Houston: Light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is confident of defending his title even as he lauds challenger Alexander Gustafsson for his prestige and style ahead of UFC 192 pay per view event here tomorrow. The Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) extravaganza is set to enthrall the Toyota Center as fighters from different weight categories take to the Octagon.
If the Cormier-Gustafsson match up holds centerstage then the fight between light heavyweight contender Ryan Bader and comeback-man Rashad Evans also makes an interesting battle. The pull-out of Johny Hendricks at the last moment due to a blocked intestine while cutting weight does create a bit of a dampener ahead of his much-hyped fight with Tyron Woodley, but the war of words between the MMA fighters does increase the temperature before the big evening.
“In the fight with Alexander Gustafsson I’m not very surprised that I’m the favourite. You know I think stylistically it’s a good matchup for me,” said the former American Olympic wrestler. “This is a fight that I’ve asked for on a number of occasions. And not only have I asked for it, a lot of guys in the division have asked to fight Alexander Gustafsson because he’s the guy that comes with a lot of prestige, with a style that a lot of guys think that we could take,” he added.
“I’ve been working my ass off the whole summer and I’m just been correcting my – what I’m missing in my game and trying, you know, developing as a fighter in my techniques and stuff like that. So I’m feeling like a much better fighter today…,” said the 28-year-old Swedish fighter. Meanwhile heavyweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter 2, Evans is keen to make a comeback to the big stage in style.
“So I mean I’ve been waiting for this moment for two years and for me more than anything it’s just a matter of just not getting too excited – not doing too much because I’ve been waiting for this. And I’m super focused and it’s just a matter of me just kind of dialing down a little bit and just enjoying myself a little bit,” said Evans. Bader on the other hand is confident of extending his four-match winning streak against the veteran MMA fighter.
“Yes, let’s be honest. The finishing whole part of it was just like what they were saying. It is a big part of it, in getting a title shot, being exciting. And, for me, I’ve got four wins in a row and I think I need that name recognition, that guy is Rashad Evans, to go out there and beat him, make it five in a row and have it be Rashad as a bookend to those five fight winning streak,” said Bader. UFC 192 will be telecast live tomorrow at 7am IST onwards, on Sony Six HD and Sony Kix.
