Jon Jones (above) is targeting Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s UFC 205-pound title. | Sherdog.com
Jones discussed the matchup and more Tuesday during an appearance on Bruce Buffer’s “It’s Time” show on the Sherdog Radio Network. Quick quotes from Jones follow.
On getting a title shot: “I’m just embracing this moment and trying not to be intimidated by any of it. I’m excited. I’m trying to remember that no fight’s a big fight and not to fight anyone’s name or face but fight the body. Fight the body and do the things that I’m normally doing in training camp. I feel really great.”
On fighting again just six weeks after beating Bader: “Usually I spend the first two weeks of my training camp getting in shape. I’m already in shape, so I have a great base to start off [from] physically. I can even make myself that much better physically. I’ll have an eight-pack instead of a six-pack my next fight hopefully.”
On the role of film study in his preparation for Shogun: “I think studying is going to be the biggest piece. Know what I’m doing. That’s something I take very seriously.”
On transcending MMA: “I think the biggest difference between being considered a great fighter and being remembered like a guy like Ali, those guys change the world in a way. Guys like Ali, he stood for something outside of fighting. Guys like Bruce Lee -- no one ever remembered Bruce Lee as being that Chinese guy. He’s that brilliant guy who changed the world in a way. I’ve got to figure out what my passion’s going to be outside of fighting to really make a major impact on society.”
On his endorsement deal with K-Swiss: “I’ll be the first MMA athlete to have a shoe. That’s something we’re going to start designing after this fight. … I think it’s going to be like a whole brand. There’s going to be shoes and sweaters and jeans and all types of really cool things.”
On whether he would have accepted a fight against Anderson Silva as quickly as he accepted the Shogun offer: “No. No, because my goal is to be the UFC light heavyweight champ, not to fight superfights. Even though it would be an honor to fight Anderson and I would definitely take a fight against him, no. I would have had to put more thought into training properly and studying because there’s a lot that would go into fighting the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. With Shogun, he has something I want. I have nothing to lose by fighting Shogun.”
Listen to the full interview (beginning at 15:30) with Jones.
Reader comments are active below. Register an opinion by signing in with your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Yahoo! account.
view original article >>