BLUE BALLS
“The game plan was to take Mirko apart. One piece at a time.” – Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem, on his bout with former Pride OWGP Champion Mirko Filipovic. Their anticipated rematch has been put on hold by K-1. (FiveOuncesofPain.com)
“I’m 100% sure I would have finished him if the fight wasn’t called off.” – Overeem, the fight had been called off after Filipovic wasn’t able to continue as a result of two knees to the groin.
“I think he knew he was losing and took the easy way out.” – Overeem
“I don’t want the public to think that I’m afraid of him.” – Filipovic (Free Fight Videos)
“If he doesn’t believe I don’t get to choose my opponent and that maybe Dream doesn’t want us to fight on New Year’s then he can come to Zagreb next weekend and we can fight in my cage with neutral referees.” – Filipovic
“Should he not show up I urge him to stop calling me out until the rematch happens. He has an opportunity to stand behind his words. We’ll fight for honor.” – Filipovic, hopefully Overeem calls Mirko’s bluff.
ULTIMATE BUILDUP
“We always try to make the last show of the year…the big one.” – UFC President Dana White, hyping up UFC 92. (UFC 92 Preview)
“There’s gonna be no more gimme fights because everyone in the weight class is a beast.” – UFC Light Heavyweight contender Rashad Evans
“I remember looking at my wife and telling her, ‘I don’t have it no more. [With] these injuries, there’s just no way.'” – Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir, on his attempted comeback after a devastating motorcycle accident.
“My wife, in so many words, called me a p—-, a failure as a man, and a bad example to my children.” – Mir, whose wife sounds delightful.
“He’s like a zombie, he’s like Frankenstein. Every time you kill him, the mother f—– rises again.” Mir, on UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
“It can be my mom in that ring, and I’ll go ahead and break her arm.” – Mir, invoking a popular poker analogy.
“I really don’t remember the fight because I won’t watch it.” – Quinton Jackson, referring to the second fight with Wanderlei Silva which ended with him resting on the middle rope.
“All I can remember is that I was winning the fight, and then I got knocked the hell out.” – Jackson
“I know he remembers my knee.” – Silva
“Wanderlei knows I’m a better fighter than him. Wanderlei’s not the golden boy anymore.” – Jackson, referring to the alleged special treatment Silva received as Pride’s posterboy
“I’m excited for this match because I don’t like him.” – Silva, making me almost as excited for the buildup to the fight as the fight itself.
THEY TOOK HIS TRUCK KEYS AWAY, TOO
“I can finally feel the energy from taking supplements and eating right.” – Quinton Jackson, on his improved training. (Throwdown TV)
“I looked at the fights that I had with him years ago, and I was pretty ashamed of myself.” – Jackson, I thought he said he won’t watch the Silva fights?
“How did I even make it to the finals in that tournament to fight him?” – Jackson
“It’s the most focused I’ve been ever in my career.” – Jackson
ABC, KNEES, AND DRUG TESTING
“Now that there are rules from different organizations and states, it can be confusing for younger fighters.” – Pat Miletich, no offense, but if fighters don’t know what rules they’re fighting under, they should consider another profession. (Sherdog)
“Hardcore fans want knees to head on the ground, and I can tell you it’s not going to happen.” – Deputy Attorney for the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board Nick Lembo
“One of main reasons it’s not going to happen is because the industry itself doesn’t want it.” – Lembo, referring to fighters, managers, etc.
“I like the Pride rules.” – Quinton Jackson
“I’ve cancelled all drug testing across the board while I revamp the entire process from start to finish. I expect the new and improved program to roll out next week.” – California State Athletic Commission Assistant Executive Officer Bil Douglas (MMA Weekly)
I AM LEGEND
“If you ask somebody ‘Who is the best pound for pound in the world’ a lot of people agree and say it’s B.J. Penn.” – UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre, on why he wants the rematch with UFC Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn (FiveOuncesofPain.com)
“I want to fight to become a legend in the sport.” – St. Pierre, might want to set the bar a litlte higher.
“We’re going to fight each other, we’re both in our prime, and it’s going to be a great fight.” – St. Pierre, describing what may be the first real Superfight in MMA.
“I like those kinds of fighters, like Tito and Phil Baroni. But that isn’t me.” – St. Pierre, responding to a question about how to hype up the fight.
DINNER WITH THE MUSCLE SHARK
“That’s definitely music to my ears.” – Former UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk, on former CSAC head Armando Garcia leaving his post (FiveOuncesofPain.com)
“What I do remember about it — and again, I’m not real familiar with the contract, as I haven’t read it in detail yet — but I do know we can sell sponsorship spots on there. So they are going to allow us to sell hats, shorts, shirts, and patches and with that being said, you could very easily make $100,000 off something like that.” – Sherk, adding an interesting twist to the video game shenanigans.
“To be honest with you, if you’re going to be gone 13, 14, or 15 months, I think you should relinquish the belt.” – Sherk, then why were you complaining when the UFC stripped you last year?
PARTING SHOTS
“Big, mean, bearded street fighter, an Internet You Tube sensation, gets a crack at a title in a hugely hyped mixed martial arts bout after only three pro fights, faces a last-minute replacement and — of course — has his big, mean, bearded head handed to him 14 seconds later. Snorrrrre.” – Some asshat at Sports Illustrated, a rag that apparently bypasses fact checking these days (SI.com)
“Yes, and I do see myself defeating Brock Lesnar.” – Alistair Overeem
“This is not a fighter I will defeat if I am taking shortcuts in training.” – WAMMA Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko, on canceling his press tour to focus on his fight with former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski (FightLinker)
“It’s in my plans, it’s one of my personal projects.” – UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, reigniting the flames of his boxing future (Fighters Only)
“Suddenly Miguel Torres is God.” – Jeff Curran, correct.