Woodley Picks Swanson Over Lobov: I’m going with the more experienced fighter

FOX SPORTS | April 19, 2017 | 0 Comentarios/ Comments

Los Angeles – On UFC TONIGHT, guest host Tyron Woodley interviews former fighter and TJ Dillashaw coach Duane Ludwig about this season of THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER. Plus, Karyn Bryant and Woodley interview Cub Swanson about his main event Saturday night. Dominick Cruz joins to breakdown this season of THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER.

UFC TONIGHT guest host Tyron Woodley on opening training camp and his next opponent: “I’m just training to be the best in the world. We’ll just have to wait and see [who I fight]. ”

Woodley on Cub Swanson facing on Artem Lobov in the main event of FS1 UFC FIGHT NIGHT this Saturday: “Cub comes forward, throws spinning stuff and flying knees. He never stops coming forward. That’s why he’s a finisher. You’re always in for an exciting fight with Cub. His keys to win this fight, he needs to be aggressive and he needs to vary his attack. You never know what direction he’s coming from.”

Woodley on Lobov being an underdog: “He has nothing to lose in this fight. He’s a brawler. He has a puncher’s chance in this fight. It’s a main event. He’s trained with the best in the world including Conor McGregor. We should see some improvements in his game. They’re always trying to add to their arsenal. His keys are he has to close the distance. He can’t fight Cub from the outside. And he needs to land the takedown. That gives him more opportunity to land the damage and pull the upset.”

Woodley picks Swanson to beat Lobov: “I’ve got to go with the experienced veteran. He’s the longer opponent and has about five inches of reach on Lobov. I think it’ll probably be a TKO in the second round. He’ll overwhelm him, see that he’s hurt and will take him out.”

Woodley’s one fighter to watch this Saturday: “Al Iaquinta has been off for two years, and I’m excited about what he does when he comes back.”

Woodley picks Iaquinta over Diego Sanchez: “Al has been out two years. Al is going in there raging, with a point to prove.”

Cub Swanson on why he’s fighting the unranked Artem Lobov: “I fought most of the people in the top ten, and the UFC doesn’t like to do rematches unless they’re for title fights. There are a lot of guys coming up. He was talking crap and he was talking a lot, so I said sure, let’s do it.”

Swanson on his beef with Lobov: “I don’t feel like he had the record to be in the UFC. There are more deserving people with better records. But he’s here now and he called me out, so I don’t like him.”

Swanson on if he has more to lose in this fight: “The only way to step backwards is to have a bad performance. I’m planning on going out there and having a better performance and proving why I should be considered for the next title fight.”

Swanson on if he has more to lose in this fight: “Yeah, there’s more to lose for me. But If I show I’m a better fighter, then there’s nothing to worry about. I have to go out there and perform.”

Swanson on finally getting his photo up at Jackson’s gym: “Things happening later for me. Getting the Fighter of the Year Award was great. That was the first time I’ve been nominated for anything. I’ve been here for 13 years and I’ve never fought for a title. Things are coming later for me.”

Swanson if he wants a title shot: “Ultimately it’s up to the UFC who they give the title fights to. That’s out of my control. The only things I control are winning and putting on a good performance for the fans and being a fan favorite. That takes the pressure off.”

VIDEO: Interview: Swanson talks career, previews his fight vs. Lobov

Woodley on Demetrious Johnson’s performance last weekend: “He was a perfect and flawless fighter. He looked like he was drilling. To go out there and overwhelm your opponent like he did was just amazing. He got back to being himself. He got the job done.”

Woodley on who should be next for Johnson: “I think he should fight Ray Borg. I’m not a fan of unwarranted re-matches. He’s gone through the division. This is a fresh matchup.”

Woodley on Rose Namajunas: “You can always tell when she’s ready to fight. You can see it in her eyes. She was ready to go. They got into some great exchanges. But Michelle turned her back toward her, and she got kicked in the head. Michelle didn’t want to give up, but her neck was available and Rose got her out of there.”

Woodley on if Namajunas should get the next title shot vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk: “I think it’s a no-brainer. It’s a very intriguing matchup against Joanna. But if Jessica defeats Joanna, they’ll have to run that fight back.”

Dominick Cruz on Cody Garbrandt vs. TJ Dillashaw on TUF: “I know Cody is a hot head, and I know TJ tries to act like he’s not. TJ tries to put out an appearance that he’s a good guy and not a hot head.”

Duane Ludwig on the beef between Garbrandt and Dillashaw: “I try to stay clear of the beef. I’m a martial arts instructor. I don’t know why there was a beef at all. I was wrapped up in it in the beginning. Now I focus on the training.”

Ludwig on the animosity between Garbrandt and Dillashaw: “It’s going to be good TV, but I stay clear of that as much as possible. On THE UTLIMATE FIGHTER, I’m there to train the fighters. It was intense. All of it was from the other coaches’ standpoint. We’re cool.”

Ludwig on if he was the cause of the beef: “I was head coach for a while in Sacramento. I went home and I opened up my own place. I had a childhood dream of opening up my own dojo in my home of Colorado. It rubbed some people the wrong way.”

Ludwig on Dillashaw’s game plan to beat Garbrandt: “Cody is great if he’s right in front of you. It involves footwork. TJ just needs to be TJ. He doesn’t need me to be the champion again. He will be champion again.”

Ludwig on if Garbrandt matchup against Dillashaw is the hardest he’s had: “The Cruz matchup was a tougher fight because of the footwork and lead up to the fight. With this one, I’ve trained both guys. They know our system from two years ago but we’ve evolved the system. It’ll be the new BMT system against the old BMT system from two years ago.”

VIDEO: Interview: Team Dillashaw coach Duane Ludwig previews TUF 25