Tag: quick quote

ONE FC’s Arnaud Lepont Has “No Excuses” Following Loss To Shinya Aoki

French lightweight fighter Arnaud ‘The Game’ Lepont (9-2) jumped at the chance to headline last October’s ONE FC: Rise of Kings event, opposite the reigning DREAM champ Shinya Aoki. Despite doing his best to rile the Japanese fighter, like showing up at the weigh-ins with a “How to beat Aoki for Dummies” book, Lepont wasn’t […]

Arnaud Lepont

French lightweight fighter Arnaud ‘The Game’ Lepont (9-2) jumped at the chance to headline last October’s ONE FC: Rise of Kings event, opposite the reigning DREAM champ Shinya Aoki.

Despite doing his best to rile the Japanese fighter, like showing up at the weigh-ins with a “How to beat Aoki for Dummies” book, Lepont wasn’t able to get much of a reaction from his opponent for the fans.

Once he, and Aoki finally stepped into the cage, the French fighter was unable to stop a quick takedown from his opponent, ending up being choked out just 85-seconds intot he first round.

Speaking to MMAMania.com , Lepont has no regrets about how the fight went down and is looking for a little redemption the next time he steps back inside the ONE FC cage.

Do you have any regrets about taking the fight with Aoki?
I have none, James! Facing your dreams and fears is what make the difference between a dreamer and a “doer.” I lost a battle, not the war. I thank him for his sportsmanship and helping me open my eyes on my weakness. There is no doubt that I will be back stronger and more dangerous than ever. There is no shame by losing against the best 155-pound fighter in all Asia.

Did nerves affect you at all on fight night?
Not at all. I was feeling great. I was sharp and ready. I have no excuses. I was maybe too confident and I was sure that he would come for at least a round of boxing as he said in the press. I was not thinking of the takedown. It’s my fault. I take that as a rough lesson.

How have you enjoyed fighting for ONE FC?
Do I like fighting in the biggest MMA show in Asia ? Fighting at ONE FC is a blessing and I will always prepare and do my best to put a show for the fans. I was already known in Asia when I joined ONE FC, but this main event just gave me monstrous popularity with the fans. Fighting in Singapore Indoor Stadium was an incredible feeling. I hope to fight in other countries thanks to ONE FC. I am upset of my last performance and I am just thinking about redemption, I am certain that Victor is planning lot of surprises for 2013.

Dana White Changes His Mind On Bringing Women Into The UFC

Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White has maintained that he would not bring women inside the Octagon to compete in mixed martial arts because their just wasn’t enough talent to support the sport. After the crowning of Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey, White began warming up to the idea and has now come out […]

Ronda Rousey (L) works the armbar submission (R) against Sarah Kaufman – Photo via Facebook.com/Strikeforce

Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White has maintained that he would not bring women inside the Octagon to compete in mixed martial arts because their just wasn’t enough talent to support the sport.

After the crowning of Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champ Ronda Rousey, White began warming up to the idea and has now come out saying he is set on supporting the sport with the UFC in an interview with SI.com.

“It’s absolutely going to happen,” White said Tuesday of the women’s division…””could happen tomorrow, it could happen a year from now. The point is I’m committed to this.”

Rousey is 6-0 as a pro with all first round armbar submission finishes. The female champion does not have an opponent for her next fight, but rumors swirl about a catchweight match between her and former women’s featherweight title holder Cristiane ‘Cyborg’.

It will be interesting to see where this goes, I’m sure Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp is seeing dollar signs as she has most of the top female talent signed to the all-female promotion.

Donald Cerrone Unsure Of His Next Move, Wait For Pettis Fight Or Face Lesser Ranked Fighter

With a staph infection sideline former WEC champ Anthony Pettis in the short term, top lightweight competitor Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone (19-4, 1NC) is losing his patience waiting for a bout between him and ‘Showtime’ to happen. The two are expected to meet this coming January but this latest injury to Pettis could delay this fight. […]

Donald Cerrone

With a staph infection sideline former WEC champ Anthony Pettis in the short term, top lightweight competitor Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone (19-4, 1NC) is losing his patience waiting for a bout between him and ‘Showtime’ to happen.

The two are expected to meet this coming January but this latest injury to Pettis could delay this fight.

Speaking to ESPN.com, Cerrone, who is getting the itch to step back into the cage after fighting five times last year, is unsure of his next move whether it’s to take on a lesser opponent or to wait for Pettis in a No. 1 contender match.

“Joe (Silva’s) attitude is, ‘Why would you want to go from the top of the division to fight somebody in the middle and potentially risk everything,’” Cerrone said. “My management team says the same thing, ‘You should want the belt.’ I do want that belt.

“(The Pettis fight) is the No. 1 contendership. Of course it means something to me. That’s the ultimate goal is to get that title. That makes sense. Does waiting on him make sense? I don’t know.”

“At this point, if they call me tomorrow and say, ‘We need you next week,’ I’ll be game,” he said. “I don’t know what the next step is.”

Cerrone is 6-1 in the UFC with since joining the promotion in January 2011. The ‘Cowboy’ hasn’t been inaction since last August when he squared off with friend Melvin Guillard at UFC 150 finishing ‘The Young Assassin’ via first round knockout.

UFC Featherweight Chad Mendes Cleared Of Battery Charge On Monday

Former UFC featherweight contender Chad ‘Money’ Mendes (12-1) was in a Hanford, California courtroom on Monday over his alleged involvement in a bar brawl from this past July which had the fighter facing misdemeanor battery charges. Mendes, who has maintained his innocence, was exonerated after the District Attorney dropped the misdemeanor battery charge. Mendes did […]

Chad Mendes

Former UFC featherweight contender Chad ‘Money’ Mendes (12-1) was in a Hanford, California courtroom on Monday over his alleged involvement in a bar brawl from this past July which had the fighter facing misdemeanor battery charges.

Mendes, who has maintained his innocence, was exonerated after the District Attorney dropped the misdemeanor battery charge. Mendes did plead no contest though, to the lesser charge of disturbing the peace.

Mendes spoke to MMAWeekly.com about the dropped charges.

“I have said from the beginning that the outrageous allegations published by the media were either false or incredibly sensationalized,” Mendes said on Monday. “Today’s outcome proves it.”

The Team Alpha Male fighter is scheduled to face Hacran Dias this December in Australia as part of the upcoming UFC on FX 6 event.

Jon Fitch Discusses Nagging Financial Problems Leading Up To UFC 153

Welterweight Jon Fitch (24-4-1, 1NC) came into his last fight hoping for a win and a “Fight of the Night” bonus, needing the money to pay for bills as the fighter has come on hard financial times. Fitch faced the highly touted Erick Silva at UFC 153 just a couple of weekends ago, earning a […]

Jon Fitch (L) lays a beating on Erick Silva at UFC 153 – Photo by Felipe Dana for AP.org

Welterweight Jon Fitch (24-4-1, 1NC) came into his last fight hoping for a win and a “Fight of the Night” bonus, needing the money to pay for bills as the fighter has come on hard financial times.

Fitch faced the highly touted Erick Silva at UFC 153 just a couple of weekends ago, earning a unanimous decision over the Brazilian as well as an extra $70,000 for the “FON” bonus.

The financial windfall represented a big relief for the fighter who is stuck with two mortgages in a devastated housing market.

During an interview on the SiriusXM Fight Club on Monday, Fitch talked about his financial issues describing the last two years of his life as a “major pain in the ass.”

A major pain in the ass, cause nothing was ever on the level of disaster you know, but it was borderline like. We were sitting on the edge of being in an unrecoverable position for months and months. Very strangling, very taxing position to have to go through. My wife was pregnant for part of it and we had a small child for part of it. A big headache. Nothing that completely to take the rug out from under us, but grief here and there, and not bringing in the money, and me being bad, put a lot of stress on the situation.

Fitch was asked to explain just how he was put into this situation, especially as a professional athlete making the type of money that he does.

Well a lot of it was because I was feeling in a good position before the BJ Penn fight and I bought a second home. The market crashed so bad on the condo that it became impossible to sell or I’d lose my ass and everything I invested into it. Mostly having to pay two mortgages and living in California is expensive. New house and a baby, delivering a baby is not a cheap thing even with good insurance. It’s the little things here and there. Like you said if your not fighting making money, your not making money, your not getting paid.

Fitch is now 1-1-1 in his last three bouts, suffering a 12-second knockout loss to Johny Hendricks last December at UFC 141, and fighting BJ Penn to a majority draw at UFC 127 in Australia in February 2011.

If the former contender can fight like he did in Brazil in the future, he shouldn’t have to worry too much about money but only time will tell.

‘Minotauro’ Nogueira Broke His Ribs Three Weeks Before Facing Dave Herman At UFC 153

With fighters dropping like flies due to injuries, it’s no wonder Zuffa has seen three major events cancelled this fall. So it’s a testament to the willpower, and the “old school” mentality, of former UFC heavyweight champ Antônio Rodrigo ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira (34-7-1, 1NC) that after fracturing his ribs three weeks before his UCF 153 bout […]

Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira celebrates victory over Dave Herman at UFC 153 – Photo via Fighters.com

With fighters dropping like flies due to injuries, it’s no wonder Zuffa has seen three major events cancelled this fall.

So it’s a testament to the willpower, and the “old school” mentality, of former UFC heavyweight champ Antônio Rodrigo ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira (34-7-1, 1NC) that after fracturing his ribs three weeks before his UCF 153 bout with Dave Herman, that he went on to not only take the fight but to finish Herman by submission.

Nogueira made the admission in an interview with Sensei SportTV recently (via Tatame.com.br using Google Translate) about the injury.

“Fractured my rib three weeks ago on my right side. I went to the doctor, I took a local anesthetic to be able to train and when he (Dave Herman) gave me a shot there, gave me a shortness of breath and took a swung from one side to the other to see what had happened, had broken. There was a big break, but got scared when the kick hit him, “said the Bahia, in an interview with Sensei SporTV.

‘Minotauro’ agreed to face Herman on a months notice after an injury forced a change to the co-main event for UFC 153 after Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson pulled out due to injury.

At UFC 153, Nogueira would go on to submit Herman with an armbar in the second round at the Brazilian show. The win also earned the former UFC title holder the “Submission of the Night” bonus.