to UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz for toughing out a win over Demetrious Johnson with a broken right hand. White thinks Cruz broke it in the first and was still able to grind out four more rounds. Cruz earned a unanimous decision in the main event of this […]

Photo by Getty Images via UFC.com

UFC President Dana White gave props to UFC bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz for toughing out a win over Demetrious Johnson with a broken right hand. White thinks Cruz broke it in the first and was still able to grind out four more rounds.

Cruz earned a unanimous decision in the main event of this past Saturday’s, October 1st, UFC on Versus 6 event at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

White spoke about Cruz to the media after the press conference, offering some compliments for the champs demeanor to not make a big deal about the injury.

“The kid broke his hand. You should see his hand right now. His whole middle of his hand is all swollen, his knuckle looks nasty. He’s going to get surgery next week. I don’t know how long it’s going to keep him out but it’s the second time. The surgery he had the other time was on the other hand. This is the opposite hand of the hand he had surgery on last time. After the fight he doesn’t say anything, he sits through the whole press conference, doesn’t say anything. I said to him, ‘You’re not gonna talk about your broken hand?’ He said, ‘What’s the point? I’m going to get it done and I’ll be back.’ I respect that.”

Check out the video clip below courtesy of MMA Nation.

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