The following quotes are from tonight’s FOX SPORTS LIVE UFC FIGHT NIGHT: SWANSON VS. STEPHENS postfight coverage on FOX SPORTS 1. The show was hosted by Karyn Bryant, with Daniel Cormier and Dominick Cruz as analysts.
UFC ON FOX Analyst Dominick Cruz on Cub Swanson’s victory over Jeremy Stephens: “Jeremy came out strong and really looked good, but Cub showed a little sharper technique, switching stance and was just a little better. Cub was landing kicks to the body and that lowered Jeremy’s hands and he complimented those with the boxing to the head. Cub was able to defend the takedowns and he kept the pressure on.”
UFC ON FOX Analyst Daniel Cormier on Swanson’s switch stance kicks: “Jeremy was landing some counterpunches, but Cub started to switch his stance. He was kicking from conventional stance, and then switching to southpaw to get those body kicks. This shows the diversity he has. When he got Jeremy hurt, he kept headhunting. I would have liked him to go to the body at that time. It was the left body kick from the switch stance that really hurt Jeremy. But give Jeremy a lot of credit, he showed what toughness, grit and determination he had in that fight.”
Cormier on if Swanson should fight for the title after earning his sixth win in a row: “All win streaks are not created equal. Look at who Cub’s beaten. He’s earned a rematch with Jose Aldo. He’s ready to challenge the winner.
Cub Swanson on his victory: “I feel great about the win. It was great to have a battle every round. I kept telling myself I could do better each round.”
Swanson on if he planned to land the left kick to the body: “I study a lot of tape and noticed a trend that everybody gets dropped by that kick. So I tried it.”
Swanson on who he wants to fight next: “I want to fight Aldo. I want to be the guy to dethrone the legend. But I want the gold, so I’ll fight whoever the champion is.”
Cormier on Kelvin Gastelum’s victory over Nico Musoke: “This was a good fight. Musoke came out early and threw him down, but in the second round, Gastelum started to move forward and made him play more defensive. Kelvin showed he’s able to fight at a high pace and really picked it up in those last two rounds.”
Cruz on Gastelum’s adjustment in the fight: “I think what it came down to was you heard his coaches tell him to turn it up, and he turned it up. He’s a young fighter and showed a lot of promise. He came from THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER and proved that show is still worth it. But it was bad he missed weight and he has to shore up that part of his game.”
Kelvin Gastelum on how his opponent Musoke surprised him: “He came in real strong, I didn’t expect him to shoot on my and try to take me down. It was a mind thing on me. He was a very game opponent.”
Cruz on Cezar Ferreira’s victory over Andrew Craig: “Ferreira seemed to be one step ahead of Craig the whole time. Those kicks kept him thinking, and those elbows were so precise. The spinning takedown was great. He really mixed them up. He got caught at the end of the fight, but showed how tough he was and made it through.”
Ferreira on his fight: “I train with the best guys in the world. I changed my mind, my focus and my concentration.
Ferreira on who he wants to fight next: “I want a rematch with C.B. Dollaway.”