Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
“UFC TONIGHT” SHOW NOTES – 8/28/12
Belfort Interview, Plus Updates on Weidman, Munoz and Lombard, and Erin Andrews’ Picks on “UFC Tonight”
“UFC Tonight” Airs Tuesdays 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT
LOS ANGELES, CA – On this week’s “UFC Tonight,” Host Todd Harris and Analyst Kenny Florian interview Vitor Belfort and discuss his upcoming fight with Jon Jones. Plus, Florian comments on whether Chael Sonnen knew of Dan Henderson's injury before it was announced. We have an update on Chris Weidman's next fight and the latest on a possible fight between Mark Munoz and Hector Lombard. Brendan Schaub talks about his upcoming fight with Lavar Johnson. Plus, FOX College Football host Erin Andrews talks Forrest Griffin and her college football picks.
Quote of the Week: Belfort on why he feels he deserves a shot against Jones: “I have history in the UFC. I have been a champion in the light heavyweight division and in my scenario I think it is a better fit for me to fight him over Chael Sonnen.”
Vitor Belfort on how he got the fight against Jon Jones: “You know the first thing that I heard was when Dana called me and told me that UFC 151 was cancelled. I was bummed because as an old school fighter I have never seen a show get cancelled. I told Lorenzo that if he needed me to replace Hendo that I would, but he responded saying they had it all figured out. Later, he reached out to me again to see if I would be willing to fight Jones in Canada. The oldest guy in the sport is fighting the youngest guy. We are going to have fun, the fans are going to have fun, I’m going to have fun, Jones is going to have fun.”
Belfort on how long he has been training: “I have trained my entire life. Some people say they need three months, four months, six months. When I was injured, I trained using other techniques. Some people say they need to get ready, I live ready. I am ready.
Belfort on training with the Blackzilions: “It has been great. When I came here everyone received me with great love. I’ve been training with Rashad [Evans] and Alistair [Overeem]. I have different coaches here and I’m working with different teams, but I was looking for good training partners and I am having a blast. I am learning a lot. It is so good for me to learn, I feel so young. Rashad has fought against Jones and has trained with him, so I am learning a lot.
“UFC Tonight” Analyst Kenny Florian on Jones declining to fight Sonnen: “Jon Jones is one of the best fighters in the world. He is the champion. He is going into a main event that he is already prepared for and a title fight he is already prepared for. They gave him a guy like Chael who is, in my opinion - sorry Chael - isn’t as dangerous as Dan Henderson. Hendo has a great right hand. Chael is not a guy who is really going to submit you or kill you, but he will rough you up. Jon Jones is a wrestler. He is a fighting a guy who is coming up from 185 and he really should have taken this fight.”
Florian on why there is a lot of criticism on Jones right now: “I think there is a lot of criticism towards Jones because he is so good. He is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters out there right now. He is the champ. He is going against someone at 185. Sonnen would have brought in a lot of PPV buys, so a lot of people are confused as to why he didn’t take the fight.”
Florian on if Chael Sonnen knew that Dan Henderson was injured before it was officially announced: “That’s a very good question. Chael never said he knew Henderson was injured directly to me. But, you’ve got to think that Chael knew something and was doing it with some very key intentions. Chael knew what he was up to.”
“UFC Tonight” Insider Ariel Helwani on how Jon Jones and Greg Jackson, Jon Jones’ coach, are feeling after the cancellation of UFC 151: “They have moved on and started to train for Vitor Belfort, and are making a game plan for that fight. Greg Jackson is excited to fight Vitor Belfort. He’s trained with him in the past. They still stand by their decision to not fight Chael Sonnen with what they say is three days’ notice, not eight days’ notice, because they really don’t get to train during fight week. They’re just thinking about the next fight now.”
Helwani reports on Chris Weidman possibly fighting Alan Belcher: “His [Weidman’s] response was that he’s still hoping and waiting for a fight with Anderson Silva, but the UFC still has not said if he will fight him. If he can’t fight Anderson Silva, he said he would like to fight with a number-one contender fighter, but he believes that Alan Belcher isn’t that fighter given where he’s ranked. So what he proposed is fighting the winner of the Bisping vs. Stann fight, for a number-one contender spot.”
Helwani on Mark Munoz saying he’d like to fight Hector Lombard next: “Hector Lombard said he’d like to take this fight. Before UFC 149, Hector Lombard was talking a lot more about fighting Mark Munoz than he was with his opponent Tim Boetsch. Hector has yet to be offered this fight, but would like to fight Mark next.”
Helwani on how the Flyweights Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson felt going from main event to co-main event on UFC 152: “Both had interesting takes on the confusing situation. Joseph Benavidez took the news very well and said he got into the UFC to be a champion, not to fight in main events. He said that he knew more people would watch the fight now that Jon Jones was fighting Vitor Belfort. As for Demetrious Johnson, he was bummed out. ‘It sucked,’ he said. He was shocked by it and needed time to digest it. But then, he thought about it and decided that more people will watch the fight and that would be a good thing. So overall Joseph liked the change and Demetrious Johnson needed more time to digest it and was accepting of it. In the end, they’re the co-main event now and they’ll both be main events in the very near future.”
Brendan Schaub on why he called out a fight with Lavar Johnson: “I think it’s good to control your own destiny. I just throw a name out there. He’s had three fights in the UFC and two Knockouts of the Nights. His sole loss is to Struve. I think people are scared of him. I think it’d be a good fight. Lavar hits hard. For me, yeah people say I have a weak chin, so this would solidify my place. But I fight at heavyweight. Everyone hits hard.”
Florian on which UFC fighter he would like to see in a boxing ring: “I think there are a few guys I think would do well in the boxing ring. But, the one I’d like to see most is Junior Dos Santos at heavyweight. He has some serious power, some serious speed and great technical skills.”
Florian on how GSP feels now that he’s medically cleared to fight again: “He’s 100 percent, he’s ready, he’s excited and he can’t wait for the fight in November. He’s started sparring and he feels great. We’ll see if he can get back to that level that he was at, or above it, when he comes back in November.”
“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.
For a complete listing of FUEL TV shows, go to: http://www.fuel.tv/schedule/. For more information, go to www.fuel.tv/ufctonight and on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/fueltv
Follow UFC Tonight and the talent on Twitter at: @UFCTonight; @thetoddharris; @kennyflorian; @FUELTV
