UFC on Fox Conference Call: Cain and JDS ready to "Throwdown"
Posted on November 2, 2011, 02:08 PM by Joey Santosus
A Heavyweight title clash between division Champion Cain Velasquez and challenger Junior dos Santos will headline the stacked UFC on Fox fight-card, set to take place November 12th from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Also featured will be a Lightweight showdown between top contenders Clay Guida and Ben Henderson, as well as a Featherweight bout pitting Dustin Poirier against Pablo Garza.
Below are highlights from today's UFC on Fox Media Conference Call, which included Dana White, as well as headliners Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos (via MMAMania.com):
Dana White
• There's gonna be a lot of breaking down the fighter, features going backstage. The first time we've ever done this, an interview with the guys before they come out. It's a work in progress. We've been working hard on this thing, man. We've been working hard on figuring this thing out. The major changes to our production won't start until January.
• Here's the thing, we've been doing this for over 10 years now. The day of the event, we rehearse the thing like we've never done it before. On Saturday, we'll be rehearsing and rehearsing and rehearsing. We'll be adding new things to this FOX show and we'll begin rehearsing on Thursday most likely. We'll be using FOX's model on how they handle and cover sports and our model on how we handle fights.
• Mixed martial arts, kids are growing up taking it and it's spreading all over the world. There's literally not a country on the map that we couldn't get a fighter from. I made the announcement last week about The Ultimate Fighter Brazil and the amount of talent that they'll bring to us is ridiculous. To get all these countries rolling at the same time and have a winner and do a world cup where each country's champion faces off against each other. That's my dream.
Cain Velasquez
• I've been treating this like any other fight that I had. I don't think about what's going on on the outside. I think about what's going on in the gym and just studying my opponent. I don't think about the magnitude of the fight, I just focus on the training and the fight itself.
• This is a great opportunity, just for the UFC to choose our fight to headline. November 12th is a great honor. I'm hoping to make it an exciting fight for the fans. Dos Santos is a great opponent and we're gonna go out there and throw down. That's pretty much it and fans will love to see that.
Junior dos Santos
• Everything has happened very fast for me so I didn't have much time to think and doubt. I just gave 100 percent so I've just worked very hard. I just believe if you apply yourself and do your best, good things happen to you. I just started training mixed martial arts and jiu-jitsu six years ago and now I'll be fighting for the UFC title. I've applied myself and that's what got me here.
• I've been doing two sparring sessions a week for six rounds each plus my physical conditioning has been very good. I will be ready for five rounds but personally I think this fight will not last five rounds. I know Cain's been out for a while but he's a great fighter. I don't want to fight an injured Cain Velasquez, I want the best Cain Velasquez. I look forward to meeting him at his best, that's the guy I want to fight.
Further Reading: UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Primetime (Full Video)
Photo: Scott Hirano
Comments
I gained a ton of respect for JDS when he coached TUF and became a big fan of his after seeing how dedicated and respectful he is as a person and a fighter. Gotta go with JDS on this one......
I heard the only fight on fox is going to be this one.. that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If they want MMA to go main stream wouldn't it make sense to televise the whole card the way they did with versus and fight nights on spike. smaller fights are usually the ones where guys scrap which is pretty appealing to casual fans. not to say these two won't fight hard but there is a lot on the line
You make a valid point, no doubt. However, when working with a network like Fox, there are very strict time slots and they'd prefer to just play it safe for now, rather than risking any bloopers on the first show. I'm sure they will expand this thing as the deal progresses. It's all come together pretty quickly for all parties involved.
true true. still when i heard ufc on fox i was almost positive it was going to be a full card
Yea, I would have thought so as well. Also, Dana White said he wasn't sure what they would do or show if the HW title fight ended quickly, but now he's saying that its one fight, even if the fight is over in 10-seconds.
That has to be the most even title fight since forever. Impossible to know what's gonna happen, plus both guys are such respectful and dedicated fighters. I don't know who to root for. All i know is that Xmas came earlier this year.
You said it all right there, nr 1 hw fight since fedor vs crocop, can't wait.
After this fight, there is a clear nr1 hw !
I think they tested out one of those "new things" at the last PPV the new crane/sky camera thingy they used was pretty cool!
JDS ftw!!!!!!
"The first time we've ever done this, an interview with the guys before they come out". They already do that in Strikeforce. Not a fan personally. I don't think it adds anything substantial in terms of production. I hope they got better stuff in their sleeves.
The gladiator shit is out , its a good thing at least.
I will be rooting fiercely for Junior dos Santos to destroy Cain Velasquez. My reasoning is thus: 1) Velasquez says he is a Mexican fighter; I thought he was an American and had a scholarship to the University of Arizona (located in the US). He should go back to Mexico if he loves it so much 2) He has BROWN PRIDE tattooed on his chest; then why did he marry a blonde-haired, blue eyed Anglo? 3) His favorite car is a Latino Lowrider (enough said) 4) His father has been the US for 37 years and still cannot speak English. If he loves the US so much, why hasn't he ever learned to speak its language. I have traveled to many European cities and its native inhabitants always comment that American tourists are so arrogant that they expect them to learn English instead of visa-verse. Well what about someone that visits for 37 years plus?
Junior dos Santos seems like a humble and all-around good guy and Cain Velasquez seems like an angry, ungrateful prick.
I have a great deal of respect for both fighters. May the best man win.
We are a country built of immigrants. Your racist rant illustrates our worst side. Cain is a great American who is proud of his Mexican heritage. I have no problem with that. I joke about Brazilians but JDS, like most of them are great guys...all except for one chicken.
You on the other hand aren't fit to scrape Vitor off the bottom of my boot.
Never thought I would agree with you.
Blah Blah Blah, your just a ****.
Hopefully Junior has enough carrots in his pocket to get the bus to the arena.