The following quotes are from tonight’s UFC 158 POSTFIGHT SHOW ON FUEL TV for UFC 158: ST-PIERRE VS. DIAZ. The show was hosted by Jon Anik, with UFC light heavyweight contender Chael Sonnen and UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz offering analysis. Ariel Helwani conducted fighter interviews on-site.
Quote of the show: Georges St-Pierre on defending his title against Johny Hendricks next:“I want to fight the best guy and I think that’s Johny Hendricks right now.”
UFC 158 POSTFIGHT SHOW ON FUEL TV Analyst Dominick Cruz on how Georges St-Pierre beat Nick Diaz: “He tired out Diaz. He was fighting him moving backwards, which means he had Diaz come forward and blast at him, then GSP would take him down. But Diaz didn’t want to get taken down. GSP would grind him out on the ground and drive him crazy. He would get on top, control the hips, but not put the hooks in right away and wear him down from the top. He was patient. He was looking for finish, but he was taking his time and waiting for it.”
UFC 158 POSTFIGHT SHOW ON FUEL TV Analyst Chael Sonnen on what makes GSP so hard to fight: “He’s so hard to hit because he’s always moving.”
St-Pierre on Diaz saying he hit like a girl: “It wasn’t the fight I wanted. I’m disappointed to hear this. He had a very good game, was hard to hit on the ground and an unusual style. But I don’t want to go that route. I’ll just say it was a good fight.”
St-Pierre on when he’ll fight Hendricks: “I don’t know when. I haven’t taken a break since I came back from knee surgery. I need a vacation”
Cruz on how to beat St-Pierre: “You have to beat the jab. If you take away his jab, you take away his rhythm and take away his range. His jab is his range finder for everything. The bottom line, you have to counter his jab. Then you have to defend the takedowns. If he takes you down just once a round, he gains momentum and will grind you out and take away your gas. So you defend the takedowns, and counter with pulls, slips and body shots, when you counter the jabs.”
Nick Diaz on what he could have done differently against GSP: “I could have had a better training camp. I’m not making excuses. Nobody had faith in me to win this fight. I think I could have stopped the takedowns and I could have gotten the takedowns. I was flat. The first two rounds, I was moving slow. The third and fourth round I was moving pretty good. I was hoping for a knockout.”
Diaz wanting a rematch against GSP: “I want a rematch. Georges St-Pierre, if you’d give me a rematch, I‘d appreciate it because I could beat you.”
Diaz on if he’ll retire: “I’m trying to retire. I’m trying to get out of this gig. But I’d like a rematch. I think I can stop the takedowns and beat him. I’m not hurt. He hits like a woman. He hits like a girl because he’s too scared to let go to get a real punch in.”
Cruz on if he thinks Diaz will retire: “I think fighting is in his blood. He wears his heart on his shoulder. I love his mindset. He does get dirty before a fight, but he’s going into a fight. He’s not going anywhere.”
UFC President Dana White on if Diaz will get a rematch with GSP or if Hendricks will get the title shot: “Diaz won’t get a rematch. There’s no doubt Johny Hendricks deserves the next shot. That fight was amazing tonight. I’m actually glad that it worked out that way. Those were the top guys to see who faces Georges St-Pierre. Johny Hendricks deserves it.”
White on if Diaz should retire: “I don’t think Nick Diaz should retire. But I’m not the guy who makes the decision. If you want to retire, this isn’t like any other sport in the world. If your head’s not into it, you probably should retire.”
White on the Carlos Condit vs. Johny Hendricks fight: “Carlos Condit is a great example of a well-rounded mixed martial artist. Every time a Division 1 two-time All-American took him down, he got right back up. The Carlos Condit and Johny Hendricks fight was amazing tonight. That’s what it’s like when two mixed martial artists get in there.”
White on St-Pierre’s performance: “He stood with him and I thought he got the better of him standing. GSP got hit with nastiest body shot. He took some punches from him. He took him down when he wanted to. I thought Georges fought a great fight.”
Sonnen on Johny Hendricks’ win over Carlos Condit: “Carlos Condit had far more skill than Johny Hendricks. He showed far more things – better chin, landed more shots, and he still lost. Johny Hendricks was that good tonight. That was one of the best fights I can remember in recent history.”
Cruz on Hendricks’ win over Condit: “Johny Hendricks fought so smart tonight. He showed up top level, top five, top three, top two guys. He wants to be a champion. And he showed that with his mind tonight.”
Johny Hendricks on his strategy for the fight: “I did what we wanted to do. I knew I had to win. I also wanted to come in here and steal it from GSP and Nick Diaz, and I think we did that.”
Hendricks on who he wants to fight next: “If I don’t get the title shot I’ll be devastated. I’ll have to rethink my career.”