UFC 168 - Weidman vs. Silva: What the fighters said
UFC president Dana White and a host of the fighters that featured on the main card of UFC 168 took part in the customary post-fight press conference on Saturday night.
Here are the highlights...
UFC 168 Awards ($75,000 bonus)
Fight of the Night: Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate
Knockout of the Night: Travis Browne (first-round KO vs. Josh Barnett)
Submission of the Night: Ronda Rousey (armbar vs. Miesha Tate)
What the fighters (and White) had to say
Chris Weidman
On training specifically to defend against Silva's leg kicks:
"[Silva] really capitalized on leg kicks last fight, so we focused on stopping his leg kicks.
He noted that he purposely tried to block the kick with his knee, as per his instructions in training.
"That's how you check a kick ... if I didn't check the kick I'd have a big bruised leg right now ..."
On his ability in the clinch:
"I feel like there's nobody in this weight class that can clinch with me."
Ronda Rousey
On being booed by the crowd:
"I wasn't surprised by the reaction of the crowd."
On not shaking hands with Tate after the fight:
"I'll consider shaking her hand when she formally apologizes to [my coach]."
Rousey: "She has my respect entirely ... but she really needs to make good a few things that she's done before I'll shake her hand again."
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) December 29, 2013
White also took the opportunity to announce that Rousey will be back in the Octagon shortly, as she will defend her bantamweight title Feb. 22:
Dana White announces Ronda Rousey will fight Sara McMann in February. Two former Olympians. Will headline UFC 170.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) December 29, 2013
The undefeated champion seemed unconcerned when asked about her thoughts on the short amount of time that she will have between bouts.
"I want to fight again soon, I' m in the best shape of my life...I'm ready to get back into it, I'm hungry. I'll try to rest a little bit but this is what I love to do. I feel like I could fight again tonight."
Miesha Tate
On what's next for her MMA career:
"I just need some time to really let this soak in and not make any rash decisions."
Travis Browne
On not being the underdog anymore:
"I'm only the underdog in Vegas' eyes and [in the eyes of] some of the fans that maybe don't understand."
Dustin Poirier
On why his anger towards Diego Brandao had nothing to do with weight:
"Before we walked out on stage he told me he was going to stab me in the neck ... that's why I was so upset."
Dana White
On Anderson Silva's leg injury:
"It was a shitty way to see him go out, but that's part of the game.
"He's an incredible human being, he has done incredible things here in the UFC. I don't want to count him out...the important thing is that he gets surgery."