The Ultimate Fighting Championship will make its LIVE debut on FOX when undefeated heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (9-0) puts his title on the line against the hard-hitting Junior dos Santos (13-1) on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
Velasquez and Dos Santos, along with UFC President Dana White, took part in a media conference call Wednesday to answer some final questions and clear up a few last minute details regarding the historic event.
The conference call audio along with a few notable quotes and notes are listed below.
“UFC on FOX: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos” conference call
Dana White, UFC President
“This is going to be a different format than we’ve ever done before. Obviously this is a show featuring one fight so we’re doing a lot of things differently. We are going to be rehearsing for this from Thursday.”
“This is a throw-back to the old days of boxing; we are putting a big fight – a huge fight – on free TV to expose this thing to a new audience. Our goal has always been to bring big fights back to network television; we are thinking long-term for the future of this sport. It is an investment in the future of the UFC. Fans that have never seen the UFC before will see this show and that’s why we decided to put Cain and Junior in this position.”
“I know for a fact this is going to be an awesome fight. I know it is going to be great. That’s why it was these two in this position. I have no worries at all this is going to be a great fight.”
“There’s going to be a lot of backstage features, we are going to be talking to both guys backstage before they fight which isn’t something we’ve done for a very long time.”
Cain Velasquez, UFC heavyweight champion
“There’s always butterflies when you have a fight. It is natural to feel nervous, it means you are ready. But I’m not more nervous because I’ve been out (hurt) for more than a year. I know from my training camp I’m 100 percent and ready to go. I was 100 percent in July.”
“I’m excited and it is a great honor to have this fight chosen by the UFC to be the first one on FOX. But I am not focused on the event, the hype or the (expected large TV audience), like any other fight I am focused on my opponent and not much else.”
“Dos Santos is a great opponent. He’s very dangerous.”
Junior dos Santos, No. 1 ranked UFC heavyweight contender
“It was such a long wait for my title shot, but I am not sorry. This, right now, is the greatest opportunity I could have had, fighting for the world heavyweight title live on FOX for the very first time.”
“I’m very happy in my life right now. I’m in such a good place mentally and physically. I’m proof that if you work hard, treat people right and don’t doubt yourself, you can achieve your dreams. I genuinely believe that Cain is the greatest heavyweight in the world and it is an honor to fight him.”
“Yes, I come from humble beginnings, but I have been very lucky in my life.”
“I don’t think this fight will go five rounds. I have trained for five rounds but I don’t expect this to do the distance.”
Notes & Nuggets
- Weigh-ins will be LIVE on FUEL TV at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT on Friday, November 11
- The UFC heavyweight title fight will be the only fight featured on the FOX broadcast
- The fight will be broadcast live in over a dozen countries, including Canada, Brazil, Australia and the UK
- r more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts live and subject to change.