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CRUZ ON HUNT VS. MIR: “I THINK MIR HAS A FEW MORE WAYS TO WIN.”
Florian on How Mir Beats Hunt: “Frank needs to put Mark on his back.”
Mir on Hunt: “He’s not a threat to finish the fight on ground. If he commits to a standup fight, it’s easier to get him down.”
LOS ANGELES – UFC TONIGHT host Kenny Florian and guest host Dominick Cruz break down the upcoming FS1 UFC FIGHT NIGHT: HUNT VS. MIR and catch up with Mark Hunt and Frank Mir before their headliner.
UFC TONIGHT host Kenny Florian on Hunt: “When high level strikers come to UFC, they don’t always transition well. Mark Hunt has transitioned very well. He has a devastating right hand and his left hook is just as dangerous. Now he’s getting back to feet after takedown attempts and defending submissions.”
UFC TONIGHT guest host Dominick Cruz on Mark Hunt vs. Frank Mir: “I love this matchup. I’m a big fan of both. These guys been around forever. Mark Hunt was with K1 and had over 40 fights matchup. Mir has been breaking people’s limbs forever. This is striker vs. grappler is the way I see this. Mark Hunt has that one-hit quitter. He’s got a good hook and that uppercut of his is great. I’m impressed with his grappling. He comes from kickboxing and now has the ability to stop takedowns and forced them to stand with him. Frank Mir is a great grappler. It’s one thing to practice jiu-jitsu, but it’s another thing to do it in the middle of an MMA fight. Mir switches it up with key locks, triangles, arm bars or he’ll foot-lock you. He looks most impressive when the fight moves to the ground. But he’s a crafty southpaw with a ton of power in his hands. He doesn’t want to be in the open with Mark. Frank has to put Mark in the clinch or against the cage, take away his power and not strike with him.”
Florian on how Mir should fight Hunt: “Frank Mir is one of the best submission artists in the heavyweight division and one of the best of all time. When his striking is on, he looks pretty good. I don’t think he wants to strike with Hunt. It’s just a matter of time when Hunt will land the punch. But Frank’s a submission guy. He needs to put Mark Hunt on his back.”
Cruz on Mir’s keys to victory: “He has to apply forward pressure against Hunt. That works because he doesn’t care about the takedown. He needs to create the clinch opportunities and land the takedown from the forward pressure. He needs to get the finish in the submission area. I think Mir has a few more ways to win. If he gets one takedown, it could be over.”
Florian on Hunt’s keys to victory: “First, Mark needs to stop the takedown. Key two, he needs to throw combinations, and key three is to utilize the right hand. That’s where he gets it done. The left hook isn’t too shabby either.”
VIDEO: Strikezone and Predictions: Mark Hunt vs. Frank Mir
Frank Mir on if Hunt has an advantage fighting in Australia: “That’s why I left Vegas last Thursday. It gives me lots of time to get adjusted. The plane trip was 14 hours. I needed time to get the kinks out of me and my body. I’m ready now.”
Mir on if he’ll try to get the fight to the ground: “His strong suit is striking. He’s not a threat to finish the fight on ground. I’m a threat at both. I have to be aggressive and play to get fight to ground. If I can make takedowns a threat, then that drops his standup down a level because he’ll have to defend more, and it increases my ability to do standup. If he commits to a standup fight, it’s easier to get him down.”
Mir on if he’ll fight like he did against Duffee or Arlovski: “The reason why I was so sluggish against Arlovski was I had too long a training camp. For Duffee, it was 12 weeks of training camp. But for Arlovski, it was longer and I had hard time being explosive. The longer camp took away that pop I had in my step. I trained properly and peaked at right time for this.”
Mir on if he’s had enough time off for this fight: “I was supposed to fight in December, but it fell through. I’m 36 years old. Training is tough and draining and I need the time off to recharge the batteries.”
VIDEO: Frank Mir Interview - http://www.foxsports.com/ufc/video?vid=646215747688
Florian on how Hector Lombard can fight Neil Magny: “Hector is a powerful striker, but he has the advantage on the mat and has to take Magny down. Hector needs to keep his head off line, get into boxing range, and needs to deliver punches to body to slow him down. He needs to get into the clinch and take him down, put him on his back.”
Cruz on how Magny beats Lombard: “Magny needs to fight the way he fights. He’s great at staying long. He’s not a one-punch hitter. He throws punches in bunches. He doesn’t want to get on the ground against Hector. He needs to throw the push kick and the down kick to the knee to keep Hector on the outside and make him eat shots. That will keep Lombard from being able to throw counters, as well. I think Magny’s going to win by decision.”
UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani on New York legalizing MMA: “Many sources are saying the Assembly in New York will vote on legalizing MMA next week. In the past the Assembly has refused to vote on it. Now everyone are saying they’ll vote on it early next week and pass the bill and make it legalized. I’m hearing the UFC has earmarked a debut at Madison Square Garden in November.”
Helwani on Cain Velasquez’s return from injury: “I’m hearing Cain Velasquez vs. Travis Brown at UFC 200. It’s not official.”
Helwani on Cris Cyborg fighting at UFC 198: “UFC 198 is being held in a 40,000 seat soccer stadium in Brazil and they want to make it big. The UFC is actively exploring Cris Cyborg fighting at UFC 198. She’s under Zuffa contract. They’re looking at options, whether she would fight at 145 or 140. They want to stack the deck in Brazil. It’s not official, but they’re looking at it.
Helwani on Rafael dos Anjos fighting at UFC 200: “I spoke to Rafael dos Anjos’ manager and they’re asking for a super fight with Robbie Lawler or a rematch vs. Nate Diaz. But he was told the UFC has different plans for RDA.”
Helwani on Jake Ellenberger: “He’s still with the UFC. The reports of him being dropped are not true.”
VIDEO: Inside The Octagon with Ariel Helwani
For notes, coverage, bios, photography and more, visit the FOX UFC page on FOX Sports Press Pass.
UFC TONIGHT
UFC TONIGHT is the official weekly news and information show of the Ultimate Fighting Championship on FS1. Veteran UFC fighter and multiple title contender Kenny Florian, light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, veteran combat sports journalist Karyn Bryant and six-time World MMA Awards Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani bring you all the news and analysis.
Follow on Twitter at: @KennyFlorian @TheDomin8r @KarynBryant; @ArielHelwani; @UFCTonight; @FS1
