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Wednesday, Oct 12, 2011

UFC 140 Presser: Jones Motivated to Face Machida, Former Champ Cites Experience and Technique as Advantages

Machida

By FCF Staff

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returned to Toronto, Ontario today to begin promoting its upcoming December 10th card at the city’s Air Canada Centre. In attendance at today’s press conference were UFC President Dana White, Director of Canadian Operations Tom Wright, as well as scheduled main event competitors, light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida.

Here were some of the press conference’s highlights:

White called Toronto “the strongest market in the planet” when asked why the UFC decided to return to the Canadian city just months after it held its first show there this past April.

Jones said he prefers pre-fight debate that is “more respectful”, but added that he’s growing accustomed to the kind of heated talk that accompanied his recent bout with “Rampage” Jackson.

Machida stated that he believes his “experience” may be an advantage in his upcoming bout with Jones.

White cited Machida’s elusiveness, style and past reign as champion as to why he is a worthy challenger for Jones.

Machida conceded that the title fight caught him “by surprise” when it was offered, but that he’s happy for the opportunity.

Jones said he realizes what he “can lose” in his upcoming bout with Machida, and that he will have no problems getting motivated to fight Machida or his rival Rashad Evans.

The light-heavyweight champion Jones added that although he’s never fought anyone like Machida, the former champ has never fought anyone like himself.

Machida stated that he believes his skill and technique will be able to overcome the athleticism of Jones.

White noted that Jones is only 24 years old, and that because he won’t be in his prime for several more years, are further reasons why the rising star deserves the credit of fans.

Machida said he felt “very welcomed” by the Toronto crowd when he knocked out Randy Couture in his previous outing there, and that he’s happy to be returning.

Jones praised Toronto and Canada for its support of MMA, before White added that the Ontario city rivals Las Vegas in terms of its prominence within the sport.

Machida announced that Anderson Silva will be helping him prepare for his title fight with Jones.

Jones revealed that he won’t be training with Georges St. Pierre leading into his UFC 140 bout with Machida, due to the fact that GSP is set to fight fellow Greg Jackson teammate Carlos Condit at the end of the month.

White would not confirm whether Tito Ortiz is in a do-or-die situation at UFC 140 when he fights Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. The former light-heavyweight champ is 1-4 in his last five fights and is coming off a stoppage loss to Evans in August.

White stated that Jones has challenging fights in front of him already, when asked if a future bout between Jones and Anderson Silva is possible, and that further, the middleweight champion will likely rematch Chael Sonnen next.

 

In addition to the Jones, Machida match-up, some of the other confirmed bouts for UFC 140 include welterweight Rory MacDonald vs. Brian Ebersole, heavyweight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir, featherweight Mark Hominick vs. Chang Sung Jung, and the aforementioned Ortiz vs. Nogueira.

Photo credit: Lyoto Machida.net

 

 

posted by FCF Staff @ 1:50 pm
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