MMA Fighting - UFC 145 Video: Pre-Fight Interviews

UFC 145 Workout Video

2012-04-20T02:07:06Z

ATLANTA -- MMA Fighting's E. Casey Leydon was at the Georgia State University gym in Atlanta on Thursday as Jon Jones, Rashad Evans and other top fighters on the UFC 145 fight card participated in the media workouts. Check out his exclusive video below.

Jon Jones: Rashad Evans 'Insulted Me Way Too Early'

2012-04-20T01:23:24Z

ATLANTA - At the UFC 145 open workouts, UFC light heavyweight Jon Jones talked about his training before the fight, his cardio and beard, what advantages Rashad Evans has over him, and if his former teammate got into his head with all the pre-fight trash talk in the video below.

Rashad Evans Discusses 'Weak' Chin, Moving On After His Divorce

2012-04-20T00:30:00Z

ATLANTA -- Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans spoke to MMA Fighting today about why professional boxers like Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones, Jr. seem to gravitate to him, how he responds to Jon Jones' claims that Evans has a weak chin or that he may not be in his physical prime, why the pain he felt from the divorce of his now ex-wife was worse in previous fights and if a win over Jones on Saturday validates that he's not only a better fighter than Jones, but also the decision to leave the Greg Jackson camp.

Greg Jackson Contends Jon Jones Has Underrated Fight IQ

2012-04-20T00:25:00Z

ATLANTA -- MMA trainer and coach Greg Jackson spoke to MMA Fighting today at the UFC 145 pre-fight open workouts. Jackson expressed surprise at the levels reached by some of the vitriolic personal attacks he received, discussed Rashad Evans' physical capabilities as he enters his thirties, contrasted the wrestling styles of Evans and Jon Jones, discussed how he and his camp manage Jones' training as he grows in size and tried to make sense of why Jones' fight IQ is underrated.

Georges St-Pierre Says MMA Training Will Resume in Two Months

2012-04-20T00:20:00Z

ATLANTA -- Look out UFC welterweight division. Georges St-Pierre's knee is getting stronger, and it appears he's on track for a fall return.

The champion is in town for UFC 145, and with his rehabilitation progressing well, he was all smiles as he walked pain-free and limp-free into the event's open workouts. During a brief interview session, St-Pierre told the media that he recently began running, as the two surgeries on his right knee continue to heal well on the long road to recovery.

Because of that, he's on schedule for his return to MMA training, which he hopes will be in about two months.

"In two months it will be 100 percent," he said. "Now I feel something that it's not 100 percent, but in two months there's no doubt in my mind. I don't want to mess it up. If I try to jump and go too fast, I will have to do it all over again and I don't want to make the same mistake."

The "same mistake" refers to a previous injury to his left knee. That time, he believes he came back too quickly and overcompensated with his right knee, leading to unnecessary damage.

Because of that, St-Pierre is restricted in what he can do. He said he's currently engaging in a lot of pool exercises, gymnastics, and running. He's also getting the itch to get back in the gym, which is one he won't be able to scratch for some time.

When he does return, interim champ Carlos Condit will be waiting for him.

Given the timeline, a return on the promotion's November 17 return to Montreal sounds like a real possibility, but St-Pierre said given his layoff, which will hit the one-year mark on April 30, he is only concerned about when he returns, not where.

"Wherever it is, in England, the US, I’ll fight. I'm just going to be happy to be back and fight. When you get hurt for a long time and you're forced to pull away from training and you're forced to stop doing what you like to do everything, it makes you see things in perspective. And I just want to get back. Wherever the fight will be, I will be glad to fight, and I’m very anxious to come back."

St-Pierre, who will turn 31 years old next month, said that while he has no problem in facing Condit, he wouldn't fight teammate Rory MacDonald, who many consider to be a future threat to the title. St-Pierre said that by the time MacDonald reaches the No. 1 contender spot in around two years, perhaps he will have moved on to middleweight.

But first things first, and that's returning. He's on the short end of his six-month overall recovery time, and now he can start to think about fighting again.

"It’s awesome," he said. "I’m in good shape now, but I’m not in fighting shape."

Miguel Torres Learning a New Style to Make His Old Style Better

2012-04-20T00:14:40Z

ATLANTA -- UFC bantamweight Miguel Torres spoke to MMA Fighting about his fight with UFC 145 fight with Michael McDonald and much more. Torres discussed the shock and dismay he felt after being cut by the UFC for inappropriate comments on Twitter, but also how the experience changed him for the better. Torres also defended the adjustments he's made to his game since losing to Brian Bowles and discussed how offensive guard play shouldn't be neglected in modern MMA.

Michael McDonald Suggests He and Miguel Torres Are 'Kinda the Same'

2012-04-20T00:00:00Z

ATLANTA -- UFC bantamweight contender Michael McDonald spoke to MMA Fighting at today's UFC 145 pre-fight open workouts about his bout on Saturday with former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres. McDonald elaborated on his previous comments that Torres abandoned his style of fighting after losing to Brian Bowles. He also discusses whether athleticism is rewarded in MMA fighting as much as it does other sports. The rising prospect further explains why he believes he and Torres are similar, tries to understand why oddsmakers are having a hard time forecasting an outcome in this fight, and why staying with the same MMA team is critical to his success.

Stephen Thompson Believes Karate Is Making a Comeback

2012-04-19T23:44:52Z

ATLANTA -- UFC welterweight prospect Stephen Thompson spoke to MMA Fighting at today's UFC 145 pre-fight open workouts about his Saturday bout with Matt Brown and much more. Thompson weighed in on the claim that muay Thai might be a better style for fighting than karate and affirmed his belief that karate is making a comeback in mixed martial arts. Thompson also discussed how he manages distance in the cage without the use of a jab and so much more.