Even though Bellator 175: “Rampage vs. King Mo 2” is just days away (Fri., March 31, 2017) at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., attention has already turned to the upcoming Bellator 180 “Sonnen vs. Silva” pay-per-view (PPV) at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., on June 24, 2017.
To promote this historic card at the world famous arena, Bellator MMA has gathered the media and a slew of fighters featured on the PPV for a live press conference today (Tues., March 28, 2017) at 1 p.m. ET hosted by Bellator President Scott Coker and Spike Senior Vice President of Sports Jon Slusser. Scheduled to participate in the press conference are Chael Sonnen, Wanderlei Silva, Fedor Emelianenko, Matt Mitrione, Douglas Lima, Lorenz Larkin, Michael Chandler and Brent Primus.
MMAmania.com brings you a live video stream of the press conference above and selected quotes from the event as the press conference takes place below:
Scott Coker (President of Bellator): “Why did you guys wait so long? Why did you not come in November or December or January? At the end of the day we wanted to bring the biggest and best card to New York and now we have done that. We have two title fights, we have two legend fights, and we have more fights to add.”
Jon Slusser (Executive VP, Spike TV): “The experience on June 24th is going to be unparalleled. I think that’s one of the things that makes Bellator so unique is our presentation, but at the end of the day it’s about the fights. You’ll see longform programs, countdown shows, and social media -- content to support this big event. You’re going to see a tremendous amount of support from Viacom.”
Joel Fisher (VP of Marquee Events, MSG): “We are incredibly thrilled and we want to welcome Bellator MMA on June 24th. As you know the Garden is known as the mecca of boxing. All of the legends of that sport have left their blood, sweat, and tears here. Just over a week ago we had 25,000 fans here on consecutive nights. However with the surging interest in popularity of mixed martial arts the Garden is now the mecca of MMA as well.”
Nick Gillardi (President, G&G Events): “They’ve put a tremendous card together and it’s in the mecca of sports at the Garden.”
Michael C. Williams (Bellator ring announcer): “We’ll have details on (Chael Sonnen’s) opponent in just a minute. He couldn’t make it here live but he’s now making his Bellator debut, live via video feed from Sao Paulo, Brazil this is ‘The Axe Murderer’ Wanderlei Silva.”
Jon Slusser: “This is a new revenue stream for us but there will be consistent and regular pay per views moving forward as we enter into this new business.”
Scott Coker: “We’re not going to do monthly pay per views just to do pay per views. We’re going to build up the big fights.”
Wanderlei Silva: “(I’m not here) because I’m training to beat somebody on 24 June. Yes. I’m focused on training to get back to 100%.”
Chael Sonnen: “It annoys me. I feel like Wanderlei got his way. It looks like he found a bathroom as a backdrop at the men’s shelter he’s living at in Rio. We’re beaming him in via satellite. We could have used that to predict weather patterns and save people’s lives. Yeah man I find it a little bit weird.”
Wanderlei Silva: “Just talk and talk and talk. I hope you’re training more than you’re talking or just like the last fight I’m gonna beat you so fast.”
Chael Sonnen: “I made Tito Ortiz say tap in a minute and I’m going to get you out of there in the first round. Say it with me Wanderlei, Mr. Sonnen.”
Wanderlei Silva: “Suck my balls.”
Chael Sonnen: “Try it again — Mr. Sonnen.”
Lorenz Larkin: “Now I’m here. Who would say no to Madison Square Garden? I was surprised. I wasn’t thinking about (the title) in the slightest bit, but I’m pumped. I’m going to be ready on June 24th.”
Chael Sonnen: “Ring rust, I didn’t think it was a real thing, for me it was a real thing. I’ve been around Wanderlei. I did The Ultimate Fighter with Wanderlei. He went hard in training every day. I can tell you for me it was real.”
Wanderlei Silva: “This is going to be one of the biggest fights in all history. I’m ready to have one of the best fights of my career.”
Chael Sonnen: “It’s an ass whipping contest for 15 minutes of my life or until he gives up. I told everybody the next time I see Wanderlei I’m going to fight him. You can call me out all you want but I’d told you I’d be in New York and that’s the one place you’re not. MISTER, SONNEN.”
Fedor Emelianenko: “I feel very good. After the canceled fight I’ve been keeping up the top form and staying in shape for this fight. Upon the return home I had a training camp.”
Matt Mitrione: “I feel fantastic. Fedor thank you for accepting the fight again. Kidney stones, it just happened, I don’t know where they came from or why it happened. They went in through my pee hole and found 24 kidney stones, they removed them all, a miserable experience. I feel great other than that!”
Scott Coker: “In 2017 we have a schedule where we’re going to do fights in the New York area, upstate New York, but this is the beginning of it all. Nothing is off the table. We’re definitely going to be coming here quite often.”
Michael Chandler: “I’m in this sport to get the biggest fights I possibly can. This is an amazing opportunity against an amazing opponent - a guy who is young, hungry, and undefeated. I know I have a tough test ahead of me, a tough opponent on a very big stage, but I’m large enough to fight up there at welterweight. I have a lot of guys on my radar I would love to fight, guys like Lorenz right here. It’s an exciting time to be in my position, be in Bellator, and June 24th will be another night to make my stamp on the Lightweight division. Either way I’m excited.”
Fedor Emelianenko: “I’m signed for two fights.”
Chael Sonnen: “Here’s what’s going down guys. I’m not sure this is on everybody’s radar — the biggest star in the sport’s history is coming to New York. New York is happy to have me. Fedor Emelianenko is being told you’re going to pull the curtain back for Chael Sonnen to make the walk, while Wanderlei Silva hides out in the bathroom in Rio. You want to get tantalizing conversation from Wanderlei? Just talk to my shoe.”
Wanderlei Silva: “Here I have a lot of good materials (in Brazil) and I feel great. I think I’m going to be at my best time.”
Matt Mitrione: “His last fight wasn’t his best fight. I’m the fight that he wants right now to prove that he’s the Fedor that he’s always been.”
Wanderlei Silva: “Every time somebody asked me to fight it didn’t matter against who. Somebody like my next opponent it’s better, because I’m going to be so happy after I beat him.”
Brent Primus: “This is the biggest opportunity of my life. I can’t wait to go out and show everybody why I’m here. A lot of people don’t really know me, I came from a troubled past, and I think that drives me and brought me to where I am. I can’t wait to show everybody and win that belt on June 24th.”
Douglas Lima: “It’s a great opportunity. I’m so happy to fight such a tough guy like Larkin. It’s going to be the best fight on the card, the most exciting. I’m really looking forward to it and I’m going to make the most of it. Bellator just treats people right. I’ve been with them for almost 10 years, I’ve been treated very good. I just love it. I’ve never thought about fighting anywhere else.”
Scott Coker: “Our policy is to work with the athletic commission and abide by their testing. We’ll find out what New York wants and we’ll make it happen.”
Chael Sonnen: “Sounds like an advantage for Chael P. — one more for ‘The Bad Guy.’ I will have 24 hours to report, I will report every time, those are the rules.”
Matt Mitrione: “I think Fedor’s a bad ass. That’s what I think.”
Scott Coker: “We will be adding one female fight to the Bellator card on Spike TV between 8 and 10 PM Eastern. The rest of the card has not been put together yet. We should have something by the end of the week for you.”
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