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Jack Encarnacao: Stipe, could you take us through what it was like recovering from the first fight with JDS?
Stipe Miocic: You know, it was a fight, I had a swollen eye. I had some stitches inside my mouth, but it’s part of the game I guess, you know. It sucked for about a week but after a week, I felt fine. I was good to go. I still had the stitches in my mouth but in a little over a week they got taken out. So it wasn’t too bad, but definitely a lot of bumps and bruises.
Jack Encarnacao: How about how often, if at all, you looked at that first fight in preparing for the rematch?
Stipe Miocic: You always look at it, see all the things I did wrong in the fight. I did a lot of things wrong with my first five-round fight. So me and my coaches watched that film to see what he did well and see what I did wrong, and what I did well, and what he did wrong. And we went over a lot of stuff and definitely have a game plan for my next fight.
Jack Encarnacao: You have the reach advantage over him. Do you feel like you’ve gotten better using that? It was sort of surprising in the first fight how often he was able to hit you, considering that advantage.
Stipe Miocic: Yes, definitely. Definitely not trying to get hit as much in this fight. That’s always an objective. I think definitely work on that and just try not to get hit as much.
Jack Encarnacao: Of course, we’ve never seen a heavyweight champ in the UFC defend more than twice. You’re looking to have your second title defense. Do you have any thoughts on that? Why do you think so few have been able to even defend twice? And what makes you different when you look at those reasons?
Stipe Miocic: Honestly, me, I don’t really care about how many defense I have. All I care about is winning. I love what I do. I want to keep winning. I have trained way too hard and sacrificed way too much to give it up and I’m just different, man. I’ve gotten better every fight. I’m not declining. I’m inclining every fight and nothing is going to change.
Jack Encarnacao: I’m sorry, do we have Junior on the call?
Junior Dos Santos: Yes.
Jack Encarnacao: Okay, hi Junior. Could you take us through what it was like for you recovering from the first fight with Stipe?
Junior Dos Santos: Well, that was a really tough fight and Stipe, he has really heavy hands, really good boxing skills and it was a tough fight for both of us, I think, and for sure, we learned a lot from each other, you know, from that fight. So now, I think we can be more prepared for each other.
Jack Encarnacao: Is there anything, the reaction to that fight, what fans said about that fight that motivated you, lit a fire under you? What do you remember about your feelings on that fight, and the reaction to it, and your performance?
Junior Dos Santos: Well, at the end of the day, what matters is the victory and I think everything, what I did on that fight, you know, besides being a really tough fight, I deserved the win. So I got the win and I was very happy. I’m still very happy from that. and now, I’m getting prepared to get a similar result in this one. Not the same way, but of course I want to win this fight on May 13.
Jack Encarnacao: You said you’re going to stop him within two rounds. What makes you confident that you can stop him if you couldn’t last time?
Junior Dos Santos: I’m a very confident guy. I like to be positive so in my dreams, the way I see things going on in the fight, I can see myself beating him before the end of the second round. That’s why I’m saying this. I’m very well prepared. I’m leading a great moment. I’m stronger. I’m smart. I have more experience now and I think the same is happening with him. So man, it’s going to be a great fight for the fans.
Jack Encarnacao: My last question is for Joanna. Joanna, now that the UFC is talking about bringing in the 125-pound weight class, I wondered if that class was available to you when you came to the UFC, do you think you would have fought at 125 instead of 115?
Joanna Jedrzejczyk: You know, like a year ago, hello to everyone, a year ago I said that I was kind of turning to different divisions and people were like, oh, Joanna got a little bit crazy because I was talking about this. But I’m happy that UFC did this move and that they are going to the ultimate fighter with the 125-ers. So it’s amazing. So definitely I’m focused on my next fight with Jessica Andrade at UFC 211. It’s my goal to defend my title for the fifth time and definitely this year, I will fight just in the strawweight division. But who knows what’s going to happen next year. So definitely, if I will get this opportunity to fight for my second belt, I will do that. But definitely this year, I want to be focused on the 115 division.
Jack Encarnacao: Thank you.
Damon Martin: Yes, first question is for Stipe. Stipe, when you look at the first fight with Junior, we don’t see very many heavyweight fights go to decision much less go to a close decision. So what would you say is the biggest lesson you learned from that decision and -- because since then you obviously haven’t gone to a single one.
Stipe Miocic: The lesson I learned -- not really a lesson, it’s more just knowing that I belong, that I can hang with anyone, that I went five rounds with a former champ, a guy that’s been a knockout fighter, I went five rounds with him. I know that I’m not going anywhere and no going back now.
Damon Martin: Junior has predicted a finish before the second round. I know you’re predicting a finish as well. But in your head, I know you prepare for everything, but is there any scenario where you see this thing going to decision again?
Stipe Miocic: No, I don’t think so. I think the same way, I think we both know that someone is getting KOed.
Damon Martin: And to answer that question, how do you predict this fight ends?
Stipe Miocic: Me winning. I’m walking out with a belt still. It’s going to happen. I’m not going to predict what round but I’m walking out with a belt.
Damon Martin: And a question for Joanna. Joanna, obviously you’ve faced a laundry list of great opponents during your run in the UFC. Is there anything different about Jessica Andrade you haven’t seen before in terms of her style, in terms of what she brings into the fight?
Joanna Jedrzejczyk: Of course, she’s my next opening and she’s the next challenger for the strawweight belt. So Jessica proved a lot in the strawweight division. She drops from 135. She’s the right person so it’s going to be a really tough fight between me and Jessica. She’s very strong. She likes to fight. She likes to exchange punches, but I’m just getting better and better, and I want to defend my title. And this is what I want to do.
Damon Martin: One other question about the flyweight division, Joanna. Right now, you’re focused on the strawweight, but are you excited that the UFC is exploring adding more women’s divisions? This would be the fourth division?
Joanna Jedrzejczyk: Yes, and I’m really hoping, like in different -- in other organisations, there are more female divisions and I’m very happy that UFC finally did this move and more important for all of us. But it’s going to take a while when they’re going to start the 125 division. So I think it should be the good move because somebody goes from 155 will drop to 125 and some girls who are having troubles with making 115, they will go up. And it’s very good like female MMA is getting better and better. People want to watch female fighters so it was a good move, good decision, the right decision.
Damon Martin: And Joanna, your focus is 100% on Jessica Andrade, but I am curious, Rose Namajunas seems to be the next number one contender. She won her last fight and I know that’s why Dana White has said she’s the number one contender. She’s going to be in Dallas. Do you mind that distraction knowing that there’s already another contender lined up for you? Is that annoying that it’s already going to be kind of in your face before you even get a chance to celebrate? Or is it exciting to know that you already kind of have your next opponent lined up, assuming everything goes well at UFC 211?
Joanna Jedrzejczyk: It’s exciting, you know. It’s not annoying. I like to keep busy so I know that I will put on a good show. I will put in good work from a few weeks and very happy that there is next opening for me and like I said, I want to -- if I’m going to be healthy, I would like to fight very quick after my victory at the UFC 211. So the strawweight division is the right division but definitely is one of the toughest divisions in the UFC. So I am very happy that there is a lot of talent, lots of good female fighters, and doesn’t matter to me who I’m going to meet in the next fight after the fight with Jessica.
Damon Martin: Thank you, Joanna. And one question for Jessica. I know, Jessica, it is a big cut for you to get to 115. I know everyone is talking about flyweight, so I’ll just ask you, are you excited that there is the possibility of a flyweight division being added? And is that something you may want to test down the road?Jessica Andrade: I don’t really suffer that much anymore to make weight. I have adapted pretty well to my division, but it’s always good to see that UFC is opening up new divisions and I think a lot of the girls that have a harder time cutting weight are going to move up to that division. But it’s good to see that UFC still believes in the women and is still building for -- to have better women fighting.
Damon Martin: Thank you so much.
Jim Edwards: I’ll start with Junior if that’s all right. Junior, obviously, you’ve only fought three times I guess in the last three years. Can you tell us really how you’ve kept yourself sharp in between all these different layoffs and how healthy are you feeling right now?
Junior Dos Santos: Well, I’m feeling one of the best moments of my life. I’m feeling very well, like I said. I’m feeling stronger. I’m feeling very healthy and I’m feeling this is my time. I’m feeling things are working well to me and I put in good work in the gym and now, I’m ready for this fight. I respect Stipe a lot and the way I’m going to show this respect for him is giving my best during the fight. So I’m ready for this.
Jim Edwards: Sure. And obviously, Junior, you haven’t fought in Brazil for about nine years now. Is that a big ambition for you, I guess, left in your time in the sport to go back there and I guess defend the title after this fight?
Junior Dos Santos: Well, it would be great for me to be fighting in Brazil because after the UFC, I never fought in Brazil. But I know anywhere I fight in this world, Brazilian fans, they will be still calling me. They will be rooting for me. So that’s what matters. I don’t really care where I’m going to be fighting and now I’m fighting in Dallas. I already fought in Dallas in 2009 so I feel a good energy fighting there again and I know I’m going to have many, many, many Brazilians with me and also many Brazilians watching the fight there in Dallas. So I know everywhere I go, I’m going to have a lot of Brazilians with me.
Jim Edwards: Great stuff, and I’ve just got one question for Joanna, if I may. Joanna, in your last few fights, you’ve had a bit of rivalry, I guess, in the buildup to these fights with Claudia and Karolina. This time around, it all seems very amicable. There’s a lot of respect between you and Jessica. I guess what do you prefer? Do you prefer when there’s a bit of agro, a bit of tension between you two or do you prefer it being a bit quieter like this one?
Joanna Jedrzejczyk: Of course, I prefer the calm before the storm and that’s the thing about it. I know Jessica for a while. We used to be under the same management, but I left and now I have new management. But the thing is we used to train together, have fun together, and I respect Jessica as a human and as an athlete. So I hope that we’re going to put on a great show in the octagon. I don’t know what’s going to happen during the week or face offs. I don’t know. I just -- there is a limit. So people cannot step on my toe and act like nothing happened but I’m full of respect to Jessica. The same way I respect Karolina or Claudia Gadelha.
Jim Edwards: Great stuff. Thank you.
Steven Marrocco: I have a question for Joanna. Dana previously said he wasn’t going to open up a flyweight division, at least that was my understanding. What do you think changed his mind?
Joanna Jedrzejczyk: I don’t know. I think a few years ago, he said that there is not going to be female division in the UFC and here we go, we have four divisions. And so it’s pretty amazing and people are all for watching female fighters. So it’s good, I think. I don’t know. I didn’t know about -- I heard about that from someone and -- but it’s good. I’m more than happy.
Steven Marrocco: So is it your understanding the TUF 26 will feature flyweights or are you not sure at this point?
Joanna Jedrzejczyk: I think it will be 125. I hope, I hope.
Steven Marrocco: And if they do open that up, when would you be -- you said you wanted to defend your title six times. When would you like to make that move?
Joanna Jedrzejczyk: I don’t know. I want to be focused on my next fight with Jessica Andrade. She’s a very tough opponent so I want to put on a good fight, a good show in Dallas next week. And if I’m going to be healthy, if I’m not going to get injured, I would like to fight very quick because I like to be busy, you know. So I don’t know, maybe next year I will fight for the 125 belt.
Steven Marrocco: Got you. And then a question for Junior and Stipe if I could. If you guys were playing fantasy matchmaker, who do you think should fight the winner of this fight? And maybe start with Stipe.
Stipe Miocic: I have no idea. I’m not a matchmaker. If I was, I wouldn’t be fighting. I’m terrible at decisions. I know Overeem is fighting Werdum, I think. So that looked like it would probably be the next one up. So yes, I really have no idea but I’m not really worried about that. I’m worried about next week.
Steven Marrocco: Got you and Junior?
Junior Dos Santos: I don’t really care about that. I’m not thinking anything about after this fight. I’m just thinking about Stipe now but it doesn’t really matter. We are having -- I’m having actually a very tough fight now against the number one guy in the world, heavyweight in the world. So that’s the most exciting thing. After this, it doesn’t really matter now.
Steven Marrocco: You tweeted the other day that you love all this talk about MMA and boxing, the crossover, and you’ve been known as the guy for a long time as one of the best boxers in the division. Who would your fantasy opponent be if the UFC allowed you to box someone?
Junior Dos Santos: Well, if they allowed me to have a boxing match, I mean I want to be the champion of the UFC, so I would like to fight for -- to see who’s the real baddest man in the planet. There is only one baddest man in the planet. So I would like to fight Anthony Joshua or maybe even Tyson Fury. I would like to fight for the title, title against title. That’s it, in a boxing match.
Steven Marrocco: And Stipe?
Stipe Miocic: I’m a champ, so I would probably want to fight a champion while they’re -- Joshua or whatever, or Fury, or Klitschko, or whoever. I just want to fight the best.
Steven Marrocco: What do you think of the champ, Joshua?
Stipe Miocic: He’s stupid tough, big boy, hits hard. Definitely he’s tough, hungry, and he put a beating on him.
Steven Marrocco: Is a guy like Francis Ngannou on your radar just yet, five wins?
Stipe Miocic: Oh, yes. Definitely. Tough guy. He’s big coming up, beating some good guys, and watch out. Everyone is gunning for you.
Steven Marrocco: Thank you very much, guys.
Mark Francescutti: This is question for either of the heavyweights. We have a local fighter here who is making his heavyweight debut in Dallas and I wanted to ask you, what do you think are some of the biggest challenges in rising up in the heavyweight division? What are the biggest differences from being a heavyweight fighter as opposed to the other weight classes? Thank you.
Junior Dos Santos: Is that for me?
Stipe Miocic: Sure, take it.
Junior Dos Santos: Well, man, there is a lot of good things going on in the heavyweight division. We have some really good guys coming up now, like Ngannou, like the Beast. So it’s very exciting. But the difference between the heavyweights and the other divisions, man, it’s like sport. They only have the weight divisions to protect the fragile ones. So yes, they have to have a weight division and the other division. I think to be the baddest man on the planet, it takes a lot and that’s why the heavyweight division is so exciting.
Stipe Miocic: Do you want me to say something? I think coming to UFC, the heavyweight division is so exciting because you never know what’s going to happen. A bunch of big guys with small gloves on, anything can happen. It takes one punch and especially you fighting the local shows have 1,000 to 18,000 is a big difference. It gets overwhelming first time walking out, but I think if he just takes it in stride he’ll be fine.
Jeffrey Harris: Thank you all for joining us today and thank you for bringing a card like this to the great state of Texas, and I hope you all get to try some Rudy’s Barbeque while you’re there. First question for Joanna. When I look at your records and Jessica’s, one thing that I notice is that Jessica has fought in two divisions but she’s never had to go five rounds before. And I think quite frankly, you’re one of the best five-round fighters in the business. Do you think that’s going to make a difference in this fight, that you fought in five-round championship fights before? You fight so well in those championships rounds and that’s something Jessica has never experienced.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk: Hi, good to talk to you. Championship rounds are different and not so many of the fighters can stand this. So Jessica hasn’t fought five round yet, but she will have this opportunity next week. So we will see. I believe that she’s ready to fight five rounds.
Jeffrey Harris: And for Stipe, considering this is a rematch and the first fight was very close -- it was a tough fight -- is it in your head at all that you’re not just having to beat Junior but you might have to beat the perception of the judges as well in this rematch?
Stipe Miocic: Listen, I never want to go to the judges. That’s one of the main rules and I lost the last fight. Nothing I can do about it. But a lot has changed in the last, what, three and a half, three years. I’m a champ now. There’s a reason why I’m a champ. Nothing is going to change. We’re not going to persuade anybody. I’m just going to win the fight. That’s what I’m going to do.
Jeffrey Harris: And Stipe, have you seen any of the Tommy Toe Hold videos that ripped on you saying you’re Stone Cold Stipe? I was wondering if you’ve ever seen those and what you thought of those?
Stipe Miocic: Oh, hell yes.
Jeffrey Harris: And last question, you said when you -- after your last fight with Alastair Overeem, you said you were not happy with the payouts for that fight and that Overeem received more money than you. And you called it a slap in the face and you were unhappy with the UFC. Have those issues been worked out and are you happy with what’s going on with this fight?
Stipe Miocic: I’m fighting May 13, aren’t I?
Jeffrey Harris: Yes, you are, sir.
Stipe Miocic: That’s all I’ve got to say.
Mark Podolski: This is a two-part question for Stipe and Junior. Junior, for you, it’s been five years since you’ve been champion and what do you remember most about your reign and the enjoyment of being the heavyweight champion? And do you feel like this is your last best shot to reclaim the title?
Junior Dos Santos: Oh my gosh, of course not. I’m just 33 years old and I’m on top of this -- I’m fighting against the top guys since the beginning, since I arrived here in the UFC in 2008, I was fighting with the guy who was supposed to fight for the title. Since that, I’m on top of this division. So it’s one more step in my career and I have no doubts that I’m going to become champion and what I miss the most is, man, I miss the feeling to be the baddest man on the planet, to be the number one in my division, to be the champion, and to leave the opportunity as a champion and enjoy it.
It’s good. We all work for that and when we reach that point, it’s amazing. So I have felt that before and I want to feel that again now, on May 13.
Mark Podolski: Stipe, since you lost to JDS, you stream rolled Mark Hunt and you went three straight first round knockouts. Is there one thing that you attribute to this incredible rise since this last fight with JDS?
Stipe Miocic: My coaches, my wife, my family, everyone sticking behind me. Make sure that they kept me in there, make sure don’t lose my eyes on the prize. They’ve always been there for me and it’s all I’m grateful for.
Mark Podolski: I think you hinted last time when you fought at the Q, Quicken Loans Arena, that it was just -- there was some pressure there in front of the hometown. Now, you’re fighting on the other side of the country and I’m wondering, do you feel -- is this kind of going to be nice to kind of be away from fighting in your hometown and just fighting? Are you looking forward to that?
Stipe Miocic: Of course, man. I don’t have to be Ticketmaster now. I can just worry about the fight, not worry about people calling me about tickets and where I’m staying at, and just going to let me do my thing. It’s going to be nice. But it was great fighting in Cleveland, fought at home, but I like Dallas when we were there five weeks ago. It was great. Six weeks ago -- it was amazing. So but yes, I’m happy. Definitely, I love Cleveland. I would love to fight in Cleveland again, but definitely it will be a different story next time. But like I said, I don’t have to be Ticketmaster. That’s all I care about, I don’t have to be that.
Mark Podolski: Last one. In your fight against Overeem, you got him to the mat and once you got him to the mat, it was all over. And a lot of these heavyweight fights, going toe to toe, throwing the big punches. And with your wrestling background, do you feel like you should do more in terms of getting guys down to the mat?
Stipe Miocic: No, man. If it’s there, it’s there. I’m not going to over push it and put myself in an awkward position or a bad position where I get caught with something. If I see it, I’m going to go for it. If not -- if it’s there, it’s there. If it’s not, it’s not. I’m not going to worry about it. I’m just going to do what I do and win the fight.
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