Showtime/EliteXC Conf. Call Quotes: Noons-Edwards-Corbbrey-Lappen-C. Gracie
Q. For all the fighters: With the number of mixed martial arts organizations around the world, the sport is definitely growing — is that a good or a bad thing? Does it cause confusion for the casual fan? Does it dilute the talents of the different organizations and the champions (so that) no one can see who is really the best?
Noons: I think the more exposure of the sport, the more people are going to get to know about it. I think it’s just good for the sport as it grows. It just gives more awareness to people and lets people know we know the sport and that we train for this and that it’s a great thing to watch.
As far as other organizations and stuff, you know, it’s growing. I’m happy where I’m at and I’m planning on staying with EliteXC.
Edwards: I think the more quality organizations that exist, it’s a good thing. There are a lot of fighters. I don’t think the sport is anything close to what it’s going to be in its true adulthood. I think at that point things will happen such as unification bouts. It could be years away, but I do think it will happen.
Having these different organizations, it allows the younger fighters to get that world class experience. Get that experience on a high level of taking on world class guys and going out there and fighting a guy like KJ or myself or Nick Diaz or Rafael Feijao or Anderson Silva. These guys are world class guys.
You know, you’re going to need these organizations to do that. You’re not going to get high‑level guys all fighting out of their own organizations in their home states and hometowns.
Corbbrey: I agree with Yves 100 percent. I think it’s great for the sport (that they) have options on where they want to go. And getting a chance to see fighters on TV; with the competition that’s out there, it’s a good thing. It can only be good for the sport and I think that it’s going to continue to help our sport grow. So I think it’s awesome.
Q. Yves, how concerned are you that you’ve taken the last few fights on a shorter (notice) than in the past?
Edwards: I’m not concerned about that at all. Actually, I prefer that. I prefer to fight. I don’t like sitting on my butt. Right now, being with American Top Team, it’s great because we’ve always got four or five guys with fights within the next few weeks. So there’s always a lot of training going on, lot of guys trying to get keyed and trying to peak.
That always helps having high‑level guys always preparing and getting ready for something important to them. That keeps you pushing really hard, even when you’re not trying to prepare for something.
But I’ve been lucky that I’ve had those guys around. I like fighting often. I don’t like long layoffs. I’m not that kind of guy. If you look at my record, it would show you that when I do take long layoffs, I seem to have problems.
I don’t like long layoffs. I like to be in the ring. I like to be fighting. I love the challenge of fighting. I love the training, and I love to train hard. So I definitely love taking fights quickly.
Q. What is the biggest change as far as training with ATT instead of when you were out the Third Column jiu-jitsu and training in the Gulf Coast area?
Edwards: The biggest thing is having world class guys all the time every single day. The thing for me with American Top Team, I don’t have to make phone calls and worry about who is going to show up and try to round up a crew to get together for the day.
For a while in Houston, I had that. We had guys go in all the time working out. We had good, high‑level guys working out all the time. But guys started moving away. Guys moved back to Brazil and Louisiana. Guys fell off, and I was kind of left alone.
Moving to American Top Team, we’ve got everybody in the gym every day of the week. That’s been the big difference for me, besides the fact that everybody in there brings something to the table. We have a lot of really good coaches that have helped sharpen my game up quite a bit. It just exposes you to what you’re weak at. (So where) your game is not strong, you can work on getting it stronger at that point.
Q. KJ, what are some of the things you’ll have to be looking out for in particular against Yves?
Noons: I don’t know; you’ve got to look out for everything with Yves. He’s so good all around. A lot of people always ask the first question, how is your ground game, how is your wrestling game? If anything, just because you don’t see it, and I don’t do that on TV or in my fight, doesn’t mean I don’t train it.
I’m training that probably three times more than I am my striking. Yves is an all‑around great fighter. He’s explosive. At any time, something can happen, and you’ve just got to be ready.
So I just am prepared on every aspect of my game. (I know I need to) Just be ready for everything.
Q. KJ says he thinks the extra five pounds fighting at 160 rather than 155 is a pretty dramatic thing for him. Is it a dramatic thing for you or not a big deal?
Edwards: I don’t think it’s that big of a deal for me. I know I can still make 155 pounds. We’re basically fighting at super lightweights, so it’s not a big issue. I’ve fought at this weight before at EliteXC and I’m comfortable at the weight.
Of course, it’s a little more comfortable just because you don’t have to lose that extra five pounds. But I don’t think it’s a problem. I think it is fine. It’s not going to change the outcome of the fight or the strength that either one of us goes into the fight with.
Q. KJ, is the chance to fight on a CBS card extra motivation for you?
Noons: Like Jeremy said, I’m happy fighting on SHOWTIME in my hometown and being the main event. Wherever they want to promote me, wherever they want me to fight, I really don’t care. I just want to fight.
About the weight thing; I’m really glad it’s at 160. It’s like a science project for me because if I go a couple of days without watching my weight, I might be 180. So don’t send a stack of pancakes to my room before weigh‑ins because I might not make weight.
But I like the 160 weight, and I’m happy wherever I fight — whether it be on CBS or SHOWTIME.
Q. Yves, are you motivated by the potential of fighting on a CBS card or does that matter at all?
Edwards: A lot of guys would say yes, some guys may say no. Honestly, I don’t really think about it. It’s one of those things that if it comes up, it comes up. But when you get out there and the fight is going on and you’ve got a guy across the cage from you — even if it’s somebody that’s a friend or somebody you like that is trying to pun punch you in the face ‑ all of that goes out the window.
Would I like to fight on CBS? Yes. That’s a lot of exposure; that would be very exciting. But as of right now the only thing I’m focused on is trying to take KJ’s gold.
Q. Muhsin, Nick has an almost taunting, short‑punch boxing style that not a lot of people have been able to figure out, but KJ did. Do you think that’s because of KJ’s boxing skills? Do you think you’re going to be able to take a cue from that and use your boxing experience to cut through that?
Corbbrey: I think I’m definitely going to try. I think KJ’s boxing experience did come in and it showed a little bit. But I think Nick is a game guy. He’s going to come in and use all of his ability. I’ve got to be prepared for that. He’s a tall southpaw. He’s going to throw his fast punches and probably finish with something a little bit harder. So I’ve got to be prepared for what he brings to the table.
I think my boxing will definitely help me out a lot. We’ll see on Saturday night.
Q. Obviously Diaz is a significant step‑up in at least name recognition. What does that opportunity mean for you and what do you think it will take to get a victory on Saturday?
Corbbrey: It means a lot. It’s going to come down to who wants it a little bit more. Every fight he goes in to, he fights tooth and nail to the end. This is going to be a tough, hard fight. I’m going to have to stand in there and get gritty with him.
But it’s a huge opportunity. I have a ton of respect for him. He’s a tough fighter that’s been around forever. So, you know, I really appreciate EliteXC giving me the chance to step up and show what I can do.
Q. Yves, you’re a respected veteran. Where would a win on Saturday night rank in your career? What are your goals as a fighter at this point?
Edwards: This Saturday night is very important. It’s the most important fight I’ve been prepared for. It’s a main event on SHOWTIME, one of the biggest networks in the country. So that’s definitely a huge, huge thing for me. Definitely this fight’s the biggest of my career up to date.
As far as goals for my career, I want to leave this game with a legacy. I want to be talked about when my son is my age. When my son is 25 years old and he’s doing whatever it is he’s doing, if he decides he wants to fight, I want people to say he’s better than his dad. But I want his dad to be great.
I want to be somebody that people remember as a pioneer in this sport 50-100 years from now when MMA becomes whatever it is it is going to be. I want to leave a legacy behind by fighting the best guys — the Nick Diaz’s, KJ Noons, Corbbreys, fighting these guys. These are the fights that I want.
Q. KJ, in your opening statement when you talked about Yves, there was some clear respect and vice versa. With MMA coming to the forefront and the mainstream, how important do you believe it is for new viewers to see the kind of respect that most MMA fighters have for one another?
Noons: I think it’s very important. I think now that it’s becoming mainstream and it’s a professional sport. People are starting to get paid pretty well. So when you show up to the press conference or show up to the fights, I think fighters should have a little class. Dress up a little nice, you know what I mean? Maybe clean shaven. Treat it like a professional sport.
It’s already in the limelight on network TV and we’re already going to be on SHOWTIME this Saturday. So I think it’s very important that we show a lot of respect to each other. You know, kind of like a fighter camaraderie. Because when we get in there, it’s not so much like that. It’s punches thrown, blood flying, teeth flying. But I think it’s good that fighters show respect to each other and we show that to people that are new to the sport.
Q. Yves, you’re certainly a well‑rounded fighter. KJ’s done a good job of defending the takedown recently and staying on his feet. How important is it to get this fight to the ground?
Edwards: It is what it is. KJ’s defense has been good in the past and he doesn’t have to show what he has on the ground.
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Posted June 10th, 2008 l 459 views
