Quote of the Day: Ben Saunders

by Nick Thomas on Jun 2, 2009 10:29 AM EDT

"I think what worked for Swick in the past was his speed, but dropping a weight class gives up some of that advantage in my opinion. Most guys are smaller, but have more speed at welterweight, which is probably why he hasn't been able to get off like before. Also, he might be losing some power in the cut. Who knows? I don't believe he will have an amazing amount of speed on me. He also won't have a height or reach advantage that he's used to. I believe I will be the bigger and stronger of the two, so in all honesty, I feel I have a lot more advantages. Stylistically, it was probably a bad matchup for him, but great for the fans."

....

... "I want to thank American Top Team. I truly believe we have the best fighters in the world. I want to thank Dana White and Joe Silva for giving me the opportunity to test myself against the best in the world. Lastly, I have to thank my homie Bruce Lee for opening my eyes to Jeet Kune Do concepts at the age of 8 years old. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be the man I am today. RIP."

-- Ben Saunders talks about his upcoming clash with Mike Swick at UFC 99.

Poll

What say you?

Mike Swick (13-2-0) 6' 1''

35 votes

Ben Saunders (7-0-2) 6' 3"

49 votes

84 votes | Poll has closed

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I got Ben 100% whupping Mike into a bloody mess

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Jun 2, 2009 10:45 AM EDT reply actions

Wow…seriously people, sleeping on Mike Swick like this? I’m shocked.

http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com

by Tim Burke on Jun 2, 2009 11:18 AM EDT reply actions

I voted for Swick.

by Nick Thomas on Jun 2, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, i LOVE the way saunders fights, and i think he has tremendous potential, but smick is a case of too much too soon for him, and BIG leap up in competition from wolff.

by woooburn on Jun 2, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow, what happened to the people who were all on Swick’s nuts for this fight? I watched Saunders fight on the GSP-Fitch undercard and was impressed, then his destruction of Wolff was beautiful. Since the only fight people have seen on television of Saunders is the Wolff fight, they think he’s a one hit wonder. No. This guy has some serious skill, standing, and on the ground. Swick is a tough dude, but unless he brings it, he’ll be having a short, painful night.

by Kaleb Kelchner on Jun 2, 2009 12:06 PM EDT reply actions

Wolff did look pretty small for a welterweight. But I like Saunders and I’ll be rooting for him next Saturday.

Visit MMAEruption.com!

by MMAEruption on Jun 2, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Ben impressed me on TUF especially when Dan Barrera had knocked down and Ben was just smiling – that should be added to the Best MMA GIF’s purely for the confused look on Dan’s face.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Jun 2, 2009 2:35 PM EDT reply actions

Ben Saunders

This is the guy that barely beat Daniel Barrera (twice?)…

by Loot on Jun 3, 2009 11:36 AM EDT reply actions

Did you not watch the two other fights after that? People do improve…

by Kaleb Kelchner on Jun 3, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I saw the Wolff fight...

but he is no swick…. Saunders is talking about a size advantage over a guy who was competitive at lhw during tuf1, was successful in the UFC at MW, and is now fighting at 170. I’m pretty sure Swick has faced a lot tougher competition than Saunders as well….

I think it will be a good fight but I think Swick is being overlooked heavily and should be the favorite… especially seeing as how he trains with 2 of the best WW’s in the world daily, and sometimes a third (Jake Shields, though I think he’s a bit overrated)

by Loot on Jun 3, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Ben barely beat Barrera like how Swick barely beat Josh Burkman, or Decisioned Marcus Davis. Ben also trains at ATT, so the training partner advantage you give to swick is moot.

by CliChe Guevara on Jun 3, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Davis, and Burkman are both

a lot better than Barrera IMO….

by Loot on Jun 3, 2009 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions

btw...

ATT is one of the BEST camps in the world, but as a WW it doesn’t get too much better training with Kos, Fitch, and Shields

by Loot on Jun 3, 2009 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

last thing of note....

DOPE name… lol.

by Loot on Jun 3, 2009 7:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha, damn.

I didn’t watch TUF 1, so I didn’t know that Swick was at LHW (assumed he was at MW with Kos, Diego, etc). It says he lost to Bonnar, but still, to see a guy go from 205 to 170 is pretty impressive.

BTW, I think Swick takes this rather easily. He’ll probably be able to outstrike Saunders at range, and with quick flurries/ combos (remembering the Barrera fight, where he dropped Saunders), and will have a decent advantage on the ground. I also think that, contrary to what Saunders says, I don’t think he’ll be stronger than Swick. 6’3 at 170 is very thin, and I guarantee you that Swick is as strong (if not stronger) than Ben.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Jun 3, 2009 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with a lot of this, and think that...

even if Ben Saunders starts to be effective with his Muy Thai, that Swick will be able to take him down, and control him on route to a decision (I’m expecting a good fight though).

by Loot on Jun 3, 2009 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions