The Week in Quotes: August 29th - September 4th

WHEN THE GOING GETS WEIRD, THE WEIRD TURN PRO

"He felt we were friends and that I'd backstabbed him. Thank God he changed his mind." - Karo Parisyan, who makes his UFC return against Dennis Hallman at UFC 123. Dana White cut Parisyan after Parisyan pulled out of a fight at UFC 106 with Dustin Hazelett. (Sherdog)

"He told me to get my life back on track and that's what I did. My issues had to do with my anxiety problems and panic attacks." - Parisyan, who took a fight against in Australia for Impact FC. Parisyan, who beat a local fighter taking the fight on short notice, asked the promoter to push his fight to the front of the card in order to assuage the fears of his "family" back in California.

"People made these accusations because I'd been popped for medication. I'd taken two pain pills the morning of my fight for a torn hamstring and didn't think much of it." - Parisyan, referring to his positive test for painkillers at UFC 94.

"Every fighter I know takes pain medication like it's M&Ms." - Parisyan. Hey, if everyone else is doing it...

"I was the unlucky one who only took it the day of the fight without even thinking about it." - Parisyan. I'm all for fighters getting second (and third and fourth) chances, but can someone explain this one to me? If the reports from the Impact FC show are to be believed, then it doesn't appear as if Parisyan has his anxiety issues under control. In addition, these last two quotes suggest that Parisyan refuses to take responsibility for his positive drug test. Anyone?

WELL, WE CAN ALL AGREE HE DOESN'T FINISH EVERY FIGHT

"I’ve been in a lot of main events, I’ve been in a lot of different fights for the organization. I don’t think that’s the case at all. Every fight in the UFC is a big fight. " - Kenny Florian, responding to brash comments made by UFC President Dana White which labeled Florian a choker in big fights. (Boston.com)

"The Gomi fight wasn’t a big fight? The Stevenson fight wasn’t a big fight? The Lauzon fight wasn’t a big fight? They were all main events, top of the card. That really doesn’t make any sense." - Florian

"I didn’t crumble. I was outwrestled. Gray fought a smarter fight. That was it." - Florian, highlighting the real problem: running into better fighters. (Boston Herald)

JUST LIKE BO AND NEON DEION

"My thing is, all of these bums, David Gaye and Bucktooth Bernard Hopkins, talk all that shit; come and see me! They were quiet as mice until they saw I was signed to fight in the UFC and then they all had an opinion." - James Toney, fresh off his first round submission loss to Randy Couture at UFC 118. (Fight Hype)

"I'm the only two sport athlete out there and I'm doing the 2 most dangerous sports in the world. No other man will try to do that." - Toney. Ray Mercer?

"It's great. I love the atmosphere that they bring. It reminded me of the old days of boxing; the 70's, 80's and early 90's. Boxing fans used to be like that and we need to bring that back." - Toney, on MMA fans.

YOU CAN'T STOP HIM, YOU CAN ONLY HOPE TO CONTAIN HIM

"Last time I defeated the myth, this time I’m gonna defeat the man." - Chael Sonnen, on the rumor of a rematch with Anderson Silva during Super Bowl weekend. (MMA Live)

"Look, if I had beat him, I would have had to come back and beat him again anyways. So nothing in my career has changed. I was the best fighter before the fight, I’m the best fighter after it." - Sonnen. Maybe Silva will start talking to Jesus, too.

WHITE NOISE

"I thought we answered this question in 1993, but James came out and he picked a fight. We answered the question again in 2010. I don't think it needs to be answered again. I don't care if it's Mayweather or anybody else." - UFC President Dana White, cutting James Toney from the UFC. No way White passes up on the opportunity to promoter "Pretty Boy" Floyd either. (MMA Junkie)

PARTING SHOTS

"It’s about how I feel and if I want to go back and make a run at a title and how far away that would be." - Chuck Liddell, on his retirement decisions. You're a ways away from the title, Chuckles. (Star Tribune)

"Maybe Joe Warren will push me to use all of those tools. It would suck to lose to him; I never want to lose to a dirt bag like that." - Joe Soto, who beat up Joe Warren for an entire round before being put to sleep in the opening minute of round two. (Bellator.com)

"Also, not all MMA fans are NFL fans and in a football crazed city, our nationally televised world championship tournament event provides a tremendous world class alternative to the NFL." - Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, defending the decision to hold a Bellator event in New Orleans when the New Orleans Saints open the NFL season against the Minnesota Vikings. Good luck with that, Bjorn. (MMA Torch)

"If the same thing occurred, I would do it all over again. I have no regrets." - Roger Huerta, on his now infamous curb stomping down in Austin, Texas. (TMZ)

"I have not been paid in any way by Shine." - Zac George, referring to the canceled Shine event in North Carolina. Oh, and they've had to move their next show to Oklahoma after Virginia refused to hand over a license. Way to go! (MMASpot.net)