Issue 104
November -0001
We asked four different figures from the MMA universe their opinions on the pressing matters of the moment
The Fighters
Q1. Do you believe the fighter makes the coach or the coach makes the fighter?
Nik Lentz
“I believe a team makes the fighter, actually. It’s a mixture, overall, but you’ve got to have good training partners, and you’ve got to have multiple coaches. You can’t just have one.”
Bruce Buffer
“The coach always makes the fighter.”
Nate Quarry
“It’s a combination. You can’t make a world champion out of someone that has no work ethic, heart or physical talent. And you can’t be the best if your coach doesn’t know a jab from a cross.”
Mike Dolce
“A great coach will always be able to pull the talent out of a great fighter.”
Q2. We romanticize about the theory behind matchmaking in this issue, but if you could make your next match, who would you fight?
Nik Lentz
“I don’t care. Whoever the UFC tells me to fight that’s who I’ll fight.”
Bruce Buffer
“I’d like to get in the cage with Ariel Castro, the guy that kidnapped those girls in Cleveland. I’d like to beat the s**t out of him.”
Nate Quarry
“Steven Seagal. That guy talks a lot for someone that’s never been in a real fight against a skilled opponent that isn’t being paid to take a dive.”
Mike Dolce
“I would actually love to fight again, and against whoever. I like to fight tough guys. I fought for the wrong reasons before: I fought for money. But I’d like to fight guys at my level and have fun with it.”
Q3. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen in MMA?
Nik Lentz
“One time I saw a local show when two 400lb guys were fighting. They were grappling, and one guy pulled the other guy’s face into his belly rolls and got the tap.”
Bruce Buffer
“The weirdest thing I’ve ever seen in a fight was actually a boxing match when Lennox Lewis fought Oliver McCall, and McCall literally lost his mind and had a nervous breakdown in the ring. I was in the first row. He lost it.”
Nate Quarry
“I think it’s weird when someone comes in off the street and thinks they’ll be able to hang with some of the world’s best fighters. If you can walk in off the street and beat us up, then we’re in the wrong business.”
Mike Dolce
“Jon Jones’ toe getting broken in half might be it. I was there with Chael Sonnen, and I had never seen anything like that.”
Q4. Anderson Silva vs. Georges St Pierre or Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones, which would you rather watch?
Nik Lentz
“I don’t think GSP really has a chance to beat Anderson. With the size difference, the logistics don’t really match up, so I’d definitely rather see Jon Jones vs. Anderson.”
Bruce Buffer
“Jon Jones and Anderson Silva, without a doubt.”
Nate Quarry
“Silva vs. Jones. Their size is very similar, and they’ve both been ridiculously dominant champions.”
Mike Dolce
“Anderson vs. Jon Jones is the only superfight. GSP’s skill-set we’ll say is even, but he’s a whole weight class – if not two weight classes – below. Anderson vs. Jon Jones at 205lb is the right fight.”
Q5. If Wanderlei Silva meets Chael Sonnen next, who wins and why?
Nik Lentz
“If Chael fights really smart, he could definitely win. But if he gets too much into the hype and starts trying to outstrike him or do something silly, Wanderlei would beat him up.”
Bruce Buffer
“It’s a fight I’d like to see because of the steam that was created. Chael is going to play it up, and I’ve never seen Wanderlei curse or act the way he did. It was out of character. It would be a fun fight.”
Nate Quarry
“Either Chael wins a boring decision or Silva flips him onto his back during a takedown attempt and KO’s him. While Silva has a suspect chin, it’s doubtful Chael will get his first UFC TKO against Wanderlei.”
Mike Dolce
“Chael wins, because he’s the greatest fighter in the world.”
