With the announcement of tickets on sale and the official main card for UFC 140 the UFC wasted no time in holding a press conference for the event. Today at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario Main Card fighters, Jon Jones, Lyoto Machida and of course UFC President took part in the press conference. The much anticipated card also features Frank Mir, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Rory MacDonald, Brian Ebersole, Mark Hominick, Chan Sung Jung.
Below are highlights from the conference.
Below are Highlights from todays UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida Press Conference:
Dana White
• I never said it was going to be Rashad Evans (fighting Jones), you guys said it was going to be Rashad. Rashad is hurt and Lyoto stepped up and took the fight. I told you guys I would deliver a fight for Canada.
• This (main event) is a fun one. I like this fight stylistically. I said it before that If Jon Jones could walk through Rampage (Jackson) they way he had everyone else, than he has arrived. He is the real deal. Machida is very elusive and he strikes from different angles. I’ll say it again, if Jon Jones comes in and runs through Machida, the sky is the limit for this kid.
• I’ve said it many times, (Jon Jones) is the whole package. The thing that impressed me the most is, at such a young age, he’s taking on such big names. He might not be a household name, but when he beat Vladimir Matyushenko I was blown away by how he did it. And then expecting this next fight to be against Rashad Evans and then having to instead face Machida, he’s handling a lot of pressure at a young age. I’m very impressed.
• That’s the thing, (Jon Jones) just whispered to me, “I can’t look past these guys.” He’s got two tough guys ahead of him and Anderson (Silva) will probably end up fighting Chael Sonnen. We’ll see what happens. Jon is 24-years-old, he’s got some business to handle in the Light Heavyweight division before thinking about Anderson Silva.
Jon Jones
• No, (the trash talk) didn’t bother me at all. It educated me on how to become a better professional. I would prefer for each fight to be a little more respectful. It is martial arts after all. But, I understand there are different fan-bases and some prefer that “Cage Fighter, I’m going knock you out stuff.”
• Well, I feel my biggest advantage (against Machida) is my youth and versatility. And the way I approach the sport.
• I realize what I could lose in the fight that is in front of me now. So getting up for fights is not a problem. And as far as getting up for the Rashad fight, after all the drama it’s a fight that I cannot lose. I am taught that no fight is a big fight, but with Rashad I am trying to tell myself it’s not a big fight, but it’s a huge fight. So as far as getting up for fights, I’m up.
• I don’t think I’ll be training with Georges St. Pierre leading up to this fight. He and Carlos Condit are both Greg Jackson fighters and I wouldn’t want to jeopardize losing either friendship. So I think I ll just stay away for now.
• Yea (I bought a Bentley). God is good, definitely.
Lyoto Machida
• It’s hard to say (what my biggest advantage will be against Jones), but maybe my experience will speak louder in this fight, but I’m not sure.
• (Getting the title shot) really caught me by surprise, but I believe everything happens for a reason. This is a business and I did not believe the UFC had anything against me. I knew my time would come.
• I guarantee that I will be very well prepared and I can overcome his athleticism with my technique.
• I feel very welcomed by the crowd here in Toronto. I fought a legend in Randy Couture here and I am very excited to be coming back.
• Anderson Silva has already called me and said he wants to come out to my hometown and show me some things and now I’m just waiting for that to happen.
