UFC TONIGHT QUOTES: Vanzant on Waiting For Title Shot: “I Still Have Two Years To Be The Youngest Title Holder”

Cerrone On Taking a Risky Fight: “I can’t be the guy who says I’ll fight anybody, anywhere, anytime and then not take a fight.”

Florian on training injuries in the UFC: “I think it’s the mentality of the wrestlers that gets them injured.”

LOS ANGELES – On tonight’s UFC TONIGHT, host Kenny Florian and guest host Michael

Bisping talk to Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Paige VanZant. Karyn Bryant and Ariel Helwani

add reports.

UFC TONIGHT Host Kenny Florian suggests wrestling mentality could be the cause of

many injuries in the UFC: “I think it’s the mentality of the wrestlers that gets them injured. They

push through things and when they have small injuries, they get worse and worse. It’s the

physical side. But people forget how new this sport is. This sport is tough. Look at the training

you have to do. You talk about wrestling alone, but then there’s kickboxing and you have to

learn jiu jitsu and that’s three times the chance that you could get injured. But people have to

dial it down in the offseason.”

UFC TONIGHT Guest Host Michael Bisping on injuries in the sport: “This is the toughest

sport in the world. The wrestling is what causes the injuries and really takes to toll on the

bodies. They’re obviously pushing themselves to the limits. But you have to train the way you’re

going to fight. If you don’t to push yourself to the limit like you would in the fight you won’t be

ready. But you have to be smart. It’s an unfortunate business. Sometimes this happens.”

Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone on if he had an option on who he’d fight: “They didn’t give me

much of an option. I just want to fight. The guy stepped up. I think it’s going to be a great fight.”

Cerrone on if taking the fight is risky when he probably could have waited for the title

fight: “I can’t be the guy who says I’ll fight anybody, anywhere, anytime and then not take a

fight. I have to keep my word. They gave me a new opponent. I just want to fight. That’s my

mentality. I’m excited.”

Cerrone on if fighting John Makdessi is an easier fight: “I don’t think anyone in the UFC is

an easy fight. We’re here for a reason. I was really looking forward to fighting Khabib. I’ve been

scheduled to fight him three times now.”

Paige VanZant on not being in a rush to fight for the title: “I think it’s smart. I still have two

years to be the youngest title holder. I can take my time and still break that record.”

VanZant on being compared to Conor McGregor by UFC president Dana White: “I think

Conor is awesome and to have Dana compare me to him is a huge honor.”

VanZant on negative comments from Tecia Torres: “It’s good. It’s harsh. It’s the fight

business. It creates drama in the sport and ever since she said those things I’ve gotten

thousands of followers. I love what I’m doing. I don’t need negative comments. I have a lot more

to prove still.”

VanZant on critics saying she’s getting special treatment by the UFC: “There’s going to be

negativity out there no matter how successful I am. It’ll just give me a little more fire to keep

winning fights.”

Ariel Helwani on Khabib Nurmagomedov’s latest injury: “Khabib is in LA getting a second

opinion today. He injured his meniscus training in the gym yesterday. He’s going to have

surgery tomorrow and he’ll be out for four to six months. He hopes to be back in October. His

coaches think he came back a little too soon from his last injury.”

UFC TONIGHT

UFC TONIGHT is the official weekly news and information show of the Ultimate Fighting Championship on FOX

Sports 1. Veteran UFC fighter and multiple title contender Kenny Florian, light heavyweight title contender Daniel

Cormier, veteran combat sports journalist Karyn Bryant and five-time World MMA Awards Journalist of the Year Ariel

Helwani bring you all the news and analysis.

Follow on Twitter at: @KennyFlorian @Bisping; @KarynBryant; @ArielHelwani; @UFCTonight; @FOXSports1

– FOX Sports –