Kamaru Usman defeated Jorge Masvidal via KO at 1:02 of round 2
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Kamaru Usman:
Now I’m satisfied. They said they wanted violence out here in Jacksonville, Florida and I went out there and gave it to them.
It was just me staying composed. I know he was trying to bring me out of myself. Like I said, I’m not a character out there, I’m not an imposter, that’s who I am and I just had to go out there and stay composed, stay with my fundamentals and the finish comes.
Sky is the limit, I’m growing so much in the sport, I’m just blessed to be at this present time and moment. It was a sweet one, it’s up there. If you look at the knockouts now that I’m putting together, that one’s up there for sure. That’s what I wanted to do, I said I’m so far ahead of these guys, I’m coming around and lapping these guys on the track, I’m coming around with a vengeance and I had to go out there and put the nails in that coffin and I did and we turn the page and move forward.
The energy was incredible. There’s nothing like a sold out crowd like that. It’s incredible. I can’t describe it, I love the UFC fans, love ‘em or hate ‘em, it doesn’t matter.
Rose Namajunas defeated Zhang Weili via KO at 1:18 of round 1
Rose Namajunas:
It just feels really great. At the end of the day, it’s about doing my best, so no matter what the result was, I was proud of myself for stepping in there today and doing my thing.
I felt really good, I was calm, I had to control myself and control my breathing and stay calm, she kinda touched me with the low kicks and she hit a nice little jab, but I just stayed calm, I don’t know how to explain it I guess. I saw her body fall over really stiff and I was like, oh dang that definitely worked a lot better than I thought it was going to. But I did see that kick landing in my mind leading up to this fight. I didn’t think that was going to be the finish, but that was one of many ways that I seen this fight going. As soon as she kinda turned over, I thought there was maybe a moment she could pop back up and wake back up again, but those hammer fists are just money and I knew it was over after that.
No matter who my opponents are, I want to defend this as many times as I can, but what I really want to do is to use this to build MMA academies in a couple different locations, so that’s the idea and vision that I had this week. I always knew an idea of what I wanted to do, but I didn’t know how to work it into my career and so that’s my plan, I still have to go hash it out, but that’s my vision.
Valentina Shevchenko defeated Jessica Andrade via TKO at 3:19 of round 2
Valentina Shevchenko:
I don’t have fear to go and fight, to go and wrestle, to go and grapple, I don’t have. I saw and hear a lot from Jessica that she is so secure that she can be stronger than me, than she can dominate me on the ground, I knew it, but I didn’t want to say nothing because I know my power and what I can do, that’s why I was like ok, let her believe in this, and then when she feels the power, real power of myself, she’s going to be double frustrated.
I didn’t remember how I landed there, I know it was a throw, but how I landed there is hard to say, I have to re-watch it. Every time I go, doesn’t matter what position, crucifix, side control, or something like that, I try to focus first on fixing this position, to be a lot of pressure, to get a lot of pressure, and then see how I can finish. I had in the first round, a rear naked choke attempt, and I felt it’s really tight, but the position wasn’t quite the right angle, so I didn’t want my arms to get tired so I went to mount. Once I was in crucifix, I secure my position first, then I start to land hits, I start to land elbow, I saw the blood and I heard the referee, and then I knew, this is my moment, I need to finish it, I don’t want to fight five rounds.
It’s amazing, the support that people bring, it’s something that’s really priceless. I like to have this love from the people, so I train for them and show that I am the best for them.
Uriah Hall defeated Chris Weidman via TKO at 0:17 of round 1
Uriah Hall:
It’s unfortunate, I’m sure he had to prepare himself to get out, but it’s one of those where you just didn’t see it come, so you take it and move forward.
I felt like my emotions were getting out a little bit, so my coach sat me down and said, hey man, let’s not cry again like Anderson. Just relax, take it in, it happened, there’s nothing you can do. It’s just a weird environment at that moment because you’re prepared so much for it and your mindset is somewhere else, so with that outcome it sucked.
It was a very important fight coming into this because he was the first guy to beat me. Obviously I got the win on paper…whoever the UFC is going to line up, my goal is the same, I’m trying to become champ and we gotta play the game. I’m in the rank, top nine right now, I don’t know where I go after this, maybe eight, the goal is just to get to Izzy. However it plays out, we’ll be ready.
The nerves leading up to this fight, just feeling anxious. Backstage I couldn’t even breathe for some reason, I’m in shape, I’ve trained for months, but to get over those jitters now, you realize you can take it in, it’s good, but at the same time, as a true martial artist, I know I didn’t really win.
Anthony Smith defeated Jimmy Crute via TKO at 5:00 of round 1
Anthony Smith:
This is a performance I needed, but I still didn’t do everything right. My goal was to get in and get out without taking a lot of leg kicks, I still took a lot of leg kicks on my way out, I did a better job of handling them on my way in but it just means we still have things to work on. It felt good to keep landing that jab over and over. To be honest, I was like man, I think he’s playing possum like he’s going to come over the top of one of those, but I can’t complain.
I knew that there was a low chance that he was coming out for the second round, but then he got up and he was wanting to fight. So I was kicking myself in the ass because I didn’t really listen to the first part of what Marc said because I was like, no way is he getting off that stool and then he got off and I was like oh sh**, he might actually come out. Credit to that guy’s fighting spirit, hell of a tough kid, he’s going to be great someday.
I wish I was half as good as him at his age. He’s night and day better than I am at that point, or better than I was at that age, at that point in his career. I don’t just don’t want him to get his head down, don’t hang your head, keep your head up high, he’s a warrior. Robert Whittaker is not going to be around forever, so someone is going to have to carry that torch for Australia, and I think he’s that guy.
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