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ESPARZA ON WINNING THE TITLE: “I REALLY WANTED TO SHOW THE WORLD I’M AN ENTERTAINING FIGHTER.”

By Mike Johnson on 12/13/2014 2:16 AM

ESPARZA ON WINNING THE TITLE: “I REALLY WANTED TO SHOW THE WORLD I’M AN ENTERTAINING FIGHTER.”

 

Tate on Esparza: “Carla’s top pressure was insane. She was relentless with the takedowns and was phenomenal.”

 

Tate, Cruz and Evans Break Down UFC FIGHT NIGHT Fights, Plus White Interview

           

LOS ANGELES, CA – The following quotes and video links are from tonight’s FOX SPORTS LIVE UFC FIGHT NIGHT: A CHAMPION WILL BE CROWNED postfight coverage on FOX SPORTS 1. The show was hosted by Jay Glazer, with Dominick Cruz, Rashad Evans and Miesha Tate as analysts.

                                        

UFC ON FOX analyst Dominick Cruz on Carla Esparza vs. Rose Namajunas: “These two came out and went right at it. Rose defended the takedowns early, but I think she wore out quickly. The tale of the fight was the takedowns and Carla controlling the top position. It was a beautiful fight. This shows me Carla has a little more MMA experience. Esparza is a wrestler, but has evolved past that and gotten better.”

 

UFC ON FOX analyst Miesha Tate on what set Esparza apart from Namajunas: “Carla’s top pressure was insane. She was relentless with the takedowns, which we anticipated and she was phenomenal. She was really good at pressuring in the guard. But she didn’t want to just stay in the guard. She forced Rose to be uncomfortable. Rose is a young fighter and will come back stronger. She’ll learn from this.”

 

UFC ON FOX analyst Rashad Evans on what Namajunas did wrong: “I think Rose came in too flashy, throwing a lot of kicks. If you know Carla can take you down, I wouldn’t throw kicks and let her take me down.”

 

Carla Esparza on what it feels like to win the UFC strawweight title: “It feels like a dream. I never thought this moment was going to come.”

 

Esparza on her improving striking: “I really wanted to show the world I’m an entertaining fighter, I’m a mixed martial artist and I have all kinds of weapons.

 

Esparza on what being on THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER was like: “It was a lot of ups and downs. The show was tough, the camp was tough and this title fight was tough, but I came home with the gold, so that was all that matters.”

 

VIDEO: Recapping THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER Finale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtaSWf2aczk

 

VIDEO: Highlights: Esparza vs. Namajunas

http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=371271235720  

 

VIDEO: Interview: Esparza speaks after beating Namajunas to win THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER and the first ever UFC Women's Strawweight Title

http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=371267651995

 

Cruz on what Charles Oliveira did to dominate Jeremy Stephens: “Oliveira came right at Jeremy, put him on his heels and didn’t let him get started with anything. He was just trying to get him going backward, and Jeremy couldn’t get off his strikes.”

 

Charles Oliveira on his fight with Stephens: “I trained very hard for three months for this fight and he said some things and I wanted to show him what I had.”

 

VIDEO: Highlights: Jeremy Stephens vs. Charles Oliveira

http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=371271235674

 

VIDEO: Interview: Oliveira speaks after beating Stephens

http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=371268675554

 

UFC president Dana White on this season of THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER: “It was a great season. It was very unique. I say it all the time, the best rise to the top in The Ultimate Fighter.”

 

White on Esparza’s performance: “She did a real good job closing the distance and standing with her. She completely dominated on the ground and looked good on her feet.”

 

White on what the show and new division will do for MMA: “You’ll see a lot of women at this weigh class getting into mixed martial arts and getting into the UFC.”

 

White on Charles Oliveira not making weight again: “If this keeps happening, we’re going to force you to move up to the next weight class. It’s a guy’s job to come in on weight. It’s not fair.”

 

White on Nate Diaz missing weight: “The Nate Diaz thing is completely different: he’s complaining about money, not showing up for appearances and he’s not making weight. I don’t know what to do with him.”

 

VIDEO: Highlights:  Jessica Penne vs. Randa Markos

http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=371269699582

 

VIDEO: Highlights:  Bec Rawlings vs. Heather Jo Clark

http://youtu.be/NmEm2N1Y7V4

 

VIDEO: Highlights: Felice Herrig vs. Lisa Ellis

http://www.foxsports.com/video/UFC?vid=371603523842

 

VIDEO: Interview:  Felice Herrig on her victory over Lisa Ellis

http://youtu.be/UidnDA-698o