“He got me to jump in and start camp early… I jumped in and I was brutally beating everybody I was sparring with into a pulp. I was watching videos of Dan Hardy, I was looking at his picture, literally, in my office, and then running out to my cage [to train].” -- Marcus Davis to ESPN.com about training for Dan Hardy as the war of words intensified.
“I do think there needs to be some sort of competition, or there needs to be some sort of… you know, coming together of the fighters and making a stand, because as of right now, they’ve got a stranglehold on the fight game, Zuffa, and we need to get some dough… I know there’s a lot of people that would like to see [a fighters union] happen, and there’s a lot of people with more money that would not like to see that happen, so you know… you gotta do the math on that one.” -- Urijah Faber on The Adam Carolla Podcast about the MMA pay scale.
“It’s not easy what we do. It’s not easy to walk out there and put it all on the line like that. We fight for pride, for money, our health is on the line. There’s a lot on the line, man. And these people that are like staring at you and calling you names… I just wish I could like switch places with them for a minute and make them walk down this stage. Because it’s not easy.” -- Mike Thomas Brown at the post-WEC 41 press conference about the reaction of the Sacramento crowd.
“I’ve fought a lot of fighters but not a lot of people who are necessarily respected outside of the industry. I need to show the world I belong with these guys.” -- Jake Shields to Sherdog.com following his victory over Robbie Lawler.
"Cain is the best fighter that has ever come out of AKA to date. He doesn't have the fights of Fitch, he doesn't have the fights of Koscheck, but he's the best mixed martial arts fighter that I've ever seen." -- American Kickboxing Academy jiu-jitsu trainer Dave Camarillo on Cain Velasquez during the "Countdown to UFC 99" special.
“A long time ago I remember saying there’s kids out there in sixth grade right now watching me pave the way for them. And one day they’re going to be coming out here, and I only hope I get the opportunity to fight them. And I have had that chance.” -- Jens Pulver following his loss to 20-year-old Josh Grispi at WEC 41.
“Canadian boxing commissions are not authorized to supervise boxing matches in the U.S.; and, patently, it is wholly inappropriate for one representative from a Canadian boxing commission, together with an MMA referee, to supervise a boxing match.” -- Bruce C. Spizler, chairman of the Association of Boxing Commissions legal committee, in a press release on the plans for a Tim Sylvia vs. Ray Mercer caged boxing match on Saturday.
“I’ve mastered submissions in short pants.” -- Satoru Kitaoka following Achilles hold victory over in Pancrase on June 7.
The Week Ahead
All the fallout from a deep UFC 99 card and a curious boxing-MMA happening involving Tim Sylvia and Ray Mercer.