Fights are also upon us. Until they arrive, these are a bunch of quotes from the fighters who will be engaging in human chicken with one another. I dunno, the UFC sent it out and you guys know how I love filler content I don’t have to work for.
It would be funny if someone got in trouble for one of these given how obviously pre-screened they just be. Let’s have fun with them anyways.
Demian Maia: “I was sad I didn’t get a title shot, but this is the best fight I can have aside from a title fight. I like to keep my rhythm and keep fighting. I feel that’s important for an athlete, especially in MMA because we don’t fight every month. I can’t be frustrated about it because I have a fight coming up. If I win, then it’s between Stephen Thompson and me (for the next title shot). First of all, I need to win Saturday. Carlos Condit is one of the toughest tests in the welterweight division. He will keep pushing until the very last second.”
Carlos Condit: “It has been a fun challenge (preparing for Demian Maia). He’s an amazing grappler. He’s very good at what he does. He’s very well rounded even though he sticks to jiu-jitsu. It’s been fun preparing to solve a puzzle like Demian Maia. Once he hits the ground, he’s a straight killer. He’s been really good at taking the fight to where he wants it. I’ve been doing jiu-jitsu for a long time. It’s one of my favorite aspects of this sport. Obviously I’m not going to get in there and try to go eyeball-to-eyeball with Demian Maia at jiu-jitsu, but I have the skills to create opportunities for what I want to do.”
Anthony Pettis: “It feels good to be nervous again. It feels like old times again, because everything is attached to this fight. The guy I’m fighting is a former lightweight. I’ll have to wait and see exactly how it feels out there. I’m motivated, in shape and ready to go. I actually picked the guy. Everyone else was matched up and he was just sitting there ranked high. It made sense for me. If I come in here and make a big statement it puts me right back in line. You’ve got to put yourself in a horrible place to earn the best for yourself. I’m coming off three losses, my back’s against the wall, and now it’s time to shine.”
Charles Oliveira: “I think he’s coming down to featherweight because he wants to fly higher and take a different approach to his career. Unfortunately for him, he’s coming down and meeting me first. I do think he’s a tough fighter and that it’s a new start in his career. It’s all about whatever God has in store for you. In Vancouver, I think I’m going to come out on top.”
Paige VanZant: “I don’t feel like I was ever brought back. I don’t feel like I left. I just took a short break to do Dancing with the Stars. A lot of other fighters have longer layoffs than I did and they don’t get to have a huge blessing like that. Dancing with the Stars hopefully brought a few new fans who will watch me fight Saturday. It is all about the fighting, but I also want to be successful at any other opportunity that comes my way. I’m a fighter, but I’m also a dancer and actress. I have all these other attributes I want to take advantage of. I feel like I’ll get that because of the UFC, but I’m not going to leave. I’m happy I’m back. Bec’s a great opponent. She’s definitely very tough. This has Fight of the Night potential. I like those kinds of fights. I want to put on a show for everybody because I’m a real fighter.”
(Emphasis mine because OH COME ON!)
Bec Rawlings: “I feel like Paige comes in very wild. She’s new and green in this sport. She just throws everything she knows. There isn’t a thought process to it. If I fight my fight, it plays into my strengths. She’s going to come in wild and I’m going to chin-check her. I feel like I’m one of the hardest hitters in the division. She hasn’t been hit by someone who hits as hard as I do. I’m going to shock her with my power.”
UFC on Fox: Maia vs. Condit aka UFC on FOX 21 FREE LIVE STREAM aka UFC on FOX CARD
- Welterweight Demian Maia vs. Carlos Condit
- Featherweight Anthony Pettis vs. Charles Oliveira
- Women’s Strawweight Paige VanZant vs. Bec Rawlings
- Lightweight Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller
- Middleweight Sam Alvey vs. Kevin Casey
- Featherweight Enrique Barzola vs. Kyle Bochniak
- Middleweight Garreth McLellan vs. Alessio Di Chirico
- Lightweight Shane Campbell vs. Felipe Silva
- Lightweight Chad Laprise vs. Thibault Gouti
- Middleweight Ryan Janes vs. Adam Hunter
- Lightweight Alex Ricci vs. Jeremy Kennedy
