FOX SPORTS 2 UFC 171 POSTFIGHT SHOW Quotes – 3/15/14

HENDRICKS: “I KNEW IF I WAS GOING TO WIN IT HAD TO BE IN THE FIFTH.”

Cormier and Sonnen Break Down UFC 171Fights, Plus Dana White Interview

LOS ANGELES, CA – The following quotes are from tonight’s UFC 171 POSTFIGHT SHOW ON FOX SPORTS 2 for UFC 171: HENDRICKS VS. LAWLER. The show washosted by Karyn Bryant, with UFC light heavyweights Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen providing analysis. Heidi Androl conducted interviews on-site.

UFC 171 POSTFIGHT SHOW ON FOX SPORTS 2Analyst Chael Sonnen on Hendricks vs. Lawler: “This was a real kickboxing affair. Robbie Lawler has better tools, but they switched roles and Johny became the Muay Thai fighter, and Lawler became the boxer.”

UFC 171 POSTFIGHT SHOW ON FOX SPORTS 2Analyst Daniel Cormier on Hendricks vs. Lawler: “In the fifth round, Johny picked it up and went to the wrestling default and secured the victory with the takedown. I thought he fought well. When his wrestling wasn’t working, he was able to stand and throw with Lawler. He’s still improving. Johny learned from the GSP fight, when GSP took the fifth round at the end. He did it this time.”

Sonnen on how Hendricks got the victory: “I don’t know that Johny looked that good, but he was effective with the high volume attack. He had Robbie on the defensive most of the fight. We learned just what a competitor he is and how badly he wanted it in the end.”

Johny Hendricks on what he thought going into the fifth round: “I saw it as two and two. I thought I got the first two rounds. Obviously, Robbie changed it up and I didn’t adapt fast enough to change the outcome of the third and fourth. I knew if I was going to win it had to be in the fifth.” 

Hendricks on what his plan was going into the fight: “I was going to do more takedowns in the fight, and certain things happened where I couldn’t. It is what it is. That’s when I said I had to change up my game plan. Instead of focusing on the takedowns and leaving myself open, I started punching and landing my own shots.”

Hendricks on who he wants to fight next: “It’s not my call. The UFC picks my opponents. That’s who I’m going to fight. I want to beat number two, and if they’re hurt, I’ll face number three. That’s the way I want to keep it going.”

Hendricks on his dedication to winning the UFC belt: “I’m not going to go into something and give half of what I think I can. It feels so surreal right now. It feels like it’s not true. When it sinks in, I’m sure I’ll feel better. I want to thank the Lord for being here tonight, and the fans, the UFC and everyone who’s been behind me the whole time.”

Hendricks on if his cut eye affected him during the fight: “When it was cut, I think the middle of the third round, it was blurry and I couldn’t see out of it much. But you’ve got to adapt. If I wanted to win, I knew I had to do something to make it where it wouldn’t happen as much. I knew he was going to hit me and it was going to hurt, but I knew I could get some punches in return and that’s what I did.”

VIDEO: Hendricks Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxp2_9Y78YE&list=PL6F1926D653DF429D

VIDEO: Robbie Lawler speaks on his UFC 171 loss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_fHmi0b1-A&list=PL6F1926D653DF429D

UFC President Dana White on Hendricks’ victory: “That’s one of the greatest fights. Those guys stood in there and traded. I had it two-two going into the last round. In the fifth round it was Robbie’s fight to win or lose. He got caught and lost it. But I’d say there’s no loser in this fight – it was an awesome fight.”

White on the future of Nick Diaz: “Nick was there heckling Hendricks the whole fight. He hasn’t talked to me about fighting.”

White on Georges St-Pierre’s return: “This whole thing got blown out of proportion. He’s got personal problems and when he gets them handled, he’ll be back. He never said he was retiring.”

White on Chael Sonnen fighting Wanderlei Silva: “This is the fight that’s going to happen. There’s something else that’s holding it up, and we should have it resolved soon. It does me no good to talk about it in public.”

Video: Dana White Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUA6CALbgmY&list=PL6F1926D653DF429D

Cormier on Carlos Condit vs. Tyron Woodley: “It was exactly what we thought would happen – Woodley threw big exploding right hands, trying to knock him out. Tyron was winning this fight when Carlos got hurt. But Carlos was getting some momentum when that happened and Tyron was slowing down.”

Woodley on if winning the fight this way was bittersweet: “Not at all. I was dominating him, which is a hard thing to do. I surprised him with the leg kick. For me to chop him down at the leg is surprising because he’s the leg kicker. His knee got injured from a great timed double leg takedown. It’s a part of the game. It was great fight for me.”

Woodley on going after Condit after he was injured: “I knew his knee got buckled, but I wasn’t sure which one. I knew I was going to chop each leg to see what was hurt. I’m a pit bull – I’m going to go after it. I didn’t ask for this fight because I thought I was going to lose.”

VIDEO: Woodley Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To83Q6qL9ZU&list=PL6F1926D653DF429D&index=2

Sonnen on where Woodley stands now: “Woodley played it just right after his fight. He grabbed the mic and said he wants to fight for the title. And good for him. He’s now the number-one contender and should fight for it.”

Cormier on Myles Jury’s victory over Diego Sanchez: “From the very beginning you saw there was something to Myles. It was his footwork and movement, and he was landing counterpunches. He’s a top ten fighter. I don’t think there are that many guys who can beat him.”

Cormier on Hector Lombard’s victory over Jake Shields: “We’ve watched Jake Shields a long time, and no one has done this to him before. Nobody does what Hector did to him. Could he have fought harder from the top? Yes. Do I blame him for winning? No.”

Follow the talent on Twitter at: @karynbryant; @sonnench; @DC_MMA; @HeidiAndrol