>>> THE UFC, THE WORLD LEADER IN MMA. EXPERIENCE IT ON FS1. >>> THE OCTAGON HAS GONE DOWN UNDER FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FINE AUSSIE FANS IN MELBOURNE WILL WITNESS UFC ACTION LIVE AND IN PERSON. AND THE MAIN EVENT, TOP TEN FIGHTERS CLASHED WHEN AUSTRALIA'S ADOPTED SON, ROBERT WHITTAKER, FACES AMERICAN WRESTLER, DEREK BRUNSON. BOTH MEN LOOKING TO MAKE THEIR CASE AS A CONTENDER IN THE HIGH-PROFILE MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION. IN THE CO-MAIN EVENT, JAKE MATHEWS TAKES CENTER STAGE WITH GOLDEN GLOVES MATTHEW HOLBROOK. THE UFC FS1 UFC "FIGHT NIGHT" STARTS RIGHT NOW. ♪ >>> GOOD DAY, MATE. TOMORROW THEY FIGHT. TODAY THEY WEIGH IN. WELCOME TO THE FOX SPORTS STUDIOS, I AM KARYN BRYANT ALONG KENNY AND — LOOKING GOOD. A TIGHT FIT? >> YOU'RE TELLING ME I'M FAT? >> NO. >> I DID NOT GET STUNG. I WAS NOT ATTACKED BY KILLER BEES. THIS WAS THE EFFECTS OF THANKSGIVING — I ATE A LOT. I'M TUB AT THE. STILL FULL, TIGHT, AS WELL. THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE'S FIGHT TOMORROW. >> ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY. EM WITH, WE HAVE SOME UNFORTUNATE NEWS FIRST, THOUGH.
IT BROKE THIS MORNING. LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION DANIEL CORMIER IS INJURED AND WILL NOT FACE ANTHONY JOHNSON. THE UFC IS WORKING ON A NEW MAIN EVENT FOR THE DECEMBER 10th CARD. MORE LATER IN THE SHOW. OBVIOUSLY ALL OF US HERE WISHING D.C. THE BEST. WE HAVE TO GET TO THE FIGHTS THAT ARE HAPPENI ING — HAPPENI IN MELBOURNE TRMG. MATCHING FIVE FIGHT WIN STREAKS GOING UP AGAINST EACH OTHER. DEREK BRUNSON TAKING ON ROBERT WHIT WHITTAKER. SET IT UP. >> LOVE THIS. TWO FIGHTERS WITH CONFIDENCE, MOMENTUM HEADING INTO THE FIGHT. YOU KNOW WHAT MAKES ROBERT WHITTAKER SUCH A GREAT STRIKER IS THE FACT THAT HE'S ALWAYS IN THE PERFECT RANGE. HE COMES FROM THE KARATE BACKGROUND SO HE'S VERY DISCIPLINED AS A STRIKER. HE'S ALSO PATIENT, HAS A NASTY LEFT HOOK THAT YOU HAVE TO WATCH FOR. >> YES, BUT DEREK BRUNSON IS A GOOD STRIKER, AS WELL. I KNOW HIM AS A THREE-TIME DIVISIONAL TWO CHAMP.
HE HAS LONG REACH. 77-INCH REACH. HE'S BEEN KNOCKING PEOPLE OUT. HE HAS THE ABILITY TO TAKE SOMEONE DOWN LIKE ROMERO AND CAN GRIND YOU OUT LIKE HE DID AGAINST LARKIN. HE'S THE FULL PAECKAGE. VERY VERSATILE. THIS MATCH-UP IS AN INTRIGUING ONE TO WATCH. >> ABSOLUTELY. THEY ARE SORT OF THE NOW OF THE MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION. ALSO I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FUTURE HERE. SO GREAT FIGHT IN OUR MAIN EVENT. NOW, THOUGH, OUR STAGE IS SET. THE CAST OF CHARACTERS TO MAKE THINGS OFFICIAL. THEY DID NOT WEIGH IN THIS MORNING. JOHN ANNICK IS MASTER OF CER CEREMONY. TAKE IT AWAY, JOHN. [ APPLAUSE ] >> WHAT'S GOING ON? GREAT TO BE BACK INSIDE THE ARENA.
HOW TO ABOUT A HAND FOR THE OCTAGON GIRLS? MY BROADCAST PARTNER, THE MAN, DAN HARDY, WITH US. AND HEAD OF OUR INTERNATIONAL, JOE CARR IN THE BUILDING, AS WELL. WE BEGIN WITH THE UFC FIGHT PASS PRELIMINARIES. FIRST UP IN THE UFC FLYWEIGHT DIVISION. NOW THE CONQUEROR VERSUS JENEL "THE DEMOLITION MAN" LAUSA. >> A RISING STAR IN THE FT. COLLINS AND MIXED MARTIAL ARTS COMMUNITY. THEY BELIEVE HE WILL BE THE FIRST OCTAGON CHAMPION IN THE PHILIPPINES. PRO BOXING CAREER AND FOUGHT MANNY PACQUIAO LEADING UP TO THE LAST FIGHT. . TEST. >> 125. >> 125 FOR "THE DEMOLITION MAN." AND PLEASE WELCOME YAO ZHIKUI. >> YAO CREDITS HIS OLDER BROTHER FOR GETTING HIM IN TO MIXED MARTIAL ARTS. HE GOT STARTED IN CHINESE WRESTLING AND LATER JOINED THE TOP TEAM.
YAO HAS A LOT OF PRIDE FOR BEING ONE OF THE FEW PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS COMPETING IN THE UFC AND MADE IT INTO THE ORGANIZATION AFTER COMPETING IN >> 127. >> 127 FOR YAO ZHIKUI. >> WE WANT TO GET THE TOWEL? >> 26.9. YAO ZHIKUI OFF BY A POUND. WE'RE GOING TO GET THE TOWEL HERE. ♪ >> 127 — >> 127 FOR YAO ZHIKUI. YAO ZHIKUI WILL HAVE TWO HOURS FROM NOW TO CUT THE FINAL POUND. OUR NEXT FIGHT IS IN THE UFC FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION, MARLON CITO VIEIRA VERSUS WANING GUANY. >> OUT OF BEIJING, CHINA, HAS GREAT BACKUP POWER BUT SAYS HE'S A WRESTLER.
SPOKE WITH A COACH AND SAID HE'S HUMBLE, INTENSE, IF HE HITS YOU WITH THE LEFT HAND, HE'LL PUT YOU TO SLEEP. . >> 146. >> 146 FOR NING. HIS OPPONENT MAKING HIS FOURTH UFC APPEARANCE, MARLON CITO VERO. >> HE'S MADE A NEW HOME FOR HIMSELF. AN INTRODUCTION MADE BY THE FORMER HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMPION CARLO ESPARZA. HE'S EXCITED TO SHOW HIS NEW WEIGHT THIS WEEKEND. >> 144. >> 144 FOR VERA. >> THAT BRINGS US TO THE FEATURE BOUT OF THE UFC FIGHT. WE'RE IN THE FEATHERER WEIGHT DIVISION, DAN HOOKER INJURIES US JASON "THE KID" KNIGHT. >> JASON KNIGHT STARTED TRAINING AT JUST 14 YEARS OLD. AND AT HIS CURRENT AGE OF 24 YEARS OLD, HE ALREADY HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN HIS GROUND GAME, AND HAS 12 DIVISION WINS TO BACK IT UP. HIS COACH, A FORMER UFC VETERAN, ALAN BELCHER, IS HERE. ♪ >> 145. >> 145 FOR MISSISSIPPI'S FINEST, JASON KNIGHT. AND HIS OPPONENT, LET'S HEAR IT, DAN "THE HANGMAN" HOOKER! [ CHEERS ] >> CONGRATULATIONS TO DAN HOOKER WHO GOT MARRIED IN HIS NEW HOME OF THAILAND THIS SUMMER.
NOT SO POSITIVE, HE'S DISSATISFIED WITH HIS UFC RECORD OF 3-2. HE DID TELL ME THAT WHEN HE GOT A SIMILAR RECORD AS A PROFESSIONAL, IT REIGNITED HIS CAREER AND WENT ON A TEAR. >> 146. >> 146 FOR DAN HOOKER. [ APPLAUSE ] >> WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME YOU THOSE OF YOU WHO WATCH TCU DEFEAT TEXAS. THIS IS THE UFC "FIGHT NIGHT" SHOW. NEXT, JOHN HERRERA AND BEN WINN ARE UP. GILBERT, TELL US ABOUT THE 9-2 HERRERA. >> THIS GUY IS DYNAMIC, EXPLOSIVE. HE'S COMFORTABLE EVERYWHERE. HE FATES OFF– HE FIGHTS OFF HI BACK. THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO SAY.
>> I LOVE HIS NICKNAME. MUST BE BOUNCING AROUND LIKE THAT OUT THERE HARD TO CATCH HE'S BOUNCING ALL OVER THE PLACE. QUITE ENTERTAINING TO WATCH FIGHT. >> GOT THE MAN BUN GOING. >> 125. >> 125 FOR HERRERA. AND HIS OPPONENT, CURRENTLY RANKED NUMBER 15 IN THE WORLD, PLEASE WELCOME BEN WINN. >> THERE IS BEN. HE MIGHT BE MORE FAMOUS FOR A VIRAL VIDEO THAN HE IS FOR BEING A UFC FIGHTER. CHECK IT OUT, THE REGIONAL MMA PROMOTION. HIS OVERLY TATTOOED OPPONENT GOT IN HIS FACE, WENT HEAD TO HEAD WITH HIM. AND BEN, WHO LOOKS INNOCENT, HE WENT AT HIM AND JUST DESTROYED HIM THE NEXT DAY.
BEAT HIM IN JUST LIKE UNDER 30 SECONDS. DIDN'T BACK DOWN. THIS KID IS GAME. >> 126. >> 126 FOR BEN NGUYEN. [ CHEERS ] >> DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE BABY FACE. ♪ >> MOVING TO THE UFC WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION, "FILTHY RICH" WALSH VERSUS JONATHAN "THE FRENCH SPIDER" MEUNIER. >> JONATHAN MEUNIER HAS GOOD EFFECT FOR THIS FIGHT. FIRSTLY HE TEAMED ONE HIS TRISTAR STABLEMATE OLIVIER MIERS YAY WHO BEAT WALSH AT TOUGH NATIONS. ALSO HE STOP THE BY A FRIEND'S ON HIS WAY TO AUSTRALIA TO HELP GET ACCLIMATIZED TO THE TIME DIFFERENCE. ♪ >> AND THAT'S NO JOKE.
THAT'S A 15-HOUR FLIGHT FOR US, AT LEAST FROM HERE IN THE STATES. HOW MUCH OF A TOLL DOES THAT TAKE? >> 171 — >> 171 FOR JONATHAN — >> IT TAKES A TOLL ON YOUR SLEEP PATTERN. >> WALSH. >> ALL RIGHT. HERE COMES WALSH. FIGHTING OUT OF AUSTRALIA. TRAINS ON THE NORTH SHORE. ALL OF HIS TEAMMATES ARE FROM AUSTRALIA. BIG TRAINING PARTNER OF HIM IS ROBERT WHITTAKER, HELPING HIM PREPARE FOR THE FIGHT. HE SAYS HE'S FIGHTING A 6'3" OPPONENT. I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE ADVANTAGES ARE TO FIGHTING A 6'3" OPPONENT. >> YEAH. >> DEFINITELY NICE TO HAVE SOMEBODY TRAIN YOU FOR A FIGHT AT THE SAME TIME, THOUGH, SURE. >> EXACTLY. WHEN YOU HAVE TWO GUYS IN THE SAME CAMP, SAME CARD, BRINGS UP THE LEVEL. AS LONG AS YOU HAVE A HEAD COACH. >> 171. >> 171 FOR "FILTHY RICH" WALSH. [ CHEERS ] >> THE NEXT UFC LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION, DAMION "BEAT DOWN" BROWN VERSUS JON "THE SUPER STAYING" TUCK. >> IT HAS BEEN AN EXTENDED CAMP FOR JON TUCK AFTER THE UFC MANILA CARD. IT'S BEEN A TOUGH EIGHT WEEKS AS HIS FAMILY ARE BACK WHERE HE'S HAD TO TRAIN IN CALIFORNIA AT MMA.
>> THAT NECKLACE LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE A POUND OR TWO, GUYS. MAKE SURE HE TAKES THAT OFF. I'LL BE IMPRESSED IF HE WEIGHS IN WITH IT. >> HE HAS BEFORE. SOMETIMES HE DOES TAKE IT OFF. >> RIGHT. ♪ >> 156. >> 156 FOR JON TUCK. >> GOT THAT WITH HIM — >> YEAH. >> AND JON DAMIEN BROWN. >> A COUPLE OF DAYS NOTICE TO CUT THE WEIGHT AND WENT THE DISTANCE.
ONLY SHOWED GAME SINCE THEN. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A FUN BROWN BATTLE HERE AGAINST JON TUCK. VERY AGGRESSIVE GOES AT HIS OPPONENTS. HE'S A BLACK BELT. LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS ONE. >> 154. >> 154 FOR DAMIEN BROWN. >> YOU KNOW HE'S EXTRA READY. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THAT BRINGS US TO OUR FEATURE. THE NIGHT, MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION, DANIEL KELLY VERSUS CHRIS CAMOZZI. IN HIS FIRST UFC APPEARANCE, CHRIS CAMOZZI. >> A U.C. VET, 24-11. MANY FIGHTS IN THE U.C. WON FIVE OUT OF HIS LAST SEVEN WITHIN A THREE-FIGHT WIN STREAK BEFORE BEING DEFEATED. FROM MY HOMETOWN, BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA.
ALAMEDA. OUT OF COLORADO NOW. >> 1 6 FOR CHRIS CAMOZZI. HIS OPPONENT, THE FOUR-TIME AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIAN IN JUDE OH, DANIEL KELLY! [ CHEERS ] >> THE REASON WE HAVEN'T SEEN DANIEL KELLY BACK IN THE OCTAGON IS BECAUSE HE WAS IN FACT AT RIO FOR THE OLYMPICS COACHING THE AUSTRALIAN JUDE OH NATIONAL TEAM. HE TOLD ME HE'S EXCITED TO GET BACK IN ACTION AND IS LOOKING FORD A STEP UP IN COMPETITION. >> 186. >> 186 FOR DANIEL KELLY. [ APPLAUSE ] >> ALL RIGHT, NOW — >> THERE'S A LOOK AT OUR FEATURE. WELCOME BACK TO THE FOX SPORTS DESK. AS A REMINDER, THIS IS THE OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN. THEY DID NOT WEIGH IN THIS MORNING. JUST THE SIX-FIGHT MAIN CARD LEFT TO GO. KICKING IT OFF, DANIEL TAYLOR AND TELL US ABOUT THE L.A. COUNTY SHERIFF EMPLOYEE TAYLOR. >> THAT'S RIGHT. IN LOS ANGELES, ACTUALLY, A CUSTODY ASSISTANT FOR THE L.A. COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, TRAINS WITH THE LEGENDARY FIGHTER JANJERA IN VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> SAME GYM AS ALAN. AND DANIELLE HAS VERY GOOD FOOTWORK, WE SAW IT IN HER FIRST FIGHT IN THE UFC. DOES HAVE KNOCKOUT POWER, AS WELL, IN THE FORM OF HER OVERHAND. VERY SIMILAR IN BODY TYPE TO HER OPPONENT. SHOULD BE A COOL FIGHT HERE. >> 115. >> A SHORT FIGHT FOR HER DEBUT. A LOT MORE READY. >> YES. >> PLEASE WELCOME — >> KOREA'S FIRST FEMALE UFC FIGHTER, SHE'S STILL GETTING USED TO COMPETING. SHE'S EXCITED TO COME TO THE OCTAGON WITH A RICH ADVANTAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME. ALSO DON'T FORGET, DO NOT MISS HER WALKOUT TO THE OCTAGON AS SHE DOES LOVE A LITTLE DANCE. >> I NEVER DID THE DANCING THING WITH MY WALKOUTS.
YOU EVER DANCE ON THE WAY TO THE OCTAGON? >> NAH. IF I DID, I WOULD BOOGIE. >> MOONWALK? >> ARE YOU COOL WITH HIGH-FIVING THE FANS, THOUGH, OR NO? >> A LITTLE HIGH H-FIVE IS FINE. >> THEY'RE NOT STEALING YOUR MOJO ON THE WAY IN? [ LAUGHTER ] >> 115. >> 115. [ APPLAUSE ] OUR NEXT BOUT IS IN THE UFC'S LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION, KALIL ROUNDTREE JR. VERSUS TYSON PE PEDRO. [ APPLAUSE ] >> TYSON PEDRO, 4-0. MAKING HIS UFC DEBUT. 4-0 WITH FOUR FINISHES.
LONGEST FIGHT, THREE MINUTES AND FIVE SECONDS. THIS GUY'S NAME IS TYSON. HE KIND. THROWS PUNCHES LIKE TYSON, IF YOU SEE HIM OUT THERE. NOT SCARED OF DROPPED KNEES. IT'S HIS FIRST FIGHT OUT. HE'S THE KIND OF GUY WHO GOES OUT AND GETS IT IN THE FIRST FIGHT. MAYBE AFTER THE SECOND, NOT THE SAME HE'S GOING TO GO FOR IT. >> 206. >> 206 FOR THE UNDEFEATED TYSON. [ APPLAUSE ] >> 205 — >> 205 FOR THE UNDEFEATED TYSON! PEDRO. [ APPLAUSE ] >> GOT A LOT OF THAT — >> AND HIS OPPONENT, KHALIL ROUNDTREE. >> LOOKS EXCITED TO BE THERE.
[ CHEERS ] >> KAREN, THERE'S KHALIL. A GUY WE KNOW WELL FROM COMING ON OUR SHOW. TOUGH TALK. THIS GUY WENT FROM BEING INSPIRED TO TRAIN IN MIXED MARTIAL ARTS BY WATCHING THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER TO BEING A FINALIST ON THE SHOW JUST A FEW YEARS LATER. KHALIL IS FROM LOS ANGELES ORIGINALLY BUT HAS MOVED TO VEGAS TO LIVE AND TRAIN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OVER AT SYNDICATE MMA. VERY LIKEABLE GUY. >> VERY MUCH SO. >> CLOSE IN WEIGHT, AS WELL, HERE. >> 206. >> 206 — >> YEAH. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THAT'S A FIGHTER WHO KNEW HIS WEIGHT EXACTLY. >> YEAH. >> BOTH THESE GUYS HAPPY TO BE HERE. >> THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD FIGHT. >> A TERRIFIC FIGHT. >> NEXT UP ON THE MAIN CARD IN THE UFC LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION, YUSUKE KASUYA VS. ALEXANDER VOLKANOVSKI. ALEX HAS HAD TO WAIT LONGER TO MAKE HIS UFC DEBUT, BUT HE'S NOT MAD ABOUT IT. HE'S HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO PREPARE, AND EXPECT A WELL-ROUNDED GAME FROM THE AUSSIE WHO WON A TO TRAIN.
>> 154. >> 154 FOR ALEXANDER "THE GREAT." HIS OPPONENT, KASUYA. >> ONE OF THE NEWT GENERATION OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTERS THAT COME FROM A KARATE BACKGROUND. A KARATE STYLE AND HAS A BLACK BELT IN THE ART MUCH LIKE GEORGE ST. PIERRE. HE WORKS FOR A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND WILL TAKE OFF TIME FROM WORK FOR A COUPLE MONTHS TO PREPARE FOR HIS FIGHTS. ACTUALLY GOES TO A DIFFERENT CITY. SO THIS IS A VERY COMMITTED FIGHTER RIGHT THERE. >> 156. >> 156 FOR YOUSKE KASUYA. >> THE FUTURE BOUT IN THE UFC WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION, KYLE NOKEVERTS US OMARI AKHMEDOV. >> IF OMARI WASN'T WITH US AT THE UFC, IT IS LIKELY HE WOULD BE A SHEPHERD BACK IN DAGESTAN.
LIFE, HOWEVER, IS VERY DIFFERENT. YOU CAN SEE HE'S PUTTING IN HARD WORK THESE DAYS IN FLORIDA, AT AMERICAN TOP TEAM. >> 171. >> 171. >> ANOTHER IMPRESSIVE WEIGH-IN. >> YEAH. >> HIS OPPONENT SET TO MAKE HIS 12th UFC APPEARANCE, LET'S HEAR IT FOR KYLE NOKE. >> A PIONEER IN AUSTRALIAN MIXED MARTIAL ARTS. HE'S A FAN FAVORITE. HE HAD A TWO WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. 170s AND 185. HE'S ALSO A TOUGH COACH. SUCH A GOOD FIGHTER. SEEMS SO COMFORTABLE IN THE OCTOBER GOP. HAS HAD SO — OCTAGON. HAS HAD SO MANY FIGHTS. KNOWS WHEN TO GET OUT OF THE WAY, KNOWS WHEN TO LAY PUNCHES. >> HE WAS ROBERT WHITTAKER'S COACH, OBVIOUSLY ON, TOUGH SMASHES, THEN. >> 170. >> 170. >> CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S CLOSE — >> ABSOLUTELY, BEING A PIONEER AND SEEING EVERYONE FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS OR BEING MOTIVATED BY YOU SOMEHOW IS GREAT.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> NOW WE GET TO THE MAIN EVENT IN THE UFC LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION, JAKE MATHEWS VERSUS ANDREW HOLBROOK. >> DESPITE ONLY BEING LISTED AS A BLUE BELT IN BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU, HE HAS ONE DANGEROUS SUBMISSION ARTIST WITH SEVEN WINS BY SUBMISSION. AND HE HAD THE SUBMISSIONS IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. THIS FINISHER HAS NINE WINS IN THE FIRST ROUND, AND I REALLY LIKE THE POTENTIAL FOR FIGHT OF THE NIGHT BETWEEN HIM AND JAKE MATHEWS. ♪ >> 154. >> 154 FOR AT D– FOR ANDREW HOLBROOK. AND HIS OPPONENT IS "THE CELTIC KID," JAKE MATHEWS. [ APPLAUSE ] >> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT PIONEERS. NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NEW BLOOD, JAKE MATTHEWS, A 22-YEAR-OLD FIGHTER FIGHT OUT OFFOUS. HE IS ALWAYS IN — OUT OF AUSTRALIA. HE IS ALWAYS IN SHAPE. IN THE OCTAGON HE PIUSHES THE PACE. HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S GAME TO BE N THERE, VERY SCRAPPY. >> 155. >> 155. >> GREAT FIGHT WITH JOHNNY CASE. >> I WAS SURPRISED AT HIS STRENGTH, AS WELL. HE WAS PRIMARILY A GRABBER, BUT THIS KID CAN FIGHT, AS WELL.
>> HE'S GOING TO NEED THE HANDS AGAINST HOLBROOK. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THESE ARE THE GUYS YOU GOT TO WATCH OUT FOR, GILBERT. >> WITH THAT, IT IS NOW TIME TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MEN ON THE POSTER, THE TWO MIDDLEWEIGHTS THAT WILL SHARE THE OCTAGON TOMORROW IN OUR MAIN EVENT. >> ROBERT WHITTAKER VERSUS ROBERT WHITTAKER IS A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO EXCELLENT CONTENDERS IN THE TALENT STACKED 185-POUND DIVISION. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH MEN TO SHINE. >> I DEFINITELY THINK WE'RE ON THE RADAR. I THINK ANY ONE OF US COULD BE IN TOTAL CONTENTION EVENTUALLY. YOU KNOW, THIS TO ME IS A TITLE FIGHT.
>> IN THE UFC, THE WAY THE RANKINGS, SOMETIMES YOU GOT TO GO OUT THERE AND YOU GOT TO IMPRESS. YOU CAN'T JUST GO OUT THERE AND GET A DECISION. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE FINISHERS. GUYS GO OUT AND GET IT DONE. I'M LOOKING TO GO OUT THERE AND JUST BE DEVASTATING. >> DEREK BRUNSON IS COMING OFF THE BESTth BIGGEST WIN OF HIS CAREER WITH AN AMAZING LEFT HOOK KNOCKOUT OF THE GREAT HALL. >> THAT WAS IT — >> DEREK HAS WON FIVE FIGHTS IN A ROW INCLUDING FOUR BY K.O. >> HE DOES IT AGAIN! [ CHEERS ] >> HE IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT CONTENDERS TODAY, BUT HE'S TAKING ON A GUY IN ROBERT WHITTAKER WHO HAS LOOKED INCREDIBLE IN HIS MOVE FROM 170 TO 185 POUNDS. HE HAS WON FIVE FIGHTS IN A ROW AND LOOKED ABSOLUTELY AMAZING INCLUDING HIS K.O.
VICTORY OVER BRAD TAVARES WHICH WAS ONE OF HIS MOST IMPRESSIVE TO DATE. >> THAT WAS UNBELIEVABLE! >> WE AGREE THIS IS THE BEST THING IN THE PERIOD. BRUNSON'S NOT GOING TO KNOW WHAT HIT HIM. >> WHAT IF HE'S A DANGEROUS STRIKER? I'M BETTER. I'LL PUT ONE ON HIM AND SEND HIM TO THE CANVAS. LOOK OVER AT DANA WHITE AND REACH FOR MY WAIST AND SAY, I THINK I'M READY FOR THE TITLE SHOT. >> THE TITLE SHOT. >> PEOPLE CAN EXPECT THE FINISH. I'M GOING TO FINISH.
I'M GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND FINISH HIM. I'M COMING FOR YOUR HEAD. [ CHEERS ] >> FIRST FIGHTER, NUMBER EIGHT IN THE WORLD, DEREK BRUNSON. >> DEREK BRUNSON IS YOUR WELL-ROUNDED MIXED MARTIAL ARTIST, LIKE I SAID, HE'S A THREE-TIME DIVISION TWO CHAMPION. ONLY LIST TO ROMERO WHICH, IN MY OPINION, WAS UP TWO ROUNDS TO ONE BEFORE HE GOT FINISHED. >> 186. >> 186 FOR DEREK BRUNSON. [ APPLAUSE ] >> YEAH, HE WAS WINNING THAT FIGHT. >> YEAH. >> AND HIS OPPONENT, NUMBER SEVEN IN THE WORLD, "THE REAPER," ROBERT WHITTAKER. [ CHEERS ] >> WHITTAKER IS ONLY 25 YEARS OLD BUT HAS NINE FIGHTS IN THE UFC ALREADY WITH SOME VERY TOUGH COMPETITION. HE HAS IMPRESSIVE SPEED AND EXCELLENT KNOCKOUT POWER, ESPECIALLY IN HIS LEFT HOOK. WHITTAKER WAS BORN IN NEW ZEALAND BUT HAS GROWN UP THE MAJORITY OF HIS LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.
EXPECT A LOUD, SUPPORTIVE CROWD TOMORROW NIGHT. VERY. >> VERY MATURE FOR HIS ANGEL. I WAS IMPRESSED WHEN HE COMPETED IN THE TOUGH SMASHES. I KNEW THIS KID REALLY HAD A LOT OF POTENTIAL TO BE SOMETHING. WELTERWEIGHT AND MIDDLEWEIGHT. >> 185. >> 185 FOR ROBERT WHITTAKER. >> WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS OFF CAMERA. IMPRESSED WITH HOW MATURE HE WAS. HE WAS ONLY 21, AND HE HAD HIS HEAD ON STRAIGHT. GETTING YOUR BHMIND RIGHT IS A WHOLE OTHER THING. >> EXACTLY. [ CHEERS ] >> HOW DO YOU FEEL ON THE EVE OF YOUR FIRST UFC MAIN EVENT? >> I FEEL GREAT. MY FIRST TIME IN AUSTRALIA. YOU LET ME DOWN. I DIDN'T SEE ANY KANGAROOS. I'M READY TO PLAY. LET'S GO. >> THERE HE IS, FOLKS. DEREK BRUNSON, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. >> CONGRATULATIONS ON THE MAIN EVENT. HOW ARE YOU FEELING, PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, IN ADVANCE OF THE BIG EVENT? >> EVERYTHING'S BEEN THE BEST. COME SUNDAY, IT'S THE BEST ROBERT WHITTAKER YOU'VE EVER SEEN. >> YOU'LL HAVE THE CROWD BEHIND YOU. GO ENJOY THE FINAL FEW HOURS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THERE HE IS, ROBERT WHITTAKER! [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT — >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND WELCOME BACK TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PACIFIC. DEREK BRUNSON AND ROBERT WHITTAKER, WEIGHED IN. WHAT'S YOUR TAKEAWAY? >> BOTH WERE.
