The Week in Quotes, November 1st - 7th

by Mike Fagan on Nov 8, 2008 12:59 PM EST in News Comment 20 comments

..AND DOWN GOES FABER!

"I'm a world-class fighter. I know that. I can compete with anybody." - WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Thomas Brown, before his fight with Urijah Faber (MMA Junkie)

"[Faber] makes a lot of mistakes in his fights. I've just got to capitalize when he makes them." - Brown, who capitalized on a sloppy elbow strike from Faber on his way to a win

"I don't have a lot of knockouts on my record, but I (expletive) hit hard." - Brown (Yahoo)

FILHO DOES GOOD JOB IMPERSONATING HERO, TYSON

"Filho's cornerman told us that they would walk across the cage and hand Chael the belt if he wins. When Chael whoops his ass, I expect them to live up to their word." - Matt Lindland, after finding out Paulo Filho could not make weight (MMA Weekly)

"It threw me off. Every time I envisioned the match and played it out through my head … the different scenarios … I never once envisioned him not fighting back. I never envisioned him just laying there. I didn’t know what to do. It was similar to being at a dance with a partner who doesn’t know how to dance." - Chael Sonnen (Sherdog)

"I’ve never seen it. I’ve never seen it in another fight. I’ve never had it done to me in practice or in a competition. It made me real cautious, and I regret that a little bit." - Sonnen

"What is he looking at? I feel like I'm watching the movie with Woody Harrelson (where) he's like talking to jesus or something." - Frank Mir, trying to make sense of Filho's inability to focus on his opponent (WEC Versus Telecast)

"He's fine." - Filho's manger Ed Soares, doing some damage control (MMA Weekly)

"I thought he was in the best spirits in the past two fights. I’m not a mind reader." - Soares

"Anyone who knows him knows that’s not Paulo Filho. He didn’t show up." - Soares, unfortunately for Filho, neither did Jesus

WHY ISN'T THE MEDIA ALL UP ON DEUCE MCALLISTER'S JOCK?

"I’ve been accused of using steroids my entire life, probably since the tenth grade in high school… I’ve never failed a drug test. Now if I was a black guy and I looked the way I do would I get asked this question a 100 times? I just happen to be a white guy that has some great genetics, so I guess that puts a bullseye on me… I’m a white dude that’s shredded and you don’t see a lot of it — a guy that’s walking around that looks like me." - Brock Lesnar, while unfortunatley bringing race into the equation, makes a good point (MMA Mania)

"Some of the guys were saying when you guys face off and touch gloves you should whisper 'steroids' and watch his blood pressure go up." - Randy Couture, and the psychological warfare beings (Yahoo)

SPOT ON WEC PRE-FIGHT COMMENTS

"Matt Hume tested me out and told me I’m at 40 percent of my ability, and I have to get to 90 percent." - Jens Pulver, showing that 40 percent on Wednesday (Yahoo)

"The striking has definitely not come easy to me. I’ve had to spend a lot of time working at it, but I feel like it’s getting better and better all the time." - Jake Rosholt, who proceeded to show no defense standing (UFC.com)

VINCE MCMAHON COULDN'T SCRIPT A TURN THIS GOOD

"Randy if you're listening right now, I hope Lesnar (expletive) kills you." - Affliction co-founder Todd Beard, I think it's safe to say the relationship between Affliction and Randy Couture has soured (Yahoo)

"I'm not terribly surprised by anything he does at this point. He's been a bit of a loose cannon our entire relationship. Now he's pushed it over the line where it's not re-salvageable." - Couture, affirming the sentiment (Yahoo)

"Guys with drinking problems, is what it boils down to. I've seen it at several different professional meetings where he's ordering shots and out of control. And it's not something I want be associated with." - Couture

WHITE NOISE

"I said from day one I hate the UK v USA idea." - UFC President Dana White, on the next season of the Ultimate Fighter (The Sun)

"We put on a card one time, the USA v Canada, it was fucking retarded." - White, in his usual elegance

PARTING SHOTS

"Maybe Kenny’s face looks better on television." - Joe Stevenson, trying to rationalize why he enters his fight with Kenny Florian as the underdog (UFC.com)

"On paper it almost makes no sense whatsoever. I can't wear basketball shoes into the octagon." - Nate Quarry, on his new sponsorship deal with And1 (Yahoo)

"I’ve really done everything I can to turn my life around." - Chris Leben, after getting busted for steroid use (Yahoo)

"And my pitch to Chris is, 'The first guy that starts grappling is a pussy, so let's not do that.'" - Marcus Davis, on his upcoming bout with Chris Lytle (MMA Junkie)

"I'm going to know when my clock says I'm ready." - Kevin Randleman (MMA Junkie)

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Comments

touchy Lesnar

Brock Lesnar’s racist comments are not “a good point”. People suspect Lesnar of steroid use predominantly because he comes from pro-wrestling, where bodies of his type are common, in contrast to MMA where similar bodies are rare. Why he plays the role of aggrieved White man is beyond me. It’s a lame attempt to detract from the fact he is very sensitive around the topic of his possible past steroid use.

by klown on Nov 8, 2008 2:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Kongo?

by iiowyn on Nov 8, 2008 2:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

While I appreciate the sensitivity of the subject I think you are using the term racist incorrectly. It is a term with a very negative connotation and doesn’t need to be thrown about every time anyone mentions race.

I do agree that a great deal of the suspicion can be traced back to his time in the WWF/E but it is not racist to make a statement that points out the current differences in treatment. Ironically I think a better use of “racism” can be attributed to the issue Brock is complaining about.

by Day Man on Nov 8, 2008 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The reason I said it was a “good point” is this…take “white guy” and insert pro wrestler/mixed martial artist and take “black guy” and insert “professional football player.”

Yes, Brock is obviously getting this treatment because of his time in an industry notorious for drug use (and Lesnar has already admitted to a problem with painkillers). But what’s the point of asking him about his time there? I would say it’s very likely he used steroids in his WWE days. It seems like it would be close to impossible to maintain his physique with their schedule. But do we question movie stars about their PED use (Sylvester Stallone has not only used but supports the use of hGH)?

There’s a ridiculous pattern of steroid coverage by the sports media. Barry Bonds, a man who never failed a drug test, has been hounded for years and has had his career tarnished as a result (whether or not he actually used is a debate I would prefer not to get into here). Yet, Shawn Merriman, an athlete who tested positive and was suspended for substance abuse has largely received a free pass.

Putting myself in his shoes, I can completely understand Brock’s frustration with the subject. If he’s currently using, to quote Frank Shamrock, he’s playing a dangerous game. But it’s more likely that he isn’t, since he’s now had 3 regulated fights and hasn’t come back with a positive result yet and he’s also going to be more scrutinized than your average fighter.

Anyway, the point is that whatever alleged use in his pro wrestling days is largely irrelevant and should just be dropped by the media.

by Mike Fagan on Nov 8, 2008 2:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Brock was a huge guy way before he started pro wrestling. It’s not like he all the sudden got that body type when he started pro wrestling but I’m sure that’s why he gets bothered so much about it.

by who me on Nov 8, 2008 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As usual

Yes, he looked perfectly normal and natural in his wrestling days and not at all different than before or since:

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Nov 9, 2008 4:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I Love Quote Day

Seeing the failed predictions and back-and-forth arguing is awesome, especially with the editorializing. Good laughs all around.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Nov 8, 2008 2:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

YEAH Mike Brown

I love when relative unknowns come in and destroy a big name fighter. The featherweight division is getting mad interesting.

Also I kind of agree with Brock, in the sense that caucasians do have a lower bar for physical fitness than people of African tradition. But black dudes are accused all the time without failing a test, just look at Bonds.
We should keep in mind why black people are held to a higher standard too. Centuries of slave owners breeding their “property” only with their biggest strongest guys has made the black population slightly more athletic. So before claiming that its not fair, remember crackers (short for whipcrackers) made it that way in a horrible manner. Just food for thought.

by EazyEismydad on Nov 8, 2008 3:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Actually

Africans from Africa are pretty damn statuesque.

by asa on Nov 8, 2008 4:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It has been well documented in history that this was a practice by slave owners. I suppose you have a case if your a person who doesn’t believe that breeding works. I suggest you go to your local dog breeder and ask them a little about how selective mating can completely change a species.

by EazyEismydad on Nov 8, 2008 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also the African slaves were the people who lost the local African wars and after being captured were sold to the traders. That would suggest that the biggest and strongest groups of Africans would have remained in Africa in almost any evenly match war. That in itself could have been a form of natural selection in Africa helping them evolve physically at the same time that their defeated rivals were forced to. So maybe you are right that they are bigger dudes too.

by EazyEismydad on Nov 8, 2008 4:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not sure that Barry Bonds is the best example of an athlete be accused of steroid use for no reason. True, he hasn’t failed a drug test to my knowledge. Unlike Brock Lesnar, his physical appearance has changed pretty dramatically over the years. He’s much bigger than he was when he started out in MLB. The Lesnar steroid thing is a non-issue to me unless it’s proven that he’s done something wrong in that regard. Given his background and current stature in the UFC, Lesnar has to expect and effectively deal with these steroid questions. The more it pisses him off, the more frequently he’s going to be asked about said situation.

by Cannon Jacques on Nov 8, 2008 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good point about Bonds. It was my best example that I thought everyone would know, but he def has never failed a test. I think your right that his reaction to the question causes more suspicion than anything.

by EazyEismydad on Nov 8, 2008 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Lesnar's Halloween costume...

Who has the jpeg of Lesnar wearing the hood?

I told you I can't build your candy house! It will fall apart, the sun will melt the candy, it won't work!

by mma_dude on Nov 9, 2008 12:23 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

2 words: Bob Sapp

White or black, if you have a freakish physique and come from pro-wrestling or other drug-addled sports, you will be suspected of steroid use.

Another category of fighters that falls under suspicion is Brazilians. This has to do with the Brazil fight scene’s notoriety for rampant steroid use, not race.

For no reason, Brock Lesnar chose to make this a race issue. But of course, it was a case of “reverse racism” because the White man is apparently the victim here.

It’s a cheap way to divert attention from an issue Lesnar clearly feels uncomfortable about.

by klown on Nov 9, 2008 12:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Seriously, there is NO calm, calculated response Lesnar can give

which would stop this line of questioning, or even slow it down. I know I could only handle those types of questions two or three hundred times before I started snapping, and I’m a ridiculously patient person.

Brock hasn’t decided to turn this into a racial issue, at least not if my impression of the quote is accurate. He’s just responding in a manner which is consistent with his character, and that’s to throw his weight around when he gets upset. There’s nothing inherently immature about that, and after seeing all of his pre-UFC interviews about his future career in MMA, I have absolutely zero doubt that this guy is carefully crafting his image with these tirades. People want him to be this ogre, this physical freak of nature, and he’s just giving them what they want. I applaud him for how he’s handling the situation.

There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.

by misterjonez on Nov 9, 2008 1:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wandy, Shogun, Nog, Anderson, etc. aren’t questioned before every fight if they’ve used steroids.

by Mike Fagan on Nov 9, 2008 1:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe they are – in Portuguese!

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Nov 9, 2008 4:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Never denies it.

Brock always blasts back, “I never failed a drug test”. Never have I heard him say, no I never took steroids. I may be skeptical of the pro wrestling culture but the history of steroid abuse speaks for itself.

by ithinkiknowMMA on Nov 10, 2008 5:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Like I said, I would say there’s a very good chance he ‘roided during his pro wrestling days. But gains made while roiding can’t be maintained when you get off the juice, and I think it’s very doubtful he’s still on the stuff now.

by Mike Fagan on Nov 10, 2008 9:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs