Anthony Smith
-camp in denver (last day) heading to brazil monday to arrive tuesday (yesterday)
-Says Santos was his 4th opponent choice, rest of division are cowards since no one stepped up
-discusses how ufc and ufc fighters are not real fighters, how hard to get even one fight
-says he and santos are similar fighters, style wise says santos a big mw in division, striker based
says he has ground game advantage over santos.
-says hes a thicker and stronger striker, but with accuracy while santos has more power based striking.
-trained at factory x- ian, chris, brian all tough fighters at factory x
-guys cross trained with factory x, james krause and others. Grinding daily in practice
-says santos will be aggressive in r1, suggest he wont chase him in this fight. Suggest who gets mad
first but keeps his cool.
-Says he has a hard time to start first often but pours it on, says once santos slows down he will get the finish towards the end.
Valentina
-in Texas with camp/coach, not going Colorado this time but was training with Rose there last time
-says did not lose her last fight, can only just focus and look at next fight now
-says 125 weight class much better for her, never needed to cut weight at 135.
-discusses how she had to adjust strategy with bigger, taller opponents but at 125 more relaxed
-fought at 125 in her MT fights
-Is currently 130 pounds so this will be an easy cut for her
-feels more healthy and her full power will be shown due to new weight class
-her opponent is strong and powerful, 8-0 but she is not worried she has all the experience here
-few sparring partners (guys) at her camp.
-wants a quick finish in this fight, not known if she gets title shot when she wins just yet
-says wants to show a technical and aggressive fight
Desmond Green
-signed new contract with ufc, with start at brazil so agreed to it
-happy to fight anywhere really
-says rustam fight he should have done more, was more cautious in that fight. Said he was not
as aggressive as usual.
-Does so much in practice but he didn't show it against rustam last fight.
-matches up well against praz, hes a purple belt under firas, while praz is black belt.
Says praz fades in r2/r3, and greens cardio is good this camp so he expects to show up.
-trained with jason jackon, micheal johnson, usman this camp and evan forrest.
-walks 170-170, is 10 pounds over atm so its a bit tricky due to traveling will arrive tuesday brazil.
says his weight wont be an issue but praz weight will be an issue since he can't cut it well.
Tim johnson
-gofundme to get his coaches to brazil hit target- says was set to private but it went public instead
and got lots of backlash from ufc and other mma fighters.
-tends to accept the fights, was on the shelf due to injury so happy to get back to it
-bad camp and should not have taken last fight, was not 100%. Could still throw punches, says
at least he lost to a good person with a sad background (baby)
-was unable to run, conditioning not there last fight due to injury, was not able to get the early ko.
-only 4 minute footage on his opponent (golm) says will put him in unfamiliar waters this fight
-went out to vegas twice for this camp, got a lot of good work in. Trained with jerod
and good body's this camp.
-goes to ufc institute daily for his free lunch, very healthy and good food
-says he will dance a bit and feel out golm, no predictions this time, says both go forward so its going to be interesting.
-wants to be a short replacement substitute in few weeks time
Vera
-amazing training camp, very happy with way all has gone
-trained with smolka, russell doane, joe soto, alex perez this camp
-wanted the Brazilian fight, cos most fighters want US fights
-says with linekar fight it was a great fight, says was a close fight but, says first 2 rounds was close
and felt should have been draw. Says it is what it is, wants to improve from it.
-says andrande is generic sized and framed, but not in a bad way he could still knock his head off though.
-says andrande is similar to linekar in some ways, wants to apply pressure and work more.
-says he trained all aspects and looks for this fight, had sambo, wrestling and multi talented
sparring partners, so feels more improved.
-147 this morning, eats healthy to make it easy. Not wants to lose 50 pounds in one day no way.
-says Mcdonald's is bs
-always wants a finish, but needs a win for his country and family
Joe soto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOJ6hGqSEg8
-wants to protect himself not get hurt to return to family safe but get the win
-mentions he wins whenever he travels, but travelling sucks but use to it
-leaving monday, only 2-3 days early from fight time
-says got in bad position last fight (sub loss to brett), knew the defense but went wrong way
-nervous and excited still, expects a battle with luri and a tough fight.
-says more pressure on luri due to recent losses also but expects the best version, and how he may come to knock his head off.
-trained with alex perez, vera, russel doane and few smaller other top guys. Had lots of different looks this training camp.
-should be an easy weight cut, been light last 2 weeks but not checked weight just yet.
-Training since october so it wont be an issue
-hard to predict, but wants to get fight to position where he wants to get a finish, but could end
up grinding expects to find out how it goes.
Joseph Morales
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1-C2R0ah-Q
-enjoyed holiday season, not had full xmas due to fight (knew fight before xmas)
-says last fight, he wasn't a match on the ground and on the feet he knew he could catch him, says game plan went perfect.
-says TAM is a like family
-wants to knock out fig just so he can fight back on US soil
-plans on cutting weight towards end and climate few days out to brazil.
-says fig is super explosive fighter, not too technical, good ji jitsu on top but basic in moves and he can capitalize.
-not worried about losing its going to happen to him eventually, but its not his time yet
-there is more urgency to dominate and finish due to brazil, but hopes decision if it goes that way.
-trained with cody @ TAM most this camp
-walks 10-12 pounds over, so no issues making weight. Can do it last week
-feels fig will try and bully and push him over but its not gonna happen
Anders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hr1ny_25C8
-got some good training at gracie bahar, trained with goiti (fighting chandler at bellator)
-was bit unknown at brazil with PR, but expects it being with machida in brazil
-trained with WB also this camp, due to karate style
- says his pressure, moving forward is key to beating machida
-first fight overseas for him, expects hot weather, wont have issue cutting weight coming out
4-5 days earlier to adjust to climate and time change.
-looking for a finish, expects to finish him with his left hand- wants to build his name after
and fight a younger guy and climb the ladder.
