UFC 136 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video & Highlights
Posted on October 5, 2011, 12:38 PM by Joey Santosus
UFC President Dana White, alongside the majority of Saturday's main card competitors, were in attendance today at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas for the UFC 136 Pre-Fight Press Conference. Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard will headline the stacked card, while Featherweight champ Jose Aldo puts his belt on the line against Kenny Florian in the co-main event. Also featured will be a Middleweight showdown between top contenders Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann and a Lightweight clash pitting Melvin Guillard against Joe Lauzon.
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III Pre-Fight Press-Conference Highlights:
Frankie Edgar
• I don't think he's has my number, if he won last time, then I might say he has my number. But, I'm going to win this time and put that to rest.
• I knew Gray was a great fighter. He's got a lot of ability and a lot of skills. He came with the heat and really put the pressure on me in that first-round. His ability to last all five rounds, it was a testament to his determination and toughness.
Gray Maynard
• I feel god, I'm prepared. I'm not all, "I don't know if I did this right, I don't know if I did that right." I'm good, and now it's time to have fun
• It's been a long time. Couture was the last (Champion at Xtreme Couture). Long road, you know. It's a team thing, so it will be cool.
• Hes a tough kid ya know. I mean, he came back off that first-round and even I was amazed.
Jose Aldo
• I think he looked about the same (in his debut) at 145 as he did at 155. I'm just hoping to go out there and keep the pressure on him.
• I was a lot heavier for that fight (against Mark Hominick). Over here in Houston is a lot hotter than in Toronto so it's a lot easier to cut the weight. My coach has been on me this week about making the weight cut easier.
Kenny Florian
• It's going to be a tough fight. Aldo is dangerous. I expect it's going to be a bloody fight and I might leave there bloody, but I'm going to leave with the belt.
• I don't really see (this as my last stand). I am fortunate that I love the sport and love going to the gym everyday. I love the challenges. I want to compete against the best guys and that's what I have here on Saturday night. This has been an excellent camp and I want to go out there and get it done.
Chael Sonnen
• Nobody wants to fight Brian Stann. I'm not the only guy and that's not a big secret. But, our paths are going to cross and that's the way it goes.
• I think ring rust is a real thing. But, I've accepted it and I'm going to have to deal with it.
• I'm out trying to pick a fight. I've been after Anderson for some time. And I've got a beef with everyone in the back that wants a title shot. I've never told Dana I want a title fight, I say I want the title. I'm not scared of that guy, and I'm not going to apologize to that guy. I do appreciate what the Brazilian people said and a lot of (what I said) was said in good fun, but the bottom line is I'm poking my finger in Anderson's chest, I'm looking to pick a fight and I'm not going to stop.
• It doesn't feel like all that long to me. I got put in time out for a while and I'll deal with it. That's the way it goes, you shake it off and you come back. The next fight is always the next fight and you wait for it. I'm not the only one, Frankie and Gray have been out for ten months too. I've never been the victim, I'm not going to complain. I'll take what comes and deal with it to the best of my ability.
• I don't know that I got to break him, we're just going to go out and fight, he'll bring his skills, I'll bring mine and then we'll shake hands when its over. Regardless of what we say or feel, I'll make that walk and when that guy in the shark suit gets out of the ring and the guy with the dreadlocks says fight, I will.
• I think there's always doubts. There is no position in the octagon that I'm comfortable in. Everyday I try to get better. There's always doubts, that's part of it. What fun would this be if it wasn't all on the line? I love adversity, I love going to the ring hurt or sick and trying to find a win anyway. I saw the ride and I bought a ticket anyway, I don't care.
Brian Stann
• Fortunately, I started working on my wrestling quite a bit two years ago. And its probably been the heaviest part of my training camp for the last two years. And I don't have to out wrestle him out there, but people forget, I even went back to my bout agreement and checked, I can punch in this fight.
• When I watch his last couple fights, the guys he fought against really believed in what they were good at and they didn't train for him. Even the fights he lost, he was beating guys up and he got caught while beating them up. I think I'm the best prepared fighter he's faced and I hit harder. There's not unwinnable fights. It's not always about who's the best fighter is, it's about who's better on that given night.
• I think there's a rhythm to fighting and I'll have an advantage mentally but with his wrestling, he'll be ready. I don't expect ring rust to be a factor. I expect Chael to go out and do what he does. We're gonna fight for the entire 15 minutes and we're not gonna stop hitting each other until the last bell rings.
(Presser begins at 18:25)

Comments
I'm worried the Sonnen Stann fight might be a snoozer for the casual MMA fan. Whie I can appreciate the technique and the wrestling, my prediction is that Chael will get his takedowns and hold Stann down for a little GNP. I don't really think there's gonna be a lot of action because we all know Chael does not want to stand with him.
Chael is also in a position where he needs this win to get his rematch with Anderson and may come in with the mindset of getting passed Stann instead of being exciting. With that said I hope I'm wrong.
Well, to be honest, I don't think I've ever seen Sonnen employ any other strategy but that one.
I agree with both of you, he is nothing but a LNP artist.
I'm no Sonnen fan but give the guy a break, he did put A Silva the p4p king (by some peoples reckoning) on his arse more than once from punches and then followed up with ground and pound not lay and pray.
chael talkes a lot but he has never finished a fighter in the ufc. even with testosterone boost he is just bitchslapping....
If Gray Maynard really feels GOD i might have to change my pick.
*good
Maynard is going to crush Frankie this time. I have to say one good thing about this fight. This is the only fight I'm actually glad went to decision and was a draw. This has been a great triology fight.
Please Maynard crush that ****y NJ ****. NJ people are so ****ing ****y assholes.
Chael is scared, for good reason though, Stan is great.
I'll be in the library of my law school downtown watching all the people head into the Compaq Center to see this card..... Super Sigh........
With all due respect to Brian Stann, and he is due a ton, Chael can KO him on the feet.
He knocked A. Silva down more than once. His standup skills are extremely underrated. He just chooses to wrestle because his wrestling is even better.