Post by The Texas Rattlesnakes on Feb 2, 2018 18:18:00 GMT -5
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Reporter:
I'd like to take a minute to welcome all the current contenders for titles and ask them what they're thinking about their opponents and their chances of winning the titles.
Introducing first: Heavyweight Number One Contender, Andrei Arlovski
1) Welcome Andrei, you've recently become the number one contender for the ManMMA Heavyweight Championship. You're on a three fight win streak after recently joining a new gym, The Rocketmen. Did you learn anything new there to put you in your current situation?
2) You recently defeated Forrest Griffin and former teammate, Dan Henderson. How did you prepare for those fights to become #1 Contender?
3) What are your thoughts on current champion, Tim Sylvia? How do you think your style matches up with his?
4) Assuming you win your next fight against him, which might happen before Zenith, you'd be defending against either Jon Jones or Junior dos Santos. Who do you think is the tougher fight out of the two, and who would you rather face?
Next we have The Rocketmen's Rich Franklin, Middleweight #1 Contender.
1) You've had quite an interesting path to your current team. You were drafted from an auction by The Texas Rattlesnakes in March of 2017, but you finished the season, and went through the Grand Prix while still on Ferocity's team. But the day before your title fight at Zenith, you were traded to The Rocketmen pretty quick. What were your thoughts on moving gym to gym in such a short time?
2) Even though you were still on Ferocity's team, technically your first fight with The Rocketmen was against Lyoto Machida, the man your future opponent just dominated, at Zenith for the Middleweight Championship; unfortunately you were knocked out in the second round. Would you blame your loss on all the trade complications?
3) After Zenith you went on to lose to Cung Le and GSP. After that you had a few catchweight fights against HWs like Andrei Arlovski and Rampage Jackson, but you defeated Arlovski. What were your thoughts on the catchweight fights?
4) After beating Arlovski you went on a two fight losing streak against Robbie Lawler and Rampage. What did you change to get yourself in the #1 Contender situation?
5) Finally, what are your thoughts on Anthony Johnson as a champion, and an opponent?
Now introducing The Killing Joke's Shinya Aoki, Lightweight Contender.
1) In March of 2017 you were traded to The Killing Joke. This was about 40 events after losing the lightweight championship. Your first fight was against the man who took the title from you, Gilbert Melendez, and he defeated you again. After that you went on to defeat Demetrious Johnson, and Dominick Cruz. But you were knocked out by Cody Garbrandt before you could earn yourself another title shot. Then you beat BJ Penn, and then lost to TJ Dillashaw in the GP. Your first fight after the GP was against Dominick Cruz in a #1 Contender bout, but you lost then too. Since then you defeated fellow teammate Kid Yamamoto, Demetrious Johnson, and Dominick Cruz in a rematch to earn the title shot. How does it feel to be back in your first title fight since losing it to Melendez, and losing a rematch of that fight?
2) You've been pretty impressive in your last few fights, what did you change in your training to prepare for those fights, and what's your mindset going into your title fight at ManMMA 397?
3) Obviously you used to be on the same team as Takanori Gomi, and he's come a long way. What are your thoughts on him as a champion and an opponent?
4) If you're able to defeat Takanori Gomi for the title, your first defense will be against Gilbert Melendez at Zenith. The same place he defeated you for the title last time you were champion. How would you prepare for that fight differently?
Next we have Bantamweight #1 Contender, Sarah Kaufman of The Texas Rattlesnakes.
1) You joined The Texas Rattlesnakes after the Season 19 Grand Prix, and you joined on a three fight losing streak. Your first fight there was a loss to Gina Carano, but after that fight you quickly turned things around. Luckily, you trained hard and avenged a loss against Valentina Schevchenko to earn a #1 Contender fight, where you pretty much dominated Lauren Murphy. What did you do to change your style?
2) What do you think of Cat Zingano as a champion and an opponent? How do you think you'll stack up against her?
3) If you defeat Zingano, you'll defend against either Holly Holm or Ronda Rousey. Who do you think would be the tougher fight, and who would you rather face?
4) Do you have any long term goals, if you lose against Zingano?
Next up we have xx - The Underdog Regime's Michelle Waterson. The Current Flyweight Contender.
1) Michelle, you've been with xx - The Underdog Regime for a long time, but this is your first ever title shot. You're going into the fight at Zenith to face the Flyweight Champion, Jessica Eye. She's been pretty dominant against the top Flyweights of the divison, what will you do differently to ensure your victory?
2) With that being said, what are your thoughts on Eye as a champion and a opponent?
3) You're currently on a four fight win streak. You've beaten Randa Markos twice, Barb Honchak, and you've upset Joanne Calderwood in what many thought would be an easy win for Joanne. What did you change in order to dominate Joanne before your fight?
4) What are your thoughts on having your first title fight at Zenith? Is there any extra pressure because of that?
Lastly, we welcome xx - Team GAP's Gabriel Gonzaga. The SuperFight challenger.
1) Gabe, you challenged Velasquez pretty much right after losing your Heavyweight Title match against Tim Sylvia. Do you think Velasquez is an easier opponent?
2) If you had to choose, would you rather win the Heavyweight or SuperFight Championship?
3) What do you think your chances are against Cain Velasquez? What made you want to challenge him?
4) There was some trash talk between you and xx - The King's Poison's Forrest Griffin. What are the chances we get to see that match up soon?
That concludes questions from me. Follow up questions will come up pending fighter responses. Feel free to ask questions to the fighters if you have any.
Reporter:
I'd like to take a minute to welcome all the current contenders for titles and ask them what they're thinking about their opponents and their chances of winning the titles.
Introducing first: Heavyweight Number One Contender, Andrei Arlovski
1) Welcome Andrei, you've recently become the number one contender for the ManMMA Heavyweight Championship. You're on a three fight win streak after recently joining a new gym, The Rocketmen. Did you learn anything new there to put you in your current situation?
2) You recently defeated Forrest Griffin and former teammate, Dan Henderson. How did you prepare for those fights to become #1 Contender?
3) What are your thoughts on current champion, Tim Sylvia? How do you think your style matches up with his?
4) Assuming you win your next fight against him, which might happen before Zenith, you'd be defending against either Jon Jones or Junior dos Santos. Who do you think is the tougher fight out of the two, and who would you rather face?
Next we have The Rocketmen's Rich Franklin, Middleweight #1 Contender.
1) You've had quite an interesting path to your current team. You were drafted from an auction by The Texas Rattlesnakes in March of 2017, but you finished the season, and went through the Grand Prix while still on Ferocity's team. But the day before your title fight at Zenith, you were traded to The Rocketmen pretty quick. What were your thoughts on moving gym to gym in such a short time?
2) Even though you were still on Ferocity's team, technically your first fight with The Rocketmen was against Lyoto Machida, the man your future opponent just dominated, at Zenith for the Middleweight Championship; unfortunately you were knocked out in the second round. Would you blame your loss on all the trade complications?
3) After Zenith you went on to lose to Cung Le and GSP. After that you had a few catchweight fights against HWs like Andrei Arlovski and Rampage Jackson, but you defeated Arlovski. What were your thoughts on the catchweight fights?
4) After beating Arlovski you went on a two fight losing streak against Robbie Lawler and Rampage. What did you change to get yourself in the #1 Contender situation?
5) Finally, what are your thoughts on Anthony Johnson as a champion, and an opponent?
Now introducing The Killing Joke's Shinya Aoki, Lightweight Contender.
1) In March of 2017 you were traded to The Killing Joke. This was about 40 events after losing the lightweight championship. Your first fight was against the man who took the title from you, Gilbert Melendez, and he defeated you again. After that you went on to defeat Demetrious Johnson, and Dominick Cruz. But you were knocked out by Cody Garbrandt before you could earn yourself another title shot. Then you beat BJ Penn, and then lost to TJ Dillashaw in the GP. Your first fight after the GP was against Dominick Cruz in a #1 Contender bout, but you lost then too. Since then you defeated fellow teammate Kid Yamamoto, Demetrious Johnson, and Dominick Cruz in a rematch to earn the title shot. How does it feel to be back in your first title fight since losing it to Melendez, and losing a rematch of that fight?
2) You've been pretty impressive in your last few fights, what did you change in your training to prepare for those fights, and what's your mindset going into your title fight at ManMMA 397?
3) Obviously you used to be on the same team as Takanori Gomi, and he's come a long way. What are your thoughts on him as a champion and an opponent?
4) If you're able to defeat Takanori Gomi for the title, your first defense will be against Gilbert Melendez at Zenith. The same place he defeated you for the title last time you were champion. How would you prepare for that fight differently?
Next we have Bantamweight #1 Contender, Sarah Kaufman of The Texas Rattlesnakes.
1) You joined The Texas Rattlesnakes after the Season 19 Grand Prix, and you joined on a three fight losing streak. Your first fight there was a loss to Gina Carano, but after that fight you quickly turned things around. Luckily, you trained hard and avenged a loss against Valentina Schevchenko to earn a #1 Contender fight, where you pretty much dominated Lauren Murphy. What did you do to change your style?
2) What do you think of Cat Zingano as a champion and an opponent? How do you think you'll stack up against her?
3) If you defeat Zingano, you'll defend against either Holly Holm or Ronda Rousey. Who do you think would be the tougher fight, and who would you rather face?
4) Do you have any long term goals, if you lose against Zingano?
Next up we have xx - The Underdog Regime's Michelle Waterson. The Current Flyweight Contender.
1) Michelle, you've been with xx - The Underdog Regime for a long time, but this is your first ever title shot. You're going into the fight at Zenith to face the Flyweight Champion, Jessica Eye. She's been pretty dominant against the top Flyweights of the divison, what will you do differently to ensure your victory?
2) With that being said, what are your thoughts on Eye as a champion and a opponent?
3) You're currently on a four fight win streak. You've beaten Randa Markos twice, Barb Honchak, and you've upset Joanne Calderwood in what many thought would be an easy win for Joanne. What did you change in order to dominate Joanne before your fight?
4) What are your thoughts on having your first title fight at Zenith? Is there any extra pressure because of that?
Lastly, we welcome xx - Team GAP's Gabriel Gonzaga. The SuperFight challenger.
1) Gabe, you challenged Velasquez pretty much right after losing your Heavyweight Title match against Tim Sylvia. Do you think Velasquez is an easier opponent?
2) If you had to choose, would you rather win the Heavyweight or SuperFight Championship?
3) What do you think your chances are against Cain Velasquez? What made you want to challenge him?
4) There was some trash talk between you and xx - The King's Poison's Forrest Griffin. What are the chances we get to see that match up soon?
That concludes questions from me. Follow up questions will come up pending fighter responses. Feel free to ask questions to the fighters if you have any.
Have 9 points in celebration of this monumental achievement!