Embedded Files
Post date: 15-Apr-2012 21:01:09
UFC
Moderator: Dave Sholler
April 13, 2012
1:00 pm CT
Operator: Good day and welcome to the UFC 145 conference call. Today’s conference is being recorded.
At this time for opening remarks and introductions, I would like to turn the conference over to Mr. Dave Sholler; please go ahead.
Dave Sholler: Thanks Jennifer; welcome everybody to today’s UFC 145 media conference call.
Today on the line, we have the gentlemen headlining next Saturday’s card from Philip’s Arena live on pay per view, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones and former UFC light heavyweight champion “Suga” Rashad Evans.
Before we get to questions, just a reminder for everybody, Tough Live airs tonight on FX at 10:00 pm Eastern and Pacific; it is followed by a brand new episode of UFC Primetime at 11:00 pm Eastern and Pacific and one last reminder. Don’t forget tomorrow UFC on Fuel preshow from Sweden, 2:00 pm Eastern.
And we go right into Alex Gustafsson versus Thiago Silva, the action starts on Fuel at 3:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm out here on the west coast.
Jennifer, if you would let’s go ahead and take the first question.
Operator: We’ll go first to Mike Chiappetta with mmafighting.com.
Mike Chiappetta: Just wondering since it’s been such a long lead up to this fight and so much talk about the rivalry between you over the years, if you could just both answer, has this been sort of the most exhausting lead up to a fight for both of you?
Jon, you can go first, I’d like to also get Rashad’s thoughts on the same question please.
Jon Jones: I wouldn’t say that it’s been the most exhausting lead up to a fight. It kind of reminds me of the Rampage (Jackson) fight. We had smack talking, controversy. It was drama in the Rampage fight too.
You know Rampage (Jackson) accused me. It was a pretty huge allegation. For the first time I had people questioning my integrity.
So that was something I had to go through and it was really important to me, it was kind of troubling, people thinking that I would cheat.
I mean that’s the biggest insult. Someone calling me fake or cocky, that does nothing to me, it’s like alright. I really believe only God can judge me.
But somebody calling me a cheater, that really got to me. So I wouldn’t say this was the most exhausting build up to a fight, not at all.
Mike Chiappetta: Okay, and what about you Rashad?
Rashad Evans: I mean yeah, I’ve been in fights like this before but the only part I guess is I just get tired of talking about the whole thing over and over again. I get tired of talking about Jon and Greg (Jackson) and the whole situation.
I do get tired of it. I do get tired of all the press that we had to do. I’m not going to lie about it. it’s to the point where I just want to fight.
And I’m alright man. I’ve talked about it long enough and he said whatever he said, I’ll say whatever I say, and now it’s just time to fight.
But everybody’s talking about it and I’ve got to do all these interviews, so that’s the only part that bothers me of the whole thing, because I’ve just been talking about for over a year, you know what I’m saying?
It’s like man, I want to just fight already.
Mike Chiappetta: Rashad, I was wondering if you can kind of go back to better times, happier times and if you could, share maybe what your best memory was of working with Jon, back when things were good.
Rashad Evans: I would say that the best memory I have of Jon is that we used to have a lot of fun training together and competing against each other.
We would just have fun just doing stuff like I bet I can touch your knee more times than you can touch my knee, or let’s see how many takedowns you can get. I bet I can get more takedowns than you.
I mean we would just have fun, and that’s what I miss most. Just that we’d have fun and then even after we got done from practicing, we’d sit and chop it up a little bit. And then we’ll go over different moves and different setups and all kinds of stuff.
Mike Chiappetta: Okay, thank you, I appreciate the time.
Dave Sholler: We’ll go to Neil Davidson, Neil you on the line?
Neil Davidson: Yes Dave, thank you. My question is for both Jon and Rashad. Are there any things that you regret in the build up to this fight? Any things that were said or done? Maybe start with Rashad.
Rashad Evans: No, I don’t have any regrets. I felt like I’ve spoken from my heart and along with that I felt like I’ve done that. I don’t think I’ve violated anything in that respect.
That’s one thing I always try to. I don’t want to cross the line. There’s some things you can do to cross the line. I don’t think I crossed the line by far, so I’m pretty satisfied with the way things went.
Neil Davidson: And is Jon back on the line Dave?
Jon Jones: Yeah, I’m here. No, I have no regrets.
Neil Davidson: And could I just follow up, there’s been talk of bad blood. Do you feel that after this fight that you might be able to resume things at a slightly friendlier level?
Jon Jones: For me, yeah, I think it’s just to have respect. I’m a guy who really has no problems with anybody in the UFC. Not one fighter can say they really have a problem with me, not that I know of anyway.
So when I go to the event my last thing is I’m hugging all the guys, we’re all having a good time, and I would like to be able to be at a UFC event and not feel awkward in the same room with Rashad.
It would be cool to be able to be like hey, good fight, you know blah, blah, blah and just keep it moving.
We’re adults here and it’s not like I don’t know Rashad so to be like men after the fight, we’ll be cool.
Neil Davidson: And Rashad, what were your thoughts about after the fight?
Rashad Evans: Yeah the fight’s over, the fight’s over. I don’t carry on any grudges. Do I think we’ll be best friends? No, but you know what, there’s definitely going to be some respect, so I’ll just leave it at that.
Neil Davidson: Okay thank you, good luck to both of you.
Operator: We’ll go next to Kerith Gabriel with the Philadelphia Daily News.
Kerith Gabriel: Thank you and good afternoon to both of you guys. My question is more for Rashad. Rashad in the build up to this fight you had to fight a myriad of other guys at first - it was going to be Phil Davis and then that got scratched and then it was Tito (Ortiz) in that fight here in Philadelphia.
Talk about it, because I know the whole time you’ve always wanted to kind of get your hands on Jon. Having those fights come up, did that just seem kind of like a distraction to what you really wanted to have happen?
Rashad Evans: Well you always want to have a chance to fight for the belt, that’s the ultimate goal.
I guess getting an opportunity promised to me probably was a gift and a curse. Because that’s all everybody kept talking about and that’s all I was thinking about at sometimes too.
So I think that title shot being out there, being the number one contender who’s supposed to fight for the title, I think that carried more weight than anything else.
Just like let’s just hurry up and get this over with so I can go and fight for the belt now. I was supposed to fight for it a long time ago.
Kerith Gabriel: Thanks Rashad, appreciate it.
Operator: We’ll go next to Eduardo Martell with Univision Radio.
Eduardo Martell: Yeah, first question, hi guys, this is for Jon. Jon you’ve been a champ for more than a year now. How has your life changed since you became a champion on March of last year?
Jon Jones: My life hasn’t really changed at all, really. I got the team, same coaches, same everything. Everybody is the same, same teammates - developing really close relationships, really close bonds with everybody in my camp and my coaching staff, to the point where it’s no longer really a business.
I really feel like I have family and that people genuinely care about my well being and they really want to see me succeed.
So to be honest with you, the only difference is more Twitter followers.
Eduardo Martell: Okay, and this question for Rashad, Rashad how different is this title fight for you, if you compare this fight with the previous you have before?
Rashad Evans: There’s a lot more talk to this fight of course and stuff like that but the whole back story I guess that’s a bit of a different issue. It’s an interesting one that people follow so that’s probably the only difference, that the emotional, the connection that was there beforehand.
Eduardo Martell: Okay thank you, good luck to you both guys.
Operator: We’ll go next to Kevin Richardson with Baltimore Sun.
Kevin Richardson: This is for Jon. First, Jon, we got a chance to see a lot of you behind the scenes and working with your strategy with (Greg) Jackson. Once you guys got to see some of what was there, did you guys ever regret doing that, showing some of the strategy behind the scenes like that?
Jon Jones: What did you see behind the scenes?
Kevin Richardson: One instance where Greg was working with you on striking and Rashad is going to follow up with a certain jab and you would hit him under his rib or with a kick and you guys were working on that and I saw what it was going to be.
Jon Jones: Oh, you’re talking about in the Primetime show, getting to see a little bit of that?
Kevin Richardson: Yes.
Jon Jones: Oh man, no I’m not worried about that at all. One thing about my fights is that most of my opponents know that I have tons of technique. I’m a big studier of footage.
And I realized everybody before a fight had figured out what they’re really good at - what hand they hit harder with, what’s their go to function, what’s their go-to combinations.
I figured it out with Shogun (Rua). Figuring it out with Lyoto (Machida) was really tough because he had so many techniques. But one thing about me is I really don’t think my opponents could figure out what I’m going to throw.
I mean I throw so much stuff. I was saying Greg, what do you think about me training here at Jackson’s? Rashad definitely has some relationships here.
Greg said listen Jon, if we could send Rashad footage of you sparring every day, he’s not going to be able to tell which one is coming when, what side of the body, high or low, don’t even worry about it.
Half the time I’m not sure what I’m going to throw. Whatever I find open I’ll throw so if you’ve seen me sparring, it changes nothing. You have no clue what I’m going to throw, when I’m going to throw it.
Kevin Richardson: Alright, and actually a follow up to that for Rashad, Rashad did you get a chance to see any of the Primetime things when him and Greg were talking?
Rashad Evans: No, I didn’t really pay attention to be honest. I didn’t really pay attention.
Kevin Richardson: Okay and this last question for both of you, do you guys both see this going five rounds or ending quickly, or ending before five rounds?
Rashad Evans: I don’t know man, let’s see what happens. I’m not going to rush anything. I’m going to be patient. I have a technique I’m working and just see - hold on and see and just try to capitalize on that. Whatever happens in that time it happens but I’m not in a hurry.
Jon Jones: I’ve stated that one of my goals -- because I'm a big believer in setting goals -- one of my goals is to finish every fight in 2012. But I will train; I have trained for a five round fight. I’ve trained for a six round fight. So I’m in great, great condition and my goal is to finish the fight.
Kevin Richardson: Sounds awesome. God bless both of you guys and have a good fight.
Jon Jones: God bless you too.
Operator: And we’ll go next to Matt Bishop with the Detroit News.
Matt Bishop: Hey question for Rashad. Rashad is this fight for you more about the rivalry with Jon and being able to fight him, or is it more about getting the title back? Which is more important to you?
Rashad Evans: It’s a little bit of both to be honest. I really want to fight Jon but I also want to be champion again. It’s really hard to say for me, it’s kind of like a toss up.
Matt Bishop: Alright. Thanks.
Operator: We’ll go next Ariel Helwani with NBCSports.com.
Ariel Helwani: Hey guys. First for Jon. In the Countdown show and the Primetime show and using any sort of back and forth leading up to this fight a lot of attention on the answer that you gave on the (Versus) show when all this started last year. And I’m wondering if in hindsight you regret the way you worded that answer and maybe you thought you could avoided all of this.
Jon Jones: You’re talking about the whole thing with Rashad when I was on your show?
Ariel Helwani: Yes.
Jon Jones: No. I don’t, I don’t regret it. I feel to this day that I said something that I truly meant and you know what I said to you was I said you know Ariel people still haven’t shown the full interview of how highly I actually spoke about Rashad, I mean even the Primetime show didn’t show the full interview.
But you know I just wish people knew the whole story, that whole interview of what I actually said about Rashad, speaking my respects and loyalty to him during that interview.
But for the most part, Rashad took the part of me saying that I would never want to fight him and that struck his ego somehow and now he’s challenging me for my title and I don’t regret what I said because I said what I would’ve said to his face.
I’m aware that when you do interviews he’s going to hear it, especially if he’s aware, so I don’t, I don’t regret anything and I’m grateful for a chance to fight Rashad and I’m striving for greatness and I’m training and I really want to be great one day.
I mean Rashad is undoubtedly one of the toughest light heavyweights who’s ever played the game and to beat him is going to be huge. Fighting the best is what it’s all about and that’s why I’m excited. Everybody that I’ve fought in last year they claimed they have the best camp of their lives and that’s what is good. You want to fight people at their best and I hope Rashad’s at his best because that’s the best way to beat somebody, so I’m happy to fight Rashad at his best. I’m happy what I said.
Ariel Helwani: And for Rashad. Since it’s obviously become relevant again I’m wondering if you did have a chance to watch it and to get a sense maybe in context what Jon was trying to say then?
Rashad Evans: No. You know Ariel, when it comes down to it that interview was just, just a piece of everything that was kind of happy and not only just with that interview but Jon has said stuff before, and even leading up to the fight every time somebody asked about me it was like listen Rashad’s not in my mind, he’s not this, not that and Rashad has absolutely nothing to do with it, I mean it was just like he was just so dismissive.
So if he didn’t mean it a certain way then he wouldn’t have called me with a guilty conscience. I mean who cares about their interview, it’s really about what was said before and how Jon really, really feels and now I know how he really feels. Jon always wanted to fight me. Jon never wants to be teammates and not to be like brothers. Jon came on the team to learn the way to beat me so he can fight me.
Ariel Helwani: Okay. And also for Rashad, I’m just curious, I’m sure you still have friends at Jackson’s. Has this affected your friendship, you know if someone has to spar with Jon or to help him out, I mean how have you dealt with the people around Jon at Jackson’s?
Rashad Evans: The people around Jon at Jackson’s are my friends but I wouldn’t compromise their integrity by asking them anything. I wouldn’t do that because that’s not how I want to win, that’s not what I want to know and I don’t think that they would even say anything in the first place. I wouldn’t even want to do that to them because I’m a friend and that’s not what a friend does.
Ariel Helwani: And have you learned anything from this, meaning now with your new team would you do things differently if you have like some young guy coming up who’s in your weight class. Would you think twice about bringing him in or do anything that you kind of wish you would have done a couple years ago when they brought Jon in?
Rashad Evans: Well I know I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t put myself in the position again. I wouldn’t bring myself with somebody I knew would be a contender, and I like a told Greg at the time, I don’t think it’d be a good idea but Greg did what Greg wanted to do for Greg, that’s why Greg brought him on because Greg wanted to do what he wanted to do for Greg.
And that’s the thing about it. Greg talks about oh, you know for the team, the team did great, but the team consists of I, which is Greg Jackson, and that’s what the team consists of. it’s about Greg Jackson getting the coach of the year award. That’s pretty much what it consists of.
So no I wouldn’t, I would never put myself in that position again.
Ariel Helwani: Okay. And just two other quick ones if I may...
Jon Jones: To Greg Jackson’s defense, Rashad is telling the truth when he says that Greg Jackson is not always around the gym, that’s totally true. Greg Jackson is a name who works extremely hard.
He has so many fighters; I mean I’m surprised he doesn’t get sick every day. One day he’s in Russia and then he’s in Brazil and then he’s in South America. He’s everywhere because caters to each and every fighter.
There’s so many guys that he traveled for that’s not in the UFC. He just got back from Russia to corner a guy and nobody knew his name. Greg Jackson is a good man in my opinion, and he’s there for his whole team.
And so yeah he can’t be literally at the gym every day because if he was at the gym every day he wouldn’t be able to be in my corner for my fight. So to Greg Jackson’s defense, yeah he’s not going to be able to cater like he used to when he only had eight elite fighters. He has a whole stable of fighters now. People are honored to go and train with Greg Jackson and he has to cater to each person.
Rashad Evans: Jon but what does that have to, what does that have to do with anything that we’re talking about though. That has nothing to do with what we’re talking about.
Jon Jones: A gym like Jackson’s is not a place for the selfish.
Rashad Evans: A gym like Jackson’s not a place for the selfish what are you talking about? Are you talking about bringing somebody else into the weight class he has nothing to do with, he wasn’t talking nothing about Greg Jackson and the fighters that he corner and stuff like that, he wasn’t talk about that bro.
If you’re going to jump in a conversation you got to keep up man.
Jon Jones: Next question please.
Ariel Helwani: Okay. I just had two other quick ones if I may, Rashad have you brought in anyone to in specific that wasn’t part of the team to sort of help emulate Jon’s unique style?
Rashad Evans: No. There’s no sense. Jon has a unique style. It makes no sense to bring in somebody special that emulates Jon’s unique style. Jon is one of a kind.
So there’s no sense in trying to get used to somebody else that does something sort of like Jon when Jon does his own thing.
Jon Jones: Oh thanks Rashad.
Ariel Helwani: And the last one for Jon can you just clear up in words the tweet you sent out about the UFC sponsoring you, that sounds like a unique thing. What exactly is going on there?
Jon Jones: Well for this fight I have a goal. I’ve had a goal of being sponsored by Nike for many, many years and a part of our strategy to try to make that happen one day is to not be a billboard, and not just be sponsored by TapOut one week and Affliction one week and then MusclePharm next week and then all of these random companies.
I hope you realize I try to look for relationships with companies, long lasting relationships with companies and so a part my brand is to keep it clean. Less is more in my opinion. So when FORM Athletics went down pretty much every company in the business was looking for an opportunity to work with me and I was really honored. I thought it was really awesome, a real honor.
But we came up with a strategy to keep it clean and be sponsored by the UFC itself and I’m glad the UFC wanted to work with me as well and I think they trust that I’ll never make them look bad. You’ll never have to worry about me with a DWI or doing something crazy.
I think I’m a good company guy. The UFC asks me to do anything and I always do it and I never tell them no for anything. I think I do more marketing than any other fighter because I say no to absolutely nothing, and I don’t think most champs are like that.
So I think they realize I’m a company guy and they decided to sponsor me and so they put in the deal that if any mainstream companies come after this win that they will let me go and I think that’s awesome.
Operator: We’ll go next to Erik Columbia with WICZ Fox 40 (Binghamton, NY)
Erik Columbia: Hey guys. This question, first question is for Jon. Jon we’ve seen you be the fun loving guy all the time and not that you’re not that guy now but it seems like we’ve seen a little bit more of a serious tone with you especially in some interviews. Has your demeanor changed at all heading into this fight to a more serious tone?
Jon Jones: No I don’t think my demeanor has changed too much. Sometimes it caused me to get a little more serious because there’s some pretty serious allegations being thrown around about my head coach, but for the most part I’m still having fun, chillin’ with my team, having fun and working hard.
When you work hard man there’s no need to be so serious about everything but if you notice my opponents voice and his tone, I mean he’s really, really caught up in the whole drama.
So I feel good man, I feel good. I know I’m getting ready to win a fight and there’s no need to be sad or stressed out about anything.
Erik Columbia: Alright. And with you guys, both you guys being New Yorkers and you guys have gone to Albany and trying to get the state to bring in the UFC. How much better could this fight have been if it was in New York?
Jon Jones: I mean I think it’d be great to have this fight in New York State. This fight it has been referred to on several occasions as the Ali vs. Frazier of our sport and of our time. I think that this fight would sell out in Madison Square Garden the first day that tickets went on sale and that’s amazing. I think it would sell out the Yankee Stadium. It would sell out anything.
There’s a lot of people that want to watch this fight, especially in New York State and unfortunately a lot of people can’t really afford to travel right now with this economy so I just think it’s sad because you know our politicians, our New York State politicians are making their own people suffer the most. We’re suffering as far as the economy and our people are suffering by not watching two of the top fighters in the world who are both from New York, in New York.
So I think they’ll come around sooner or later. The demand is so great and being in New York State is inevitable so it’s all a matter of time.
Erik Columbia: And Rashad your thoughts on maybe this fight if it could’ve been a little bit better if it was in New York.
Rashad Evans: I share Jon’s sentiments.
Erik Columbia: One last question Jon. Where is (brother) Chandler going in the (NFL) draft?
Jon Jones: Hopefully Baltimore gets him but you never know with this draft. There’s a lot, 32 teams and it only takes one team to like you so we just hope for the best for him. Our family is excited, looking for two victories.
Erik Columbia: Alright. Thanks Jon and see you, see you in Atlanta Jon.
Jon Jones: Alright. Thank you.
Operator: We’ll go to Dave Deibert with Post Media News.
Dave Deibert: Hi guys. Thanks for the time. A quick one for Rashad. After being off for over a year how nice is it just to be back period on a regular fighting schedule?
Rashad Evans: It feels good. To be able to fight consistently is something that I really need and I really like because sitting around and just doing other stuff besides fighting is probably one of the hardest things to do as a fighter still in the prime and able to fight because you just do nothing but think about fighting.
And sometimes, you watch your teammates go and your friends fight and you're sitting around thinking like, dang, am I still a fighter? I haven't fought for a while. And you kind of miss it. Fighting for me is therapeutic and I kind of need it. So when I don't have it, I feel like a piece of me is missing.
Dave Deibert: Is it disappointing in that sense in that you essentially went a whole year without being able to compete when theoretically you are at your best physically, emotionally?
Rashad Evans: You said am I upset that I didn't get to fight?
Dave Deibert: Well, yeah, I mean, just when you are theoretically at your peak as an athlete, and missing out on that specific time period.
Rashad Evans: Yeah, I don't think I reached my peak yet but I think that I'm approaching it. But I don't think I hit it yet so I'm not too upset that I missed that much time only I'm just happy that it's over. I think everything serves its purpose and the time that I had off it definitely served its purpose.
Dave Deibert: Okay. thanks again for the time, you guys.
Operator: We'll go to Sergio Non with USA Today.
Sergio Non: Yeah, this is a question for Rashad. When I was talking to Jon last week one thing he'd mentioned was he felt like he didn't learn anything from you when the two of you were at Jackson's together but he felt that you learned from stuff from him. And I'm wondering, how much did you learn from Jon during the time the two of trained together?
Rashad Evans: I learned little tricks here and there for the most part but, it wasn't like the best teacher of my life, it was just working together. And I trained with a lot of guys that I learned a lot from. I try to take away something from everybody I work with.
I'm not one of those guys who is like oh man I think I know everything because I'm Rashad Evans. I learned a lot from everybody. And I humble myself a lot and not say too much what I know. Sometimes if I keep it quiet and just see what they know. And if they want me to I'll share. I'm not selfish.
But I just always keep it quiet and just humble myself enough to learn from somebody.
Sergio Non: Great, thank you.
Operator: We'll go next to James Lindenmuth with 610 The Sports Animal.
James Lindenmuth: Hi guys. Thanks for the time. 610 The Sports Animal here in Albuquerque. Because of the history that you guys have had - and obviously both of you having trained here - this fight, more than any other, has caused some dividing lines at least with the MMA community here in Albuquerque. And this question is for Rashad.
Before the fight and in between the rounds when you look over and you see guys in the opposite corner that you trained with for so long and worked with so hard what do you think is going to be going through your head?
Rashad Evans: I guess I kind of divorce myself from that altogether. With working with Mike Winkeljohn, I haven't worked with him since the Machida fight. And with Greg Jackson it's been pretty much the same thing. From Thiago Silva to Rampage, I trained with Greg a total of five times.
And that was it. I was doing my camp in Gainesville at the time and Greg came out. I worked with him five times. So having those guys against me is going to be like whatever. They're going to think that they know what I want to do and stuff like that. But it doesn't matter to me.
James Lindenmuth: Well best of luck to both of you guys and no matter what the outcome you guys both have a ton of fans out here in Albuquerque, gentlemen.
Jon Jones: Thank you.
Operator: We'll go next to Damien Martin with MMAWeekly.com.
Damien Martin: Yeah, let me open up with Rashad. Rashad, let me start here because you've had some pretty fierce rivalries in your past, you know, the Rampage thing, Tito, stuff like that, where does this rank just because is it more personal or can you separate it more? I mean, how does this rank with those fights?
Rashad Evans: I think this one ranks above everyone else because I felt like with the whole connection with Greg and everything else like that it brings a different kind of edge to it.
And plus my relationship with Jon brings that different element to it. At the same time it's all the same in respects when it comes to talking because one thing I learned about when you talk, you know, you've got to back up. I already know how the game works.
Damien Martin: And there's been so much talk - I don't know if there's much left to say. But I know that a few months ago - I think it was a timeline thing - you and Jon actually had a kind of a meeting or altercation, whatever you want to call it, at a Las Vegas nightclub. I don't know how much you want to rehash it but can you tell us what actually happened? Was it as serious as it was made out to be or was there actually even an altercation there?
Rashad Evans: No there was no altercation at all. Basically we just had a talk and Jon told me how great he was and that was about it. But that was it. No altercation, no pushing, no shoving, nothing like that. I think Jon tried to get me kicked out by the bouncers or something like that, something whack like that but that was about it.
Damien Martin: And, Jon, can I get your response to that?
Jon Jones: You know, I don't really remember too much about it. I remember initially at a table with some fighters. And Rashad came to the table and it was awkward.
And so I tapped him to talk to him, because I wasn't going to do the high school thing and just tried not to look at him while we're sitting at the same table.
So he walked away and then I think Rashad started off by saying something like hey, I think you've been doing really good and something like that but just so you know you're fighting me now and I'm going to smash you, something along those lines.
Rashad Evans: Stop, Jon, Jon, you've got to stop lying right now. You've got to stop.
Rashad Evans: I said nothing like that.
Jon Jones: Wow, Rashad, you are in your mid 30s, you're so rude, bro, just let me talk. Stop trying to argue all the time.
Rashad Evans: I'm not arguing...
Jon Jones: Stop interrupting...
Rashad Evans: You’re up here lying, that's all I'm saying. I'm saying you up here lying, that's all I'm saying.
Jon Jones: Will you just stop interrupting me? Wow.
Rashad Evans: Okay, Jon...
Jon Jones: I would think you were the 24-year old. Just chill out, man...
Rashad Evans: Complete fabrication. Go on, Jon.
Jon Jones: So anyway I will admit yes, I did tell Rashad that I was going to finish him and that I was hoping that he would be my first career highlight knockout. And he remembers that.
Damien Martin: And one more for Jon if I could? We know the photo shoot was done the Muhammad Ali kind of mimicking and the underwater and then they came out with the Champ is Here video which is obviously a reference to Ali. And you mentioned Ali Frasier.
I just wanted to ask what does that comparison mean to you? Does it add pressure because of how great Ali was or do you like that people are putting you in that same vein?
Jon Jones: You know, it adds more pressure. I find it fun; I just find it fun that's all. I definitely don't consider myself Muhammad Ali. I thought Muhammad Ali had many flaws in the person that he was. But at the same time, I love Muhammad Ali; I'm a huge fan of Muhammad Ali's. I've watched every interview he's ever done, I've read a Muhammad Ali book, I have his autographs, I have his autographs by Cassius Clay, I have his autographs by Muhammad Ali. I'm a huge fan, huge fan of Muhammad Ali.
But I don't strive to be Muhammad Ali. I should have to be the best Jonathan D. Jones that there ever was. I want to do things better than Muhammad Ali. So I just find it fun, you know, I never came out and was like oh I want to be Ali and put me on the cover underwater. That was the UFC's idea. That's the people on the outside looking at me in a positive regard. And I’m truly on it. And I think it's awesome. I think it's awesome.
Where most young fighters will probably get in their head and they start to think oh I'm the man now, look at this cover. it would deteriorate a lot of young fighters.
But me it motivates me, it empowers me to train harder. And I realize that if I don't become greater than Muhammad Ali it's my own fault. So I realize that and it pushes me farther. And that's why I train five times a day.
Damien Martin: Awesome. Thanks very much, guys.
Jon Jones: Thank you.
Operator: We'll go next to James Brydon with Sportsnet Canada.
James Brydon: Hey, got a question for both of you guys. Not looking past each other but I was wondering what you think about tomorrow's main event and in particular Alexander Gustafsson. He's on a pretty good run so I want to - will you be watching the fight closely? And where do you think he stacks up in the light heavyweight division? Jon, start with you.
Jon Jones: I think Alexander is looking really great. I think he's looking really great. UFC just posted one of his fights online on ufc.com and I actually watched it; it was my first fight that I've ever watched of Alexander Gustafsson, excuse me.
And I think he's looking good. He has real good hands. He has the gift of hands. Everybody has some gifts; his seem to be in his hands.
James Brydon: Rashad, just wondering if you'll be watching tomorrow's main event closely and what you think about Alexander Gustafsson, where he stacks up in the light heavyweight division.
Rashad Evans: Oh he looks pretty tough, yeah, he looked tough, long, rangy, athletic.
James Brydon: Okay thanks.
Operator: Thank you. I'd now like to turn the call back over to Mr. Dave Sholler.
Dave Sholler: Thanks, Jennifer. I want to say thank you to Rashad Evans and Jon Jones for participating in today's call as well as all the media members who turned in. It was a perfect appetizer for next week's media event. The media schedule is out and available for UFC 145 Jones versus Evans.
Just a reminder TUF Live tonight, a brand new episode at 10:00 pm Eastern and Pacific followed by a new episode of Primetime at 11:00. And don't forget tomorrow on Fuel all of the action kicks off at 2:00 pm Eastern leading into the 3:00 pm telecast of Gustafsson versus Silva.
We'll see everybody next week in Atlanta. Thanks again and have a great weekend.
Operator: That does conclude today's conference. Thank you for your participation.
Rashad Evans: Good, thanks.
END
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