FOX Sports 1 UFC Tonight Show Quotes – 5/21/14

On this week’s UFC TONIGHT, host Karyn Bryant and reporter Ariel Helwani were joined by analysts Kenny Florian and Chael Sonnen in anticipation of UFC 173 which is highlighted by TJ Dillashaw taking on Renan Barao in a bantamweight title fight.  Additionally, FOX Sports 1 contributor Daniel Cormier puts his undefeated MMA record on the line in a bout against MMA legend Dan Henderson with the winner likely to get a title shot in the light heavyweight division.

UFC TONIGHT analyst Kenny Florian previews Dillashaw vs. Barao:  “T.J. Dillashaw’s skills cannot be denied, this is a guy who really can do it all. When you break it down skill for skill, when you look at the jiu-jitsu game, the wrestling game, the striking game, he can go tit-for-tat with Renan Barao.  Now, it all comes down to, can he put that together into a winning package against this guy who really doesn’t know anything about losing? That’s Renan Barao. This guy is Mr. Consistency. When you look at his record, no one has done what he has done as far as overall record and the guys that he has beaten.”

FOX Sports 1 announcer Jim Ross, joined UFC TONIGHT via satellite and weighed-in on Dillashaw vs. Barao:  “I like Barao’s chances.  Dillashaw has a shot to take him down, he would be the first guy to ever do it but I don’t see it happening.”

UFC TONIGHT analyst Chael Sonnen believes Dan Henderson might be the best fighter of all time:  “Dan Henderson may be the greatest fighter of all time. If you want to sit around and talk about who had the best career, it may be Dan Henderson. Daniel Cormier may be the greatest light-heavyweight alive today. Cormier is a nine-to-one favorite in Las Vegas over arguably the greatest of all time.”

UFC 173 co-main event fighter Daniel Cormier discussed his preparation between fighting a newcomer vs. preparation in fighting a legend like Dan Henderson:  “I work harder, because I know that Dan Henderson is a guy that has been around the block a time or two. He beats everybody up, he has won at every level and it’s an opportunity for a passing of the torch.”

Daniel Cormier on if his admiration for Henderson affects his mindset entering the fight:

“I still have the same mindset, because it doesn’t matter. Dan is just another roadblock in my journey to the championship. As much as I like the guy, my admiration of him does not outweigh my desire to be the champion.”

Daniel Cormier reacts to people saying he is overlooking Henderson and focusing on Jon Jones:  “I would say that it would be crazy. I know all that he has done, I was in the Greco-Roman pipeline as a kid when Dan was on the Olympic team, I know how accomplished this guy is. I answer questions about Jon Jones because people ask me questions; I don’t care about Jon Jones. I don’t go to bed at night thinking about Jon Jones, I go to bed at night thinking about Dan Henderson, and that’s what my focus has been.”

Dan Henderson comments on his quick turnaround from his March fight with Shogun Rua and now fighting this weekend:  “A lot better than I guess I expected. Being in shape already when I start camp is nice; it’s unusual, usually I take a little bit more time off. It was a little bit short of a camp, but because I was already in good shape, it was nice.”

Dan Henderson responds to whether he thinks this will be his last run at a UFC title shot:

“I don’t think I have any extra pressure because of that, so I don’t know. I can’t say I’ll never have another chance again, but I don’t want this one to fall through without me giving everything I have. In my mind, I am 100 percent confident that I will come out on top.”

UFC insider Ariel Helwani reported on the potential fight between Matt Brown and Hector Lombard:  “A couple of days he [Lombard] called out Matt Brown, so a lot of people are getting excited about a potential fight between Matt Brown and Hector Lombard. I am here to tell you that at least right now, the UFC is working toward a fight between Hector Lombard and Dong Hyun Kim that would be on Aug. 23 in Macau, China. Now of course, not 100 percent until the UFC makes it official, but that is the direction they are leaning right now.”

UFC President Dana White joined UFC TONIGHT and commented on Dan Henderson being regarded as a heavy underdog in the co-main event: “People have been counting Dan Henderson out for a while now and I have too, I’ve been one of those guys. It didn’t look good for him in the Shogun fight, but Dan Henderson has that equalizer, that right hand. If he lands that right hand, he can finish anybody with it.”