Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is about to kick off its traditional pre-fight press conference for this weekend's UFC on FX 8: "Belfort vs. Rockhold" event, which takes place on May 18, 2013, from Arena Jaragua in Santa Catarina, Brazil.
Tune in LIVE at 10:30 a.m. ET today (May 16) right here on MMAmania.com to watch a live video stream of today's proceedings, which will feature appearances from middleweight headliners Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold, who may have one of this year's better staredowns after all the back-and-forth about TRT and "being a man." We'll also be providing live updates of the action in case you don't have a chance to watch the presser yourself.
Edit: It appears UFC is having some technical difficulties streaming the press conference and the player is not functioning properly. We'll keep you updated with anything new that develops.
Edit #2: The press conference is finally streaming properly, but we missed the beginning of it. Updates are now being posted below.
In other words, stick around until the end to see what happens.
Also getting some airtime is hometown hero Ronaldo Souza. "Jacare" will try to replicate the success he had in Strikeforce against the surging 185-pound standout Chris Camozzi. UFC President Dana White is expected to be in attendance, as well.
Shit gets real just two days later.
Be here ... or else.
For the entire UFC on FX 8 fight card and line up click here. To catch up on all the news and notes for this weekend's "Belfort vs. Rockhold" event hit up our comprehensive archive by clicking here.
Brian Hemminger here, I'll be providing live updates of the press conference at 10:30 a.m. ET.
Belfort: I'm a T-Rex in the jungle.
Rockhold: Fighting is more mental than physical. I've worked hard to get here. I haven't supplemented or taken anything in any way. I have a big heart that will push me. People that need the TRT or the extra something are lacking something and it will show in this fight. I believe in my heart and my hard work.
Belfort: Instincts are important. I've been doing this for many years. God has given me the strength to handle this energy, the desire to do this. This is just part of my job. Instinct is something that's inside me and it gets me ready. I've been getting ready in all areas. All the people
Rockhold: I also have a great camp including the baddest man on the planet, the best fighter. We have the best stand-up, jiu-jitsu and wrestlin gin the world. I'm very confident in my gameplan. Vitor is the dinosaur. He's the T-Rex as he calls it. I've done my homework and I know what to expect from Vitor. I know exactly waht he's going to do, how he's going to do it and I rely on my training. I let my instincts take over. I get better and better with every fight. I haven't fought in 10 months and I've made a lot of improvements. I believe he underestimates what I'm bringing to the table. I don't think he knows what I bring and I think that plays in my favor.
Belfort: Those who know me for a long time and see me today have no idea of what I have changed. If you give me one day to improve I'll do that. We never really know what we can learn and can't learn. I believe it has to be like a silent storm. That's what a fight is. Right when we're in there, that's when we decide things. I've done everything I can. I've crushed all the grapes and now I just need to drink the wine.
Rockhold: I watched the Bisping fight and I watched all his fights. He's been throwing armbars and head kicks his whole career. Some land and some don't. I'm a different fighter than Bisping. I fight from a different stance and bring much more to the table. If I stand and box with Vitor, that would be stupid. I'm a completely different martial artist and he'll find out.
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