Florian on Why Rothwell Will Win: “His confidence is high right now. He believes in himself.”

LOS ANGELES – UFC TONIGHT host Kenny Florian and guest host Miesha Tate preview Sunday’s FS1 UFC FIGHT NIGHT: ROTHWELL VS. DOS SANTOS and catch up with headliners Ben Rothwell and Junior Dos Santos, as well as Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold and Chris Weidman. Plus, Karyn Bryant adds reports.

                                   

UFC TONIGHT host Kenny Florian on Jon Jones facing Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 197: “Ovince Saint Preux as nothing to lose. He can match the athletics of Jon Jones. For Jon Jones, he’s got so much going on that could be a distraction and he hasn’t fought in a long time. This could be a good time to fight him.”

 

UFC TONIGHT guest host Miesha Tate on defending her belt against Amanda Nunes at UFC 200: “She’s really tough. She’s on a four-fight win streak. She’s really dangerous. I asked to fight the next best person in line and that’s what they told me. I’m very, very excited for my first title defense. Ronda is out until November or December and Holly – it was her first defense and she wasn’t successful. I finished her.”

 

Tate on if Ronda Rousey should get a title shot when she comes back: “I think if she wants it, she should get it. She was the best for a long time. She has a tall order. I’m at the top of my game. I’m on a five-fight win streak and I have an amazing camp behind me. I’m ready to defend this thing.”

 

VIDEO:  Miesha Tate Interview – talks Rousey, Cyborg and Holm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEFciQNrNZ8

 

Florian on Ben Rothwell’s keys to victory over Junior Dos Santos this weekend: “He needs to vary his attack – mix things up with kicks, punches, elbows, takedowns and the clinch game. He needs to invite the brawl and get a little bit nasty. He doesn’t want to get into a technical boxing match with Dos Santos. And he needs to land the takedown. We saw how dangerous Rothwell is on the mat. He’s got to put JDS on his back. I think Rothwell’s confidence is high right now. He believes in his training and in himself. He’ll win the fight.”

 

Tate on Dos Santos’ keys to victory and why he’ll win: “He needs to throw combos. He’s best when mixing his punches together. Key number two – he’s got to stick and move. He’s got to use his footwork and head movement to counterstrike. He’s got to slip and land punches. And finally, he’s got to defend the takedown. I think he’s going to be a caged animal. His back is against the wall and he has a statement to prove. That makes him the most dangerous fighter we’ve ever seen.”

 

VIDEO: UFC Strikezone/Predictions: Rothwell vs. Dos Santos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut2VeizdXus

 

Ben Rothwell on if he needs to be wary of Junior Dos Santos’ one-punch knockout power: “I have that too. Who knows what he’s going to do? I bring out the best in everybody. I’m sure he’s changing up something in his camp. He throws a hard left hook, a hard left overhand and has added in kicks too. It doesn’t matter. I’m ready for anything.”

 

Rothwell on if he believes Dos Santos is at the end of his career after losing three of his last five fights: “I don’t know and I don’t care. Why are we talking bad about him? His back’s against the wall. He’s an animal backed into a corner. He’s going to be ferocious. I’ve been training for the champion Junior and he better be all of that because that’s what I’m coming to fight.”

 

Rothwell on why his gogo choke is so effective: “They think it’s the squeezel deezel choke but they can’t get it right. I guess it’s my smooth skin. When I get it around their throats, they don’t know how to react to it.”

 

VIDEO: Ben Rothwell Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo_9QNLFYJM

 

Junior Dos Santos on if he feels pressure to win after his latest performances: “I have had some hard times. I believe I can be the champion again. This is going to be my first step back to the title shot. I have a very hard opponent in front of me. I love big challenges and I have a very big one in front of me.”

 

Dos Santos on if he wins will he be close to a title shot again: “I’ll be right there. I’m just waiting for the call from the UFC saying: ‘Junior it’s your time again.’ I’ll be ready for sure. Everything I want is to win this fight against Rothwell.”

 

Dos Santos on whether he’d welcome Jon Jones to the heavyweight division: “Of course I would fight him. I’d fight anyone at heavyweight, or anyone in the UFC. Jon Jones is an amazing fighter. It’ll be a pleasure to have him in the heavyweight division.”

 

Daniel Cormier on how he injured himself: “I had a kick checked. I fell over not knowing what happened. By end of the weekend, my leg was very swollen. I did an MRI because of all of the swelling and found out I tore a ligament.”

 

Cormier on his offer to help train OSP: “It’s an offer you don’t anticipate people taking. But by putting it out there, it says: ‘anyone but Jon.’ The enemy of my friend is my friend. I’d help anybody but Jones.”

 

VIDEO: Daniel Cormier Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CgLH-JqRUE

 

Luke Rockhold on the tension between him and Chris Weidman: “I got the belt. It’s getting to him. He’s not used to losing and he’s got to get used to it. It’s going to happen again.”

 

Weidman on his motivation in the rematch: “He has my belt. He beat me. If you want to make it personal, make it personal. I’ve won the belt and I lost the belt. As a family man. Keep attacking me. He’s talking crap to my managers behind my back.”

 

VIDEO: Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IymiHUknJ0w

 

VIDEO: UFC TONIGHT previews THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER, season 23 cast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCImjq0P_wA

 

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 and veteran combat sports journalist Karyn Bryant bring you all the news and analysis.

 

Follow on Twitter at: @KennyFlorian @MieshaTate @KarynBryant; @UFCTonight; @FS1