The UFC held a media conference call with current UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos and top contender Cain Velasquez today. The two will square off in a highly anticipated heavyweight title rematch on Saturday, Dec. 29 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Check out full highlights from the call below thanks to MMAmania.com.
Junior dos Santos
- I think I learned some things in the first fight for sure. That fight for me was really good and I enjoyed a good moment and I won the fight. I’m not gonna forget that fight for sure and I learned some things in that fight and I’m gonna use that for now.
- For sure, Cain Velasquez had an injury but I had an injury at that time too. During the fight, he kicked me a lot, like seven times in one minute and when I saw a good opening I enjoyed that moment. I think I’m not upset about that. It’s part of the mentality of it.
- I don’t care about where I fight, I’m prepared to fight anywhere in the world. For sure, to fight in my home country would be great, to have the whole crowd on my side.
- Same gameplan. My first gameplan was to try to keep the fight standing against him. For sure, I think Can Velasquez is gonna come hungrier for this fight, to try to work his game, try to take me down and use his ground and pound which he uses very well. My strategy is the same strategy and I’m prepared for this fight and ready to win.
- The first fight was very fast. It was a quick fight but I learned some things from that fight and I think this fight now, I think it’s gonna be longer because that fight was too fast, just one minute.
- I’m a very confident guy. I think it’s part of my strength and I will give my best to make my strategy and follow my strategy inside the Octagon. Every fight is different than the other fights. So for sure this fight will be different than the last.
- For this time, I’m feeling less pressure because at that time I had my knee injury 10 days before the fight and that was really tough for me. Now I’m 100 percent healthy and I’m ready to go.
- It was no pressure because that’s what I want. That’s where I want to be, the main event of the big shows UFC in the world. It was no pressure.
- It doesn’t affect me at all. I know Cain’s game. I watched his fights a lot and I’ve studied him. I know his strategy and if he takes me down and really holds me down, I’m ready for my first submission in the UFC.
- This camp I did was my best camp ever. I’m very well prepared to face him again.
- No, it’s not hard for me. At this moment, for sure Cain Velasquez deserves to be fighting for the title. He’s considering me number one heavyweight in the UFC and I think he’s number two for sure. My motivation comes from my family, the opportunity and things I’m leaving now. That fight was a quick fight and this time for sure will be longer and the MMA fans are gonna like it.
- I prefer to fight against clean athletes and real professionals so Cain Velasquez is one of those guys. He’s a real professional fighter and that’s a good challenge for me. I know he’s very tough and I know how hard I have to train to face him. The other guys, they just say things but that is nothing behind the words and I think guys like me and Cain Velasquez are made at the gym and the other guys are made at the laboratory.
- I think it’s really important for me especially now because I have really good sponsors including Nike, the biggest and best sports company in the world. I don’t pay attention to much, I want to give my best inside the Octagon and then I’ll see the results. I’m sure the results will be positive because I’m training hard and I give 100 percent to my career.
- Cain Velasquez is an excellent wrestler and he puts pressure on his opponents all the time. That’s what he’s gonna try to do to me. He’s gonna try to take me down, ground and pound and I have to be careful with that and use my takedown defense and my boxing skills. Everything I’m training now. I’m very confident I’m gonna win this. It doesn’t matter what happens, I think I’m gonna knock him out again.
- Faith, belief in myself and hard work. I train a lot. Every time I have time, I’m training and I think that’s very important for me. Faith and hard work are the variables that made me a champion.
- It doesn’t affect me at all. That fight was a really long time ago. It was my only loss and I do my best every day to make sure it stays the only loss of my career.
- I think we were prepared for the fight. For sure we got some problems. He got some problems and I got some problems and at that time I was the winner because I was a little bit better than him. Fight is a fight, you never know what’s gonna happen especially in the heavyweight division. There’s too much power involved and for sure if the punch lands, you’re gonna feel it. That was a great moment for me.
- I’m 100 percent now and ready to fight. I’ve got no injuries and I’m feeling great. I did an excellent camp here in Brazil and I’m ready to fight.
- I think Bigfoot Silva is gonna win. I think he’s got more technique, he’s more complete than Alistair Overeem.
Cain Velasquez
- Junior was hurt as well. Guys get injured before the fight so it was just me being a fighter and not backing out. I did it and it’s in the past.
- Being 100 percent, just staying in the gym and sparring and preparing myself. That’s it, pretty much.
- I just want to go out there and fight my fight. That’s it.
- Every fight, promotion is part of it to sell it. It wasn’t a burden.
- It was no pressure before. It was kind of routine.
- I know how he fights. He’s got good boxing. I’ve just got to fight my style of fight which means a lot of pressure and a lot of offense.
- I have a lot of respect for Junior. The way he carries himself in the cage and off. No trashtalkiing, just down to business. Just very respectful.
- Junior’s quick and he’s got power in his hands. He timed it perfectly and he came out on top.
- Yeah, definitely. The only reason I got into this sport was to be a champion. Now that I’m not champion, it’s the only thing that’s on my mind, to go in there and win this fight. That’s all I’m thinking about.
- Me too, I’m 100 percent no injuries and I’m thankful for that.
- I’m confident that he can make it to 205. He’s pretty confident in himself. That’s the talk right now, him going down. I’m behind him 100 percent on whatever he chooses to do.
- It’s a good match-up, two guys and I don’t know who’s gonna win. I expect a great fight.
