“UFC TONIGHT” SHOW NOTES – 5/16/12
The Korean Zombie vs. Poirier Recap, Poirier Discusses Loss, and Velasquez Talks Big Foot
UFC Tonight airs Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT
LOS ANGELES, CA – On this week’s “UFC Tonight,” Host Todd Harris and Guest Analyst Chael Sonnen analyze FUEL TV’s third Fight Night. Plus, Dustin Poirier gives Insider Ariel Helwani an emotional interview about the fight. And, Cain Velasquez talks about his upcoming battle with Antonio Silva.
Quote of The Week: “UFC Tonight” Guest Analyst Chael Sonnen on The Korean Zombie calling out Jose Aldo after winning his fight: “If you look that good, sure, call out the champion. That’s the point of the sport. Does he have a chance to compete with Aldo? Sure. Does he have a chance to win? Absolutely not.”
Sonnen on The Korean Zombie vs. Dustin Poirier being the fight of the night: “It is definitely a candidate. This is an outstanding night of fighting. The only way you could have a great fight was because Poirier went out and gave a great fight. Poirier had countless opportunities to back out, but he went back and back again.”
“UFC Tonight” Insider Ariel Helwani with Dustin Poirier: “I had a really hard training camp. I put 100 percent into the training camp. I am trying not to get emotional. I put so much work in this. I deserved to win, my wife deserved that I win. I took some really bad shots. I’m going to go back to the gym and work hard and then, hopefully, come back for a W.”
Sonnen on the Donald Cerrone vs. Jeremy Stephens: “Momentum is so important and when you lose it, sometimes, you spiral down. Stephens takes the fight to the ground and opens up a cut on Cowboy. But, in the end, it was just too much. The real tale of the fight was the constant reach by Cerrone.”
“UFC Tonight” Host Todd Harris asks Cain Velasquez about training for the upcoming fight with Antonio “Big Foot” Silva: “Yeah I’m 100 percent healthy. With this training camp, the thing that I did that really helped me out was in the beginning weeks, to really take my time and get myself into shape. And then, as the weeks went on, I’ve really picked up the pace. I feel like with my last training camp, I was a little rushed. I had a great training camp and I’m definitely looking forward to this fight.”
Velasquez on Silva: “He is a big guy and has a lot of power in his hands. He is a guy who mixes up everything really well. He is not just a boxer. He is good on the ground. He is a guy who is durable. I have seen his last fights and he doesn’t really get tired out there, so he is going to be in it the whole fight.”
Velasquez if he would have fought Junior dos Santos: “I would have stepped in if they gave me that chance. But, it was the UFC’s choice. He [Frank Mir] has won three fights [in a row] and he should have the chance. I think of it as I’ll get my chance.”
Velasquez on Josh Koscheck leaving his gym and bashing his mentor: “He [Josh Koscheck] is still a friend of mine. Between him and Javier [Mendez], that is really their deal. I never heard what he said about Javier. Anything having to do with the media, I don’t listen to. Javier has always been with me 100 percent, he is always there, he is a guy I can always count on. From the beginning, he has always been my number-one coach.”
Helwani on who Urijah Faber might be fighting: “They are really keeping their cards close to their vest with this one, and I think the mystery will finally be announced on “The Ultimate Fighter Live” Friday night. It will probably be Renan Barao or Michael McDonald. But Faber told me a few days ago he doesn’t even know who he is going to fight.”
Helwani on Dominick Cruz’s torn ACL: “He has not had surgery yet. He met with his doctor yesterday. It was just a general consultation. They haven’t set a date for his surgery. He is in better spirits now. He is going to finish up “TUF Live” and then have surgery.”
Sonnen on Nick Diaz: “I think it has been a pretty tough week on him. He made his bed when he didn’t show up to fight Braulio Estima [at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo]. The real tough news for him came on Monday when his team tried to do an injunction; they tried to get the marijuana charge thrown out. But it got turned down. Now on May 21st he will have his trial [in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission]. If he had won in court, he would have been able to come back and fight immediately.”
Sonnen on whether the media is being tough on Nick Diaz: “Anytime in politics and in sports, when a guy is accused and he doesn’t answer, those accusations become reality. He has never given an answer. The media has said some things, but until you hear from him, you can’t really rule a verdict.”
Sonnen on if fighters should take fights instead of wait for bigger ones: “Well, it’s the word forced that I’m resisting here. This [the UFC] is a volunteer army. Dana White doesn’t force anyone to do anything. Dana White creates opportunities and offers them to guys. If a guy wants to be in the sport, he can. And if a guy doesn’t want to fight and he wants to leave, then he is welcome to do so.”
Helwani on if fighters should take fights instead of wait for bigger ones: “That’s coming from a company man. If we call your number, you better want to fight. I’m tired of people picking their own fights and waiting them out. If a guy is a fighter, a guy needs to fight every couple of months.”
Helwani on the most underrated fighter in the UFC: “At the end of the day, there are a bunch of good answers here. But, there’s one obvious choice. He is 16-2. He’s the best flyweight out there and it’s Joseph Benavidez. It took him a few fights just to get on a main card. He doesn’t get any respect. He’s small and good looking, he’s the best 125 pounder out there, and he needs your respect.”
Sonnen on the most underrated fighter in the UFC: “It’s Fabricio Werdum. He’s beat world champs, and he looked fantastic against Roy Nelson. He took some time off, and now he’s back.
Sonnen on who he’s fighting next: “I know who I’m fighting. Probably some guy you have never heard of: his name is Anderson Silva. And come July 8th you will never hear of him again.”
Sonnen about his upcoming fight with Silva: “Well, you know Todd, look, at some point shooting fish in a barrel gets depressing and that’s what Silva is.”
Sonnen about training with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin: “Well, he’s torturing me. It isn’t overly pleasant. I am out there at Stone Cold’s ranch 30 days before each fight and I don’t like it, if you want to know.”
Sonnen on why he is being called to the Nevada State Athletic Commission: “I don’t know, but I’ll go to Nevada and work with them on whatever they want. The one thing I am excited about is the date, because Diaz is going to be there also. So, I’ll be your on-site reporter and come back next week to give you the details on both hearings.”
“UFC Tonight” is the official weekly news and information show of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, airing every Tuesday night at 10:00 PM ET on FUEL TV. The show is co-hosted by veteran UFC fighter and multiple title contender Kenny Florian and former UFC host and WEC Announcer Todd Harris. Two-time World MMA Awards Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani adds insider news.
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