LOS ANGELES, CA – On this week’s UFC TONIGHT, hosts Kenny Florian and Chael Sonnen break down UFC 163: ALDO VS. KOREAN ZOMBIE. Plus, we have exclusive interviews with Phil Davis and Ronda Rousey.
UFC TONIGHT’s Chael Sonnen on Aldo vs. The Korean Zombie: “The Korean Zombie has a reach advantage. He doesn’t mind going into enemy territory. If there’s anything we learned over the last weekend from your boy Rory MacDonald, with that reach, if you can control distance, you can get the upset.”
UFC TONIGHT’s Kenny Florian on how The Korean Zombie can beat Aldo: “The Korean Zombie is a huge featherweight. He’s going to try to use the size advantage against Aldo. The key is to wrestle with him. You don’t want to strike with him. You have to watch out for those leg kicks. He has to nullify the leg kicks. He has to back Jose Aldo up. He loves to pressure and get in your face. He has great foot sweeps from the clinch. And in the transition on the mat, he’s as dangerous as anyone out there.”
Florian on Aldo strengths: “With Aldo, it’s all about the leg kicks. He’ll kick you extremely hard. He also has a 92-percent takedown defense, the best in the featherweight division. And he’s become a great counterstriker. He has eight knockouts, the most in featherweight history.”
Sonnen on The Korean Zombie’s strengths: “He became the number-one contender with his boxing. He has the reach and knows how to use it. He’s great at ground and pound. He has an 83-percent takedown accuracy. When he gets down on the ground, he’s dangerous.”
Florian picks Aldo over The Korean Zombie: “Aldo is too explosive and powerful.”
Sonnen picks Aldo over The Korean Zombie: “I think the experience is going to be an edge, and since Aldo is fighting in his home country, he’s going to have a big advantage.”
Florian on Phil Davis vs. Lyoto Machida: “The winner of this could meet the winner of Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson. Davis is a great wrestler. He’s been improving his striking and he’s going to have to use that to set up the takedowns. He said he wants to submit Lyoto Machida and he may be able to do that. Phil has to take control and he can’t get frustrated.
Sonnen on how Davis can beat Machida: “He doesn’t have to submit him, but he has to get him to the ground. The way to beat him is you have to wrestle him. However, Machida is the wrestler killer. He gets guys to fight him where he wants to fight, within arm’s reach from him. Nobody gets too tight, and if they get too tight, see what happened to Ryan Bader. He knocked him out.”
Phil Davis on how he prepared for Lyoto Machida: “You can’t bring in anyone to your camp who does his style because he’s so unique. You have to concentrate on what you do. I wrestle. I have effective strikes to my takedowns. I have to make him uncomfortable, keep him moving and keep him worrying about what I’m going to do next.”
Davis on plans to submit Machida: “I plan on submitting everybody. I plan on going in there and submitting the other guy. He goes home happy, a little bit sore, and nobody’s hurt. I will knock somebody out if I have to, but I pray to god that it doesn’t have to happen.”
Davis on who he wants to fight next if he wins: “It’s for the fans to decide. I love this sport because the fans decide who fights for the title.”
Florian picks Machida over Davis: “This is a close fight, but I think Machida has the experience advantage.”
Sonnen picks Davis over Machida: “This is an uphill battle, but I’ve got Phil.”
UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani on Demian Maia’s next fight: “The UFC is booking Demian Maia vs. Jake Shields. There’s no date, no locations, but both have agreed to the fight.”
Helwani on more breaking fights: “On September 21, at UFC 165 in Toronto, middleweights Costa Philippou and Francis Carmont will do battle. And Jorge Masvidal will meet Rustam Khabilov, probably on November 6 on FOX Sports 1.”
Helwani on Alan Belcher moving to light heavyweight: “According to his manager, he’s serious about moving back up to light heavyweight. He wants to return in December.”
Helwani on Dan Miller having surgery: “Dan Miller secretly had neck fusion surgery last Tuesday in New York City. It was a similar surgery that Peyton Manning had. He did it with Dr. Andrew Hecht for the New York Jets and New York Islanders. According to his manager, the surgery went well and he’s looking to get back into action in six to 12 months.”
Helwani on Vitor Belfort’s next fight: “Dana White said he’s looking to book Vitor Belfort against Tim Kennedy. Vitor’s wife told me that the fight doesn’t make sense to them. Vitor has come to terms that he won’t be fighting for the belt next, but she told the UFC if he fights at 185 again, he wants it to be for the belt. But he’ll fight in the interim. She told me if Vitor had his way, he’d fight against Chael Sonnen.”
Sonnen on hearing that Vitor Belfort wants to fight him: “Vitor, I accept. However, he has a title of number-one contender. If he’s willing to put that on line, not only will I fight him, but I’ll do it on December 28. Weidman defends his title, Rousey defends her title, and Vitor, you have a title and I want you to defend it against me.’”
Rousey on how she’s going to come across on The Ultimate Fighter: “I’m not sure how it’s going to be received. I cared more about being the best coach possible to the kids than my image. Miesha did a lot of checking her hair and trying to come off as nice as possible and I didn’t.”
Rousey on Miesha Tate’s boyfriend Bryan Caraway: “Any girl who’s with a man who has braces has reasons to be cranky, so I understand why she’s so cranky. Yeah, it’s a really hot look. He’s not really anyone’s type.”
