04/25/2012
UFC 148 Changes, UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans Recap, Mir on Title Fight, And Penn Retirement Update
Show airs Tuesday nights at 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT
LOS ANGELES, CA – On this week’s “UFC Tonight,” Host Todd Harris, Analyst Kenny Florian, and Insider Ariel Helwani report on UFC 148 changes with Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen, recap the UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans title fight, interview Frank Mir about his upcoming heavyweight title bout, plus report on BJ Penn and Chuck Liddell’s retirement.
Quote of the Week: “UFC Tonight” Analyst Kenny Florian on the move of Silva vs. Sonnen to Las Vegas changing the dynamic of the fight: “It definitely changes the dynamic because you took away all of the advantage Silva had by fighting in Brazil. It was a big disadvantage for Chael Sonnen, who was going to fight in front of Anderson’s home crowd, and if that had gone to a decision, it could have influenced the judges. Not to mention Chael might now stay alive, win or lose, now that it won’t be in Brazil.”
Florian on Jones vs. Evans: “They both started out pretty hesitate. Once Jones started going forward and once he found his range with his arms, it was a bad sign for Evans. Jones was keeping Rashad on the outside and then hit with the devastating elbows.”
Florian on why Evans didn’t win the fight: “I think he had a game plan, but couldn’t execute it. He was counterstriking against a person taller than him with a much longer reach. Those elbows came from a comfortable range for Jones.”
Dan Henderson on his upcoming title fight with Jon Jones: “I typically am nice and relaxed [in a fight] and I’ll do what I try to do. I won’t be lulled into his game plan. I want to go out there and get in tight on him, where he thinks he is best.”
Florian on comparisons to Rory MacDonald: “Comparing him to me doesn’t put a lot of pressure on him, but compared to the current champ, GSP, it might be a lot of pressure. He’s had a lot of hype for a long time. He’s used to the hype and the pressure and he’s going to be the next welterweight champion.”
“UFC Tonight” Insider Ariel Helwani on Mir replacing Overeem for the heavyweight title fight with Junior dos Santos at UFC 146:“Frank was the best option. Dana White said that there were only two guys they would consider. At the end of the day Frank Mir has won his last two fights in a row. He was supposed to fight against Cain Velasquez anyway, so bump him up and now he is the heavyweight contender.”
Frank Mir on getting moved up to title fight: “I was extremely happy. This is a phenomenal opportunity. I thought I would have to go through Cain first for the title.”
Mir on adjusting his training for Junior dos Santos: “I have to adjust certain things for this fight. dos Santos is a better boxer. But he just comes at you with the hands. Cain got caught by one punch. With Cain, you have to worry about more. But dos Santos is only a single threat. It’s not a boxing match, it’s an MMA fight.”
Mir on if Overeem should get a chance to fight in the UFC again: “I believe he should get a second chance. Everyone makes mistakes. We all do things we’re not proud of. If he follows all the stringent testing, and jumps through the hoops the Nevada Commission tells him to, yeah, he should come back. He’s a fierce competitor. I think he deserves to be in the Octagon.”
Helwani on Overeem’s hearing: “The Nevada State Athletic Commission decided not to give Alistair Overeem his license to fight in Nevada. That means he cannot apply again for another nine months. He says he took an anti-inflammatory and he didn’t know what was in it. The commission didn’t buy his story.”
“UFC Tonight” Host Todd Harris on BJ Penn’s retirement: “A week and half ago in Sweden, former Lightweight and Welterweight Champion BJ Penn told Karyn Bryant that he was not planning on coming back. But, not so fast, says Dana White. The UFC President said he spoke to Penn in Sweden and he says Penn plans to come back for at least one more fight.”
Florian on Penn coming back from retirement: “While he could retire and go out a champion, he still has some time on him. He may have to change his training a little bit, but he is still one of the greatest champions of all time at light heavyweight and welterweight.”
Helwani asks Chuck Liddell about a possible comeback: “It was a hard decision to make to retire. It wasn’t that I couldn’t compete with these guys. I can’t quite take a punch like I used to, but it came down to I didn’t want to change my style. The only thing you could give me that would make me think about coming back would be a shot at the title. So yeah, Jon Jones. I don’t want to come back as a side show.”
Florian on Liddell coming back from retirement: “There is no need for him to come back. He has proven himself as one of the best fighters and most dominant fighters of all time.”
Helwani on the FUEL TV fight in July: “Mark Munoz versus Chris Weidman will headline the card. We don’t know the location yet, but it could be a huge card.”
“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.
