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MENDES ON FIGHT WITH LAMAS: “I’M MORE ATHLETIC, I’M FASTER AND I’M STRONGER.”
Mendes and Pena Interviews on UFC TONIGHT
LOS ANGELES, CA – UFC TONIGHT hosts Kenny Florian and Daniel Cormier break down UFC FIGHT NIGHT: MENDES VS. LAMAS and interview Chad Mendes and Julianna Pena before their fights on Saturday. Karyn Bryant and Ariel Helwani add reports.
UFC TONIGHT Host Daniel Cormier on Conor McGregor grabbing Jose Aldo’s belt: “As a challenger, you don’t want to touch the belt. It’s bad luck. But did you see how he set him up? He put his feet up like he did earlier in the tour and got Jose to do it and then McGregor took the belt. Jose needs to go home, focus and let go of the emotions he has now.”
UFC TONIGHT Host Kenny Florian on if McGregor is losing fans with his antics: “McGregor’s got to be careful. He’s moving into the bully territory and fans don’t like that. But I can’t wait for this fight. It can’t come soon enough.”
Cormier on the similarities between this weekend’s headliners Chad Mendes and Ricardo Lamas: “When you look at these two, you see the same type of fighter. They’re both wrestlers, both god strikers, but Lamas has more submissions. And Lamas is tough. You can’t count the guy out, ever. He finds a way to win. He wasn’t supposed to beat Dennis Bermudez, but he finished him. He’s a bad man. Mendes has to avoid takedowns, but no one’s taken him down yet and that shows how good his wrestling is. But not only is his wrestling good, but he has great boxing.”
Florian on this weekend’s headliner Mendes vs. Lamas: “Mendes can’t give up the takedowns to Lamas. Ricardo Lamas is very good with the ground and pound and has better submissions. Ricardo’s keys are to throw kicks, fight in the clinch and stop the takedown. But Chad has a lot of weapons. He has a speed advantage and will look to use his footwork. But he can’t get in a brawl with Ricardo. That brings out the best in Lamas.”
Chad Mendes on having a similar fight style to Lamas: “I don’t see any big holes in his game. He’s good everywhere. But I don’t see any great area. His strongest point is his top game. He has good top control and elbows. But I’ve got a great takedown defense. I’ve never been taken down in a fight. It’s a great matchup for me. I’m more athletic, faster and stronger.”
Mendes on head coach Martin Kampmann: “Duane Ludwig was our first head coach. Now have Martin Kampmann full time. His stuff is simple, basic stuff, and that’s what wins. I’m feeling great and I’m ready to go.”
Mendes on who he’s rooting for between Aldo and McGregor: “I’m not cheering for McGregor. I’m excited for the fight as a fan. There’s a lot of hype going down in the media tour. I think Aldo’s going to win, but you never know. Where I’m sitting, whoever wins, it’s great for me. If Also wins, I’ll get redemption, which would be unbelievable. If Conor wins, it’ll be fun to beat him up for the belt.”
VIDEO: Interview: Chad Mendes
http://www.foxsports.com/
Julianna Pena on her opponent Milana Dudieva: “She’s very strong, a good judo fighter and has good leg locks. She’s got a great overhand right. She’s strong and extremely dangerous.”
Pena on what she has to do to get people’s attention after a long layoff: “I have to win and I have to do it in devastating fashion. I have to get the job done as fast as possible and in brutal fashion.”
Pena on saying people want to see her fight Ronda Rousey: “On The Ultimate Fighter, they could see we didn’t rub each other the right way. A lot of people, in my time off, have said they’d like to see it happen. I finished all four girls I fought. Ronda’s the only other girl wrecking people like that. She’s doing a great job. But Bethe is getting the title fight because she talked trash after a couple of wins. I’m not looking past Milana. Ronda’s the one with the belt. After I get a few wins, then I’ll make it to the title.”
VIDEO: Interview: Pena
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani on Ronda Rousey at Wrestlemania: “I spoke to her agent, and he said this was a one-off. There’s nothing else scheduled. He all but guaranteed she wouldn’t show up at any other wrestling shows this year. She’s focused on Bethe Correia.”
Helwani on Frank Mir’s next fight: “Frank wanted to fight Brock Lesnar, but he committed to the WWE, which left Frank without a fight. Enter Todd Duffee, who called out Mir. Now that fight is in the works, but not signed yet. I’m told they’re targeting the summer. Frank’s manager says Frank wants to stay active and fight several times this year.”
Helwani on Tarec Saffiedine’s return: “I found out he underwent groin surgery and will be out another four to six weeks. He’s been very frustrated since coming into the UFC and has been battling injuries. This one was a thorn in his side. He hopes to be back soon.”
Helwani on Siyar Bahadurzada’s return: “Four weeks before his last fight, he tore both biceps and both labrums. He had surgery on a torn bicep and torn labrum last summer, then on the other bicep and labrum after that. He wants to come back to the UFC, not for money, but to fight for his country of Afghanistan. He looks to get back in the fall.”
VIDEO: INSIDE THE OCTAGON
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
UFC TONIGHT
UFC TONIGHT is the official weekly news and information show of the Ultimate Fighting Championship on FOX Sports 1. Veteran UFC fighter and multiple title contender Kenny Florian, light heavyweight title contender Daniel Cormier, veteran combat sports journalist Karyn Bryant and five-time World MMA Awards Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani bring you all the news and analysis.
Follow on Twitter at: @KennyFlorian @DC_MMA; @KarynBryant; @ArielHelwani; @UFCTonight; @FOXSports1
