UFC 147: SILVA VS. FRANKLIN II Recap and Analysis, UFC 152 Breaking News, Video Clips from UFC ON FX: MAYNARD VS. GUIDA
LOS ANGELES, CA – The following are quotes from the “UFC 147 Postfight Show on FUEL TV” following UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin II. Jay Glazer hosted the show, with analysis from former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans and Mark Munoz. Karyn Bryant conducted exclusive postfight interviews backstage. Here’s some of what was said:
“UFC 147 Postfight Show on FUEL TV” Guest Analyst Rashad Evans on the rematch of Wanderlei Silva vs. Rich Franklin: “This fight picked up right where the last one left off and it did not disappoint. They wanted to leave it all out there. These guys had fun. It was another great fight.”
Evans on Franklin’s keys to victory: “Rich had great footwork and looked loose and fluid. He didn’t throw the lazy leg kick like he did in the last fight. He remained loose. The only time he got in trouble was when he backed straight up and got caught.”
Guest Analyst Mark Munoz on Silva going for the knockout of Franklin in round two: “When you rock someone, you want to knock them out. Wanderlei smelled blood and that’s what he tried to do.”
Jay Glazer on Franklin surviving the second round: “You have to respect Franklin. He showed a lesson on how to keep the ref from calling the fight. He kept going and won it.”
Munoz on Franklin’s second-round escape: “When you’re under adversity, you have to find a way to win and that’s what he did.”
Munoz on what Silva should have done in the fight: “You rarely saw him [Silva] go forward. We were saying in the backroom, ‘go forward and control the center of the octagon.’”
Franklin on how he feels after the fight and how important the win was: “I’m feeling pretty good now that I know where I am. I tell you what, there was a lot riding on the fight for me. I had shoulder surgery and a long layoff. Then I took this fight two weeks ahead of my timeframe and it was against a very different opponent than I was training for.”
Franklin on how he got out of the second round: “I don’t know. I honestly can’t remember. I’ll say this, I know I got dropped and then the next thing I remember was my corner man said it’s the fifth round. I said, ‘great I have a lot of gas left in the tank.’ It’s something that’s happened before and something I’m used to working through.”
Franklin on how he prepared for the fight with the long layoff: “I had so much time down, so my boxing coach worked with me on staying calm and not rushing things because it’s been so long since I’ve fought. I didn’t want to shoot my wad in the first round. I probably shouldn’t have used that saying to describe it.”
Franklin on who he wants to fight next: “Whoever they give me. I’m going to fight at 185 again. The UFC didn’t want to do a third fight between me and Anderson Silva since I lost twice to him. But now there’s been some time off from those fights and I’m not going to make a run at 205, I’m just not big enough. I’m 37 now and I’m going to put some wins together and make a run for a title.”
Franklin on fighting a legend like [Wanderlei] Silva and beating him in his home country: “Guys like Wanderlei are so respectful and so honorable. If you have to lose, those are the guys to lose to. I fought for a title in my home town and lost to Anderson Silva. I know what it’s like to lose at home. He’s done so much for the sport.”
UFC President Dana White on the main event: “I am happy with the main event. Wanderlei [Silva] and Rich [Franklin] are both warriors and have been for a long time. Rich came around from a near beating to win the fight. I think the ref did a great job at not stopping the fight. Obviously he was able to keep going. I have to go back to the judging. They had a draw in an earlier fight and they didn’t have a draw for Wanderlei vs. Rich. I am in a bad mood tonight because I am tired of stupid little things that are happening. From last night to tonight.”
White on if the judging can be fixed: “It is going to take some time. You know I have said it before. I want to see more fighters getting involved in judging and refereeing as they start to retire. I think we are going to see more of it. It is going to be a problem for a while until the athletic commissions start working on it. They need to review tapes with the refs and show these guys what they did wrong when they make a wrong call.”
White on Wanderlei after the fight: “Wanderlei almost won that fight. It is tough to say. I said it last night, he used to be my arch nemesis over at PRIDE and I wanted that Chuck fight since PRIDE. But since he came to the UFC, he has been great, acting like he has been in the UFC for a long time. He has been honest and great and he is going to be with the UFC for a long time whether he is fighting or not.”
White on if Vitor Belfort will fight Wanderlei: “It will not be against Wanderlei, he just lost tonight. When Vitor heels up, we will see what happens and go from there.”
White on Rony Jason’s performance: “I didn’t like it at all. I think that these guys from TUF Brazil came out like killers all season long. But, I think because this was such a big event and they were running around signing autographs all day, they got a little caught up in the hype. You come out and you have to perform. If you look at TUF finals in the U.S every year, the final fight is the biggest one and they come out and fight. Because they were celebrating all week they came out like rock stars, like they were already in the UFC, but they are not.”
White on Cezar Ferreira’s performance: “Cezar went in there and fought a tough fight and that fight was better. I was happy with that fight but not 100 percent thrilled with the fight.”
White on whether Junior dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez is going to happen: “Yes, that fight will happen. I don’t know when and I don’t know where. That is going to depend on Junior. The fight will happen, but probably not in Toronto [at UFC 152].”
White on Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva: “I just like that fight and I am excited for it. It is going to be the biggest fight of the year, the biggest sporting event of the year. Who is going to win? I never predict. You just don’t know.”
Munoz on Fabricio Werdum vs. Mike Russow: “The thing about Fabricio is that he looked for the kill. He has confidence in his standup and it showed tonight with that big uppercut. He actually hit that on me in training and you feel that all the way in your toes.”
Evans on Werdum’s confidence: “It is all about believing. He had the skills before, but now he actually believes in himself because of what he did on “Big Country” [Roy Nelson]. He is working on his standup and he is working on his jiu jitsu.”
Werdum on his victory over Russow: “Yes for sure. I was training a lot for this fight for three months with Kings MMA. I am happy because there is a big difference fighting in Brazil. I am in the UFC nine years, but I didn’t fight here for many years. Just the guy saying my nickname, I was very happy. This is motivation for sure. It is a big difference from my last fight in Brazil.”
Werdum on if he thinks he will get a title shot next: “Maybe not the next fight, but I am close. Maybe one more fight against Junior dos Santos. I have to win. I am just here to fight.”
Evans on Sergio Moraes vs. Cezar Ferreira: “It was an exciting fight and it had its moments. Being the first TUF Brazil fighter being crowned here, it was an exciting thing. There were extraordinary combinations. Moraes got caught and went down, but Ferreira didn’t want it to go to the ground. Moraes rocked him later and went forward and threw punches. He has a big future, but he has to be brought along right. Training with guys of such high caliber gives you the confidence to fight.”
Munoz on Rony Jason vs. Godofredo Pepey: “He [Rony] came emotional to the cage. Flying knee comes up and he’s pulling guard and then a big slam by Rony. Rony was really landing and getting a lot of action on the ground too.”
Evans on Jason vs. Pepey: “It seemed that all that Pepey was trying to do was put pressure on. But, it was really Jason with the stronger punches. If you want to get someone to the ground you have to work on your hands some more.”
Jason on his victory over Pepey: “I am really happy as the first champion of TUF Brazil. It is a great feeling. And I hope this will be the first victory of many in the UFC.”
Jason on if it was a good fight: “I wouldn’t say it was a perfect fight, but it was hard and the next fight I promise to give a better show.”
Jason on what the most important lesson was from this fight: “Respect to my opponents above everything.”
Jason on why he uses the mask: “It is a personality for me. It is all about getting into character. I am usually a quiet person, but when I put the mask on I get in character and I want to put a great show on. It was a very happy day for me, but it was also a very sad day because I didn’t get to put my mask on.”
Evans on what Anderson Silva needs to do against Chael Sonnen: “One thing Anderson needs to do is stay on the black line. Anderson wants to stay in the center of the octagon. He needs to keep his striking simple. He needs to have Chael freeze and not be pushing him back.”
Munoz on what Sonnen needs to do to win against Anderson Silva: “Chael has to make it dirty. If he stays on the outside, he might get kicked. He’s got to come to the inside. He’s got to weave around, stay moving, get inside and get dirty and use his wrestling against Silva.”
Munoz on his upcoming fight against Chris Weidman on FUEL TV: “Chris Weidman is a tough fighter. He uses his wrestling. I’m looking to overwhelm him and capitalize on the transitions and then use the ground and pound. I’m good at the ground and pound. I don’t see many weaknesses in his game, except the power. I respect his power. I’m going to land power punches and I’ll go wherever the fight goes.”
In addition, below please see video clips from last night’s UFC on FX: Maynard vs. Guida (Please note, these clips do not contain fight footage):
· Will Hatsu Hioki Regret Turning Down Title Fight? http://youtu.be/abokQuYIJeI
· Matt Brown Wrecks Luis Raomos http://youtu.be/FT6RhVhf-8A
· Club Swanson Drops Bombs On Pearson http://youtu.be/DoIVOBS1ws8
· Steven "Super" Siller Smokes Joey Gambino http://youtu.be/ABzMrjhrlxs
· Greg Jackson "Guida Would Go All Day If I Let Him" http://youtu.be/47eRRX6rUT0
· Brian Ebersole Remains Undefeated In UFC http://youtu.be/6kZ5coNi-5Q
· Super-Stacked UFC Lightweight Division Round-up http://youtu.be/CA0EmRrxE4g
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