TUF 13 Finale Conference Call Highlights

Welterweights Anthony Ferguson and Ramsey Nijem will go head to head this Saturday night at the TUF 13 Finale from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada to decide who will claim the six-figure UFC contract and the title of "The Ultimate Fighter."  In the co-main event, top Lightweight contenders Anthony "Showtime" Pettis and Clay "The Carpenter" Guida will square off as each looks to take another step towards title contention, while Ed Herman returns to take on Tim Credeur.  Brazilian knockout artist Fabio Maldonado meets fellow Light Heavyweight prospect Kyle Kingsbury and TUF 13 semifinalists Chuck O'Neil and Chris Cope will clash in the evening's main card opener.

Below are highlights from today's Media Conference Call, which included headliners Anthony Pettis and Clay Guida, as well as TUF 13 Finalists Anthony Ferguson and Ramsey Nijem.

Anthony Pettis

• Shane roller that was a fight where I become more of a complete fighter.  I was definitely a pro before that, but I just became a complete fighter and actually got to implement my wrestling and overall MMA skills.

• I think everything happens for a reason and I am at  where I am at for a reason.  I train hard and I push myself to the limit every time I'm in the gym and I think it shows in my fights.  Like you said a year ago nobody knew who I was and now I am fighting a guy like Guida and headlining.

• I was blessed to have a gym like roufous sport in my hometown. Most guys have to move away or travel to find a good gym.  I have one in my own backyard.

• Duke has been in my shoes before.  He's been a star in Kickboxing, so in my personal life he helps me tremendously with how to balance everything.

• I'm not really looking past clay right now. If I win this Clay fight, who knows what is going to happen.  I thought that after I beat Henderson that I was going to get a title shot, but that didn't work. So, I'm just going to stay ready for whoever they give me next.

• I dont feel any pressure at all to try to go out there and one up myself or try to put on the fight of the night.  We always bring exciting fights and between two guys like us in the cage together, its going to be a great fight.

• I always do a great cardio workout.  I've got a great trainer and he implemented a great gameplan for the fight and Clay's cardio.  But, I am not to worried about his cardio, I just fought 25 minutes in my last fight and I felt great the whole time.

• At first I was a little miffed (about the Edgar-Maynard rematch), but I understand it.  I want there to be a clear Champion and I want to show people that I earned the right to be the number one contender.  So, I don't mind going out there and fighting a couple guys before I get my title shot.

Clay Guida

• I'm actually swimming a lot lately.  I'm down at the pool right now while I am doing this interview.  Its become a part of my regime for training.  Look at Michael Phelps, he's one of the best athletes in the world.  Getting tired is for old people.

• (If I win Saturday) hopefully I will get another fight that will get me closer to a title shot.  Saturday night will tell the tale.

• I think that a dominating victory on Saturday night will definitely look better in the eyes of Dana White and the UFC.  I think there's a couple of other guys up there.  Ya know, Jim Miller, but he's fighting one of Anthony's former opponents, Ben Henderson.  Its an interesting little debacle right now in the Lightweight division.

• To me, the most important bonus check is my win bonus.  Everytime Anthony and I step into the cage, its going to be a fight of the night candidate, so I don't think we think about that.  At least I dont, anyway.

• I've been the underdog my whole life man, so this is just another fight.  I'm going to go out there and silence the critics again.

• Obviously we had a couple lanky kickboxers come in and some imaginative and creative training partners to work with.  We always train hard just like everyone out there, but I train harder than everyone, that's what sets me apart from the rest of the pack.

Anthony Ferguson

• I've actually been training with Marty Morgan.  Brock (Lesnar) actually sponsored me and I've been over in Alexandria at Team Death Clutch.  I was there, then I came back to Knucklehead's boxing over in Ventura, my home gym, to finish up the last couple weeks.  So I spent about a good 6 or 7 weeks out in Alexandria.

• I wasn't prepared for (being portrayed as a villain) at all.  I was shocked, but unfortunately that's what happens when you mix in alcohol and you're stuck with a bunch of guys in a house.  I'm a nice guy outside of there, but that was an extraordinary situation.

• It is what it is, I mean all my friends and my family, they know who I am.  As far as fans go, obviously I did make a mistake, but I'm paying for it. My Twitter has been blowing up like crazy and even Facebook, I've had a few people send me some crazy messages that I would have never thought that I would get.

Ramsey Nijem

• I've been training in Utah, its called the PIT Elevated and out in California under John Hackleman at the Pit.  We worked through it with Court (McGee) when he was in the final, so people understood the importance of keeping it under wraps.

• You know sometimes you gotta pay the bills I guess. I always have fun in practice and life.  I am always relaxed and  looking to have a good laugh.  That's just who I am and how I am..  I was actually a little more edited than usual because of the cameras.

• Going in it was never my gameplan to act like a goofball and make people underestimate me.  It was more just about being myself and doing what I do normally.  After my first fight I think  people realized that I am a serious fighter and I turn it on when I fight.

• I definitely paid close attention and my coaches watched a lot of film on him.  That's how we got the game plan ready, observing Tony in the environment, his training and watching the show.  That's all helped me get ready for this fight.

Complete audio will be available soon!

Photo: Clay Guida at the UFC 94 at the MGM Grand Arena, on January 31, 2009 in Las Vegas, NV. Francis Specker