September 19, 2011 – The media conference call for this Saturday’s UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage event at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO took place this afternoon.
Below are the notable quotes from the participants in main and co-main event.
Quinton Jackson:
√ People can assume that I talk to get into my opponent’s heads or try and harass them or this and that but I just react on how guys act towards me. When I met Jon Jones, he acted real cocky towards me and said stuff that you shouldn’t say to a seasoned fighter like me. So I talk to him the way I talk to him because he’s really cocky. I don’t care that much about him to try and get into his head, TBH. (on why he talks to his opponent like he does)
√ I’m not even going to answer your question homey. (on if he’s worried about Jon Jones’ elbows and if he’ll change his style for him)
√ When I had to fight Machida… I wanted to be the first person to beat him – nothing against him or anything. I just want to be the first person to beat Jon. Everybody’s counting me out and he seems to be underestimating me so I want to relieve him of his first loss so he can go on to be a great fighter like I know he can be. I just want to give him that first ass-whoopin’. (on being the older fighter fighting guys like Jones and whether he thinks that’s an advantage)
√ At the press conference in Denver, he was being cocky and saying stuff that was uncalled for. I took him as he was serious. I want him to remember that he started all the sh-t talking first. It was just him and Rashad that I’ve had words like this with in my career, even going back to my old fights in PRIDE. It’s that kind of stuff that motivates me to train real hard. (on what Jones said that sparked this war of words)
√ I’m not even looking forward to fighting Rashad because he talked a whole lot of smack but didn’t back it up in that fight. I feel like the fans lost in that fight and I want to fight him again to get that loss back but I’m not going to hype it like that and I don’t want to do another Ultimate Fighter like last time. (on whether he’s interested on doing the first Ultimate Fighter season on FX if he wins this fight and is set up against Rashad Evans)
√ I got to be honest about it. Jon Jones does have skill and I’m not looking past him at all but the only person he really fought was Shogun coming off an injury and I know that wasn’t the real Shogun. Other people can put him up there but I’m not putting him up there just yet. (on people thinking Jon Jones is one of the top-three fighters in the world)
√ He puts on a good boy act in front of the camera and everything but you could tell his head got kind of big. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t got nothing against him personally and I like how positive he is. I know what’s up with him but I don’t think he’s real all the time. I like for people to be themselves all the time and I don’t think he always that. That’s why I have my disagreement with him. (on why he thinks Jon Jones is cocky and whether he really dislikes him)
Jon Jones:
√ I guess maybe because I took a backseat in the conversation, who knows… But I’m very aware of why I’m here and it’s not to prove I’m a better talked. TBH, if I had it my way I’d do very limited media if possible but I’m doing my job. I don’t care to outtalk him. I’ll let him talk and have fun but I’ll demand more respect in the octagon. (on public reaction that he’s intimidated)
√ The only thing that bothered me initially was the “Spygate” situation. It wasn’t so much the talk but the fact that fans may consider that I actually paid someone to go to his camp and shy on him. Outside of that, nothing’s bothered me. This experience is going to make me better in the future. (on if any of the pre-fight talk has actually bothered him)
√ I don’t feel it’s the biggest one so far. Leading up to the Shogun fight was pressure since it was only on six-weeks time and it was a UFC title fight. That was tremendous pressure, especially with the ‘In the Moment’ camera crew that was around me all the time. That fight was a lot more pressure in general. (on this being his most marquee fight he’s been in as far as the media barrage and how he’s handled it)
√ I’ve been able to finish fights without getting knockouts and I’m comfortable with that. (on whether he feels he has to change his style to go toe-to-toe with Rampage)
√ I thought Rampage did a great job. (on whether he’s seen the A-Team movie)
√ I mean, it was different. I looked up to Shogun because he was a PRIDE champion at 24. It inspired me to want to do it at a young age. That’s what made that fight special and it showed in our performance. This is different but still a huge honor. Beating him will be huge in many ways. (on whether he admires Rampage in the same way he admired Shogun)
√ Not to be cliché but I’m not focus on anything else or any other way besides straight. I know future opportunities will come up. (on whether he’s interested on doing the first Ultimate Fighter season on FX)
√ It definitely makes me fight better because it helps me prepare better. Other than that, I try not to say too much or get into that kind of stuff heading into my fights. I just try to understand what I’m up against and get ready. (on whether anger towards his opponents help him fight better)
Matt Hughes:
√ I think it’s pretty cool to back to where it started but I wasn’t in the UFC when the fight was last in Denver. I don’t have any recollections of the UFC in Denver back then. (on the UFC’s past experiences in Denver)
√ I said, yes, whoever you want. (on what he told Dana White regarding replacements after Diego Sanchez got injured)
√ It’s the competition. That’s what drives your top athletes in the UFC. It makes you want to keep getting back in there and compete against another human being. That’s the drive right there. I’m a lucky man. Being able to train twice a day… This is a great lifestyle. (on what keeps him motivated after all these fights he’s had in his career)
√ I picked up a lot from BJ. He’s a very intelligent fighter. I obviously made a couple of mistakes in my fight with him and he was able to recognize them and capitalize on them. We worked on my footwork and tried to correct some things. Boxing and wrestling footwork are different so it hasn’t been the easiest thing. (on going into this fight coming off the fight with BJ and what he picked up from training with him afterwards)
√ This is the last fight on the contract so the outcome won’t really matter to be honest. After this one, we’ll talk to the UFC and figure out what we want to do, how I feel, and what the UFC wants to do. (on this fight affecting how he decides his future)
Josh Koscheck:
√ I’ve been training for 4-5 months. Took about 3-4mo.off after GSP. I went back to basics, went back to basics, BJJ class, and got back to how it was when I first started and also helping other guys in their camps, Cormier, etc. Matt Hughes is a good fight for me. The fans deserved it a long time ago. (on how long it took to get back to full-training after injury)
√ I opened 2 gyms in Fresno and they’re doing well. I have a partner helping me on everything. (on opening his new gyms in Fresno, CA)
√ I’m not going to be gun shy. I’m reading to rock. I don’t feel this injury so much. I was only out 2-3 months but then I was right back in the gym. I’m always 2-3 weeks away from being ready to fight. (on the past injury affecting his wanting to throw down)
√ It was a good idea to get some time off. I took three months off and then got back into regular training. It was good. I got to focus on some other areas I haven’t been able to focus on in the last 4-5 years. I came back and got to slow the game down and work on some new stuff I haven’t worked on in awhile. I got back with my old Muay Thai instructor I haven’t seen in awhile. It’s been good. (on whether a little time off was good at this point in his career)
UFC 135 – Main Card (PPV)
►Light Heavyweight Championship: Jon Jones (c) vs. Quinton Jackson
► Welterweight bout: Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck
► Heavyweight bout: Travis Browne vs. Rob Broughton
► Lightweight bout: Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
► Heavyweight bout: Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt
Preliminary Card (Spike TV)
► Lightweight bout: Tony Ferguson vs. Aaron Riley
► Middleweight bout: Nick Ring vs. Tim Boetsch
Preliminary Card (Facebook)
► Featherweight bout: Junior Assunção vs. Eddie Yagin
► Bantamweight bout: Takeya Mizugaki vs. Cole Escovedo
► Light Heavyweight bout: James Te Huna vs. Ricardo Romero
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