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reaking News on Sonnen’s Next Fight, Henderson Exclusive Interview; Plus, Miller Arrest Update
“UFC Tonight” Airs Tuesdays 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT
LOS ANGELES, CA– On this week’s “UFC Tonight,” Kenny Florian is joined by co-host and UFC Middleweight Chael Sonnen. Dan Henderson comes in studio to discuss his upcoming fight against Jon Jones. Plus, Insider Ariel Helwani joins the show for the first ever fighter vs. writer vs. fighter, tackling the best pound-for-pound champion and whether MMA should be an Olympic sport.
Quote of the week: Dan Henderson on Jones saying that he’s a one-trick pony and that Jones is going for a TKO: “It must be a pretty good trick. It’s kept me in the sport this long and people keep wanting to see it. It’s kept me around for a long time. But it’s more about positioning. TKO me? I’d love for him to try. That means he’s coming after me and I won’t have to chase him.”
Henderson on if he’s ever seen as much hype around a fighter as with Jon Jones: “I don’t know, probably not this much. The sport has progressed so much and there’s so much more media than there used to be, so he’s benefiting from it. When Vitor [Belfort] came on, people hyped him up and said he had no weaknesses. But then Randy [Couture] beat him.
Henderson on if his age is an issue in this fight: “One of the biggest assets I have is my experience, my timing, my striking, my takedowns and the ability to mix it up.”
Henderson on if he feels overlooked when people think that Jones will win the fight: “No, I kind of love it. I love being the underdog. I like being a little challenged. I need to step up and prove people wrong. It adds to my fire and motivates me.”
Henderson on what will happen if he gets into a wrestling battle with Jones: “I feel right at home when I’m wrestling. He’s taller and longer and gives problems in the clinch. But it’ll give me the opportunity to put him on his back.”
Henderson on Jason “Mayhem” Miller: “I haven’t watched or seen too much about him. I wasn’t overly shocked by it. It’s a sad situation. Hopefully, he can get some help and get his mind back where it should be.”
Henderson on if this will be his last fight in the UFC and the end of his career: “I’m sure I’m not at the beginning of it [my career], being 15 years in. I don’t know how many fights I have left. I’ll take them one-by-one right now. I’d like to go out on top. I should have that opportunity. Maybe I’ll want to test myself and my body a couple more times.”
“UFC Tonight” Host Kenny Florian on if Frankie Edgar should go down a weight class after his recent loss: “I think Frankie has been on the wrong end of the decision the last couple of fights. I think he should be undefeated as a lightweight. But then again, I think Jose Aldo needs some competition and I’d love to see a super fight between Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar.”
“UFC Tonight” Host Chael Sonnen on Edgar moving down to 145: “I like Frankie at 155. With his speed he has a big advantage over other fighters. He’s one of the best in the world and he doesn’t need to move weight classes.”
Sonnen on Hector Lombard declaring that he was fighting injured in his last fight: “This is a big problem. These fights are sanctioned by a commission and ultimately the government. Fighters sign a form under penalty of perjury that they’re not injured before a fight. The penalty is a 2500-dollar fine and one-year suspension. So he’s lying to someone, either the commission or to people on Facebook. Let’s hope it’s not the government.”
Florian on Jon Jones signing a contract with Nike: “It’s a little exciting. I know some fighters are saying they could get a Nike contract now, but Nike wasn’t in the game a year ago and they’re not going to go much bigger in MMA right now. From what I hear, it’s not that big a contract anyway.”
“UFC Tonight” Insider Ariel Helwani on Mayhem Miller’s arrest: “He was released at 1:55 am Tuesday after he posted bail at $20,000. Now it’s up to the district attorney’s office in Orange County to make a decision in the next 30 days. He was charged with burglary and he may face charges of felony and assault. It is important to note though that he was not intoxicated during the incident.”
Sonnen on Miller’s arrest: “This is far above my pay grade. This is a serious issue. Good news is he didn’t hurt anybody. A lot of times we see people who are depressed have a public outcry. I think his beef with Dana White was a public outcry. This requires a real specialization; I hope that after this, he gets some help. He is a really good guy and a nice guy, but I hope he gets some help. I do care about him as a human being, so let’s not judge him just on this incident.”
Florian on if Wanderlei Silva should retire or fight another fight: “There was a point when he was on a bad losing streak and I thought he should hang it up. But, he looked good against Rich Franklin for five rounds and almost had the ref stopping the fight for the win. He has one more fight on his contract and I think he should serve it out.”
Sonnen on Wanderlei Silva’s upcoming fight: “Silva’s days will come and he’ll be missed. He calls himself the most popular fighter in the world and I’ve been in a room when he comes in, and he might just be. He’ll be missed.”
Florian on who is the pound-for-pound champion in the UFC is: “First we have to talk about the definition of a pound-for-pound champion. That is a guy who you can stick in any weight class and he will win … like Jose Aldo, a former opponent. This is a guy who I believe will beat anyone at every different weight class with his different skills and what he can bring into the octagon.”
Sonnen on who is the pound-for-pound champion is the UFC is: “I agree with your definition. But, there is only one guy who actually covers 170 pounds being the world champion, 185 pounds being the champion, 205 pounds being the champion … and that is Dan Henderson.”
Helwani on who is the pound-for-pound champion in the UFC is: “I can understand where Chael is coming from, but Kenny I’m disappointed. There is only one guy who is the longest successful title holder, who has the most wins in UFC history, Anderson Silva. He is the only one until he retires or looses, there is only one pound-for-pound winner.”
Helwani asks Chael what’s next for Anderson Silva: “His options are really quit vast. I think he should retire. I think he has done it all. He’s gone up and gone down and if he can go out on top that would be really unique. But, he is in a really interesting spot. He has won titles, he is on top and I think that right now he has a different mindset: the money and that is possibly GSP (Georges St-Pierre).”
Florian on what’s next for Anderson Silva: “If there is one guy who can pick and choose where he fights, when he fights, and who he fights, it’s Silva. I think he should fight GSP, too. I think it would be a good fight.”
Helwani on what’s next for Silva: “Listen I agree, he has done it all. But, when he entered the UFC he was only 1 and 0 when he got his first title shot. Chris Weidman is 5 in 0 and now he is saying that he hasn’t done enough, and that is nonsense. You have to give back to your weight class. You have to pass the torch. Chris Weidman should fight him next. And, what more does he need to do?”
Florian on if MMA should be an Olympic sport: “I don’t think pro MMA fighters should be in the Olympics. I think people coming up in the sport and amateur fighters should get to fight in the Olympics because it promotes the sport and lets us take a look at the guys coming up in the sport.”
Helwani on if MMA should be an Olympic sport: “I love MMA just like you guys and that’s why I don’t want to see it in the Olympics. I don’t want to see it bastardized with head gear and all these other rules. Let’s see all the big stars go to BJJ Championships (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), but not MMA in the Olympics.”
“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. Two-time World MMA Awards Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani adds insider news.
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