UFC Tonight Quotes – UFC 192, Interviews with Cormier & Northcutt
LOS ANGELES – UFC TONIGHT host Kenny Florian is joined by co-host Daniel Cormier to talk about his fight at UFC 192. Florian also interviews Sage Northcutt. Karyn Bryant and Ariel Helwani add reports.
UFC TONIGHT host Kenny Florian on Daniel Cormier’s fighting style at UFC 192: “I was surprised he took the harder path to victory. Intuitively he felt he could strike with Gustafsson. I don’t think he needed to do that. He should have hit more takedowns. His corner was asking for them. I don’t know what it was – if he got too emotional or just wanted to prove a point.”
Daniel Cormier on not wrestling Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 192: “It was a part of the plan to wrestle him and my coaches were going crazy for me to get a takedown. But after a while you settle into a fight. I like to fight. Once I saw blood, I had a fight. I said I wanted to win a standup fight against him and people laughed at me. I wanted to prove that I could do it.”
Cormier on getting hurt by the knee in the third: “I got hit with that knee and it hurt, but it was the left hook that followed that put me down. I was cruising into the third before that. That was the most I’ve been hurt in my career.”
Cormier on his opinion of Gustafsson after the fight: “I think he’s an A-plus fighter and a really good guy. I treated him with respect. He’s one of the best in the world. Even though he didn’t win, he’s a champion inside the Octagon.”
Cormier on if he will fight Jones or Bader next: “Ryan Bader did really stick it to us by beating Rashad. He changed the game. He has by far earned the title shot. But Jones is going to get it if he comes back. Jon and I did big business in January and we’ll do bigger business next time. This is the biggest fight the UFC can do. The UFC is a business. Ryan, I apologize to you. I think you might have to fight again. He understands and see’s what’s going on in this business.”
VIDEO: Cormier Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfmW6vldtcc
Florian on what’s next for Cormier: “I expect Jon Jones to be back. That’s the fight you’ve got to make. There will be a lot of bad blood heading into rematch. Cormier showed he’s a better fighter than the first time. He’s in much better shape. But Jon Jones wants his belt back.”
Florian on what’s changed with Ryan Bader: “He’s a smart fighter. He’s really turned a corner mentally. He’s putting together a great MMA package, mixing in strikes with takedowns. It was a very good performance against the former champ Rashad.”
Florian on Rashad Evans’ performance and what’s next: “This isn’t new territory for him. We’ve seen him gun shy before. For him, it might be important to go to a new camp. It doesn’t seem to be working right now. Maybe he needs a sports psychologist. I wanted to see a newer version of Rashad. Maybe he should take on OSP next or maybe it’s time for him to retire. When I don’t see a fighter improve technically and mentally, maybe they should start to think about hanging it up.”
Sage Northcutt on if he got nervous going into his first UFC fight: “Believe it or not, I felt really calm. I’ve visualized it a thousand times: walking in and standing in front of the crowd and my opponent. There were some butterflies in my stomach, but not too much. Once the fight starts, you’re ready.”
Northcutt on if he’ll stay in college or train more: “Last semester, I was taking classes full time and I didn’t have enough time to train MMA. This semester, I took off some of my classes and this was the first fight I truly got to train for. I might take a little time off from school to train. I’d be a totally different animal if I trained full time.”
Northcutt on his goals: “When I was nine years old, I was on the cover of Sport Karate magazine. Then I said that I’d fight in the UFC. Now I’ve done that and I believe I can win the title belt. That’s my new goal.”
VIDEO: Northcutt Interview
Henry Cejudo on what he’s looking at facing Jussier Formiga: “His ground game and his jiu-jitsu are world class. I’m ready. I have better clinch work, better striking and more power in my hands.”
Cejudo on if he should get the next title shot: “I hate the rankings. There’s only one champion. I believe I’m the next to get the shot. But I won’t do it in Vegas.”
Cejudo on why he doesn’t want to fight in Las Vegas: “Because it’s unjust what they’re doing to Diaz. It’s ridiculous. I can’t allow this guy to be treated that way. I don’t even know him. I’ve been a gold medalist. My life is based on significance and not success now. I’m not trying to start a rally.”
UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani on what’s next for Anthony Johnson: “I spoke to his manager Glenn Robinson and they said they want to fight Ryan Bader next. They’re expecting Jon Jones is coming back and Bader makes sense. Bader’s manager still hoping to get the title shot against Cormier. If Jones comes back and gets then shot, then they’ll cross the bridge and figure out what’s next.”
Helwani on Johny Hendricks’ return after the failed weight cut: “I talked to him and he said in the next month he’s going to do a mini cut to 170. If goes well, he’ll stick at welterweight. He wants to see how his body reacts again.”
Helwani on John Dodson’s next move: “His manager has told me that Dodson is moving back up to bantamweight, where he used to be. He knocked out the current bantamweight title holder TJ Dillashaw at that weight. They believe with the new IV ban and no more PEDs, it’ll be better. They want to go on a title run and are moving back up.”
VIDEO: Inside The Octagon
