just 10 days out... here's some nuggets from a conference call with some of the guys fighting at ufc 77:
Anderson Silva, UFC middleweight champion
Silva decisively defeated Rich Franklin for the title Oct. 14, 2006. His most recentwin was over Nate Marquardt on July 7.
-- On his motivation after beating Franklin so decisively the first time (via translator): "I respect Rich Franklin and he always comes to bang. I owe it to the UFC and all the fans around the world to put on the best fight. That's what keeps me motivated."
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Rich Franklin, former UFC middleweight champion
Since losing to Silva, Franklin rebounded to beat Yushin Okami on June 16 to earn his rematch with Silva.
-- On his thoughts the day after losing to Silva: "I had a really sore nose. I did a lot of staring out the window and asking myself ‘why?’ But you can do that for day and days on end and still come to the same conclusion which is nothing."
-- On his preparation for that fight: "At the time I believed I put in the time to study him, but I didn’t. I believe we’ve done a better job this time."
-- On possibly changing his tactics this time around: "Ultimately I will take the path of least resistance. If we stay up that's fine, but if we got to the ground that's fine too."
-- On Silva’s recent wins over Travis Lutter and Nate Marquardt: "Lutter is a great ground guy and Silva showed a lot of resilience on the ground. In the Marquardt fight, I took a lot away from that like his switch. When you watch fights you’re not only looking for mistakes they made but what they did really well."
-- On the distractions of training for a fight in his hometown: "Actually, I changed the training quite a bit. We took the entire camp out of Cincinnati ... and trained in altitude."
-- On training in Wyoming for three weeks. "It was refreshing to get out of the city. There is not anything to do out (in Wyoming) except train. This is the first time I trained in altitude."
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Tim Sylvia, former UFC heavyweight champion
The "Maine-iac" is coming off a loss to Randy Couture on March 3 andunderwent back surgery in the spring.
-- On his back: "I feel great. If I didn't I would not have taken this fight. It should be a great fight. Two guys that like to stand and bang. Someone is going to sleep."
-- On facing Vera: "He’s young, he’s light, he’s fast. His stand up is good. He has a lot of good aspects. I’m ready for a tough fight."
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Brandon Vera, UFC heavyweight contender
The "Truth" is unbeaten, but has not fought in the UFC since defeated Frank Mir – also a former champion – on Nov. 18, 2006.
-- On the problems of Sylvia’s size: "It’s a big problem -- a 6-foot-8 problem. I didn’t think it would be a big problem until I started sparring with other big guys. The timing and range is different. I’m glad my trainer brought them in because my hard-headed (rear) would have just kept training with my usual partners."
-- On being away from the Octagon: "Being away for long sucked. I was training the whole time. I went to Thailand and I went to the Philippines. I was still doing two a days the whole time. Itw as not a problem to stay motivated."
-- On wife Kerry, who is also a fighter: "We run together in the morning. We have the same mentality about training. It makes my life easy. We both understand each other. The hardest part is watching her get into the ring."
-- On how they met: "I heard somebody beating on a speed bag and beating the hell out of it. I looked up and it was her. Three days later I asked her out on a date and it was a wrap."
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Dana White, UFC President
-- On the recent closing of the Pride offices: "This is about the fight in Cincinnati. I don't want to talk about Pride sh*t."
