UFC 140 Pre-Fight Press Conference: Jones and Machida go face-to-face
Posted on December 8, 2011, 01:51 PM by Anton GurevichUFC 140 entertainers shared their thoughts ahead of this weekend's action. The press conference featured Jon Jones, Lyoto Machida, Frank Mir, Nogueira brothers, and the newly-branded "The People's Champ" Tito Ortiz. UFC President Dana White hosted the press conference, answering on questions from fans and the media.
Here are some of the best quotes from the press conference, for more, please visit MMAMania.com.
Dana White: Jon Jones wants to take some time off after this fight. He's fought four times this year. He's gonna take some time off. The FOX fight in January will be Evans vs Davis. If Evans wins that fight, he'll get the next shot at the title. If he doesn't, we'll see.
Jon Jones: I know I'm not invincible and I've seen a lot of people end up losing. I want to never let that happen to me. The biggest part is training with Greg Jackson and I'm surrounded by some of the top fighters in the world. Diego Brandao and John Dodson just won the Ultimate Fighter and that's just the little guys. I'm four years into my MMA career and there's so much that I don't know. Jiu-jitsu, boxing, taekwondo, it's a whole culture. There's so much stuff that my teammates are way better than me at, but I'm so good at merging them all together. That keeps me aware of that I don't really know anything. That's what keeps aware, being at Greg Jackson's.
Tito Ortiz: It's not just in the Octagon, when it's fight time, I've got my poker face on. That bad boy's still there in the Octagon. When you fill yourself with hate, life becomes miserable. If you can accept what's in front of you, I believe that good things happen to good people when you do good things. Treat people the way you want to be treated.
Comments
Return of the Dragon!
Top 3 sentences mentioned by Tito while being interviewed:
1: I had a back surgery
2: I'm the people's champ
3: Thank YOU DANA!!!
Did Tito think he was there to play hold'em..
Dana to Tito:"answer the question mother fucccka"
The people champ, what a proud fighter .
Ringo, post more will ya? I like your avatar
The Dragon looks very serious. I'm getting a chill (although that could be coming from my wife cuz I'll be out Saturday night).
Every fighter looks serious until they get in there with Jones. But I said it since the Bader fight that Machida poses the most challenges against the champ.
I have fought a few times before--and I have broken my nose (three times) and fingers several times to prove it. Not to metnion eyes that ballooned to 5 times the size and bruisel and torn tendons (worse than broken bones) , shoulder insjuries and many injuries and experiences in actual hand to hand combat--not always in a ring--and yet, with that said, I can never be as certain about who will win in many MMA matches--as so many fans seem to be so certain.
Certain fighters, like Anderson Silva, GSP and now Jon Jones--perform some magic--and make great fighters appear to be amateurs.
I thought Rampage and Shogun would lose, but not so badly. I never thought they would be dominated. Right now, I think Lyoto Machida is the best matchup for Jon Jones in the LHW division. I am not saying I think he will win, but I am saying I think he has the best chance at LHW of anyone to defeat Jon Jones.
Machida has sick TDD and his style is elusive point karate, where you keep your distance, wait for an opening, then explode--do your thing--then jump back--and wait for another chance. He favors counter-striking, which with an aggresive oppoent, can yield hard strikes in relative safety. Once your oppoent commits to an attack--he is locked into a path controlled by gravity, mass, momentum, and balance--and if you are quick--you can avoid the attack, and strike a blow without fear of a counter--as long as you don't get too greedy.
Jon Jones is also elusive, but he tends to be more aggresive in his attacks. He can afford to be with his reach. Jones is only now fully utilzing his arm and leg reach. He as always utilized his elbow reach very well. Those extra few inches in elbows makes all the difference in ground and pound--as his opponents have discovered to their chagrin.
I remember fighting a tall lean guy one time, and I was shocked at his strength, which belied his slim appearance. I realized that although his arms were not thick, his muscles were long and stretched out over long--and that he had a lot of muscle--but spread out over a long humerus.
I fear this fight might be a lot of dancing around--interpersed by short, sharp exchanges--each elusive fighter seeking a relatively safe opening. Still, I am looking forward to it. Machida has the talent and ability to defeat Jones--but he is definitely the underdog--so I am rooting for him--nothing against Jones, who I also like as a fighter.
Wannabe Poser ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
dont know what to say about Mir and Tito using hand sanitizer right after shaking hands with the Noguiera brothers
Caught that as well... can't take any chances this close to the fight. LOL
Maybe they are worried about getting staph infection...
what is this team blackhouse vs. all
Machida looks big!
He's wearing a suit...
He got the suit in Rio. He's a big man in Rio.
Tito's head looks bigger.
Lol
I don't think Machida is going to handle jons reach, jon will overwhelm him push him into the cage take him down and finish the fight. If jons chases machida around he's going to be lured into his countering and get hurt, but jon has greg jackson behind him who knows this. This might even be jones first 5 round title fight, who's got the better cardio? i don't think it'll matter when jones puts his size and speed on machida.
I can't wait for this fight between Jones and the Dragon. How do I find that viral video of Jones and Machita with Evans running in crying? I'd like to check that out.
WORD
LOL dana told tito to answer the question! and tito obeyed cuz if he didnt, no job for him win or lose!
John Jones: "Trust me, I'm not arrogant."
Welcome back to the Machida Era!!!!
why isn't Dan Henderson mentioned when talking about getting a title shot.
Hendo would get creamed.
Jones is going to be a legend. people who say he is ****y and up himself should pay close attention to his words. He is champion and has dominated virtually all of the competition thus far and says he has so much still to learn and improve upon. That's SCARY!! He admits others are better at various parts of MMA, which is HUMBLE, not ****y.
I think Machida is definately top 3 in the LHW division despite his recent form and will be Jones best test yet IMO. Can't wait.
I'm excited for this fight. I think its dumb that people bring up Anderson Silva fighting Jones already when the light heavyweight division is so stacked. I'm pretty sure I consider any of the LHW top contenders vs the champ a "super fight" with the division the way it is. That being said, the only thing that can stop Jones right now is himself. I think he's capable of multiple title defenses as long as he could keep his head clear.