WEIDMAN: “THIS IS MY BELT NOW AND I’M HOLDING ON TO IT AS LONG AS I FRICKIN CAN!”
Sonnen, Stann and Cormier Break Down UFC 162 Fights, Plus Edgar, White and Munoz Interviews
LOS ANGELES, CA – The following quotes are from tonight’s UFC 162 POSTFIGHT SHOW ON FUEL TV for UFC 162: SILVA VS. WEIDMAN. The show was hosted by Jay Glazer, with UFC middleweight Brian Stann, light heavyweight Chael Sonnen and heavyweight Daniel Cormier offering analysis. Ariel Helwani conducted interviews on-site.
Quote of the show: Chris Weidman on who he wants to fight next after winning the middleweight championship against Anderson Silva: “Whoever the UFC wants for me. This is my belt now. I’m holding on to this belt as long as I frickin can. I told Anderson after the fight, ‘Let’s rematch. You got cocky and let your hands down.’ He said, ‘You deserve it.’ He was very humble. You have a certain respect for a guy after the fight. I love the guy. I feel for him, but I’m happy where I’m at. I think he’s an amazing fighter and I’d think he’d want a rematch.”
UFC 162 POSTFIGHT SHOW ON FUEL TV Analyst Daniel Cormier on Silva not fighting Weidman on the ground: “Chris hurt Anderson in the first round when they went to the ground. Silva usually stays on the ground for a while and is comfortable being on the bottom, but he didn’t do that because he knew he needed to get off his back. He put Anderson in a place where he hasn’t been.”
UFC 162 POSTFIGHT SHOW ON FUEL TV Analyst Brian Stann on how Weidman beat Silva: “He had great head movement. Weidman slipped some punches in. We said he had to not be afraid to go out there and fight Silva and that’s what he did.”
UFC 162 POSTFIGHT SHOW ON FUEL TV Analyst Chael Sonnen on Weidman beating Silva at his own game: “Weidman played Anderson’s game. And it was a frustrated Anderson Silva who got beat at his own game. Weidman closed the gaps. There’s a certain level of cockiness he was showing. You can’t be cocky and be arrogant and still protect yourself.”
Weidman on how he dealt with Silva’s head games during the fight: “You have to prepare for it. It got to the point where I was telling myself, ‘Don’t get mad. Believe in yourself.’ He put his hands down and kept talking and I just wanted to punch him in the face. He opened his mouth and I wanted to get him. And I got him.”
Weidman on fighting Silva: “He hit me with some hard leg kicks, and I said I better start checking those. I said if he does that again I’ll take him down. I stuck my chin down and hung in there with him. I was ready to stand there with him.”
UFC President Dana White on Weidman beating Silva: “Wow, I mean it was crazy. In the first round Anderson defended his submissions, and got up. There’s no doubt he got into Weidman’s head. If he would have gotten serious and tried to finish the fight, who knows what would have happened. Weidman kept his composure and finished it.”
White if Silva lost because he was clowning around and if it will hurt his legacy: “No doubt about it. He lost it because he got clipped while he was clowning. He’s the greatest of all time. Who am I to know what he was really trying to do, but this won’t ruin his legacy. He’s accomplished so much.”
White on if Silva wants a rematch after telling Joe Rogan he didn’t: “He’s said a lot of things. I think he likes to throw people off. I believe there’s nothing more that he wants than a rematch. If it happens, it’ll be the biggest fight in UFC history. It’ll be crazy.”
Stan on how Frankie Edgar beat Charles Oliveira: “He was active right away, with takedowns, ground and pound, and mixing everything together. Oliveira didn’t really have an answer for anything. Frankie got stronger and stronger as the fight went on.”
Edgar on how he approached this fight differently since it was only three rounds: “I had to make sure to take the fight to Charles right away because I knew I didn’t have more rounds.”
Edgar on who he wants to fight next: “I’d love another shot at a title. Whoever gets me there is who I want.”
Frankie on going down to 135: “I don’t know if I’m going to go down to 135. My goal is a shot at the title at 145.”
Sonnen on Cub Swanson fighting differently than he used to, and beating Dennis Siver:“I’m not seeing a couple of changes in Cub, I’m seeing a whole new attitude. This is a guy with a chip on his shoulder, who really wants to fight for the belt.”
Swanson on who he wants to fight next: “I’m the number one [contender] now. The rankings say something else, but if the fans can support me I’ll be there. I’m happy, and I’m going to take a little time off now, but when I get the call for the next fight, you know I’ll be ready.”
Sonnen on Mark Munoz beating Tim Boetsch: “We knew that Tim Boetsch is a good wrestler and striker, but Mark is better at both.”
Munoz on if he wants a rematch with Chris Weidman: “You saw the real Mark Munoz tonight. Having said that, I want that belt and I definitely think I can beat Chris Weidman.”