Plus Breaking News on Upcoming Flyweight Championships and More Fights
“UFC Tonight” Airs Tuesdays at 10:00 PM ET
LOS ANGELES, CA – On this week’s “UFC Tonight” Hosts Todd Harris and Kenny Florian conduct an exclusive interview with UFC Middleweight Cung Le on the eve of his historic battle against Rich Franklin at UFC ON FUEL TV 6: FRANKLIN VS. LE. Florian talks about the impact Stephan Bonnar's positive drug test will have on his legacy. Plus, we’ll have breaking news on an upcoming championship fight and much more.
Quote of the Week: Le on what it would mean to beat Rich Franklin: “This is the biggest fight of my career. It’d mean so much to me. It would definitely take me to that next level in my career if I beat Rich Franklin.”
Cung Le on if there is extra pressure going into UFC ON FUEL TV 6: FRANKLIN VS. LE: “I’m totally feeling the extra pressure, but it’s very exciting and I’m trying not to let it get the best of me.”
Le on his foot injury: “My foot is getting better as long as I don’t kick someone upside the head right now without pads. All my sparing is done. It’s just about maintaining it up until the fight and staying away from injury and then going into the fight as healthy as I can. I only got cleared six or seven weeks ago by the doctor, even though it was a bone bruise, not broken, and he said it would take up to ten weeks to heal. So I did a lot of things to get it better and I got my foot up to 80 percent. But, that is why I just get back to my Chinese doctor and he does this blood leading thing and it’s kind of disgusting. I put it on YouTube and people got grossed out.”
Le on if he thought he was going to get this fight: “Actually, I was getting wheel chaired to the press conference after UFC 148 because I thought my foot was broken. Dana White said to me ‘I was going to put you on the China fight, but this doesn’t look good.’ I said, ‘Oh man, when is it?’ And he said, ‘November 10.’ I thought my foot was broken and I was sitting at the press conference thinking how could I get my foot better? Now here I am in Hong Kong getting ready to be in Macao for the biggest fight of my life.”
“UFC Tonight” Insider Ariel Helwani confirms Flyweight Championship fight between Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson: “Demetrious Johnson versus John Dodson is Johnson’s first-ever title defense in the UFC. This fight will serve as the main event at UFC ON FOX 6 in Chicago on January 26th.”
Helwani confirms UFC ON FOX 6 fight between Pettis vs. Cerrone: “This card is really shaping up to be a good one. According to UFC officials, they’ve added Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis vs. Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone. We know they are both fired up, there has been a lot of trash talk between these two and it will all be settled finally on January 26th.”
Helwani on Urijah Faber’s return: “A lot of people are wondering when Urijah Faber would return. Last time we saw him at fight was back in July at UFC 149 when he lost to Renan Barao. I spoke to him earlier today and he told me he was training for an early comeback in 2013, but his doctor told him he had to cool it on his training because he was reinjuring his rib that he injured during that fight. He was told to cool it off for three weeks and that is about where we are now. Right now he is in China promoting their first fight. He says he is feeling good. He is shooting for a February return. The UFC is down with that idea, no opponent locked, but pencil in that date for a return from the ‘California kid.’”
Helwani on Anderson Silva attending UFC 154: “There are a lot of interesting story lines unfolding going into UFC 154 and it just got more interesting. According to Anderson Silva’s manager, he will be going to Montreal and he will have a front row seat. When he was asked why he was going, he said maybe to call out GSP if he wins. Silva doesn’t really travel to many fights, especially if he is not fighting. I can see potential there for a great super fight between GSP and Silva if it all pans out.”
Georges St-Pierre predicts the outcome on his upcoming fight against Carlos Condit: “It is going to be a good fashion victory. I am not burned out. I am happy to be here. I am going to enjoy it. I am going to get in the Octagon, not with the thought of wanting to get out. I want to enjoy it.”
“UFC Tonight” Analyst Kenny Florian on Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le: “Both these guys are very exciting. Both like to go forward. Both are smart and they like to finish. This definitely has a making of a tremendous war. Le likes to do spinning kicks and back kicks and Franklin is a huge 185-pounder with a lot of experience.”
Florian on Stephan Bonnar’s legacy after being busted for steroids: “You know he did test positive for steroids, but I don’t think we are going to remember him as the guy that got popped for steroids, but as the guy who really started off a war against Forrest Griffin in the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. He is known as the guy who really kicked off this revolution.”
Florian on whether a Boston fight would coax him out of retirement: “I am comfortable working here next to you and Todd. I miss it very much, but right now I am just focused on getting healthy and working on getting a consistent training schedule.”
Florian on whether the UFC loses legitimacy by allowing a fight between Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen: “The UFC has done this before, I think it’s okay. It isn’t something we see all the time, so in this case it is okay.”
“UFC Tonight” is the official weekly news and information show of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The show is co-hosted by veteran UFC fighter and multiple title contender Kenny Florian and Todd Harris. Two-time World MMA Awards Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani adds insider news.
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