Props: UFC.com

Quoteworthy

"In a way Mike Pyle is a mirror image of me. He’s a veteran of the sport who splits his time between trainer and corner man and fighter. He’s the grappling and Jiu Jitsu expert out there and he helps and corners all the guys around him, like I do out here. As far as technique goes we are both original grapplers with improved standup. Before Mike Pyle moved to Vegas he used to train with us at Renzo’s. I never had the chance to roll with him but I’ve seen him train a lot with Renzo and Matt Serra. I’ve followed him through the years. I was involved with Renzo’s team in the IFL, where Pyle fought, so I’ve seen several of his fights and he’s a phenomenal fighter. I get the feeling he’s a big part of the grappling aspect at Xtreme Couture and that’s one of the best teams in MMA, so I have my hands full and I’ve been training really hard for this fight, so wherever this fight goes I’m ready to bring it to him."

UFC welterweight Ricardo Almeida expects to see a lot of himself when he battles fellow veteran Mike Pyle at UFC 128: "Shogun vs. Jones" on March 19 from the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Aside from the rivalry his school has with Team Quest, the "Big Dog" has to prove he can still run with the pack in the promotion's crowded 170-pound division. Will the Brazilian find himself sinking in "Quicksand" when he battles Pyle at "The Rock?" Or will his jiu-jitsu plant the seeds to victory in "The Garden State?" Predictions, please.