On UFC TONIGHT, Kenny Florian and Karyn Bryant are joined in the studio by guest hosts Daniel Cormier and Brian Stann. They preview UFC 177 and interview headliner TJ Dillashaw before his title defense on Saturday night. Plus, Helwani and Bryant add reports.
UFC TONIGHT Guest Host Daniel Cormier on TJ Dillashaw’s title fight against Renan Barao: “I think fight starts even before Barao goes into the Octagon. I was on his last card and he had the plastic on Tuesday before the fight. He has to manage his weight before the fight. In the fight, he needs to cut Dillashaw off and not follow him around. For Dillashaw, he needs to use his footwork, be fast, and mix in some takedowns this time because now Barao is ready for a striking battle with him.”
UFC TONIGHT Guest Host Brian Stann on what Barao needs to do against Dillashaw: “He has to cut off TJ and punch with him. He’s slower, but has heavier hands. He needs to strike first. He’s got to slow down Dillashaw – punch with him, not wait for him. And he needs to land the kicks. For Dillashaw, he has to take away the confidence of Barao right away. After being dominated last time, Barao will have doubt in the back of his mind. If TJ can land some punches and do it again, it will make Barao doubt himself again. We could see another dominant victory by Dillashaw.”
UFC TONIGHT Host Kenny Florian on how Barao can improve his performance: “He’s more of a counterstriker. He’s a power striker. In the first fight, TJ was landing shots and getting out back out quickly. Barao needs to do direct attacks, right down the middle, with leg kicks and feint a little more.”
UFC Bantamweight Champion TJ Dillashaw on how he tops his last performance:“You’ve got to try not to. You can’t put pressure on yourself and try to outdo your last performance. You just have to go out and win.”
Dillashaw on if he has critics after winning the belt: “No matter what, you’ll have critics. You have to ignore them, know the hard work is what you have to do and just keep winning. You’ll always have critics and doubters.”
Dillashaw on if there’s more pressure on him in this rematch against Barao: “Not at all. He’s the guy I want to beat again and get on that pound-for-pound list. I feel there’s more pressure on him after his last performance. He has to make the changes. It’ll be harder for him to step in the Octagon than me. I’m dealing with this fight the same as every other fight.”
Dillashaw on how this camp is different with coach Duane Ludwig moving to Colorado: “Duane lived with me for this camp. He moved his family to Colorado and then moved back and has been living with me. For the last eight weeks, he’s been my roommate.”
UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman on who Luke Rockhold should fight next: “I think Lyoto Machida is a tougher fight than Michael Bisping. Bisping is coming off a tough fight from Tim Kennedy, and he beat up Cung Le, who’s been inactive. He doesn’t deserve getting close to the title shot.”
Weidman on if he still has doubters: “Any time you have doubters, it’s motivating. I fought Anderson Silva, the greatest of all time, and I knocked him out and there were doubters. Then him breaking his leg, there are still doubters. Then beating Lyoto, there are still doubters.”
Weidman on what Vitor Belfort brings to the title fight: “He has a lot of experience. He was a champion when he was 19. I went after him with the TRT thing. He’s been caught cheating twice. But I’m expecting the best Vitor ever. He’ll be motivated to quiet all the doubters he has. He looks like he’s lost muscle. One of his weak points was his cardo, but it’ll be stronger now. I’m expecting a tough fight with Vitor.”
Weidman announces breaking news: “I was asked by the UFC and FOX, I’m going to be a guest analyst, with Rashad Evans and Brian Stann on FOX Sports 1 for the UFC 178 Weigh-in, Prefight and Postfight shows.”
UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani reports on Demian Maia: “Maia has been diagnosed with a bone infection. He was released in Friday. He’ll be taking antibiotics for about six weeks and is out indefinitely.”
Helwani on Mark Hunt signing a new contract: “He just signed a six-fight contact with the UFC. He’s very happy with the deal. He plans on fulfilling the contract and then retiring.”
Helwani on Lyoto Machida’s next fight: “Last week it was reported that Lyoto Machida might be facing Luke Rockhold. But this was before Michael Bisping won his fight last weekend against Cung Le in China. It seems now that Bisping will be partnered with Rockhold. That leaves Machida without a fight and Machida’s camp doesn’t call people out, but they say the fight that makes sense now is C.B. Dollaway. Nothing is official yet.”
Helwani on Wanderlei Silva’s motion to dismiss his charges by the Nevada State Athletic Commission: “Nevada says the fight was announced, and in the rules and regulations, they do hold regulation with a person who’s about to compete in Nevada. They hope to dismiss the motion and still want to bring up his actions at a hearing and address him next month.”