Dana White on rumors about the UFC’s sale: “The UFC is not for sale.”
LOS ANGELES – UFC TONIGHT hosts Daniel Cormier and Kenny Florian preview Saturday’s UFC 198: WERDUM VS. MIOCIC and catch up with headliners Fabricio Werdum and Stipe Miocic. They also talk to UFC President Dana White. Karyn Bryant adds reports.
UFC TONIGHT host Daniel Cormier on Stipe Miocic’s skills: “Stipe has got all the skills. He’s got great wrestling, boxing, cardio, and he’s a big guy who’s wanted this fight. But that pressure he applies can leave him in the Fabricio Werdum wheelhouse. The champion can do it all. He’s so long, he can reach and lock in a clinch behind the head, knee to the body or knee to the face, or take you down. He’s submitted some of the greatest heavyweights ever. This is Werdum’s jiu-jitsu vs. Stipe’s speed. Werdum will be a step behind, but that won’t be the determining factor in this fight.”
UFC TONIGHT host Kenny Florian on how Werdum should fight Miocic: “He needs to control the distance. He needs to be all the way in or all the way out. He can’t be in that middle range, the boxing range where Stipe is so good. He can use his Muay Thai clinch close in or surprise him with a takedown. If he can get on top of Stipe, he could submit him.”
Florian on Werdum’s keys to victory: “He’s become a great striker. He’s very agile and fast. He needs to control the distance and vary his attack, going high and low. And he needs to use that Thai clinch.”
Cormier on Miocic’s keys to victory: “We know the wrestling got him here, but his striking is what brought him to the top of the division. He needs to stick and move. He needs to use his boxing. He’s a very good boxer. He has fast, quick punches and combinations. But most important, his takedowns need to be smart. If he misses it, Werdum can pounce on him. He needs to take smart takedowns.”
VIDEO: Strikezone Predictions: Werdum vs. Miocic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Fabricio Werdum on if he’s excited to headline the biggest fight ever in Brazil: “I’m very excited for the fight, in the stadium with 45,000 people, in my country. I’ve been training for four months for this, and my mind and body are ok, everything is great. My mom is going to be there and watch the fight in person for the first time in 18 years.”
Werdum on if he sees similarities between fighting Cain and Stipe: “Yes, I think the boxing and wrestling are similar. I don’t see Stipe on the ground. I want to see his back on the ground. I’m a black belt in wrestling.”
Werdum on if he can take Stipe down: “Yes, my Muay Thai. He’s waiting. I’ve got a big surprise. Not just takedown him. Just fake, fake, I put him on the ground and finish him or knock him down.”
Werdum on how the fight ends: “100 percent Bruce Buffer will be saying ‘And still the champion.’”
VIDEO: Fabricio Werdum Interview
http://www.foxsports.com/ufc/
Stipe Miocic on how he’ll deal with the crazy Brazilian fans this weekend: “I saw a little of what it’s like two years ago when I fought Fabio Maldonado. It was like 10,000 that day. But it’ll just be me and him in the Octagon. They can do what they want but they’re not in the Octagon.”
Miocic on how he’ll beat Werdum: “Everyone has holes. I’m not going to say anything now, maybe he’s watching. We watched a lot of tape and saw a lot of holes.”
Miocic on if he’ll try to wrestle and take down Werdum: “I’m going to do what I want to do. If he wants to go to the ground, that’s fine. I’m a wrestler. I’m going to be smart. Wherever it goes it goes, but I’m going to dictate where I want it to go.”
Miocic on what it would mean to bring the championship back to Cleveland: “It’d mean everything. We need it. We’ve been so close, but we’ve never gotten it.”
Miocic on if he’ll keep working at the fire department if he wins the title: “When I do become the champion, I’ll still be a fire fighter.”
VIDEO: Stipe Miocic Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Dana White on a possible UFC sale: “We’ve always done strategic deals that help grow the sport and the UFC. The UFC is not for sale. If someone comes to us with six billion dollars, we’ll talk. We’ve done strategic deals in the past and we could again.”
White on a potential fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather: “There’s no reality there. Floyd and Pacquiao were in the same sport and they couldn’t put that together. You think they’re going to make Floyd and Conor? No way.”
White on what he’s looking forward to at UFC 198: “We always dreamed of stadium shows. Now we’re doing more than I ever dreamed of – to sell 45,000 tickets in one day was great. There should be 20,000 people at the weigh-ins. This should be the biggest weigh-ins in combat sports history.”
VIDEO: Dana White Interview
http://www.foxsports.com/ufc/
Henry Cejudo on if he’s ok training fellow flyweights to fight for the title: “Yes and at same time I’ll try to learn from them. These are some of the best in the world. Wrestling takes a lifetime to learn.”
Joseph Benavidez on if Demetrious Johnson is beatable: “From my perspective he’s beatable. You have to argue he’s one of the best ever. I’ve been in there with some of the best and he’s up there. His ability and the way he executes.”
Benavidez on facing Cejudo for weeks filming the show: “It’s not like we’re going to dinner or bowling. We’ll see each other in the gym, in a competitive nature and build up to the fight. This fight is a long time coming for me. I’ll be ready to wrap it and get to the fight.”
VIDEO: Joseph Benavidez & Henry Cejudo Coaching TUF 24
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
VIDEO: Ultimate Update with Megan Olivi
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
