Hotmail
Jackson, Mir make big statements
by Elias Cepeda, InsideFighting.com
MORE ON UFC 92
There was a lot of action at UFC 92 in Las Vegas. Titles changed hands and doubters became believers when the late December night ended.
Video: Hear from the big winners Articles: |
Though Jackson certainly appeared to have improved greatly since he was stopped twice by Silva in 2003 and 2004, the fact that he didn't prepare well in his last training camp and was struggling with so many personal and legal issues begged the question of whether Rampage could face down additional demons inside the ring. Of course, Jackson proved us wrong — at least in terms of what he was able to do inside the octagon — and knocked Silva out cold in their bout at UFC 92 in Las Vegas.
According to Jackson, people like myself just didn't get it.
"People don't understand that certain people are made to be fighters. That's what I do, that's my job. I was made to be a fighter. ... Who cares (that) other people say someone isn't ready? They don't know. They don't live in my head, they don't see me training, they don't know what's going on," Jackson told reporters at the post-fight press conference Saturday night.
"I want to prove everyone wrong. I heard about some fighters saying, 'Oh, Wanderlei is in Rampage's head, he beat him twice.' They don't know what type of person I am. I'm from the streets, I don't get scared. So what the guy beat me? He didn't kill me, I'm still here."
Read more at...
Indeed he is, and it is one of those occasions where I'm happy to be wrong. Hopefully Jackson has cleared his mind and found peace outside of the fighting realm as well and will find a way out of the tragic troubles he's helped bring about. He's a good single dad that cares for and provides for a lot of people around him. Here's hoping he can get and stay happy.
If it sounded to fans that Frank Mir did not necessarily have much confidence he could beat the legendary Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira for the UFC interim heavyweight title Saturday night, they were probably right.
"If I was a betting man I wouldn't have bet on myself before this fight," Mir told interviewer Joe Rogan immediately after his impressive stoppage win over Nogueira.
And though it would seem that the bulk of Mir's improvement has come in the stand-up striking category, the new champion disagrees. His biggest improvement was not adding skills, but rather finally setting himself up to properly showcase those skills.
"I've always been doing stand-up since I was 4 years old. The issue was conditioning," Mir said at the post-fight press conference.
"I'm not afraid to showcase my skills. Before, I'd walk into the octagon terrified of getting tired. I wasn't thinking of the guy I was fighting I was thinking, 'Man, if this fight doesn't end in two minutes I'm in a lot of trouble.' Tonight I was like, 'It could go 10 rounds, it doesn't matter. I could go all night long and I won't lose in any position'."
As for the man Mir will have to face next, heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, confidence does not appear to be an issue. Mir forced Lesnar to submit after 90 seconds of taking a beating in February. Since that time Lesnar went on to stop reigning champion Randy Couture and claim half of the heavyweight title.
Lesnar is confident that he's improved leaps and bounds since his loss to Mir, working with the likes of his head coach Greg Nelson, and has openly hoped for a rematch. Now he'll get it, but Mir isn't so sure that Lesnar will like the outcome.
"Be careful what you wish for," was Mir's simple closing message to Lesnar on Saturday night.
Add a comment
advertisement
