FUEL TV UFC TONIGHT Show Quotes

SONNEN: “I’M NOT RETIRING. I HAVE A LOT OF GOALS AND I’M NOT GOING TO REACH THEM IF I RETIRE.”

Sonnen talks UFC 159, His Next Opponents and More on UFC TONIGHT

LOS ANGELES, CA – On this week’s UFC TONIGHT, Chael Sonnen returns after UFC 159 and talks about his fight, retirement and his next opponent. Plus, we’ve got news about Jon Jones’ injury, Roy Nelson next fight and much more.

Quote of the Week: UFC TONIGHT’s Chael Sonnen on if he’ll keep fighting and at what weight class: “I’ll fight at 205. I’m not retiring. I’m 36 years old. I have a lot of goals and I’m not going to reach them if I retire. I don’t have a lot of options at 185. I’ve fought everyone in the top 10, including the champion a couple of times. So I moved up to 205, but I lost to the champ and it wasn’t a competitive enough match to warrant another chance. So what do I do? It was a lot better experience, not having to get the weight off. I’ll give up the size, but have a smile on my face. I could be talked into going back down if that’s where the fights are. The landscape changes quickly. I think there will be a big shakeup on July 4th weekend when Weidman gets his hands on Anderson.”

Sonnen on what it was like in the Octagon with Jones: “This was like getting into a bear cage. This guy was a monster of a man. We weighed in at the same size the day before, and I don’t know how that was possible. I put my arms around him and I thought, ‘oh my god, you’re a big guy.’ As far as the match went, I got beat up.”

Sonnen on what he thought about the early stoppage: “It’s two-fold, any time the ref helps you and stops a fight to keep you from getting hurt, you never want to come out and say anything that could disparage his judgment. At the same time, we’re in the middle of an ass-whipping contest, let us get after it. When I had my hands up because a guy is punching me, that’s called defense. But I never want to question a referee.”

Sonnen on how he would have felt winning the belt if Jones couldn’t fight with the broken toe: “Diplomatically you don’t ever want to win that way. The ones that hurt are the ones you’re supposed to win and then you blow it. But if it was given to me, I would have grabbed that belt, I would have held it up, grabbed the mic and told the crowd the golden rule is ‘he with the gold rules,’ and I would have walked out of the place and never looked back.”

Sonnen on how he envisioned the fight was going to go: “I was going to have to grind him down. I could see him he poses a lot of problems. He’s big, he’s strong and he’s got the wing span of a radioactive condor. I knew he’d take me down, but I never thought that he could take me down repeatedly. That was a surprise. And the fact that he tried so quickly, I was thrown off a little.”

Sonnen on if he’d like to fight Vitor Belfort or Wanderlei Silva: “Wanderlei called me out before, but the fight never made sense.  Now it does. I’m not going anywhere until me and Wanderlei straighten this thing out once and for all. Wanderlei pulled a dirt bag move on me one time. He said something to me that I couldn’t hear, and then put it on YouTube with subtitles because he knew I couldn’t understand it and called me out. If you’re a fighter, that doesn’t fly. You must respond to him, and I’m ready to respond to you Wanderlei.”

UFC TONIGHT Insider Ariel Helwani on Jon Jones’ status: “His manager Malki Kawa told me to today that they just don’t know how long he’ll be sidelined for. In a couple days, he’s going to meet with his doctor in Upstate New York and then after a few weeks, he’s going to meet with a specialist.”

Helwani on a possible Anderson Silva vs. Jones fight: “I spoke to Anderson Silva and he didn’t want to talk about the alleged phone conversation with Dana White. He said that he’s 100 percent focused on Chris Weidman and isn’t looking past him. He also said that he watched Jones vs. Sonnen, he liked the fight, but he doesn’t know what Jon Jones is going to do next. He also said that Chael Sonnen is a great fighter, but Jon Jones is a better fighter.”

Sonnen on who he thinks Anderson Silva should fight next: “In my opinion, I don’t think he’s looking at Jones. I think he’s keeping his eye on [Georges] St-Pierre.”

Lyoto Machida on if he would fight Alexander Gustafsson: “I’m definitely interested in this fight. Now I think it’s a good idea to put Gustafsson against me – let’s see what’s going to happen.”

Helwani on if Gustafsson would fight Machida: “Gustafsson told me he’s down with fighting Machida as well.”

Helwani on a possible Daniel Cormier vs. Roy Nelson fight: “Daniel Cormier tweeted on Saturday that he’s interested in fighting Roy Nelson next. I spoke to Nelson’s manager, Mike Kogan, and he told me he’s not interested in this fight. He doesn’t think it makes any sense for Nelson. He wants Roy to fight either Bigfoot Silva if he loses to Cain Velasquez, or Junior dos Santos or Mark Hunt.”

Dr. Robert Klapper on Jones’ expected rehab process: “The rehabilitation involves putting the toe back into place. Because there’s no fracture of the bone – it’s just a dislocation – in six weeks it’s healed, then you start range of motion and strengthening rehab. He’ll be back to fighting in six to eight weeks.”

UFC TONIGHT Host Kenny Florian on what sets apart the athletes who work on the show: “As fighters, we do our job and when we’re done we pick up and move on. Two weeks ago Daniel Cormier fought on FOX UFC SATURDAY, and on Tuesday he was here on set working right next to me. And I’d like to salute my partner Chael who put it all on the line just three days ago and today he’s here just like I knew he’d be, win or lose, bruises and all. Flip through the channels and try to find anyone who competed for a world championship just days before and then hosting a national television show, and my guess is you won’t find that anywhere else. We come here because we love the sport, as well as the fans, and we know you at home appreciate all that we do. Again, Chael, we salute you.”

UFC TONIGHT

UFC TONIGHT is the official weekly news and information show of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The show is co-hosted by veteran UFC fighter and multiple title contender Kenny Florian and UFC light heavyweight contender Chael Sonnen. Leeann Tweeden contributes, while three-time World MMA Awards Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani adds insider news.

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