UFC TONIGHT QUOTES: Boestsch vs. Henderson Preview, Dana White on UFC’s New Drug Policy
LOS ANGELES, CA – UFC TONIGHT hosts Daniel Cormier and Kenny Florian preview this weekend’s UFC FIGHT NIGHT: BOETSCH VS. HENDERSON and interview Dan Henderson. The two also catch up with UFC president Dana White on a host of topics. Karyn Bryant and Ariel Helwani add reports.
UFC TONIGHT Host Daniel Cormier on the new drug testing program: “I dealt with USADA all through my wrestling career: You’re not going to cheat and get around this. The organization is 100 percent independent. No one can say the UFC is playing favorites or if they’re hiding anything now.”
Cormier on Dan Henderson facing Tim Boetsch this weekend: “It’s going to be tough. This is not an easy fight for Henderson, but I believe he can get the job done. He might be able to get the right hand off on him and Henderson can match Tim in the wrestling. Dan’s keys are to throw the right hand, he needs to use his boxing and he needs to use his wrestling and secure some takedowns. That will set up the big punches later.”
UFC TONIGHT Host Kenny Florian on Boetsch’s keys to victory: “For Boetsch, has to move the head a lot and use kicks to keep Henderson on the outside. He has knockout power in both hands. He’s an excellent athlete and doesn’t get enough credit for it. He needs to have forward pressure, use the jab, and to throw leg kicks to slow down Henderson and keep him on the outside.”
Dan Henderson’s advice to DC on how he should display his belt: “You’re asking the wrong guy. I had mine in a little tub, but my wife displayed them up nicely. But don’t wear it around everywhere you go.”
Dan Henderson on how he’ll fight Boetsch: “I have to be as aggressive as I can without getting taken down. I want to stay in his face and make him work. We both like to be in the clinch so we’ll see what happens from there.”
Henderson on what he’s done differently to prepare for this fight: “I focused a little more on my conditioning since it’s five rounds. I don’t think he’s got anything I haven’t seen before. He has a hard right hand, a good left hook and a good push kick. He’ll try to take me down. I have to just be careful. I feel good. I have a feeling it’ll be a pretty exciting fight.”
Henderson on finishing his current contract: “I have three fights left on my deal and I plan on finishing that. Beyond that, we’ll see. I didn’t get a chance in my last fight to see how I feel at middleweight.”
VIDEO: Interview: Henderson
VIDEO: Strikezone: Boetsch vs. Henderson
Dana White on if he’s interested in the FIFA job: “I’ll stay where I’m at. I’m happy right now.”
White on this season of TUF and how fighters get to the end: “It’s going to get better. The first few fights sucked. At the end of the season, I’m picking a fight, and the owners pick a fight.”
White on if there’s a business upside to the new drug testing program: “There’s no business upside, but a massive upside for the sport. It’s the right thing for the sport and for the athletes. If you take a kid who has a ton of potential and get him on PEDs, you destroy him mentally, physically and emotionally. This is the right move for the sport.”
White on what it means to implement this drug test policy: “There’s nothing like it in professional sports. It’s the toughest in all of professional sports. If you say you care about the athletes, this is what you do. I don’t think anyone expected us to do this or saw this coming. This would never have happened with a union.”
White on the Reebok deal and addressing Jose Aldo’s concerns: “The UFC isn’t making the revenue the NBA and NFL are. This is the first deal we’ve had with a huge apparel company like Reebok. The fighters are getting all the money. They can still keep their sponsors. Jose kept Venom as a sponsor and actually got paid more by them.”
White on Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman for the middleweight title fight: “We don’t have that fight set up yet, but Luke will get the title shot next.”
White responding to Cormier on if AKA was still training in the Stone Age now that they’ve produced so many champions: “The Stone Age gym is looking pretty good right now. But there’s something to be said about the injuries. Why would Khabib train with Rockhold? Those aren’t good ideas for the longevity for your health.”
White on when Daniel Cormier will defend his title next: “We’re looking at possibly Alexander Gustafsson next.”
VIDEO: Interview: Dana White
UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani on a Sept 5th fight announcement: “UFC 191 takes place in Las Vegas at the MGM Labor Day weekend. Nothing is confirmed, but Demetrious Johnson said he’d like to be the co-main event under Weidman vs. Rockhold.”
Helwani on Rashad Evans return: “Rashad Evans is on track for a September return and wants to fight Ryan Bader.”
Helwani on Frankie Edgar getting a title shot: “Frankie Edgar is not taking any other fights except the title fight with the winner between Jose Aldo vs. Conner McGregor.”
Helwani on when Rampage Jackson fights next: “Rampage Jackson will have an injunction hearing in New Jersey on June 12.”
VIDEO: Inside the Octagon
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 @DC_MMA @KarynBryant; @ArielHelwani; @UFCTonight; @FOXSports1
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