UFC TONIGHT Quotes: Conor McGregor, Demetrious Johnson & Paige VanZant
LOS ANGELES – UFC TONIGHT host Kenny Florian and guest host Brian Stann interview THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER coaches Conor McGregor and Urijah Faber. Florian interviews flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson and Karyn Bryant interviews Paige VanZant. Ariel Helwani add reports.
UFC TONIGHT guest host Brian Stann on what Demetrious Johnson needs to do to beat John Dodson: “He’s super-fast and the way he strings everything together is truly incredible. Against John Dodson, he needs to push the pace and never stop going forward and integrate all his skills. He needs to get to the clinch. He dominated him here in the first fight. He needs to control the angles. He has to cut off Dodson, not stand straight in front of him and set things up with angles.”
UFC TONIGHT host Kenny Florian on what Dodson needs to do to beat Johnson: “Dodson is the more dangerous guy and has the knockout power. He sets it up by going to the body first, then to the head to score the knockout. He needs to apply constant pressure on Johnson and can’t just wait for counters. He needs to throw a lot of combinations and not just a few strikes. He can’t just look for the counter repeatedly like he did in the first fight.”
Flyweight champion Johnson on Dodson calling him a plague to the division: “If this guy was at a bar, would I get a beer with him? Absolutely not. Why do I have more Twitter followers and Instagram followers than he does? He brought a lot of fire power to the first fight, but it wasn’t enough. We’ll see what he brings on Saturday night.”
Johnson on if his fights are exciting: “My last five title defenses speak for themselves. I knocked out Joseph Benavidez, who had never been finished. I submitted Kyoji Horiguchi, who’s never been finished. I finished John Moraga, who had never been finished. I’m the champion and I’m getting better all around.”
Johnson on how the fight with Dodson is going to end? “I don’t make predictions. It’s a long night and a lot of hard work, and I love working hard.”
Johnson on if he’s cleaned out the division: “Not at all. There’s still a menace in the division, undefeated Henry Cejudo. If he gets past his next opponent, I’ll take away that zero from him.”
Johnson on if he’d fight a super fight? “If the money is right. We’ve discussed this. We’ll see if it happens. I’ve got to take care of Dodson first, then four or five more title defenses, then I’ll look forward to a super fight.”
Florian on Johnson’s attitude toward Dodson before this fight: “He’s going back and forth with Dodson more than I’ve seen him with other opponents. He has to be careful that he’s not getting too emotional.”
VIDEO: Demetrious Johnson Interview
http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=518350403736
VIDEO: StrikeZone and Predictions
http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=518365251704
Conor McGregor on coaching against Urijah Faber on THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER: “We had a good time. There were some tense moments. But Urijah is a harmless little man.”
Faber on McGregor as a coach: “He has a great mind for the sport. I’d like to see him show up a little more for his guys. You can’t hold their hand, but you can help. It’s hard being a giving guy.”
McGregor on his approach to coaching his team: “When it was time to show up, I showed up. The mental preparation was all perfect. I didn’t need to hold their hands.”
McGregor on his busy schedule: “I’m the hardest working, highest paid fighter in the game. What I went through for my last fight – the preparation, all the world tours and press, reinjuring myself, facing a new opponent, then winning the belt and coming through the adversity was so much. Then the idea of getting locked in a house for TUF, I thought I can’t do that. But when we sat down on day one, I sat back and said, this is a great life. This is what I do this for and this is experience of the lifetime. I embraced it and had fun.”
McGregor on TJ Dillashaw helping Faber coach: “He’s a snake in the grass. You brought him to help you, but he’s a snake in the grass. I sense disloyalty. It’s not that I don’t like TJ, he’s harmless.”
McGregor on his future: “I have my eyes on killing Jose and then going up and killing the lightweight division.”
McGregor on moving to lightweight: “If Dos Anjos or Cerrone have the opportunity to fight me, they would. It changes your life when you fight me. Neither of them bring anything to the table. When you fight me, I can change your whole life. Chad went from taking home $48,000 to half a million flat. He ain’t hitting seven (figures) like me!”
VIDEO: McGregor and Faber Interview
Paige VanZant on how she’s going to fight against Alex Chambers: “I’ll go in like I have the last two fights. I’ll have a game plan, but it will probably go out the window and I’ll revert back to being really aggressive. She has a purple belt in jiu-jitsu and a background in karate, but you never know what they can do. I know she’s grown from last fight and I have too.”
VanZant on her attitude going into a fight: “I go in there and do my job. I like to win more than anything in the world. Once the competition starts and the bell rings, I have to be the best.”
VanZant on training at Team Alpha Male: “There’s a family and a team aspect. There’s also a pro athlete gym. They’re making sure I’m ready for my fight. Training with men is better. There’s less drama, and if I can stand three or five rounds with the guys, I can handle a fight with a girl. They definitely hit harder than any girl I’ve fought.”
VIDEO: Paige VanZant Interview
UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani on Robbie Lawler’s injury: “Robbie Lawler’s hand injury isn’t too serious and doesn’t need surgery. He’ll only be out one month and would like to fight on UFC 195 against Carlos Condit.”
Helwani on Travis Browne’s next fight: “I spoke to his manager and Travis would love to fight Matt Mitrione next. I spoke to Mitrione and he would love that fight.”
Helwani on Al Iaquinta’s knee injury: “The doctor has advised Al to have stem cell injections and says he doesn’t need surgery. He can return in January. He wants to fight Beneil Dariush.”
Helwani on Michael McDonald’s return from injury: “Mayday has been cleared to fight after almost two years. He’s an important player at 135 and would like to fight before the end of the year.”
Helwani on Sam Stout: “He’s officially retired from the UFC.”
INTERVIEW from AMERICA’S PREGAME: Conor McGregor on Jose Aldo: ‘I’m going to end his career’
http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=518232131892
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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 champion 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 @BrianStann @KarynBryant; @ArielHelwani; @UFCTonight; @FOXSports1
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